Outdoor Central Oregon January/February 2020 | Page 30

30 P: James Cassimus My condolences go out to Donna and Jake’s family today. As I remember Jake today, the first emotions that rush through me are gratitude and respect. This picture is up at Tuckerman’s Ravine in New Hampshire, it was 1987. I am sure JG was lurking around the corner or already at the top of Lunch Rocks. I remem- ber being a bit freaked out when Jake and Tom Sims would get into heated debates at the Nationals back in the 80’s. That East Coast / West Coast rivalry in those early years was so healthy. I appreciate Jake’s dedication and vision to get snowboarding on the ski areas for the first time. Going to court to fight for Craig Kelly, who does that? As an entrepreneur, that guy took so many beat downs with the growth and change in the snowboarding industry over the years. Jake- thanks for never going public when that was the craze. I can’t imagine all the careers that started at Burton Snowboards for people. Thank you. Thank you for believing in me as a photographer and giving me the opportunity to shoot with Noah Brandon and Jason Ford when they first signed on with Burton and time with Jeff Brushie, Andy Coghlan and so many other spe- cial people. Thanks for all the amazing catalog shoots that got me around the world multiple times. I remember that time when you busted your leg in Valle Nevado and we had to run around the hotel to collect cash to pay for a heli-flight for you to get to a hospital in Santiago. John Colonna shared some great stories with me at Baldface last year. The positive impact you have on others is your living legacy. -Trevor Graves - Founder Principle Nemo Design in Portland, Oregon The first time I went snowboarding was in the mid-eighties. I rented a Burton elite 140, this was from Go Skate in Stockton, California and we went to Boreal. Only 1half of the resorts allowed snowboards on the lifts at the time. I ripped the liners out of moon boots, put bread bags over my air Jordan’s shoved them into the moon boot’s shell, and went up the lift. My world changed after that painful experience. After lots of time spent in the mountains, working at my local ski resort, Dodge Ridge, all through High School, and trav- eling to Tahoe almost weekly once I got a drivers licence, I was lucky enough to become a “pro” snowboarder. During the whole time and still to this day, Burton was the big successful company with refined product and a juggernaut of a team. This wasn’t because of luck. Jake had the vision and executed! We owe a lot to Jake for the progression of the sport and will be forever indebted. Travis Yamada - former cool guy snowboarder, creator of Cubicle Surfboards