Snowboarding

{{short description|Snow sport involving a single board}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox sport |name = Snowboarding |image = Snowboarding.jpg |imagesize = 250px |caption = A snowboarder making a turn in fresh snow |first = 1979, [[Muskegon, Michigan]], US |category = Outdoor |equipment = [[Snowboard]], [[snowboard#Bindings|bindings]], [[snowboard boots|boots]], [[Ski helmet|Helmet]], [[Wrist guard|Wrist Guards]], [[Ski goggles|Goggles]], [[Snowboard binding rotating device|Binding Rotating Device]] |olympic = Since [[Snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998]] |paralympic = part of the [[Alpine skiing]] programme in [[Alpine skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics|2014]]<br />Officially added in [[Snowboarding at the 2018 Winter Paralympics|2018]]. Part of [[Snowboarding at the 2022 Winter Paralympics|2022]]. }} [[File:Snowboarding pictogram.svg|thumb|200px|Pictogram for [[Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics]]]] '''Snowboarding''' is a recreational and competitive [[sport]] that involves descending a snow-covered surface while standing on a [[snowboard]] with bindings securing the rider's feet to the board.

Snowboarding was first developed in 1965 in the United States. Over time, several riding styles have developed, and the sport has featured in the [[Winter Olympic Games]] since [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998]] and [[Winter Paralympic Games]] since [[2018 Winter Paralympics|2018]].

Snowboarding became popular around the world in the late 20th century. The sport features both recreational and competitive participation.

Snowboarding has influenced and developed its own distinct culture. It has become a globally practiced activity with snowboarders using specialized equipment and techniques to navigate diverse terrain and conditions.

=== Initial origins === The first snowboards were developed in 1965 when [[Sherm Poppen]], an engineer in [[Muskegon, Michigan]], invented a toy for his daughters by fastening two skis together and attaching a rope to one end so he would have some control as they stood on the board and glided downhill. Dubbed the "[[snurfer]]" (combining snow and surfer) by his wife Nancy, the toy proved so popular among his daughters' friends that Poppen licensed the idea to a manufacturer, [[Brunswick Corporation]], that sold about a million snurfers over the next decade.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sisjord |first=Mari Kristin |date=2013-12-01 |title=Women's snowboarding – some experiences and perceptions of competition |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2012.685334 |journal=Leisure Studies |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=507–523 |doi=10.1080/02614367.2012.685334 |hdl=11250/218904 |s2cid=144101427 |issn=0261-4367|hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription }}</ref> And, in 1966 alone, over half a million snurfers were sold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrelli |first=Simon |date=2023-06-29 |title=History of Snowboarding |url=https://alpinefleet.com/history-of-snowboarding/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Alpine Fleet |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Modern snowboarding was pioneered by [[Tom Sims]] and [[Jake Burton Carpenter]]. In February 1968, Poppen organized the first snurfing competition at a Michigan ski resort that attracted enthusiasts from all over the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mashf.com/snurfing%201968.htm|title=Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame – History of the Snurfer, Snurfing and the sport of Snowboarding – 1968|website=www.mashf.com|access-date=2017-09-20|archive-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818041324/http://www.mashf.com/snurfing%201968.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> One of those early pioneers was [[Tom Sims]], a devotee of [[skateboarding]] (a sport born in the 1950s when kids attached roller skate wheels to small boards that they steered by shifting their weight). In the 1960s, as an eighth grader in [[Haddonfield, New Jersey]], Sims crafted a snowboard in his school shop class by gluing carpet to the top of a piece of wood and attaching aluminum sheeting to the bottom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.simsnow.com/company/history|title=SIMS Snowboards History|last=Chamber|first=Creation|website=www.simsnow.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-20|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101200140/https://www.simsnow.com/company/history|url-status=dead}}</ref> He produced commercial snowboards in the mid-70s including the ''Skiboard'' (also known as the ''Lonnie Toft flying banana'') a molded polyethylene bottom with a [[Lonnie Toft]] signature skateboard deck attached to the top.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tom-sims-snowboarding-pioneer-and-world-champion-who-became-a-bond-stuntman-8163737.html|title=Tom Sims: Snowboarding pioneer and world champion who became a Bond|date=2012-09-22|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903235220/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tom-sims-snowboarding-pioneer-and-world-champion-who-became-a-bond-stuntman-8163737.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.michigansnowboardmuseum.com/boards-from-the-legends.html|title=SNURFER- 1ST & 2ED GENERATION SNURFERS|website=michigansnowboardmuseum.com|access-date=2023-07-15|archive-date=July 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720025500/https://www.michigansnowboardmuseum.com/boards-from-the-legends.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Others experimented with board-on-snow configurations at this time, including Welsh skateboard enthusiasts Jon Roberts and Pete Matthews developed their own snowboards to use at their local [[dry ski slope]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://snow.guide/dry-ski-slope/|title=Dry Slope Skiing – What It Means to Us|date=2015-06-28|website=Snow.Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124151902/https://snow.guide/dry-ski-slope/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ridedaily.com/?page_id=37|title=Snowboarding History – RideDaily.com|website=ridedaily.com|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106134139/http://ridedaily.com/?page_id=37|url-status=live}}</ref>

Also during this same period, in 1977, [[Jake Burton Carpenter]], a Vermont native who had enjoyed snurfing since the age of 14, impressed the crowd at a Michigan snurfing competition with bindings he had designed to secure his feet to the board. That same year, he founded [[Burton Snowboards]] in [[Londonderry, Vermont]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burton.com/us/en/c/mens-snowboards|title=Men's Snowboards|website=Burton Snowboards|language=en-us|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128181259/https://www.burton.com/us/en/c/mens-snowboards|url-status=live}}</ref> The "snowboards" were made of wooden planks that were flexible and had water ski foot traps. Very few people picked up snowboarding because the price of the board was considered too high at $38 and were not allowed on many ski hills, but eventually Burton would become the biggest snowboarding company in the business.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bulgariaski.com/snowboarding.shtml |title=History of Snowboarding |work=bulgariaski.com |access-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123165741/https://www.bulgariaski.com/snowboarding.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Burton's created the early designs for boards with bindings. Later on, various versions of bindings became a common feature in most snowboards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snowboard |url=https://www.awsa.org.uk/disciplines/snowboard/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Army Winter Sports Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Development === As snowboarding became more popular in the 1970s and 1980s, pioneers such as Dimitrije Milovich (founder of Winterstick out of Salt Lake City, Utah), [[Jake Burton Carpenter]] (founder of Burton Snowboards from Londonderry, Vermont), [[Tom Sims]] (founder of [[Sims Snowboards]]), David Kemper (founder of [[Kemper Snowboards]]) and Mike Olson (founder of [[Mervin Manufacturing|Gnu Snowboards]]) came up with new designs for boards and mechanisms that slowly developed into the snowboards and other related equipment.<ref name="firststoke">{{cite web |url=http://www.firststoke.com/education/snowboard/ |title=First Stoke |work=SnowBoard Education |access-date=July 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123160646/http://www.firststoke.com/education/snowboard/ |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref> From these developments, modern snowboarding equipment usually consists of a snowboard with specialized bindings<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mechanicsofsport.com/snowboarding/equipment/snowboard_bindings.html|title=Snowboard Bindings – Snowboard Equipment – Mechanics of Snowboarding|website=www.mechanicsofsport.com|access-date=2019-04-17|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223040501/http://www.mechanicsofsport.com/snowboarding/equipment/snowboard_bindings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and boots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mechanicsofsport.com/snowboarding/equipment/snowboard_boots.html|title=Snowboard Boots – Snowboarding Equipment – Mechanics of Snowboarding|website=www.mechanicsofsport.com|access-date=2019-04-17|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223035827/http://www.mechanicsofsport.com/snowboarding/equipment/snowboard_boots.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the early 1980s, Aleksey Ostatnigrosh and Alexei Melnikov, two Snurfers from the Soviet Union, patented design changes to the Snurfer to allow jumping by attaching a bungee cord, a single footed binding to the Snurfer tail, and a two-foot binding design for improved control.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://patents.su/3-1391670-monolyzha.html|title=Монолыжа — SU 1391670|access-date=June 20, 2018|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180615/http://patents.su/3-1391670-monolyzha.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://patents.su/3-1584972-monolyzha.html|title=Монолыжа — SU 1584972|access-date=June 20, 2018|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153103/http://patents.su/3-1584972-monolyzha.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://patents.su/2-1584971-monolyzha.html|title=Монолыжа — SU 1584971|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-date=November 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122193424/https://patents.su/2-1584971-monolyzha.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Public perception === Initially, ski areas adopted the sport at a much slower pace than the winter sports public. Indeed, for many years, there was animosity between skiers and snowboarders, which led to an ongoing skier vs snowboarder feud.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snowsphere.com/special-features/snowboarding-vs-skiing-the-dying-feud |title=Skiers vs Snow boarders: The Dying Feud |publisher=Snowsphere.com |date=2007-10-01 |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414131941/http://www.snowsphere.com/special-features/snowboarding-vs-skiing-the-dying-feud |url-status=live }}</ref> Early snowboards were banned from the slopes by park officials. For several years snowboarders would have to take a small skills assessment prior to being allowed to ride the chairlifts. It was thought that an unskilled snowboarder would wipe the snow off the mountain. In 1985, only seven percent of U.S. ski areas allowed snowboarding,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Career_Cluster_Profile/Cluster_Article.aspx?articleId=4Fxb8BMXAP2FPAXvbAuMO0VRHebswXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&cId=yJF7dgNzUI6xZl0h6IInegXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&sectionId=1|title=CFNC.org – Cluster Article|last=Corporation|first=Xap|website=www1.cfnc.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-29|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703104628/https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Career_Cluster_Profile/Cluster_Article.aspx?articleId=4Fxb8BMXAP2FPAXvbAuMO0VRHebswXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&cId=yJF7dgNzUI6xZl0h6IInegXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&sectionId=1|url-status=deviated}}</ref> with a similar proportion in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Archived copy | url=https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/10-48-1-f.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308101114/http://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/10-48-1-f.pdf | archive-date=2016-03-08}}</ref> As equipment and skills improved, gradually snowboarding became more accepted. In 1990, most major ski areas had separate slopes for snowboarders. Now, approximately 97% of all ski areas in North America and Europe allow snowboarding, and more than half have jumps, rails and half pipes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Snowboard |url=https://www.awsa.org.uk/disciplines/snowboard/ |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=Army Winter Sports Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2008, snowboarding had over 5 million participants, most aged between 18 and 24, with women comprising 25% of participants.<ref name="USN080929">{{cite magazine |url = http://money.usnews.com/money/business-economy/small-business/articles/2008/09/19/burton-snowboards-is-king-of-the-hill |author = Marquardt, Katy |title = Burton Snowboards Is King of the Hill |magazine = [[U.S. News & World Report]] |date = September 29, 2008 |access-date = January 21, 2013 |archive-date = November 22, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201122144242/https://money.usnews.com/money/business-economy/small-business/articles/2008/09/19/burton-snowboards-is-king-of-the-hill |url-status = live }}</ref>

There were 8.2 million snowboarders in the US and Canada for the 2009–2010 season. There was a 10% increase over the previous season, accounting for more than 30% of all snow sports participants.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://business.transworld.net/66828/news/snowboarding-participation-increases-10/ |title= snowboard participation increases 10% |author= Mike Lewis |date= Jun 29, 2011 |publisher= [[Transworld Business]] |access-date= January 21, 2013 |archive-date= July 2, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110702214219/http://business.transworld.net/66828/news/snowboarding-participation-increases-10/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Competitive history === The first competitions to offer prize money were the National Snurfing Championship, held at Muskegon State Park in [[Muskegon, Michigan]].<ref>[http://mashf.com/Snurfing%201978.htm "National Snurfing Championship – 1978, Muskegon, MI."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818042425/http://mashf.com/Snurfing%201978.htm |date=August 18, 2018 }} Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame.</ref> In 1979, [[Jake Burton Carpenter]] came from Vermont to compete with a snowboard of his own design. There were protests about Jake entering with a non-snurfer board. Paul Graves, and others, advocated that Jake be allowed to race. A "modified" "Open" division was created and won by Jake as the sole entrant. That race was considered the first competition for snowboarding and is the start of what became competitive snowboarding. Ken Kampenga, John Asmussen and Jim Trim placed first, second and third respectively in the Standard competition with best two combined times of 24.71, 25.02 and 25.41; and Jake Carpenter won prize money as the sole entrant in the "open" division with a time of 26.35.<ref>[http://mashf.com/Snurfing%201979.htm "National Snurfing Championship – 1979, Muskegon, MI."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205040911/http://www.mashf.com/Snurfing |date=February 5, 2021 }} Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame.</ref> In 1980 the event moved to Pando Winter Sports Park near [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], because of a lack of snow that year at the original venue.<ref> {{Cite news |date = January 15, 2008 |periodical = Grand Rapids Press |title = Grand Rapids Press |location = Grand Rapids, Michigan |pages = B1–B2 |url = http://grpress.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20001018120233/http://www.grpress.com/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 18, 2000 }}</ref><ref name="pando">{{cite web | url = http://www.pandopark.com/index.php | title = main page | work = Pando website | access-date = 2008-01-16 | archive-date = October 28, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131028180444/http://www.pandopark.com/index.php | url-status = live }}</ref>

In April 1981, the "King of the Mountain" Snowboard competition was held at [[Ski Cooper]] in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moran|first=Lauren|title=Snowboarding History: Technology boosts snowboarding growth in 1980s|url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/snowboarding-history-technology-boosts-snowboarding-growth-in-1980s/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=www.summitdaily.com|date=January 27, 2012|language=en-US|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228090302/https://www.summitdaily.com/news/snowboarding-history-technology-boosts-snowboarding-growth-in-1980s/|url-status=live}}</ref> Tom Sims along with an assortment of other snowboarders of the time were present.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rebagliati|first=Ross|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KT3ZBAAAQBAJ|title=Off the Chain: An Insider's History of Snowboarding|publisher=Greystone Books Ltd|year=2009|isbn=978-1-55365-487-2|location=|pages=19|language=en}}</ref> One entrant showed up on a homemade snowboard with a formica bottom that turned out to not slide so well on the snow.

In 1982, the first USA National Snowboard race was held near [[Woodstock, Vermont]], at [[Suicide Six]]. The race, organized by Graves, was won by Burton's first team rider Doug Bouton.<ref name="SBH">{{cite web | url=http://www.sbhistory.de/hist_in_the_beg.htm | title=Snowboard History | work=the beginning of Snowboarding | access-date=2008-01-17 | archive-date=April 9, 2000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000409005759/http://www.sbhistory.de/hist_in_the_beg.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1983, the first World Championship [[halfpipe]] competition was held at [[Soda Springs, Nevada County, California|Soda Springs]], California. [[Tom Sims]], founder of Sims Snowboards, organized the event with the help of Mike Chantry, a snowboard instructor at Soda Springs.<ref name="Transworld_article">{{cite web |url = http://www.transworldsnowboarding.com/snow/howto/article/0,26719,246570,00.html |title = Transworld Snowboarding |work = A Complete History of the Snowboard Halfpipe |access-date = 2008-02-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080110164913/http://www.transworldsnowboarding.com/snow/howto/article/0,26719,246570,00.html |archive-date = 2008-01-10 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In 1985, the first World Cup was held in [[Zürs]], Austria,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Kenetics|first1=Human|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b6WMDwAAQBAJ|title=The Sports Rules Book|last2=Schrag|first2=Myles|date=2018-12-14|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-1-4925-6759-2|location=|pages=255|language=en}}</ref> further cementing snowboarding's recognition as an official international competitive sport.

In 1990, the [[International Snowboard Federation]] (ISF) was founded to provide universal contest regulations.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Winand|first1=Mathieu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n46ODwAAQBAJ&q=international+snowboard+federation&pg=PA172|title=Research Handbook on Sport Governance|last2=Anagnostopoulos|first2=Christos|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|year=2019|isbn=978-1-78643-482-1|location=|pages=172|language=en}}</ref> In addition, the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) provides instructing guidelines and runs snowboard competitions in the U.S. today, high-profile snowboarding events like the [[Winter X Games]], [[Air & Style]], US Open, Olympic Games and other events are broadcast worldwide. Many alpine resorts have [[terrain park]]s.

At the [[1998 Winter Olympic Games]] in Nagano, Japan, Snowboarding became an official Olympic event.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-03|title=Olympic Snowboarding – Winter Olympic Sport|url=https://www.olympic.org/snowboard|access-date=2021-02-03|website=International Olympic Committee|language=en|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213021350/https://www.olympic.org/snowboard|url-status=live}}</ref> France's [[Karine Ruby]] was the first to win an Olympic gold medal for Woman's Snowboarding,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/twenty-two-years-ago-karine-ruby-became-the-first-olympic-snowboard-champion |title=Twenty-two years ago, Karine Ruby became the first Olympic snowboard champion |access-date=2 February 2025 |date=10 February 2020}}</ref> while Canadian [[Ross Rebagliati]] was the first for Men's Snowboarding.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beck |first1=Jason |title=Ross Rebagliati |url=https://bcsportshall.com/honoured_member/ross-rebagliati/ |website=BC Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=2 February 2025 |language=en-CA}}</ref>

On 2 May 2012, the [[International Paralympic Committee]] announced that adaptive snowboarding (dubbed "para-snowboarding") would debut as a men's and women's medal event in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games taking place in Sochi, Russia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org/news/para-snowboard-included-sochi-2014-paralympic-winter-games |title=Para-Snowboard Included in Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games {{pipe}} IPC |publisher=Paralympic.org |date=2012-05-28 |access-date=2013-11-13 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204142838/https://www.paralympic.org/news/para-snowboard-included-sochi-2014-paralympic-winter-games |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Styles== Since snowboarding's inception as an established winter sport, it has developed various styles, each with its own specialized equipment and technique. The most common styles today are: freeride, freestyle, and freecarve/race. These styles are used for both recreational and professional snowboarding. While each style is unique, there is overlap between them.

===Jibbing=== {{main|Jibbing}} "Jibbing" is the term for technical riding on non-standard surfaces. The word "jib" is both a noun and a verb, depending on the usage of the word. As a noun: a jib includes metal rails, boxes, benches, concrete ledges, walls, vehicles, rocks and logs. As a verb: to jib is referring to the action of jumping, sliding, or riding on top of objects other than snow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://snowboarding.about.com/od/glossary/g/jibdefined.htm |title=Jib – Snowboard – Definitions – Glossary |publisher=Snowboarding.about.com |date=2012-04-09 |access-date=2012-08-15 |archive-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127224125/http://snowboarding.about.com/od/glossary/g/jibdefined.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is directly influenced by grinding a skateboard. Jibbing is a freestyle snowboarding technique of riding. Typically jibbing occurs in a snowboard resort park but can also be done in urban environments.

[[File:Snowboarding_in_Hippach,_Austria.jpg|thumb|Freeriding snowboarding]]

===Freeriding=== {{main|Freeriding (winter sport)}}

Freeriding is a style without a set of governing rules or set course, typically on natural, un-groomed terrain. The basic allows for various snowboarding styles in a fluid motion and spontaneity through naturally rugged terrain. It can be like freestyle with the exception that no man-made features are utilized. ''See also [[Backcountry snowboarding]].''

[[File:Snowboarding1.jpg|thumb|Freestyle snowboarding]]

===Freestyle=== Freestyle snowboarding is any riding that includes performing tricks. In freestyle, the rider utilizes natural and man-made features such as rails, jumps, boxes, and innumerable others to perform tricks. It is a popular all-inclusive concept that distinguishes the creative aspects of snowboarding, in contrast to a style like alpine snowboarding.

===Alpine snowboarding=== [[File:Alpine boarder.JPG|thumb|left|An Alpine snowboarder executes a heel-side [[carved turn]], the typical style in alpine snowboarding.]] [[File:Snowboarder during carving on hard slope.webm|thumb|left|Video of a snowboarder practicing carving on a hard slope, equipped with a boardercross board and hard boots.]] '''Alpine snowboarding''' is a discipline within the sport of snowboarding. It is practiced on [[snow grooming|groomed]] [[piste]]s. It has been an Olympic event since [[Snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998]]. [[File:UTAH Snowboarding 2001.jpg|thumb|Freestyle snowboarder Matty Shaffer performs a 50-50 on a handrail while filming for a movie in Utah.]] Sometimes called freecarving or hardbooting (due to the equipment used), this discipline usually takes place on hard packed snow or groomed runs (although it can be practiced in any and all conditions) and focuses on carving linked turns, much like surfing or longboarding. Little or no jumping takes place in this discipline. Alpine Snowboarding consists of a small portion of the general snowboard population, that has a well connected social community and its own specific board manufacturers, most situated in Europe. Alpine Snowboard equipment includes a ski-like hardshell boot and plate binding system with a true directional snowboard that is stiffer and narrower to manage linking turns with greater forces and speed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.snowboard-coach.com/alpine-snowboarding.html|title=Alpine Snowboarding – Using a rigid setup for carving and control|website=Snowboard-Coach.com|access-date=2019-04-18|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022085451/http://www.snowboard-coach.com/alpine-snowboarding.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Shaped skis can thank these "freecarve" snowboards for the cutting-edge technology leading to their creation.<ref name="bomberonline">{{cite web|url=http://www.bomberonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/How-to-Buy-an-Alpine-Snowboard.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bomberonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/How-to-Buy-an-Alpine-Snowboard.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=How to Buy an Alpine Snowboard |access-date=2010-02-15 |year=2005 }}</ref> A skilled alpine snowboarder can link numerous turns into a run placing their body very close to the ground each turn, similar to a motocross turn or waterski carve. Depending on factors including stiffness, turning radius and personality this can be done slowly or fast. Carvers make perfect half-circles out of each turn, changing edges when the snowboard is perpendicular to the fall line and starting every turn on the downhill edge. Carving on a snowboard is like riding a roller coaster, because the board will lock into a turn radius and provide what feels like multiple Gs of acceleration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alpinecarving.com/ |title=The Carver's Almanac – Hard booting and carving on an alpine snowboard |publisher=Alpinecarving.com |access-date=2012-08-15}}</ref>

Alpine snowboarding shares more visual similarities with skiing equipment than it does with snowboarding equipment.<ref name=help>{{cite web|title=Alpine snowboarding|url=http://www.snowboardinghelp.com/types-of-snowboards/alpine-snowboarding.php|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312043320/http://www.snowboardinghelp.com/types-of-snowboards/alpine-snowboarding.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Compared to freestyle snowboarding gear:<ref>{{cite web|title=Alpine Snowboarding|url=http://www.snowboard-coach.com/alpine-snowboarding.html|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022085451/http://www.snowboard-coach.com/alpine-snowboarding.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * Boards are narrower, longer, and stiffer to improve [[Carve turn#Snowboarding|carving]] performance * [[ski boot|Boot]]s are made from a hard plastic shell, making it flex differently from a regular snowboard boot and is designed differently to ski boots although they look similar. * [[ski binding|Binding]]s have a bail or step-in design and are sometimes placed on suspension plates to provide a layer of isolation between an alpine snowboarder and the board, to decrease the level of vibrations felt by the rider, creating a better overall experience when carving, and to give extra weight to the board among other uses. [[File:Snowboarder in flight (Tannheim, Austria).jpg|left|thumb|Snowboarder in [[Tannheim, Tyrol]], Austria]]

===Slopestyle=== {{main|Slopestyle}}

Competitors perform tricks while descending a course, moving around, over, across, up, or down terrain features. The course is full of obstacles including boxes, rails, jumps, jibs, or anything else the board or rider can slide across. Slopestyle is a judged event and winning a Slopestyle contest usually comes from successfully executing the most difficult line in the terrain park while having a smooth flowing line of difficult, mistake-free tricks performed on the obstacles. However, overall impression and style can play a factor in winning a Slopestyle contest and the rider who lands the hardest tricks will not always win over the rider who lands easier tricks on more difficult paths.

===Big air=== {{main article|Big air}}

[[File:Big air Québec 2011.jpg|thumb|[[Sebastien Toutant]] at the downtown Québec big air competition]] Big air competitions are contests where riders perform tricks after launching off a man-made jump built specifically for the event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yobeat.com/issue14/bigair.htm/ |title=Making it Big in Big Air |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311174639/http://yobeat.com/issue14/bigair.htm |archive-date=March 11, 2016 }}</ref> Competitors perform tricks in the air, aiming to attain sizable height and distance, all while securing a clean landing. Many competitions also require the rider to do a complex trick. Not all competitions call for a trick to win the gold; some intermittent competitions are based solely on height and distance of the launch of the snowboarder. Some competitions also require the rider to do a specific trick to win the major prize.<ref>{{cite web|title=Big air competitions|url=http://schneefreunde.com/|access-date=5 Sep 2016|archive-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916122323/http://schneefreunde.com/|url-status=usurped}}</ref> One of the first snowboard competitions where Travis Rice attempted and landed a "double back flip backside 180" took place at the 2006 Red Bull Gap Session.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snowrev.com/Search?q=red+bull+gap+session/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031141959/http://www.snowrev.com/Search?q=red+bull+gap+session%2F |archive-date=2010-10-31 |title=Search Results |website=snowrev.com}}</ref>

===Half-pipe=== {{main|Half-pipe}}

[[File:Snowboarder in halfpipe.jpg|thumb|Snowboarder in the [[halfpipe]]]] The half-pipe is a semi-circular ditch dug into the mountain or purpose-built ramp made up of snow, with walls between 8 and {{convert|23|ft|m}}. Competitors perform tricks while going from one side to the other and while in the air above the sides of the pipe.

===Snowboard cross=== {{main|Snowboard cross}}

Snowboard cross, also known as "boardercross", "boarder X", or "snowboard X", and commonly abbreviated as "SBX", or just "BX", is a snowboarding discipline consisting of several (typically 4 to 6) riders racing head-to-head down a course with jumps, berms and other obstacles constructed out of snow. Snowboard cross began in the 1980s, earning its place as an official Winter Olympic event in the 2006 Turin games. Unlike other snowboard racing disciplines such as parallel giant slalom, competitors race on a single course together.

===Snowboard racing=== {{main article|Snowboard racing}}

In snowboard racing, riders must complete a downhill course constructed of a series of turning color indicators (gates) placed in the snow at prescribed distances apart. A gate consists of a tall pole and a short pole, connected by a triangular panel. The racer must pass around the short side of the gate, passing the long side of the gate doesn't count. There are 3 main formats used in snowboard racing including single person, parallel courses or multiple people on the course at the same time (SBX).

==Competitions== {{main article|FIS Snowboard World Cup|FIS Snowboard World Championships}}

Snowboarding contests are held throughout the world and range from grassroots competitions to professional events contested worldwide.

[[File:Winter X Games (4309318283).jpg|alt=2016 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado|thumb|2016 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado]] Some of the larger snowboarding contests include: the European [[Air & Style]], the Japanese [[X-Trail Jam]], Burton Global Open Series, [[Shakedown (Snowboard Games)|Shakedown]], [[FIS Snowboard World Championships|FIS World Championships]], the annual [[FIS Snowboard World Cup|FIS World Cup]], the [[Winter X Games]], [[Freeride World Tour]] and the [[Winter Dew Tour]].

[[Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics|Snowboarding has been a Winter Olympic sport]] since [[1998 Winter Olympics]] in Japan. Since its inauguration, Olympic snowboarding has seen many additions and removals of events. During the [[2018 Winter Olympics]], snowboarding events contested included big air, halfpipe, parallel giant slalom, slopestyle and snowboard cross.

''[[Snowboarder Magazine]]''{{'s}} Superpark<ref>[http://snowboardermag.com/superpark Snowboardermag.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623213019/http://snowboardermag.com/superpark |date=June 23, 2011 }}</ref> event was created in 1996. Over 150 of the World's top pros are invited to advance freestyle snowboarding on the most progressive terrain parks.<ref>[http://www.snowboarder-community.com/profiles/blogs/snowboardings-elite-swarm Snowboarder-community.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430172744/http://www.snowboarder-community.com/profiles/blogs/snowboardings-elite-swarm |date=April 30, 2010 }}</ref>

Part of the snowboarding approach is to ensure maximum fun, friendship and event quality. Reflecting this perspective of snowboarding, there are "Anti Contests" which are an important part of its identity.{{whom|date=February 2025}} These include the Holy Oly Revival at [[The Summit at Snoqualmie]], The Nate Chute Hawaiian Classic at Whitefish, the original anti-contest, the World Quarterpipe Championships and the Grenade Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yobeat.com/2009/02/the-anti-contests/ |title=The Anti Contests |publisher=Yobeat.com |date=2009-02-05 |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-date=August 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828034622/http://www.yobeat.com/2009/02/the-anti-contests/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The United States of America Snowboarding and Freeski Association (USASA), the first governing body for grassroots snowboarding,<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.usasa.org/about-us/history/ |website=USASA |access-date=2 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref> runs 30 regional series and national championships in the US.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vision & Mission |url=https://www.usasa.org/about-us/vision-mission/ |website=USASA |access-date=2 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Subculture== Snowboarding subculture originated as the sport was rejected in ski resorts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kahuna" |first=Jesse "Big |date=2023-01-02 |title=The Snowboarding Culture: From Rebels To Global Tribe |url=https://www.ridingboards.com/snowboarding-culture/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Riding Boards |language=en-US}}</ref> Both the skiing and snowboarding cultures contrasted with each other in language, behavior, and dress. Snowboarding subculture was frequently associated with a rebellious or outsider identity and incorporated elements of both urban and suburban cultures.<ref name="Heino, Rebecca 20002">Chaisson, Bill (2019). "[https://www.eagletimes.com/lifestyles/snowboarding-its-own-culture-and-the-crossovers/article_23cad806-2992-11e9-bbe0-fb2dd62ff2ad.html Snowboarding]: Its Own Culture and Crossover". Retrieved October 4, 2022, from Eagle Times.</ref>

In recent decades, snowboarding has expanded into a diverse international participant base. Skiers and snowboarders have increasingly shared slopes and facilities. As of 2026, three resorts which do not allow snowboarding in North America: [[Alta Ski Area|Alta]], [[Deer Valley]], and [[Mad River Glen]].

== Common injuries == The most common type of injury for snowboarders is injury to the upper body. Some injuries that are seen are "wrist injuries, shoulder soft tissue injuries, ankle injuries, concussions, and clavicle fractures".<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Suezie |last2=Endres |first2=Nathan K. |last3=Johnson |first3=Robert J. |last4=Ettlinger |first4=Carl F. |last5=Shealy |first5=Jasper E. |date=April 2012 |title=Snowboarding Injuries: Trends Over Time and Comparisons With Alpine Skiing Injuries |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0363546511433279 |journal=The American Journal of Sports Medicine |language=en |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=770–776 |doi=10.1177/0363546511433279 |pmid=22268231 |s2cid=9892333 |issn=0363-5465|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Some major injuries that occur during snowboarding are head, and spinal injuries, "the main cause of spinal fractures in snowboarders was jump landing failure and compression type fractures occur in about 80% of snowboarders with vertebral fractures because they frequently fall backwards, and this can cause axial loading and anterior compression fractures".<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last1=Bigdon |first1=Sebastian Frederick |last2=Gewiess |first2=Jan |last3=Hoppe |first3=Sven |last4=Exadaktylos |first4=Aristomenis K. |last5=Benneker |first5=Lorin M. |last6=Fairhurst |first6=Paul Gilbert |last7=Albers |first7=Christoph E. |date=2019-07-19 |title=Spinal injury in alpine winter sports: a review |journal=Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=69 |doi=10.1186/s13049-019-0645-z |issn=1757-7241 |pmc=6642543 |pmid=31324221 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Injuries also differ between professional and recreational snowboarding.

=== Professional === Among professional snowboarders, injuries to the lower half, specifically the knee joint, are more likely to occur. When injured, snowboarders are twice as likely to get a fracture as skiers. Injuries to the upper body are much less common among professional snowboarders. Most of the professionals and elite snowboarders frequently sustain injuries when trying to execute challenging tricks at high speeds and with increased levels of force to the lower limbs.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wijdicks |first1=Coen A |last2=Rosenbach |first2=Brandon S |last3=Flanagan |first3=Troy R |last4=Bower |first4=Gillian E |last5=Newman |first5=Kelly E |last6=Clanton |first6=Thomas O |last7=Engebretsen |first7=Lars |last8=LaPrade |first8=Robert F |last9=Hackett |first9=Tom R |date=January 2014 |title=Injuries in elite and recreational snowboarders |url=https://bjsm.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bjsports-2013-093019 |journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine |language=en |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=11–17 |doi=10.1136/bjsports-2013-093019 |pmid=24282020 |s2cid=7519870 |issn=0306-3674|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Recreational === In recreational snowboarding, wrist injuries are more likely to occur. Most injuries to snowboarders occurred more often while they were traveling at reckless speed on moderate slopes.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Takakuwa |first1=Tetsuya |last2=Endo |first2=Shigeatsu |date=1996-05-01 |title=Snowboarding injuries: Comparison of injuries in snowboarders and skiers |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02349815 |journal=Journal of Orthopaedic Science |language=en |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=178–181 |doi=10.1007/BF02349815 |s2cid=71373867 |issn=1436-2023|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Another way injuries happen is because they try sticking with someone that is a higher skill level, which they are not capable of handling because of the lack of skill they possess.

==Safety and precautions== [[File:Snowboard gloves with integrated wrist protection.jpg|thumb|Gloves with an integrated plastic element, seen left partially pulled out, as a [[wrist guard]]. The element is pressed tightly to the wrist with a wide, all-around [[Hook-and-loop fastener|velcro]]-fastened strap, which can be seen in loose state on the left and tightened on the right glove. This stabilizes the wrist and thus avoids its damage when falling onto the hands.]] Like some other winter sports, snowboarding comes with a certain level of risk.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/snowboardingsafety.asp |title=Snowboarding Safety & Guidelines |publisher=Abc-of-snowboarding.com |access-date=2014-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721031516/http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/snowboardingsafety.asp |archive-date=2012-07-21 }}</ref>

=== Risk === The average snowboarder is a male in their early twenties, and there are three times as many men as there are women in the sport. Snowboarders have a 2.4 times greater risk of fractures than skiers, particularly in the upper extremities. Conversely, snowboarders have a lower risk of knee injuries than skiers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bladin |first1=Christopher |last2=McCrory |first2=Paul |date=1995-05-01 |title=Snowboarding Injuries |url=https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199519050-00005 |journal=Sports Medicine |language=en |volume=19 |issue=5 |pages=358–364 |doi=10.2165/00007256-199519050-00005 |pmid=7618012 |s2cid=9918887 |issn=1179-2035 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201220856/https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-199519050-00005 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The injury rate for snowboarding is about four to six per thousand persons per day, which is around double the injury rate for alpine skiing.<ref>{{cite book |last= Roberts |first= William O. |title=Bull's Handbook of Sports Injuries |publisher= McGraw-Hill Medical| date=February 2004 |isbn= 0-07-140291-8|page=550}}</ref> Injuries are more likely amongst beginners, especially those who do not take lessons with professional instructors. A quarter of all injuries occur to first-time riders and half of all injuries occur to those with less than a year of experience. Experienced riders are less likely to suffer injury, but the injuries that do occur tend to be more severe.<ref name="bull555" />

Two-thirds of injuries occur to the upper body and one-third to the lower body. This contrasts with alpine skiing, where two-thirds of injuries are to the lower body. The most common types of injuries are sprains, which account for around 40% of injuries.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Snowboarding Injuries – An Overview |year=1995 |publisher=Sports-Med |doi=10.2165/00007256-199519050-00005 |pmid=7618012 |last1=Bladin |first1=C. |last2=McCrory |first2=P. |journal=Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) |volume=19 |issue=5 |pages=358–64 |s2cid=9918887 | issn = 0112-1642}}</ref> The most common point of injury is the wrists – 40% of all snowboard injuries are to the wrists and 24% of all snowboard injuries are wrist fractures.<ref name="bull555" /> There are around 100,000 wrist fractures worldwide among snowboarders each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/info/wrist-fractures.asp |title=Snowboarding Injuries – Wrist Fractures |publisher=Abc-of-snowboarding.com |access-date=2014-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717130603/http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/info/wrist-fractures.asp |archive-date=2012-07-17 }}</ref>

=== Protective equipment === The risk of head injury is two to six times greater for snowboarders than for skiers and injuries follow the pattern of being rarer, but more severe, with experienced riders. Head injuries can occur both because of a collision and when failing to carry out a heel-side turn. The latter can result in the rider landing on their back and slamming the back of their head onto the ground, resulting in an occipital head injury.<ref name="bull557" /> For this reason, helmets are widely recommended. Protective eyewear is also recommended as eye injury can be caused by impact and [[snow blindness]] can be a result of exposure to strong ultra-violet light in snow-covered areas. The wearing of ultra-violet-absorbing goggles is recommended even on hazy or cloudy days as ultra-violet light can penetrate clouds.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Suezie |last2=Endres |first2=Nathan K |last3=Johnson |first3=Robert |last4=Ettlinger |first4=Carl |last5=Shealy |first5=Jasper |date=April 2012 |title=Snowboarding injuries: trends over time and comparisons with alpine skiing injuries |journal=The American Journal of Sports Medicine |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=770–776 |doi=10.1177/0363546511433279 |pmid=22268231 |s2cid=9892333 }}</ref>

Snowboarding boots should be well-fitted, with toes snug in the end of the boot when standing upright and slightly away from the end when in the snowboarding position.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://extremepedia.com/how-to-choose-snowboard-bindings/|title=Best Way to Choose Right Snowboard Bindings|date=2015-10-27|work=Extremepedia|access-date=2018-02-16|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026052555/http://extremepedia.com/how-to-choose-snowboard-bindings/|archive-date=2017-10-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> Padding or "armor" is recommended on other body parts such as hips, knees, spine, and shoulders. To further help avoid injury to body parts, especially knees, it is recommended to use the right technique. To acquire the right technique, one should be taught by a qualified instructor. Also, when snowboarding alone, precaution should be taken to avoid [[tree well]]s, a particularly dangerous area of loose snow that may form at the base of trees.

The use of [[wrist guard]]s, either separate or built into gloves, is very strongly recommended. They are often compulsory in beginner's classes and their use reduces the likelihood of wrist injury by half.<ref>{{cite book |last= Roberts |first= William O. |title=Bull's Handbook of Sports Injuries |publisher= McGraw-Hill Medical| date=February 2004 |isbn= 0-07-140291-8|page=556}}</ref> In addition it is important for snow boarders to learn how to fall without stopping the fall with their hand by trying to "push" the slope away, as landing a wrist which is bent at a 90-degree angle increase the chance of it breaking. Rather, landing with the arms stretched out (like a wing) and slapping the slope with the entire arm is an effective way to break a fall. This is the method used by practitioners of judo and other martial arts to break a fall when they are thrown against the floor by a training partner.

=== Bindings === Unlike ski bindings, snowboard bindings are not designed to release automatically in a fall. The mechanical support provided by the feet being locked to the board has the effect of reducing the likelihood of knee injury – 15% of snowboard injuries are to the knee, compared with 45% of all skiing injuries. Such injuries are typically to the knee ligaments, bone fractures are rare.<ref name="bull555">{{cite book |last= Roberts |first=William O. |title=Bull's Handbook of Sports Injuries |publisher= McGraw-Hill Medical| date=February 2004 |isbn= 0-07-140291-8|page=555}}</ref> Fractures to the lower leg are also rare but 20% of injuries are to the foot and ankle. Fractures of the [[talus bone]] are rare in other sports but account for 2% of snowboard injuries – a lateral process talus fracture is sometimes called "''snowboarder's ankle''" by medical staff. This injury results in persistent lateral pain in the affected ankle yet is difficult to spot in a plain X-ray image. It may be misdiagnosed as just a sprain, with possibly serious consequences as not treating the fracture can result in serious long-term damage to the ankle.<ref name="bull555" /> The use of portable ultrasound for mountainside diagnostics has been reviewed and appears to be a plausible tool for diagnosing some of the common injuries associated with the sport.<ref name="Nowak2009">{{cite journal |last1=Nowak |first1=M. R. |last2=Kirkpatrick |first2=A. W. |last3=Bouffard |first3=J. A. |last4=Amponsah |first4=D. |last5=Dulchavsky |first5=S. A. |title=Snowboarding injuries: a review of the literature and an analysis of the potential use of portable ultrasound for mountainside diagnostics |journal=Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=25–9 | date=March 2009 |pmid=19468915 |pmc=2684950 |doi=10.1007/s12178-008-9040-5 }}</ref>

=== Maintenance === {{Anchor|four}}Four to eight percent of snowboarding injuries take place while the person is waiting in ski-lift lines or entering and exiting ski lifts. Snowboarders push themselves forward with a free foot while in the ski-lift line, leaving the other foot (usually that of the lead leg) locked on the board at a 9–27 degree angle, placing a large torque force on this leg and predisposing the person to knee injury if a fall occurs.<ref>Davidson TM, Laliotis AT (1996) Snowboarding injuries, a four-year study with comparison with alpine ski injuries. West J Med; p.231</ref><ref>Callé SC, Evans JT. (1995) Snowboarding trauma. J Pediatr Surg; p.791</ref> [[Snowboard binding rotating device]]s are designed to minimize the torque force, [[Quick Stance]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quickstance.com/ |title=Quick Stance Website |publisher=Quickstance.com |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202002129/https://quickstance.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> being the first developed in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F5876045 |title=United States Patent: 1995 |publisher=Patft.uspto.gov |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102020901/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/5876045 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They allow snowboarders to turn the locked foot straight into the direction of the tip of the snowboard without removing the boot from the boot binding.

=== Precautions === Avalanches are a clear danger when on snowy mountain slopes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/avalancheawareness.asp |title=Snowboarding Safety – Avalanche Awareness |publisher=Abc-of-snowboarding.com |access-date=2014-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116023704/http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/avalancheawareness.asp |archive-date=2013-01-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/firstaid/ |title=Ski Safety – First Aid for Snowboarding & Skiing |publisher=Abc-of-snowboarding.com |access-date=2014-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716122528/http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/firstaid/ |archive-date=2012-07-16 }}</ref>

Some care is also required when waxing a board as [[fluorocarbon]] waxes emit toxic fumes when overheated. Waxing is best performed in a ventilated area with care being taken to use the wax at the correct temperature – the wax should be melted but not smoking or smoldering.<ref name="bull557">{{cite book |last= Roberts |first= William O. |title=Bull's Handbook of Sports Injuries |publisher= McGraw-Hill Medical| date=February 2004 |isbn= 0-07-140291-8|page=557}}</ref>

== Terminology ==

=== Stances=== The way in which a snowboarder normally rides most on their snowboard as determined by the placement of their feet and direction of travel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/snowboarding-101-glossary |title=Snowboarding 101: Glossary |publisher=[[NBC Universal]] |date=2021 |access-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215200413/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/snowboarding-101-glossary |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{glossary}} {{term |1=Goofy Stance}} {{defn |1=The stance of a snowboarder that normally rides with their right foot first.}} {{term |1=Regular Stance}} {{defn |1=The stance of a snowboarder that normally rides with their left foot first.}} {{term |1=Switch Stance}} {{defn |1=The opposite stance of what a snowboarder normally rides.}} {{glossary end}}

=== Parts of a snowboard === {{glossary}} {{term |1=Binding}} {{defn |1=The portion of the board that attaches the riders' feet to the snowboard.}} {{term |1=Heel Edge}} {{defn |1=The edge of the snowboard that the riders' heels rest on.}} {{term |1=Toe Edge}} {{defn |1=The edge that the riders' toes rest on}} {{term |1=Nose Edge}} {{defn |1=The forward edge of the snowboard.}} {{term |1=Tail Edge}} {{defn |1=The trailing edge of the snowboard.}}

=== Rotations === {{glossary}}

{{term |1=Backside Rotation}} {{defn |1=A flat rotation in which the back of the person's body is the first to intersect with the direction of travel; after 90 degrees of rotation, the person's back will be facing the direction of travel.}}

{{term |1=Frontside Rotation}} {{defn |1=A flat rotation in which the front of the person's body is the first to intersect with the direction of travel; after 90 degrees of rotation, the person's front will be facing the direction of travel.}}

=== Flips ===

{{glossary}} {{term |1=Back Flip}} {{defn |1=A backwards somersault over the heel edge of the board.}}

{{term |1=Front Flip}} {{defn |1=A forwards somersault (i.e. face first) over the toe edge of the board.}}

=== Off-axis rotations ===

Off-Axis rotations combine flips and rotations; the naming convention is to first describe the horizontal rotation, followed by the number of off-axis rotations, terminated by the degree of total rotation (i.e. Backside Triple-Cork 1440).

{{glossary}} {{term |1=Cork}} {{defn |1=A rotation in which the snowboard leads through the air in the direction of travel.}} {{term |1=Rodeo}} {{defn |1=A rotation in which the person's head leads through the air in the direction of travel.}} {{glossary end}}

==Notable people==

{{See also|List of Olympic medalists in snowboarding}} * [[Eva Adamczyková]] (born 1993), Czech snowboarder * [[Jamie Anderson (snowboarder)|Jamie Anderson]] (born 1990), American snowboarder * [[Jasey-Jay Anderson]] (born 1975), Canadian snowboarder * [[Josie Baff]] (born 2003), Australian snowboarder * [[Nick Baumgartner]] (born 1981), American snowboarder * [[Torah Bright]] (born 1986), Australian snowboarder * [[Callan Chythlook-Sifsof]] (born 1989), American snowboarder * [[Kelly Clark]] (born 1983), American snowboarder * [[Julia Dujmovits]] (born 1987), Austrian snowboarder * [[Rosey Fletcher]] (born 1975), American snowboarder * [[Peter Foley (snowboarding)|Peter Foley]] (born 1965 or 1966), American former snowboarding coach; suspended for 10 years for sexual misconduct * [[Anna Gasser]] (born 1991), Austrian snowboarder * [[Red Gerard]] (born 2000), American snowboarder * [[Alessandro Hämmerle]] (born 1993), Austrian snowboarder * [[Ayumu Hirano]] (born 1998), Japanese snowboarder * [[Lindsey Jacobellis]] (born 1985), American snowboarder * [[Scotty James]] (born 1994), Australian snowboarder * [[Benjamin Karl]] (born 1985), Austrian snowboarder * [[Craig Kelly (snowboarder)|Craig Kelly]] (born 1966), American snowboarder * [[Chloe Kim]] (born 2000), American snowboarder * [[Ester Ledecká]] (born 1995), Czech snowboarder and skier * [[Michela Moioli]] (born 1995), Italian snowboarder * [[Max Parrot]] (born 1994), Canadian snowboarder * [[Iouri Podladtchikov]] (born 1988), Swiss-Russian snowboarder * [[Travis Rice]] (born 1982), American snowboarder * [[Maëlle Ricker]] (born 1978), Canadian snowboarder * [[Zoi Sadowski-Synnott]] (born 2001), New Zealand snowboarder * [[Hannah Teter]] (born 1987), American snowboarder * [[Sébastien Toutant]] (born 1992), Canadian snowboarder * [[Pierre Vaultier]] (born 1987), French snowboarder * [[Ryan Wedding]] (born 1981), Canadian snowboarder and alleged international drug trafficker * [[Seth Wescott]] (born 1976), American snowboarder * [[Shaun White]] (born 1986), American snowboarder and skateboarder * [[Su Yiming]] (born 2004), Chinese snowboarder

==See also== * [[American Association of Snowboard Instructors]] * [[Glossary of skiing and snowboarding terms]] * [[Lazboard]] * [[Sandboarding]] * [[Skiboarding]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Sister project links|Snowboarding}} * [https://www.thesnowpros.org/ PSIA-AASI Website] {{Prone to spam|date=August 2012}} <!-- {{No more links}}

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