May the Board Be With You

Burton Snowboards previously partnered with Lucasfilm to create the R2-D2 Helmets for kids and a line of 2011/2012 Burton Chopper Star Wars boards, with graphics featuring battle scenes and Star Wars characters including Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett. The gear design is great enough, but they’ve gone […]

All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.

burton star wars experience

Burton Snowboards previously partnered with Lucasfilm to create the R2-D2 Helmets for kids and a line of 2011/2012 Burton Chopper Star Wars boards, with graphics featuring battle scenes and Star Wars characters including Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett. The gear design is great enough, but they've gone a step beyond and designed a snowboard learning experience.

Sierra at Tahoe's Burton Star Wars Experience open recently at the California resort, with programs to introduce snowboarding to kids between the ages of 3 and 6. The park features an area known as Yoda’s Riglet Park, designed specifically for younglings and padawans to learn how to shred.

Burton Snowboards has been working to expand snowboarding opportunities for younger kids. They have focused on manufacturing smaller gear with graphics designed for the youngest riders. The company has also partnered with resorts to create Learn to Ride programs that break through the 6-year-old barrier for snowboard lessons and rentals at many ski areas.

I think they are missing out by only making the equipment in those smaller sizes. I'd happily slap an R2-D2 helmet on my head and a Darth Vader snowboard on my feet.