The state of Vermont, dozens of snowboard enthusiasts and local history buffs dedicated a site

The state of Vermont, dozens of snowboard enthusiasts and local history buffs dedicated a site Tuesday in honor of one of the most iconic brands in the sport, which played a key role in its rise from a curious hobby to an Olympic event. Snowboard lovers used the event to commemorate the birthplace of Burton Snowboards with a small blue sign down the road from where the company was born more than 40 years ago. The sign states that “from its humble beginnings in Londonderry, snowboarding grew from a backyard hobby to one of the world’s most popular winter sports.”   The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation participated in the event to recognize the creation of the first Burton snowboards. Jake Burton founded the company in 1977, preceding a revolution in winter recreation. The company’s Londonderry factory, which was lost in a fire, is critical to the history of snowboarding, said Hilary Batchelor, president of the Londonderry Arts and Historical Society.