Retro is back! The Burton Icons Collection

May 12th 2023

Burton takes a trip back in time and brings four iconic boards from the past back to life!

We all know how vintage is making a comeback in our current era. It seems like a kind of dynamic loop of trends that keep returning. For example the rib fabric, shoulder pads or Y2K (a kind of apple bottom jeans type beat). But not only the fashion world seems to be under the spell of vintage. Burton also claims its place within this loop with their awesome Burton Icons line!

Four iconic Burton snowboards and crewsweaters

The line consists of four snowboards with matching crewsweaters that’ll match you with your board. We as Duijvestein Winterstore have been given the honor to sell these boards. We’re the only ones in the Netherlands as well to have these iconic snowboards in our store. Are you a real collector and interested in buying one of these legendary snowboards? Then this blog post is for you! Let's start at the beginning of this line, back to 1987…

Burton 1987 Elite

Welcome to the year 1987! The year of acid washed jeans, breakdance, neon colors and last but not least; the year in which "Never gonna give you up" by Rick Astley was a world hit.

1987 was also the year in which the legendary Burton Elite snowboard appeared on the market. The Elite is an iconic piece of snowboarding history that has had a significant impact on the sport and the snowboarding industry as a whole. This board was an important milestone in the evolution of snowboards and has set the standard for modern snowboard design.

The Burton Elite was designed by Jake Burton Carpenter, the founder of Burton Snowboards. It was a board that marked the transition from traditional boards to snowboards. The Elite model was specifically designed for freestyle riding and quickly became popular among snowboarders around the world.

The success of the Burton Elite in 1987 fueled major growth for the Burton Snowboards brand and laid the foundation for further innovations in the years that followed. The Elite model quickly became a favorite among professional snowboarders and helped popularize the sport.

The reissue that we now have in store has exactly the same look as the one from '87 but is built more to today's standard. Not to forget with a matching crewsweater in the same print as this legendary piece of snowboarding history!

Wanna know more about this board? Check the description via our website: Burton 1987 Elite.

Burton 1995

Kelly Air We travel further to 1995. The year of baggy clothes, platform sneakers, hip-hop and don’t forget denim on denim. Grunge dominated the music scene in the USA and in the Netherlands… err, does anyone remember Paul de Leeuw's “Voorbij”…?

Not only in the field of music things went better in the United States than in The Netherlands. The US also led the pack when it came to snowboard performance. For the next board, the Burton Kelly Air, we would like to introduce Craig Kelly.

Craig Kelly was an important figure in the evolution of snowboarding and left an indelible mark on the sport. Kelly was a four-time world champion, a four-time winner of the US Open and a three-time winner of the Mt Baker Banked Slalom.

He was instrumental in shaping the trajectory of snowboarding and defining its style. Burton himself describes him as a "soul rider with an engineer's eye". And he was one of a kind! His iconic Kelly Air Snowboard, first released in 1995, marked a new era in snowboard performance and opened up the world of big mountain riding.

Although the Burton Kelly Air has become a classic, it’s still a reminder of the cutting-edge technology and progressive design of the 1990s. It has paved the way for further innovations in the snowboard industry and contributed to the evolution of freestyle riding.

The Burton Kelly Air has earned its place as one of the most influential snowboards of all time and continues to inspire snowboarders of all levels. Our store sells the 2024 retro edition of this legendary board in the original design with modern materials.

The artwork on the board called "the scary tree" is by artist Douglas Smith, known for his scratchboard artwork where he creates an inverted image by removing the dark to reveal the light background. A super cool print that can also be found on the matching crewsweater!

Want to find out more about the Burton 1995 Kelly Air snowboard? Check the description via our website!

Burton 1996 Dolphin

We move on to one year later, 1996. The year of denim overalls, The Spice Girls, the Macarena and metallic fabrics for a futuristic look. But these fabrics weren't the only ones with this look in '96. The next board, the Burton Dolphin also seemed to come from the future.

The Dolphin was the first model to be issued for a female pro rider. The board was designed by Shannon Dunn Downing. Downing is a former professional snowboarder from the US who won bronze at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. She did this with the 1996 Dolphin she designed on the Halfpipe element.

Downing herself said the next about her Dolphin: ‘’I’m proud of the mark this board has made for women not only in snowboarding, but in the world at large. The Dolphin was truly ahead of its time because it remains a cutting-edge freestyle snowboard board to this day.’’

The Dolphin was created with a close collaboration between Downing and the Burton Product Team. The goal was a softer flex and feel. This was ultimately achieved through the testing of many prototypes and the expertise of both Downing and Burton itself. What made the 1996 Dolphin stand out was its use of a revolutionary composite material called "Dolphin™", suitable, don't you think?

This material was developed by Burton and combined several layers of fiberglass and resin to create a strong, lightweight and responsive snowboard. Another notable feature of the Burton 1996 Dolphin was the "Pro-Flex™" system. This system consisted of a flexible wood core with strategically placed fiberglass reinforcements, resulting in a dynamic and responsive handling. A system that made a major contribution to achieving the goal during the design of this snowboard: the softer flex and feel.

The board has had a lasting impact on freestyle riding and has contributed to the evolution of the sport. With its unique design and technical innovations, the Burton 1996 Dolphin remains a sought-after collector's item and a symbol of the progressive spirit of snowboarding culture in the 1990s.The board also contributed to a more inclusive snowboard culture by being made entirely for the female rider.

Want to read more about this board? Check the description on our website: Burton 1996 Dolphin.

Burton 2011 Nug

We are making a chronological leap to the 21st century. Welcome to the fourth and final stage, the year 2011. A year that probably lays a little fresher in the memory. The year of William and Kate's Royal Wedding, peplum tops and the unforgettable: "Ik neem je mee" by Gers Pardoel.

For Burton, 2011 was a year with the slogan: long live the fun when they released their Burton Nug. Is this slogan your life motto? Then read on quickly, because the Nug is back! The Nug is a revolutionary addition to the world of snowboarding. The unique design allows riders to ride a shorter board without sacrificing stability or control. Herefore you should ride the Nug about 8 to 10cm shorter than a regular board.

The Nug was developed using Burton's Flying V profile, which offers the perfect combination of camber and rocker. This makes for a playful and forgiving ride, while Squeezebox technology provides energy transfer and responsiveness.

Whether you're a parkrat craving new tricks, a freerider looking to devour the deepest powder or just an all-mountain adventurer, the Burton Nug offers versatility and performance. With its small size, it is also easy to maneuver in narrow aisles and busy slopes. No wonder the Nug's tagline is "One hit and you're totally hooked!’’

In short (pun not intended), the Burton 2011 Nug snowboard is an absolute must-have for snowboarders looking for a unique and exciting ride, without compromising on performance and control. A small board with great fun!

The accompanying crewsweater is also worth checking out! The print on the Burton 2011 Nug is as striking as the board itself. A print that returns on the crewsweater. Burton is known for its bold and creative graphics and the 2011 Nug snowboard is no exception. Really cool!

Want to read more about this board? Check the description on our website: Burton 2011 Nug.

With this we arrive in 2023 and our journey is over for the time being. Haven't had enough of time travel? Then take a look inside our store or our webshop and let yourself be transported to the past with these legendary snowboards.

Snowboards come and go but Icons are forever!

+ - What is the Burton Icons Collection and what makes it special?

The Burton Icons Collection is a curated collection of products by Burton, a renowned snowboarding company. What makes it special is that it showcases some of the most iconic and influential products from Burton's history, celebrating the brand's heritage and innovation.

+ - Are the products in the Burton Icons Collection limited edition or are they continuously updated?

The products in the Burton Icons Collection can vary in availability. Some items may be released as limited editions, while others could be part of ongoing production or periodic releases. It's best to check with Burton or authorized retailers for specific details about availability and updates.