Donna Carpenter | The Bomb Hole Episode 172

Owner and Chair of the Board for Burton, Donna Carpenter is uncensored and unapologetically herself - and boy do we like it. For some reason, almost all of us snowboarders have something in common. Regardless of our upbringing, snowboarding has been there for us to turn to in rough times and in good. Many of us have found a family through snowboarding and no matter who you are, you have a space here. Since day one, Donna has been committed to not only creating but cultivating and supporting this culture we all know as home. We dive into the history of Burton, their biggest challenges, and everything you need to know about Donna Carpenter. So sit down and buckle up for the conversation of the century on this week's episode of The Bomb Hole!
‪@ChillFoundation‬ Opportunity Drawing Entry:
secure.qgiv.com/for/bombholeb...
Show Notes:
Chill: www.chill.org
Dear Rider: www.burton.com/us/en/c/dear-r...
Trailer for "Let It Ride: The Craig Kelly Story": • Let It Ride Trailer-Th...
"The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom" by Don Miguel Ruiz
"Let My People Go Surfing" by Yvon Chouinard
Keep up with Donna Carpenter on social media
Instagram: / donnacarpenter
Keep up with Burton
KZbin: ‪@BurtonSnowboards‬
Website: www.burton.com/us/en/home
Instagram: / burton
/ burtonsnowboards
Follow Chris & Mary
Chris Grenier: / grendiesel
Mary Walsh: / walshmt
All things Bomb Hole
Website: thebombhole.com/
Web Store: thebombhole.com/collections/f...
Instagram: / thebombhole
Listen on Apple Podcast: apple.co/3UEm0l5
Listen on Spotify: sptfy.com/BombHoleSpotify
This episode is sponsored by
10 Barrel’s Pub Beer: 10barrel.com/beer/pub-beer
Capita: capitasnowboarding.com
Union: unionbindingcompany.com
Oakley: www.oakley.com/en-us
Ikon: www.ikonpass.com
Woodward: www.woodwardparkcity.com
Special thank you to our Patreon Members for making our show possible!
Learn more and become a member: / thebombhole
Chapters-
00:00 Intro
2:24 From Texas to Snowboarding
9:51 Creating Burton Snowboards
20:11 Creating A Family
46:56 Bubs Naturals
48:01 Defined by Failures
56:05 Women's Initiative
1:08:25 Product Talk
1:21:56 The Boston Celtics & The US Open
1:33:30 The Olympics
1:48:48 Woodward
1:49:45 NTVP Presented by Ikon
1:54:05 When Burton Sneezes, We All Get Sick
1:58:08 Sobriety
2:05:03 Chill Foundation (Opportunity Drawing)
2:16:52 Privately Owned / The Middle Finger / Becoming A Leader
2:33:04 The 4 Agreements
2:36:36 Emerging Markets
2:41:14 Leaning on Family
2:45:03 Hot Takes
2:52:24 Pub Beer Crap Shoot
2:53:46 Set Ups / What's Next / Thank You's
Copyright Bomb Hole Media Inc. 2023
#TheBombHole #Snowboarding #DonnaCarpenter #RideOnJake

[@BurtonSnowboards]

Ready the Mega Airhorn™🔊

[@chino06013]

Donna calling out Jamie Salter was FIRE-love it!🔥

[@ryangregohara]

Where is that part?

[@Chilly_Chaz]

This episode made me really appreciate Burton more. I'll admit it, I've always been somewhat of a "Burton hater," but hearing Donna talk about all the efforts Burton takes to put their employees first (especially women) while also always prioritizing snowboarding is amazing.

[@user-sz5do5fn5b]

Give your bals a tug.

[@jovantrendmaker4722]

They just throw away people after years of riding... Terje Hakonsen made Burton so much exposure wrote for them 30+ years and they just throw him away now that he is old. Same with Shaun White he won every contest for Burton and now that he is old they dont need him anymore sick

[@Bohdisattva326]

I was a low level hater myself until a few yrs ago. I was in New England for work , got done early and drove up to B for the free tour. It was just me. It was incredible. The crew there lives and breathes shred. They took me into Craig’s and let me mess around with presses and look at shapes. Donna was there and came over to chat. It was amazing and changed my thoughts on the brand immediately..

[@BigBenny28000]

Mary Walshe’s face when Donna tells them you have to be a ski instructor before becoming a snowboard instructor in france is everything 😂😂😂😂

[@BugsySailor]

So much respect for Donna’s transparency and willingness to talk about the hard things.

[@snowvantures]

The thing that I loved hearing about was the friendship between Jake and Mark. This supports my belief that snowboarders at their core are ageless and never forget to play 🤙 Thank you The Bomb Hole, thank you Mary and of course thank you Donna.

[@chrisdrews1579]

3 whole hours with snowboardings mom and im here for it

[@Highnoonshred]

Going on my 30th year snowboarding; who has Cerebral Palsy and is an adaptive snowboard coach... chilll was and is one of my favorite programs I coached up at Brighton! Much ❤

[@griffinedmonds8263]

This one's gonna make me cry. Thank you Donna and Ride on Jake 💙

[@woodward]

Shout out all the Moms in snowboarding, but especially THE mom of snowboarding!

[@kyle1376]

Damn when she spoke about snowboarding being more than an activity but a spiritual pursuit it made me very emotional. There’s just nothing in the world like it. Crying right now just thinking about what it means to me. Can’t wait for the season

[@bdpowder1874]

Great Episode ! Much respect to the Carpenters

[@pantonson]

This was amazing. Such huge props to Donna and the Bomb Hole. Just beautiful

[@TheBombHole]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@m1andonlytwice]

@@TheBombHolecan y’all create a page that indicates each interviewees favorite board graphic with the image? Would be so cool to see.

[@lovemysosa]

The way kimmy spoke about donna really brought a tear to my eye, love this community and all the love that’s spread around in it.

[@erikbrown8886]

Thank you for this episode. One of the show's best

[@antoinehxc]

What an interview. I'm so glad she brought up the Snowboarding instructor situation in France. This bullshit has been going on for way too long ! I would have been an instructor 15 years ago already if I didn't have to go through the FFS nightmare.

[@DGKChoice]

Havent listened but this whole episode deserves a mega airhorn! 🔊🔊

[@halfcabking]

One of my favorite podcasts so far.

[@krohner5190]

Really nice interview.Loved it. I hope we can see the goat Terje Haakonsen soon as well aka chocorompe!

[@MarcusZed]

The first lady of shredding- So stoked for this ep!!!

[@psalmsurfer1]

What a legacy and history..I remember as a kid in 1980s getting Burton catalogs advertising old Backhills and such and drooling over the pictures because all I had was a Snurfer to ride down my driveway in Philly lol

[@MarcioDSX]

What a great show. I m glad the snowboard industry was built by people like Dona. I never paid much attention to their boards, after this interview I might even get one ❤

[@BugsySailor]

Fantastic episode. Love hearing so much of this knowledge and these stories from behind the scenes. Really great to hear Donna's experience.

[@PhilConnors]

"I'll say it to his fucking face." 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@BigBenny28000]

Oh the words on Shaun White hit…. fkn love it, she’s so fkn real & honest!

[@octodave2320]

So you enjoyed her, dragging him under the bus after he made them millions and millions and millions of dollars #NobodysPerfect she’s classless doing that to him

[@attractivekid]

@@octodave2320 millions?, his model and clothing line did not sell well for Burton

[@AndrewF970]

1:45:05

[@BlueSkyRide]

She is the FINAL BOSS of snowboarding 🤯😍

[@mikegrayable]

GREAT episode!! She’s a snowboarder through & through!

[@justinmakespeace9909]

Thank you Donna Carpenter for giving shirts and hoodies to the homeless in burlington ❤

[@jojojohansen]

She didn't hold punches like some pusillanimous peeps... Met her son George when he was mentoring kids-the whole family gives back big time. Respect to the Carpenter fam.

[@jpalarchio]

Amazing interview, thanks for this one!

[@braxton420ful]

Momma Burton is a G!

[@nathanb7468]

Boss Level Banter and FLAMING hot takes! Loved every minute. 🙌

[@bob6693]

Love, love, love this episode. What a legend.

[@thechampagneroom1]

Such a cool interview, so glad to hear from her

[@6to8john]

Epic episode here, wow!!!! Also keep Mary on the show, great co-host!!! Thank you Donna !!!❤

[@TheBombHole]

Stoked to have Mary co-host for this episode!

[@jiboperator3140]

Burton gear lasts, don’t care what anyone says. I rocked some lo back Cartels for years, one of the best bindings ever 🚀 Also shout to Luke and Zeb NC boys 🤙🏽

[@monstrobonstro]

That was absolutely awesome! Pure gold!

[@marekogien3533]

I was sceptical about watching it but this one is big! Some great true and inspiring stories

[@raulatw1]

I wished Jeremy jones had been on the booth too because only then he could have countered some of the arguments, nevertheless it was great

[@kaelincassidy5693]

More Mary, Please.

[@jcloud177]

Never knew much about her before but she is so badass!!

[@user-kh9bn6hi7q]

Snowboarding is blessed to have Jake and Donna.

[@angelacino194]

this was awesome! thank you :)

[@dave_mayes]

Awesome!!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@tomgesner9731]

Great intvw Chris Thankyou

[@Tbro91]

What a wonderful human. That was a great episode

[@theniceguy219]

Donna made so much money of Shaun, when Shaun was a Child!!!! Talk about aligning yourself with people with similar values 😂😂😂 . She’s gotta throw shade at him because now he’s got his own company @Burtonsnowboards is a fuckin joke man. 1:45:07

[@KOTAbiodynamics]

What a legend 🫶🏿

[@garry_taylor]

The godmother of snowboarding ❤

[@ANETOKILLE]

Listening to her, I can understand how much we snowboarders owe to this lady. This lady with the "we ride together" philosophy makes it hard for me to understand things like decommissioning Un..Inc and riders like J. Jones. I'm not criticizing her, Burton is very big... I would have loved to see J.Jones speak to Burton's forefront figure (in a constructive way). Very good episode, congrats

[@careybrah6938]

What a great story, what a fucken boss. People first, "we make the pie bigger", great vision. Would be curious to see the products that didnt make it.

[@samthiff1]

Lengend wait for it.... Dary!!!!!!!! Legendary!

[@idxstyle]

Epic, what a great leader of the industry with a huge amount of wisdom!

[@mikemulrooney4574]

That was a pretty amazing interview!! She is a pretty rad and amazing woman🫶

[@morganverdure6116]

As a french ,yes the 'ecole francaise de ski " has really harmed snowboarding teaching in france and of course snowboard market especially for the youngsters. I guess the woman who's Donna is talking about is marion hearty. That is why french and british snowboarders (in france) do not teach snowboarding. Even the ski teachers admit that the level required for snowboarding for their exam is absolutely supid if not non existent.

[@james2shall549]

YES!

[@udruzenjefreestylera]

Great episode! Amazing that nobody ask about Terje & Burton and also Forum story..

[@BA-jq3vc]

Awesome interview so pumped to hear her boys are keeping Burton family and F Jaime S!

[@FredvanSchie]

Great interview, respect for Donna. Stoked Chris Vos and Lisa Bunschoten got a shoutout.

[@survivor1time]

UNREAL 🔥🔥🔥

[@JackWutang]

Fire episode

[@parkjoe1]

Banger episode incredibly educational business insights and learning lessons to be had from this

[@user-gw4et7er5f]

One of the best, and most anticipated episodes yet.... Fuck yeah Donna!!!!!!!

[@Clarke1982]

Wasn't keen on her assessment of Shaun White. It sounded really bitchy. He has done so much for snowboarding and he has represented it in a very positive light to the mainstream. He also had his reasons for not being completely in the 'core'. It's lame that that is even a thing, that you have to be core. He loves snowboarding and that's all that matters.

[@FleeceJohnson666]

LOVE this! Sidenote: I have the biggest crush on Mary Walsh. Please give us SO much more of Mary on the pod

[@mattwixson5360]

Damn, I guess I like Burton now. Always felt it when we lost Jake but didn't know shit about the company, other than it was "too main stream". Donna is truly the mom of snowboarding. Great episode!

[@AV-fh8rd]

Love this episode. Being in the industry, I've always been a fan or Burton's ethos. They get a ton of hate for not being "core" but they're literally still a family company, run by the founders without outside investors... Every rep I talk to loves working for the fam... Could you imagine you're so core that you have to defend your "core-ness" ? lol.... "Core-porate" is how I view 'em. I found it ironic that after the Shaun White part, bomb hole is advertising for Ikon lol

[@Fishnutz737]

Really great

[@eugenearchibald7375]

Donna being gangster! "Respect!" 😂

[@user-wo4lz7lb1p]

Just starting this episode. Please tell me they get Her to do the Smelling salts. I am here for it either way but that would be amazing! hahhahah

[@Chilly_Chaz]

oh yea they did!

[@MattMcCormickSnow]

Mary is such a good interviewer/host

[@BugsySailor]

Agreed! Her questions were solid. Loved her insight.

[@slowtrain4422]

Mary did a great job supporting Chris on this interview!! More Mary!

[@TheBombHole]

So stoked to have Mary in the booth to co-host! We gotta convince her to sit down to record her own episode soon!

[@olasbanditoss5529]

I wish we could have heard about the CI surfboard ownership debacle that recently went down 😂

[@crowe9385]

Curious if her comments on Shaun would be any different having heard his recent interview.

[@pizk6210]

This made me really want a steve van doren interview

[@timhunt7155]

I think JG has been a massive loss for burton, I’m sorta confused where the brand is going with boards.

[@307beez]

I agree, seems like they did him wrong after all those years

[@erucader]

❤❤❤

[@iwetardid78]

great episode like every single one that you guys do but the question everyone wants to know is Chris how did you smash your finger? a hammer? was it crushed in a car door? did you give someone the bird too hard? we need answers...

[@TheBombHole]

We believe it was a dirtbike scenario. Great question

[@JOEBOWERY]

First ten minutes in so far, amazing, the romance, the crooked teeth of Jake, Jake being more interesting than the doctor she “was ment to be” with. GO JAKE!! And then off to Europe l, bro!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@rockymanbro]

I like Burton 10x more after this episode. I love how crass she is. Like "Fuck that guy" 🖕

[@jaimevasquez1871]

FIS=Run by skiers (About Olympics) well said.

[@tylerwilson8896]

great episode but where is Bubz?

[@She4rer]

watching this back, i feel like mary should be a regular co-host.

[@ethanh360]

Fuckin great listenting to Donna

[@markfitzurka9995]

Watched the Shawn White interview first and wanted to see what he was hurt over and I back Shawn on this one. She seems to a little harsh on him. Shawn is bigger than her company. He would not have been less big without Burton. I am sure he made the company more money than any other single rider. She doesn’t need to shit on him because she wants to come across core. I still back Burton even though out of 10 backpacks or jackets I have bought over the years only one has not had a zipper problem. Just saying. I like and hate her after watching her interview

[@sammoore4315]

Long lIve Jake

[@obsidian....]

Wow, way to $hit on Shawn, so ungrateful.

[@ethanh360]

Donna fuckin rocks

[@787miisla8]

Genuinely interested in what she didn’t want to say but passively said about the Goat. When you say well we now align with people who align with our views(paraphrasing) Wait I don’t know the man are you saying Shaun White was debating storming the capitol on Jan 6? Is his next hat going to be red and say make snowboarding great again? Or are you just saying he just isn’t with Burton anymore in product speak? 😂😂 So many questions…😂

[@thebaronvoneric87]

Ride on Jake…

[@IPSUMstudio1]

When will we see Terje?

[@tstayin]

What a great story and brand. That being said, Donna should publicly apologize to Shaun White. Shaun was the GOAT. Just like Tiger, Serena, Michael Jordan…they had to be different to be best. Burton signed up for the sport of Snowboarding. She had multiple chances to cancel him, but didn’t. Just wrong to diss him after all he did for Burton.

[@DJEpisteme]

Donna's the person I'd not want to have a beer with!

[@andiabel212]

There are some great moments and statements here, some props sre definitely due for some great history and positive input to the sport snd culture, no doubt... as well some quite uncool ones. The way she talked about Shaun being one of them. She also does show on several occasions to fall for the same trap many supposedly progressive thinking people fall for these days. Mistaking illiberalism for diversity. The latter is great, but if you can't work things out with a non-native speaking loyal longtime teamrider that mistakingly still used an expression most of us older riders have been guilty of using in the past, then you aren't diverse or core or team rider driven or have great values but just hypocrite and illoyal to the goats that helped build your brand in the first place. Diversity shouldn't be just diversity of skin colour and gender but also of different opinions, be it politics, society culture or whatever. Either you leave politics out of snowboarding or you don't but then don't exclude people who think differently under a false pretense of diversity or democratic company structure.

[@ebaybudtender72]

Such a banger

[@Fishnutz737]

Burton gear lasts thats fo sho

[@hurtadarryl]

She seems like a hypocrite. Talks about being core and being for the snowboarders while suing governing bodies demanding places on the board, dei quotas and then trashing their cash cow Shaun White after he left making her millions and millions of dollars in the process. She'd probably be the first one to tell Shaun off for failing to meet his sponsorship requirements or making them look bad and remind him who pays his cheques.

[@32srt32]

jake said the story about the snowboards was left with 40 snowboards and came back with 42 because 2 more boards were returned.

[@Tbro91]

🫶🏼

[@user-sz5do5fn5b]

I can name a lot of companies that have “invested more” in snowboarding.