Snowboarding

Snowboarder in a half-pipe

Snowboarder trail entry

Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a snow-covered slope on a snowboard that is attached to one's feet using a boot/binding interface. It is similar to skiing, but inspired by surfing and skateboarding. The sport was developed in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s and became a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998.

History

The history of snowboarding started with pioneers like Sherman Poppen (the inventor of the first commercially made snowboard called the Snurfer from Muskegon, Michigan), Jake Burton (founder of Burton Snowboards from Londonderry, Vermont), Tom Sims (founder of Sims Snowboards), Mike Olson (Gnu Snowboards).

Dimitrije Milovich, an east coast surfer, had the idea of sliding on cafeteria trays. From this he started developing his snowboard designs. In 1972, he started a company called the Winterstick; by 1975, The Winterstick was mentioned in Newsweek magazine. The Winterstick was based on the design and feel of a surfboard, but worked the same way as skis.

The growing popularity of snowboarding is reflected by recognition of snowboarding as an official sport: in 1985, the first World Cup was held in Zürs, Austria. Due to the need for universal contest regulations, the ISA (International Snowboard Association) was founded in 1994. Today, high-profile snowboarding events like the Olympics, Winter X-Games, the US Open, and other events are broadcast to a worldwide audience. It is also notable that the sport has had a significant impact on such countries that are largely without snow, such as Australia, Afghanistan.

Instruction

Snowboard instruction from certified snowboard instructors is available at most ski resorts. Professional instruction is a good way to learn proper technique, safety policies, mountain etiquette and resort rules. Beginning snowboarders, whether young or old, should consider taking a series of lessons. As students progress in ability they can seek out specialized instruction in areas such as riding steeper slopes and through a wider variety of snow conditions, terrain park skills (jumps, rails, and pipes), mogul technique, powder riding, and racing.

Freestyle snowboarding

Craig Kelly and Terje Haakonsen have been credited as two of the founding fathers of freestyle snowboarding. Craig began the art of freestyle, then later switched from the contest circuit to full time backcountry riding, filming, and photography before being killed in an avalanche. Terje started young, has been the subject of two movies, and recently achieved the world record quarterpipe air at the 2007 Arctic Open.

Many believe that freestyle snowboarding owes much of its form and content to skateboarding. Since a snowboard is attached securely to your feet, you are unable to perform many of the skateboard tricks, like a kickflip. With the recent introduction of rails into freestyle snowboarding, a closer resemblance to skateboarding is seen.

Safety and precautions

Although many snowboarders do not wear any protective gear, helmets and some other devices are gaining in popularity. Wearing protective gear is highly recommended due to the dangerous nature of alpine sports (especially freestyle snowboarding). The body parts most affected by injuries are the wrist, tailbone, and the head. Useful safety gear includes wrist guards, padded or protected snowboard pants and a helmet. Snowboarding boots must be worn. It is best that you wear boots that fit you, which means your toes do not touch the end of the boots and they are not too tight but not too loose. Goggles are also used by most people, and are very crucial at high altitudes on bright days to prevent snow blindness. Goggles also protect riders from temporary vision loss due to snow getting in eyes that can result in impact into terrain or obstacles. Padding can be useful on other body parts like the hips, knees, spine, and shoulders.

Attempting to visit the backcountry zones outside the ski areas is an activity gaining popularity with the countless snowboarders looking for fresh, untracked lines away from the crowds on the groomed runs. There is always a risk of avalanches and its good to take some precautions. When entering the backcountry a snowboarder should be sure to carry these items and have prior knowledge of their use: Avalanche transceiver, backpack, shovel, and probe.

Film

Snowboarding films have become a main part of progression in the sport. Each season, many films are released, usually in autumn. These are made by many snowboard specific video production companies as well as manufacturing companies that use these films as a form of advertisement. Snowboarding videos usually contain video footage of professional riders sponsored by companies. An example of commercial use of snowboarding films would be The White Album, a film by snowboarding legend and filmmaker Dave Seone about Shaun White, that includes cameos by Tony Hawk and was sponsored by PlayStation, Mountain Dew and Burton Snowboards. Snowboarding films are also used as documentation of snowboarding and showcasing of current trends and styles of the sport. Check out such production companies as Funner Projects (Mt Baker), Mack Dawg(Utah), Standard Films (Tahoe), Huckfest Productions (Vermont), Finger On Da Trigger Productions (Salt Lake City), Soundstrait Productions (Seattle), and Volcom (So Cal) for some of the newest and most creative DVDs coming out these days.

Snowboarding has also been the focus of numerous Hollywood feature films, quite notably the 2001 movie Out Cold, which included appearances by several renowned professional snowboarders as stunt performers, actual characters, or both. Out Cold is one of few major motion pictures to show snowboarding rather realistically and to exhibit a real understanding of the sport, as well as the culture that surrounds it. One such country is the UK, and this artificial snow phenomenon is well documented in the movie "Standing Sideways" by Damien Doyle. An early Hollywood nod to snowboarding was in James Bond film A View to a Kill — the opening sequence features Roger Moore as Bond eluding attackers with an improvised snowboard.

See also

• Snowboard
• Alpine snowboarding
• Category:Snowboarders
• Mountain Boarding
• Mountain Biking
• Skiing
• Skwal
• Monoboard
• Monoskiing
• Snowboard Cross
• Skateboarding
• Surfing
• Snowkiting
• X Games
• Snow Blind (film) - Documentary film about the culture and history of snowboarding, including interviews with young and old amateur, pro, and adaptive riders.
• First Descent
• Cristal Cup
• Capita Super Corporation

Contests

There are three major types of contests: rail jam, slopestyle, and halfpipe. Some of the biggest contests include: the US Open, Shakedown, the West Coast Invitational, Vans Triple Crown, X Games, and the Grand Prix series.

References

• Hart, Lowell (1997). The Snowboard Book: A Guide for All Boarders. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-31692-0

External links

• "Three Revolutions Have Equaled a Transformation in Snowboarding". The New York Times. December 27, 2005. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Guide for beginners
• Tips for beginners
• Buying boards for beginners
• Snowboard Length Calculator
• Snowboarding guide for beginners
• Snowboarding Community
• Northwest Snowboarding Videos