Inventions and innovation on and off the slopes 6 inventions that helped changed the course of snow sports By Jennifer Huberdeau If you live, work or play in UpCountry territory, it should come as no surprise when we say that the Berkshires and Southern Vermont are home to some of the world’s foremost innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs. Their inventions and innovations have played a part in sending astronauts into space; harnessed alternating current; and helped many anglers secure the day’s catch. Many firsts in the snowsport industry — from skiing to snowboarding — have happened in Western Massachusetts and Vermont. It was here that some of the earliest artificial snow was made for ski slopes; the U.S. Ski Patrol was formed; and the first T-bar ski lift in the U.S. was installed (at Pico Peak). While we couldn’t list every inventor, entrepreneur or innovation, we’re highlighting six snow sport-related firsts of importance…
Jake Burton Carpenter and the snowboard All Jake Burton Carpenter wanted for Christmas in 1968 was a surfboard. He got a desk instead. “I bought a Snurfer for $10 and spent a lot of time at the
In this March 2002 file photo, Jake Burton Carpenter, owner of Burton Snowboards, shows an early model, right, and one of the newer snowboards, left, in his office in Burlington, Vt. Associated Press Photo
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