The "Play Hard" Part - Welcome to the Burton Fall Bash

October 04, 2017

“Work hard, play hard” is an easy ethos to claim, but at Burton we consider it an essential art form. These good times feed the fire and remind us why we do exactly what we’re doing.

Some traditions aren't easy to do justice with words, and the Fall Bash feels like that. Simply put, Jake and Donna invite a couple thousand people to their home in Stowe, Vermont and, well, the rumors are true: nobody throws a better party.

train — Early on, the Fall Bash is all about the next generation.

Fall Bash - 3up 3 — Face painting is a favorite.

Somehow, each Fall Bash seems to exceed the last and on the Sunday after the ‘gram reveals that people leave fired up on the season and our sport. It’s impossible to be a guest at this party without feeling loved by the hosts, and cliché or not, it’s productive to re-calibrate and sense gratitude for the place we find ourselves in.

Donna and Jake looking calm and collected before serving dinner.

lineup — It starts at reception. Weather was perfect and the lighting was prime.

That paella is a crowd pleaser. All food is locally sourced and we compost all scraps.

This year a few changes truly leveled things up, like a bigger dance floor and better sound, tasty dinner additions, and a late-night barbecue delivery to the back barn bar. As usual, we caught up with colleagues, business partners, family, and friends from near and far over local food, live music, and general good times with good people. Those of us from the north are ready for winter and our southern hemi friends just had their fill, so the energy was up.

Once the sun goes down things start moving a little faster.
Jack Mitrani's always down for a good time.
What's up Anna Gasser and Mark McMorris?
Fastest way from the main house to the concert. Some kids get to stay after dark.
This trio sets the tone: Greg Dacshyn, Jake Burton, and Anne-Marie Dacshyn.
What's a party without one?
Local legends Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band warmed things up after dinner.
Late-night delivery to keep the energy up.
DJ Jazzy Jeff threw down for a long, funky, non-stop dance party.
Crowd was feeling it.

There was a recurring conversation throughout the night: We’re all here because we love what we do, but at work we hustle hard. It’s not always blizzards and party time...it’s possible to get lost in the grind on occasion. This play hard piece—these traditions, our people, and this lifestyle—is a reminder of why we’re here, and the feeling of fortune always hits hard.

sustainability — Most of our Sustainability crew with a lot to be proud of. The Fall Bash is a ZERO-WASTE event.

Fall Bash - Slideshow 7 — Burton President, John Lacy, started in Rider Services way back in the day. He's been to a few Bashes.

It doesn't feel like a work party, it feels like pure celebration and a judgement free zone. Some might call our way of networking unprofessional, but cutting loose with our colleagues has a positive effect on collaboration within HQ and across continental lines.

If Burton wasn’t family owned, who knows what the Fall Bash and other aspects of our culture would be. In a community committed to progression, lots of things change. But it’s really nice that some things don’t.