Media Release

Director’s Statement - Fernando Villena

Dear Rider

The protagonist of Dear Rider, Jake Burton Carpenter, passed away only weeks before we began filming.

Fortunately, he had time to share his stories, vision and wishes for this film with us, along with his family and closest friends, who would be integral in sharing his story with the world.

With the family’s blessing, the producers and I were determined to make a film that would capture Jake’s vitality and exuberance, his expansive vision and generous spirit, and his insatiable passion for life. And I was determined to do it using his own voice. We began collecting archival interviews, family home movies, and even Jake’s own writing.

My background is not in snowboarding, so I was able to develop a story from an objective perspective. This allowed me to craft a character driven piece with the aim of allowing Jake’s story to touch those from far outside the snowboarding world. All while reminding people in Jake’s words to “have as much fun as possible.”

We were also fortunate to be able to film the 2020 Burton US Open of Snowboarding, which was held soon after Jake’s passing. We captured the way this community mourned and celebrated the man who had brought them all together and had given them their shared pursuit and passion.

Two weeks later, the world shut down.

During the difficult days of 2020, it was Jake’s optimism and vision that guided us. We fought through fear and isolation to discover new ways of collaborating and making a film. And found light in his journey.

Dear Rider is more than a tribute to a visionary entrepreneur or a history of snowboarding—it’s a story about building community, about taking fun seriously, and about the mark we each leave on the world. In an era of crisis and division, we feel that Jake’s passion will resonate and inspire.

It has truly inspired all of us.