John “JG” Gerndt, 1985 US Open. Photo: Trevor Graves

Snowboarding culture may have a shorter history than most competitive athletics, but its time on the map has been marked by a uniquely progressive growth. Point it and charge the steeps at terminal velocity or jib and press at stylish pace. Whatever. We’re all sliding for the good of the sport.

A lot of the history of snowboarding in Vermont, and just snowboarding in general, is summed up by this 1985 shot of John “JG” Gerndt. In the beginning it was about speed and running gates. Every year at the US Open Snowboarding Championships hosted in Vermont, the number of riders competing was growing exponentially. And note the lost art of duct tape on your gear for whatever the advantage might be. JG, a board shaper, still works with Burton and can be found riding something for the future or the scrapyard at Stowe more often than not.

Each Thursday we present a photo from the annals of snowboarding history in Vermont.