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He was a snowboarding outsider who brought the sport to a ski resort near you — and to the Olympics

Former Burton employee and ski area manager Paul Alden of Orem died this month at age 89.

(Photo courtesy of the Alden family) Snowboard industry pioneer Paul Alden of Orem died on April 9, 2026, at age 89. Here he is (second from left) during his stint at Burton Snowboards from 1984-1990 with Craig Kelly (right), considered the “Godfather of Freeriding,” Eveline Schnorf-Wirth (left), one of the most influential women in snowboarding, and two-time snowboarding world champion Mark Heingartner (front), one of Burton Snowboard’s first riders.