Tracing the humble story of a man who took a childhood toy and turned it into a cultural phenomenon, the film Dear Rider (Universal Original documentary produced by Red Bull Media House and directed by Fernando Villena) follows the life of Burton’s founder and namesake Jake Burton Carpenter. Last night’s premiere was tinged with sadness as members of the Aus snowboarding community and Burton family remembered Jake, who passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer.
Attendees were treated to an installation that showed the evolution of snowboards and snowboarding under the stewardship of Jake, as well as a photowall allowing attendees to share a final message with the trailblazer. Check out the gallery above, captured on a Leica camera, including the afterparty at Surry Hills’ Hollywood Hotel. Oh, and don’t forget to catch Dear Rider, available to Stream January 26th Australia and New Zealand here: