Outdoor Central Oregon January/February 2020 | Page 30

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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