An interesting scuffle has erupted over the past few days in the snowboarding community that involves a unique set of characters.  In one corner you have former T.E.S. guest Brooke Geery, founder of the somewhat-interesting snowboarding website YoBeat.com.  In the other corner, you have former T.E.S. guest Jake Burton Carpenter’s mega-snowboard company Burton.  The issue stems from Burton’s annual employee party, and Geery’s recount of the affair.

Geery found a way to gain access to the party, and subsequently wrote a brief review of the soirée.  The only real criticism Geery laid on Burton, outside of the bathroom lights not working, is Burton’s lavish spending on a party in the middle of a recession.  Apparently, Burton and the company’s employees got their panties in a bunch over the rather innocuous story, and requested Geery to take down the piece.  Surprisingly, Geery temporarily relented and did indeed take the article down from YoBeat’s website.

However, after other sites got wind of Geery’s story and the subsequent backlash from Burton, Geery changed her mind and re-posted the article.  This led to a lot of Burton’s employees leaving rather nasty comments on the story. 

In Burton’s defense, I’ve supported their fiscal decisions, particular company head Carpenter’s decision to prevent layoffs and not receive any pay himself, and can see why they would be upset that a guest of their party would turn around and rip the company.  However, their overly-sensitive response seems petty given the circumstances.

In the end, it remains to be seen if Burton, who remains the king of snowboarding equipment and apparel, can handle negativity from media members.  It's bad enough that the Carpenters support a Hall of Fame that bans snowboarders from the mountain.  If they start acting like this every time someone levies criticism, it will open doors not only to other writers going on the attack, but for loyal customers to start considering other brands.  Props to Geery for keeping the story online.  Whether her critique of Burton is warranted remains to be seen, but at least she didn’t kowtow to a corporation’s attempt at censorship.