October 23, 2008 Playboy images draw snowboard protests Play video

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, VT) - A new line of snowboards from Burton is generating a lot of controversy, and today, a large group of people marched to the company's headquarters in Burlington, Vermont to voice their opposition.

Six-year-old Ben Sprenger ushered in the newcomers as they arrived at the event. His mother, Lezlee, was largely responsible for organizing this rally -- to protest some of the newest products at Burton Snowboards.

Burton has come under fire for two new snowboard lines -- the "Love" series, which features vintage Playboy photos and the "Primo" series, which features images of self-mutilation.

A couple hundred people marched to Burton, chanting and waving signs, carrying the message that these lines are offensive to women and inappropriate for children.

Outrage has bubbled over at a couple of social service organizations. Spectrum Youth and Family Services and the Howard Center for Human Services have withdrawn from Burton's Chill Program, which provides access to snowboarding to at-risk kids.

Burton's CEO issued a statement defending its boards, saying "Burton supports freedom of artistic expression. Snowboarding is a sport and a lifestyle where boundaries are pushed in terms of artwork, similar to the world of music, video games and movies."

He went on to say these boards were requested by pro riders, and that they "have been embraced and are a success around the world. We are not breaking any laws

by creating these boards, and it is our sincere belief that these graphics do not condone or encourage violence towards women in any way."

Burton intends to keep the boards on the market to the extreme disappointment of some who feel images like these have no business being on the slopes.