It’s hard to fully appreciate the gravity of filming twenty consecutive video parts. This year marks that big two-zero for Jesse Burtner. Were thinking this needs to be a record.
Like many of you reading and watching this, I hadn’t even stepped foot on a snowboard in 1997 when Jesse released his first full part. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that I would first strap in, and 2003 that I would see Jesse’s influence on snowboarding for the first time. A friend of mine acquired Steezin’ for No Reason the summer before at High Cascade Snowboard Camp, and that fall we watched it on repeat until our eyes were dry and bloodshot. The following year, Thunk made its debut and began the legacy that Think Thank Productions is today. Again, we watched it until the movie was hardly playable, and then we watched again.
Jesse’s career was forced to take a turn after a serious brain injury in 2002. It redirected him, and was ultimately the birth of an entire new style in snowboarding. It prompted a shift to focus on style, originality, and most importantly, having fun. You can’t even begin to discuss creativity in snowboarding without focusing the conversation around Think Thank, and Jesse Burtner is at its heart and soul.
In 2005, I had the opportunity to go to High Cascade Snowboard Camp. It was the year of Cue the Birds. Getting the chance to meet Jesse and the Think Thank crew—being fully immersed in the experience—has undoubtedly had an influence on my life with snowboarding. Movies like Patchwork Patterns and Cool Story used to live in the DVD player, and only made their way to the grave after they no longer played. Jesse is the Godfather of the one footer, the brain behind mini-shred, and a snowboard influencer rivaled by few.
But what is almost crazier to comprehend than the previous twenty years, is the fact he is still going. Jesse is a husband, a father, a mentor, and a legend. Jesse, thank you for all you have, and continue to give to snowboarding. We can’t wait to see number twenty one.
Watch Also: Think Thank: Methods of Prediction – Jesse Burtner
From Think Thank:
It’s now been 20 consecutive years of Jesse Burtner video parts, 1997 to 2016. “Stacked Footy” looks back on these years through the eyes of Jesse and his friends and family. Jesse’s journey was heavily impacted by those close to him, pushing him and laughing with him every step of the way. When a traumatic brain injury threatened his snowboard career he was challenged to change his approach to life, snowboarding and the video parts that define him. With the eclectic talents of fellow riders and friends as well as Jesse’s deep connection and collaboration with his wife and Think Thank co-founder Christina “Pika” Burtner he was able to go the distance and reach this milestone. How do you sum up 20 years of great times, hard work, smiles, stomps, NBDs, slams, tapes and friendships? You can’t. This is merely a snap shot of Jesse’s two decade commitment to love and life. With a whole lot of snowboarding in there too. Thanks Brain!
