Jake Burton: Burton SnowboardsWhen we think of snowboarding, most often, Burton is the first brand that comes to mind. The most popular brand in the world was created by one man: Jake Burton. His vision to turn what was once considered a passing fad into the most popular extreme sport in the world was truly incredible. The obstacles he has overcome, from ski resorts banning snowboarders to cancer, are a true testament to his dedication and passion for making this sport and lifestyle what it is today. In this article, I'll explain how he turned a plank of wood into a nearly billion-dollar-a-year business. Many people, especially those new to snowboarding, believe that Jake Burton invented snowboarding. He didn't do it. He made snowboarding what it is today by transforming the Snurfer into what is today the modern snowboard. The most popular argument as to who and where snowboarding was invented is in Muskegon, Michigan. Sherman Poppen, a businessman, called on his pregnant wife at Christmas 1965 to get the children out of the house. Unable to find a sled for his 2 daughters, he took two alpine skis and strapped them together, hoping they would use him as a sled. Instead, he found the two girls standing and sliding down the sand dune behind their house. Within a year, he patented the toy and was taken over by Brunswick Corp. Over the next few years, Snurfing became very popular and many competitions sprang up, including the Snurfing Championships on Blockhouse Hill behind Muskegon County Community College. In 1979, a young enthusiast came to town with an unregulated tip. That person was Jake Burton. The board is called the Burton Backhill. His board was a... middle of paper ......stories: Jake Burton blazes a new trail in snowboarding. " Success. April 15, 2014 Pesch, Ron. “The birth of a sport. Snuffing 1965. » Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame. April 15, 2014 Carpenter, Donna. “The Burton girls.” The Burton girls. March 23, 2014. April 15, 2014< http://burtongirls.burton.com/author/donna/>Lewis, Mike. “The Boardroom: Jake Burton.” Transglobal affairs. December 14, 2011.April 15, 2014 “Jake Burton Shreds Cancer”. Fletcher Allen Healthcare. Donation bulletin fall 2013. April 15 2014