BURLINGTON, Vt.—A half-dozen ski resorts in New England and the West are joining in protests against two new lines of snowboards that feature images of Playboy models and cartoons of self-mutilation.
Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont says it has banned employees from using the Love and Primo boards made by Burton Snowboards.
Vail Resorts has prohibited employees of its Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone resorts in Colorado and California’s Heavenly Mountain from using the Love boards or any other inappropriate, offensive or suggestive equipment while on duty.
“This is something that’s not in sync with who we are and what we value at Smuggs,” said Smugglers’ spokeswoman Barbara Thomke, citing its reputation as a family resort. “We certainly think Burton has an excellent product, but we take exception to these lines.”
Sugarbush also may take action. On the resort’s Web site, President Win Smith Jr. said Sugarbush can’t ban the use of the Love Board, but can make sure its employees are not riding them, and that its stores are not selling them.
The boards led to a demonstration last week outside Burton’s headquarters in Burlington, Vt.
Burton CEO Laurent Potdevin says the company supports freedom of artistic expression and stands by the limited edition boards.
The company produced 1,000 Love boards and less than 1,000 Primo boards for the 2009 line and says it expects the boards to become collector’s items, rarely seen on the slopes.
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Information from: The Burlington Free Press,
