This Charming New England Mountain Town Is One of the Best Places for Snowboarding-How to Plan a Visit

"For Donna Carpenter, Stowe, Vermont, isn't just a buzzy winter destination; it's a research and development lab and also her home. In case you didn't immediately recognize the name, Carpenter is the owner and chair of the board of Burton Snowboards and arguably the most powerful woman in winter sports. She'd have every right to be all business, but within seconds of meeting her, it's clear that her success comes from her warmth."

"We met inside the lobby of Burton's headquarters in nearby Burlington, surrounded by professional snowboarders, creators, and a solid handful of dogs running around the office as their owners worked-including one of Carpenter's own right by her side. After a hello, a handshake, and plenty of pats to the head (for the dogs, naturally), we went back to her office to chat about our favorite shared topics: Stowe and the future of snowboarding."

"Stowe is a real community. It's a historic New England town that was here long before the ski area was, and that's one reason I really love it," Carpenter shared of the small town she adores in the Green Mountains. And really, she would know, as she's lived in the area since the '90s, opening a since-closed grocery store with her friend Ina Garten, building Burton Snowboards alongside her late husband, Jake Carpenter, raising their children,"

Donna Carpenter calls Stowe, Vermont her home and a research and development lab for snowboarding. She serves as owner and chair of Burton Snowboards and is a central figure in winter sports. Her success is tied to warmth and community engagement. Burton's headquarters in Burlington hosts professional snowboarders, creators, and pets, reflecting a collaborative culture. Carpenter has lived in the area since the 1990s, opened a grocery store with Ina Garten, helped build Burton with her late husband Jake Carpenter, raised their children, and advocated for snowboarding during its marginal early years. Early snowboarders were young and often unpopular with skiers, but the sport has spread across generations.

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