Custom Made
Dave Downing’s influence on the snowboard world cannot be overstated. Starting as a rep for Burton snowboards in the early ’90s, he eventually landed on the Burton global pro team as an athlete. You probably know Downing from his standout video parts with Standard Films and Mack Dawg Productions from the mid-’90s into the late 2000s. What you might not know is that he’s been heavily involved in product development, from his pro riding career to his current role with the brand. Specifically, he’s been integral to the evolution of Burton’s bestselling all-mountain mainstay known as the Custom, which he’s been working on for all 30 years of the board’s existence. Here, he’s pictured riding the first iteration of the Custom at Brighton, UT, circa 1996.
Photo: Jeff Curtes
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