It seems that seeing his partners in crime Romain De Marchi, DCP, and JP Solberg getting dismissed from the Burton global team didn’t really please Gigi Rüf. Their forced departure and consequently the death of the Un…inc program was enough for Gigi to leave the snowboarding giant and join the brand he has been part of for more than 15 years: Volcom! So Gigi will not only be rocking Volcom outerwear but also riding Volcom snowboards for the 2008/2009 season and beyond.
There have been few riders over the years whose riding style, technical ability, fluidity and creativity come together as perfection. Gigi is one of those few, watching him ride is always exciting and inspiring as he opens up new lines with an uncanny mountain sense. It must be instinct, considering his roots run deep in the heart of the Alps.
So while Burton saves its cash to pay the Flying Tomato’s salary every month, we wish Gigi lots of fun with the Volcom family and hope Romain and the others will get some good deals as well very soon.
Oh and I wonder when Burton will update their website and take Gigi out…picture above is courtesy of..Burton 
Here’s the welcome video from Volcom. It rules. Period.
when i first experienced snowboarding…gigi ruff was the first name i remembered from video to video, then in the games…and so on. So i am glad to hear that he is willin to stand by his mates and leave something as big as burton, that is what the sport is all about, doin what you want to do, not what you are told. all the best to mr ruff if you ever read this
Right on Dan!
so your saying that volcom isnt big? i dont understand how people can hate on burton so much and at the same time support corpo giants like quiksilver and volcom. burton is still rider driven and rider owned, volcom on the other hand is owned by countless random shareholders who care about nothing other than getting a return on their investment. hate on burton all you want, they certainly have their flaws, but at least you cant buy it at pac sun.
fyi- its ruf not ruff
We don’t hate on Burton because they are big. It’s pretty sick to see how a company that started in a garage evolved into a global player with the best products and still manages to keep the spirit and lifestyle deep in its roots. It’s just disappointing to see how they can lay off some of their top riders with no real explanation - except maybe making sure they will keep Shaun White for the long term. Burton, more than any other brand, should set the standards in taking care of riders and developping their careers as athletes. Because at the end of the day, it’s not the products, but the people that make your company great.
fyi. thx. mistake corrected
If you guys think you’re media, you definitely should know what you’re talking about. The “disappointment” about Burton is going to my nerves. Its a big company, its a true snowboard company, but still it is THEIR decision which ones ass they like to pamper. Those riders RDM and JP Solberg have been out there a while, getting good money, doing a good job. But in the past years the business started to move quicker, while those guys slowed down.
Its okay if a company decides after MANY years to change horses. Bad for the horse, but hey…
The “Hate Burton”-Bullshit sucks so much, it’s childish. There are so many other companies you should be disappointed about. Well, Volcom does a good job selling a lifestyle very credibly AND making money. Where are all the RDMs, Solbergs and 100s of young riders built up as professionals in the Quik-Team?
Burton is doing a lot for snowboarding, and maybe one day, after all the Stockmarket-Jockeys with their Surfer-Hippie friends down in SoCal and Hossegor took over and destropyed snowboarding, because they didn’t realize that an ocean is not a mountain, a fish is not a horse, the market in France is not Austria not Germany not eastern Europe, and a snowboarder is not necessarily a surfer, that day we all would wish a company like Burton would have acted more, leaded more and shaped the sport even more actively, instead of following their riders whishes most of the time (except the “cleaning” of the teamroster every 5 years).
Damn, I went cross-eyed watching that thing. Sick!
la fin les moyens
A riders driven/fouded company has as exclusiv assets that it was not started to make money(at first), just to developpe a passion. Then succes makes the rest and company growth are following the same rules for a SNBRD than a toaster or chainsaw company
There is a bit of truth in all your letters guys.
the childish reaction are no more that what snowboard market is creating and using for its own good, don’t even bother if these companies are getting back a bit of the flavour they are creating.
The thing is if you feel concern BY RDM’s JP’s DCP cut.
the brand doesn’t consider you as your future targets. You are like these riders to the company, you are the past, thank you coma again( with your kids…) How bad you belived and loved it.
the truth my dear analist, You are right in you view.
But we are talking sportmen view.
What make people push themselves so hard to elevate the sport at such level, is not the expectation of Bonus, it is just the feeling that you do the right thing with the right people. But the fact that you do it for yourself get mixed with the amount of commitement your carreer needs you to have.
I think beliefs make one play in the snbrd world like it’s done is by now( money is not as big).
Remind that it takes more guts for a experienced guy to do what he does than for a rookie, with no broken bones and no avalanche burried friends.
So you are a company, your target is 10/25 up to retarded 30’s. What do you do, keep expensiv truth or swope it for fresh and lowcost dreamers….
You are only able to tell the horse is going down, because the owner is not taking it to the appropriate fields anymore.
The only thing people know of a riders (except results) is a video part, ohhh and who pays the guy to edit shoot and cut video part…..
hha right Big B and other brands, the same brands that want you to buy the very fresh outfit signed by the guy with the very fresh part in the video they commendited….
I don’t appreciate, but understand the nature of the decision. I dont like the end, and I hated the means that have been used.
basically the fruit is still good but Market decides that you that your dream is rotten
SOrry to face the truth that for burton the endless ride is only reserved to Jack…
enjoy man, we are all jalous
SO friends, just stop being so naïv, it will keep you from being desappointed.
I am not worried, those brands you love hate love hate again, know how to please media that will make you love them again soon
Uuuuuuh, yeah buddy. You CAN buy Burton at PacFudge. AND Zum-Floomz. And Rome’s a bunch of fuckin hipocrits for sellin at Zumerz too. And i see why Burton dropped em. Danny Davis is the shit. working at a skate/snow shop, i would naturally never buy or support anything Burton, but damn they got lucky with that kid. plus like half his whole Frends crew just got bumped up to big-paycheck status, so Burton probably figured these old timers had enough experience and credibility to take care of themselves in the ol’ shark tank of an industry we’ve got. But hey, at least we don’t have skateboarding’s talent pool yet. Then we’d REALLY be bitching!