NZSnowboard.com - The home of New Zealand Snowboarding

24th November 2008

Brighton, CO, USA - Billed by opposing sides as a standoff over free speech vs. school security, administrators at Brighton High School northeast of Denver this week backed down from their ban of stickers bearing the logo of Grenade Gloves, a company founded by two-time Olympic silver medalist pro snowboarder Danny Kass.

Stickers from ski and snowboard equipment company Grenade Gloves, such as this one seen on a Brighton, Colo. high school student's vehicle this week, stirred controversy at the school northeast of Denver after school officials demanded that the stickers be removed.

Kathy Gustad, an English and journalism teacher and head of the school newspaper at Brighton High School says several students were called into the school Vice Principal's office on Friday and told to remove the Grenade stickers from their cars, indicating that they were offensive and a symbol of terrorism. Gustad says that the students explained that the stickers depicting a hand grenade are simply logos for snowboard and ski gear company Grenade Gloves. Cars belonging to a number of Brighton High School teachers also sported the stickers. Ironically, the company's slogan is "Make Gloves, Not War," and Kass himself has toured war-torn Afghanistan in support of U.S. troops stationed there.

Students indicate that after refusing to remove the stickers on Monday, they were told that they would be ticketed if they parked on school grounds, and could also face additional disciplinary action. On Tuesday the students obeyed the order by parking their cars off school grounds, but did not remove the stickers. The students also ran extensive coverage of the controversy in their school newspaper.

Late Tuesday afternoon, school administrators backed down from their position, and allowed Grenade stickers school on school grounds. School district spokesperson Allison Lockwood was quoted in Denver-area media that the students raised the issue in the manner that they are taught to do.

Kass is sending a large box of stickers to the students to congratulate them on their efforts. Kass told reporters Tuesday night, "I'm really proud of those kids and fans who stuck up for it, and stuck up for their rights and made it acceptable."

The Grenade logo represents a unique company that exploded onto the snowboarding and action sports scene. The Portland, Oregon-based company encourages living a brave, constructive lifestyle to the fullest. There's no war connection, and Grenade has never advocated violence.






LINK:   www.grenadegloves.com