• • TERJE HAAKONSEN

    Ask any pro which peer they most respect and Terje will likely top their list. From revolutionary films such as Subjekt Haakonsen during the ’90s to six 1st-place rolls of Baker Banked Slalom duct tape and world’s highest air at the 2007 Arctic Challenge—the Sprocking Cat touts a riding resume that spans two decades. Titles and accolades aside, the deeper cause of this professional admiration is that no name is more synonymous with individual style than Terje’s.

    Back when the IOC strong-armed itself into snowboarding, Terje boycotted the Olympics and instead co-created the Arctic Challenge as a rider-based alternative to corporate contests. When it was all box and rail, he designed the T6 for all-terrain mastery, then revolutionized powder riding by helping develop the Fish and Malolo. This past season he moved us forward again, evolving his ride into the even smoother T7 and dreaming up the SSK8-Cross World Championships. He also finessed sick lines from New Zealand and Japan to BC and Russia, but it is his two-decade influence that earned Terje welcome and esteem, at every stop on every trip, as the ambassador of style.

  • ​KEVIN PEARCE

    By all accounts, the story of Kevin Pearce is an emotional one. It starts with a rise to world-class form with consecutive victories at the Arctic Challenge, double Air & Style wins, multiple X Games medals and back-to-back European Open triumphs over Shaun White. Then on December 31, 2009, the story took a scary turn when Kevin suffered a traumatic brain injury while attempting a Cab double cork in Park City’s halfpipe.

    While the coma and critical-condition phases were both tragic and terrifying, his unbelievable recovery was the real story and the true source of inspiration. From fellow “Frends” dedicating their medals to more than 50,000 Facebook fans riding for Kevin, the outpouring of support was like nothing seen before in snowboarding, and it transcended our culture to inspire far beyond our tight circle. The universal show of solidarity was like a few thousand high fives and certainly helped Kevin in the road to regaining sight, balance and memory. But it was KP’s personal dedication and positive attitude that pulled him through a three-month recovery at Denver’s Craig Hospital, and then finally landed him back home with his family in Norwich, Vermont to continue his rehab. This story is far from done and the path back will be a long one. But, with great relief, we now know it will end well. The world is watching and hoping that the last word will be Kevin riding again.

  • ​NICHOLAS MULLER

    It’s not often that a pro elevates above the standard snowboard dialogue. Then again, it’s not often that you meet a rider like Nicolas Müller. Using his standing as a creatively influential rider, Nicolas has chosen to pick his own line while raising our collective consciousness about issues from climate change to consumption. While some just slap a green sticker on their deck or their image, this Swiss-bred vegetarian has led by example, pushing development of greener products, driving a car powered by Naturgas and purchasing Brazilian forestland to offset his sled-and-heli footprint—all to reduce his impact on the earth. His impact on snowboarding, however, has been huge.

    Nicolas first appeared to us through the lens of Absinthe, as he slayed segments from Tribal through Neverland, including openers, enders and two full parts in 2005’s Futureproof. On top of that, he has had standout parts in The Community Project, That’s It That’s All, 91 Words for Snow,It’s Always Snowing Somewhere, The B, and the documentary Lines. He twice earned recognition as Snowboarder’s Rider of the Year (2006 and 2008), and, at this point, it’s no surprise his riding continues to innovate ahead of the curve. While we can’t wait to see his next part, we’re just as keen to hear what he has to say in David Benedek’s new book, entitledCurrent State.

  
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• • ​JOHN JACKSON

    John Jackson is the most positive force in snowboarding and if you haven’t felt his influence you haven’t been paying attention. With raw, powerful style, double-cork ability and a resume that defies convention, John J has tapped into another dimension of backcountry awareness. But beyond the Rider of the Year wins, the cover shots and the jaw-dropping parts, it’s his naturally creative style that keeps expanding our snowboarding consciousness one sick shot at a time.
    

    Jackson was born a Mammoth local, perfected park at June Mountain and won US Nationals at an early age. He altered our thinking with his opener in Standard’sWhite Balance but it was his double-song ender in the 2009 film Forum Forever that left our minds completely blown. In 2010 he earned Rider of the Year and Part of the Year honors from both Snowboarder and Transworld, then followed up with an unprecedented repeat of all four titles for his two-part efforts in Forum’s F It. A knee injury slowed him in 2011, but his AK Art of Flight lines gave us a glimpse at freestyle’s future. Now fully healed—and energized with a new brainstorm project—he is poised to tap the true power of his positive charge.

  • ​PEETU PIIRIONEN

    A mellow, reserved Finn with an Olympic silver medal and an unprecedented TTR title three-peat under his belt, Peetu Piiroinen kept his foot on the competitive gas in 2012. He suffered a broken rib last December but healed quickly to win slopestyle bronze at X Games, took 3rd in slopestyle at the Burton European Open, and won the Innsbruck Air and Style with a backside 1260 mute in the super finals.
    

    Taking home world titles, stacks of cash, and cars is nothing new for a high-flying Finn who stomps his technical tricks on all forms of transition. In 2011 he linked podiums at the Burton European Open, Munich Air and Style, and Innsbruck Air and Style to win both the TTR title and the BGOS title after scoring silver at the 2010 Vancouver games the season before. Recent trips to backcountry zones show he’s ready to bring his freestyle attack to natural terrain. We’re just wondering how many more titles and trophies Peetu will win before he shifts focus to filming.

  • KIMMY FASANI

    Let’s start with the headline—last season Kimmy Fasani became the first girl ever to land a double backflip in both the park and the powder. It was a landmark achievement in the history of women’s riding, but it was no surprise for friends and allies who have been trying to keep up with Kimmy since she won three consecutive USASA national championships while still in high school. It might be her fearless approach to freestyle flight but this longtime Mammoth local is now solidly in the class of girls who are pushing the levels of women’s freestyle riding on film and in the backcountry.

    In the last season alone, Kimmy not only landed the double back off a fifty-foot booter but she also nabbed Snowboarder’s Ms Superpark standout award, hung tough with a heavy crew of legends in the Whistler backcountry and was one of three pro women selected to film her own full segment for Standard’s TB20. Her resume includes a stack of published photos, a highlight reel of aerial footage and a bachelor’s degree in marketing, but what impressed us most was that she found the time to get married to longtime boyfriend and pro skier Chris Benchetler in 2011. For Kimmy, it’s been a year of big moves. We’re stoked she’s back with Burton and just hoping we can keep up.

  
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• • ​SHAUN WHITE

    We all know Shaun White exists in the stratosphere between two-time Olympic gold medalist and international snowboard celebrity. His trophy case is stacked with Olympic, X Games and Dew Tour medals and his resume includes everything from his own Wheaties box, multiple Rolling Stone covers and late-night talk show appearances to his own signature video games…even his own Air and Style event. So what could Mr. White do last season to rise above the hype? First, he secured a superpipe five-peat at Winter X while throwing down the first perfect 100-point score in the history of the event, on his victory lap. Then he dialed in a double-gold win at Winter X Tignes with slopestyle dominance that silenced the haters and the doubters. He capped it all off with another impressive win, on Burton home turf, at the 30th annual US Open and celebrated another extraordinary season by taking home his 8th ESPY for Best Male Action Sports Athlete.
    

    Shaun has earned his status, and watching his runs in slopestyle or superpipe has been an exercise in progression trending towards perfection. His competitive resume alone confirms his snowboard credentials—from his first major victory at the 2001 Arctic Challenge, Shaun went on to an undefeated 2006 season, two Olympic Golds, 12 Dew Tour wins, seven US Opens and a record 22 X Games medals. It gets ridiculous when you add in the endless online replays of his stomped double Mctwist 1260, his creation of the White Collection with Burton, and a focus on skating, which added even more podiums to his resume. Its tough being Shaun White, because what do you do next? We’re not sure, but we’ll definitely be watching.

  • TERJE HAAKONSEN

    When Terje landed at last winter’s Mt Baker Banked Slalom, the respect he received from both pros and locals was a sign of how deeply his influence resonates in snowboarding. But when he smoked the competition, won his seventh pro men’s title and exited before the awards ceremony, it became just another misty chapter in the legend of the Sprocking Cat. He added another by throwing down the highest air: 7.79 meters of amplitude at the World Snowboard Championship quarterpipe contest this spring. Terje’s story starts with early halfpipe domination, the revolutionary films Subjekt Haakonsen and Haakon Faktor and the world’s highest air at the 2007 Arctic Challenge. Add an appearance in the 2012 TGR film Further, and his career reads like an impressive Norwegian epic.
    

    Aside from the style and flow that have become his riding signature, it’s his tireless commitment to the independent spirit of our sport that truly sets Terje apart. As evidence, Terje has internationally championed the snowboarding-by-snowboarders ethos through his words and his actions. When the IOC forced their way into the sport, Terje boycotted the Olympics and created the Arctic Challenge, which remains the pinnacle of rider-run alternatives. When jibbing was king, he took freeriding to a new level by helping design innovative powder sticks like the Fish and now Burton’s new Family Tree series. And when slopestyle became a subject of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Terje stepped forward to fight for rider rights by spearheading the 180 Olympic Charter. Yet, no matter where his presence lands, he will continue to represent the heart and soul of snowboarding. To witness the current expression of that soul, check out his flow in the new Burton movie, 13.

  • ​NICHOLAS MULLER

    Widely recognized as snowboarding’s most creative influence, it’s tough to overstate the season that Nicolas Müller experienced. It started with appearing in the Art of Flight and landing the cover of Transworld, then his ride continued with a 3rd place finish at Supernatural and a win in the 2012 X Games Real Snow Backcountry video contest. Along the way, the outspoken Swiss rider continued to treat us to his expressive riding, capturing a combination of creative freestyle and technical flow in big mountain terrain for TGR’s Further and Absinthe’s Resonance. But Nicolas does more for snowboarding than just ride and has long used his notoriety to establish a platform for speaking on sustainability issues. From climate change to personal consumption, his commitment and influence runs deep, including pioneering greener products, offsetting his sled and heli footprint, and presiding over the Breathe Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness around environmental issues.
    

    Nicolas earned due respect with part after mind-blowing part in Absinthe Films, from Tribal to Now/Here, including openers, enders, and two full parts in 2005’s Futureproof. Along the way he’s snagged multiple Snowboarder and Transworld covers, plus segments in The Community Project, That’s It That’s All, 91 Words for Snow, It’s Always Snowing Somewhere, The B, and the documentary Lines. In recognition of his visionary approach and ability to drop freestyle moves in the middle of AK descents, Nicolas was awarded Snowboarder’s ‘Rider of the Year’ distinction in 2006 and 2008. With his legacy secured, “Nico” continues to innovate on the slopes, and generate awareness about protecting them. Even with a decade-plus of video output, it will always be a welcome surprise to see what Nicolas brings next.

  
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• • ​CRAIG KELLY

    No rider has defined our culture more than Craig Kelly. By example and inspiration, he took snowboarding places beyond what many of us imagined possible. From his earliest days winning World Championships and his global travels as a snowboard missionary to his drive to become the first ACMG certified snowboard guide. Craig was a free-spirited force that helped turn snowboarding from a sport into a lifestyle.

    Freeriding, film careers, summer camps and snowboard guides are spheres where Craig was the catalyst, instigating and integrating these concepts into the mainline with passion and vision that made change possible. He created a new style with his soulful riding but also found spirituality in snowboarding and in the backcountry. And he led by example, showing us the line yet still not taking it all too seriously.

    Craig’s tinkering influence on gear is still felt in sidecuts, highbacks, hole patterns, twin tips and pro models, which is why we dedicated our new advanced R&D facility in his honor. Jake has said many times before that without Craig, Burton would not be where it is today and the same is true for snowboarding. But the most lasting lesson we learned from Craig is that snowboarding is living. RIP Craig.

  • DAVE DOWNING

    Whatever you say about him, don’t call Dave Downing a pioneer. He is jus a California kid who applied a surfy SoCal style to the featured terrain of locations such as Tahoe, Utah and Alaska. Starting with his opener in TB3, his memorable segments in almost ever TB flick made, and over a decade of Mack Dawg movies, Dave treated us all to a natural style that flowed with ease and transitioned effortlessly from pipe, park and rails to the biggest backcountry venues during the heaviest sessions.

    During a two-decade pro career, he was instrumental in creating and refining the Custom, which began as an anonymous pro model for an understated guy. He pushed the forefront of splitboarding, becoming the first to film an entire part, for TB9, with the new technology as well as working to pass on the snow-safety knowledge through magazine columns and pro mentorship. And together with JP and Jeremy, he dreamed up the west coast’s biggest Jibfest. His influence is broad, but his character is still more defined by faith, fatherhood and surfing. Just don’t call him a pioneer or you might piss off the nicest guy in snowboarding.

  • JLA

    It is beyond tragic when one of our own dies in their prime. But to see their greater presence live on is a testament to who they were and the impact they made while we were lucky enough to have them here. Jeff Anderson was that type of person, a constantly innovative rider with a creative outlook and a passionate, positive energy that uplifted everyone who came in contact with him. His charge for all types of riding took him from the X Games to the Baker LBS and form jibs to pow to rails.

    JLA’s progressive street and backcountry riding pushed what we all thought possible, but it has his ideas that sparked the growth of the modern rail jam, the creation of jib-specific park features and the evolution of the urban street scene. Eight years after the accident, his legacy endures through and I Am Snowboarding art movement, the JLA Memorial Fund and the Brothers Skatepark in Mammoth Lakes, the hometown where he and his brother Billy learned to ride. We miss him.

  
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