Photo: Jake Burton
It takes a lot to keep Jake Burton Carpenter from getting on the hill at least 100 days a year. 100 days is the annual goal for the snowboard pioneer. The last time he came up short was 2011. Unfortunately, he had a good excuse — he’d been diagnosed with testicular cancer. When doctors announced he was cancer free in early 2012, Carpenter was back to his old ways and started his streak all over again. And despite more health issues, the 61-year old pioneer is working toward hitting 100 days in 2015.
Back in March, the legend was diagnosed a severe case of Miller Fisher Syndrome. It even left him on life support with temporary full body paralysis for nearly two months. (The disease is characterized by the body’s immune system attacking nerves, resulting in a paralysis, like Carpenter’s. For some people, full recovery is possible within six months.) By the end of April, Carpenter had fought his way out of the ICU to start rehabilitation in Boston. And now, according to a recent release from Burton Snowboards, he’s made so much progress that the rehab efforts have moved back home in Vermont. No longer in a hospital bed, doctors expect a full recovery within months.
Since Jake is such an awesome human, we’re sure all that good karma had a little to do with fast tracking his recovery and setting him up to to finish out those 100 days when winter comes back around!
“Can’t wait to get back to BC.” Photo: Jake Burton via Instagram
