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Snowboarding is a boardsport that involves descending a snow-covered slope while attached to a board. It is similar to skiing, but inspired by surfing and skateboarding. The sport was developed in the United States in the 1960's and 1970's and became a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998. History The snowboard evolved from early pioneering work by people such as Sherman Poppen (who, in 1965, invented the "Snurfer" in his North Muskegon, Michigan home), Chuck Barfoot, Dimitri Mitrovitch, Tom Sims, and Jake Burton Carpenter. Jake is the founder of Burton Snowboards, one of the largest, and most well-established snowboard companies in the world. It is thought that Snowboarding (or Snurfing as they called it) was first practised in Europe in December 1970 on the island of Jersey, when Andrew Stewart and Anthony Hurst hit on the idea of using belly boards, at first kneeling on them, then making rudimentary bindings to enable them to stand up. In the early 1980s, snowboard companies such as Sims, Winterstick, and Avalanche began emerging across the country. Also in the early 1980s, films by Warren Miller and Greg Stump began to feature clips of snowboarders, boosting the popularity of the sport among the skiing community. It was not until the mid-1980s that snowboarding exploded into the mainstream, when the first snowboard magazine, Absolutely Radical, hit the racks; it was soon renamed International Snowboard Magazine. Board ConstructionThe various components of a snowboard are: - Core: The bulk of a snowboard, the core is the interior of the snowboard. It is typically comprised of a solid material, normally either wood, aluminum, foam, or some composite plastic. The properties of the core directly affect important characteristics of the board, such as flexibility and weight.
- Base: This is the bottom of the board which is made of a graphitic material that is saturated with a wax that creates a very quick smooth, hydrophobic surface. Because the base of the board comprises the bulk of the board's interaction with the snow, it is important that it be as slippery with respect to the snow as possible. For this reason, different base waxes are available for different snow conditions. If the board is damaged, a new base pattern can be stone-ground into the board. If the base becomes significantly damaged, the board may become sluggish, or if the damage is deep enough, it may even weaken the core.
- Edge: A strip of metal, tuned normally to just less than 90-degrees, that runs the length of either side of the board. This sharp edge is necessary to be able to produce enough friction to ride on ice, and the radius of the edge directly affects the radius of carving turns, and in turn the responsiveness of the board. Kinking, rusting, or general dulling of the edge will significantly hinder the ability for the edge to grip the snow, so it is important that this feature is maintained. However, many riders who spend a fair amount of their time grinding park rails, and especially handrails, will actually use a detuning stone or another method to intentionally dull their edges, either entirely or only in certain areas. This helps to avoid "catching" on any tiny burrs or other obstructions that may exist or be formed on rails, boxes, and other types of grind. Catching on a rail can, more than likely, result in a potentially serious crash, particularly should it occur on a handrail or more advanced rail set-up. In addition, it's relatively common for freestyle riders to "detune" the edges around the board's contact points. This practice can help to reduce the chances of the rider catching an edge in a choppy or rutted-out jump landing or similar situation. It is important to keep in mind that drastic edge detuning can be near-impossible to fully reverse and will significantly impede board control & the ability to hold an edge in harder-packed snow. One area where this can be quite detrimental is in a half pipe, where well-sharpened edges are often crucially important for cutting through the hard, sometimes icy walls.
- Laminate: Two layers or more of fiberglass that add torsional snap and response as well as protect the wood core from damage. Often, it may be strengthened with carbon fiber or Kevlar stringers. For a more detailed description, see Board construction. Bindings The bindings that attach the snowboard to the rider's feet are securely fastened to the board with bolts that screw into its threaded metal inserts. Most snowboard manufacturers use a mounting system consisting of four bolts arranged in a square or rectangular pattern. Some companies take other approaches. The most notable example is Burton, which has long employed its signature three-bolt system and, more recently, has introduced a two-bolt system on its Un-Inc series of snowboards. There are two main types of snowboard bindings: conventional & step-in. - Conventional, or strap-in, bindings are the most common type and are preferred by most advanced riders. Strap-ins, as the name suggests, lock the rider's feet into place with straps which tighten down over the boots. Typically, there are two straps, a heelstrap and a toestrap, however, some other variations do exist. Strap-in bindings usually have a high-back made of plastic or other material which rests against the rider's ankle & calf for enhanced leverage and responsiveness.
- Step-in binding systems are generally more convenient, quickly locking to a mechanism on the boot when the boot is stepped onto the binding, and releasing the boot if a lever is pulled with the fingers, and are thus quite popular for beginner snowboarders and rental shops. Most modern step-in systems lock the boot laterally (i.e. fastening the sides of the boot). Higher end step-in bindings may also have high-backs, which add stiffness and leverage when the rider executes a heelside turn. Because the boot-binding interface with step-in bindings is on the sole of the boot, the boots must be very will fitted and very stiff to allow the rider to control the board effectively. Instruction Snowboard instruction is available at most ski resorts taught by certified snowboard instructors. 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. Lessons are not only the fastest way to learn, but they also build confidence in sharing the mountain with other members of the snowboarding/ski community. Snowboard lessons, as with ski lessons, can either be group or private lessons. Group lessons are often cheaper, but often have a high student-teacher ratio, resulting in less individual attention. Private lessons can be taught one-on-one or between a small group. Private lessons are often far more expensive than group, as it is the snowboarding analogue of being privately tutored. The rapport developed between an instructor and a student who returns for multiple lessons is the real benefit derived from private lessons; one is taught better by a teacher who knows them, and a student is more likely to heed the advice of someone they trust. Typically, beginner snowboard lessons focus on very basic, common snowboarding skills. The first lesson often begins with basic safety policies, stretching, and learning to fall, then progresses to snowboarding with one foot on the board (particularly skating and J-turns). Learning to snowboard with one foot strapped into the board is a particularly useful skill because it is necessary to disembark from the lift successfully. Then students learn how to turn and stop with both feet in. Other important beginner skills to learn are the falling leaf technique, side-slipping, and lift procedures. More advanced techniques that are taught in later lessons are linking turns, edge control, weight distribution, edge pressure, and eventually carving. 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, off-piste riding, powder riding, and racing. Freestyle snowboarding Freestyle snowboarding owes much of its form and content to skateboarding, and many of the maneuvers common to snowboarding exist in skateboarding as well. Though the last decade has seen the trend reverse, with tricks unique to snowboarding cropping up in skating (witness the adaptation of the rodeo in skateboarding by Shaun White), the great majority of terminology is still borrowed from skateboarding. - Ollie: The fundamental freestyle maneuver is the ollie; an ollie is essential for most tricks. The ollie is not a hop, as is commonly thought, but a technique which amplifies the power of the legs by exploiting the natural flex of the snowboard. A snowboard is essentially a flat spring. The core has elastic properties and can store and release energy which can be used in an ollie. An ollie is executed by shifting body weight to apply pressure to the tail of the snowboard while simultaneously lifting the nose upward and then releasing the tension from the tail in a jump. Executing an ollie properly requires timing and coordination in a complex series of motions. The ollie was developed and named after Allan "Ollie" Gelfland, a skateboarder who first adapted the ollie to vert and bowl skatboarding in the late 70's and early 80's. Frontside vs Backside: This distinction is essential to understanding freestyle snowboarding and is borrowed from surfing, which uses it to distinguish different types of waves. Because a snowboarder stands sideways on the board, turns and movements are asymmetrical; a turn on the heels looks different and requires different movements than a turn on the toes. The frontside/backside dichotomy is useful for understanding terrain and tricks, though it can be confusing. The simplest explanation is that frontside involves turning to face down the hill, while backside involves facing up the hill; therefore a frontside turn is done on the heels, while a backside turn is done on the toes. All rotations are either backside or frontside, as well; if one jumps and turns looking downhill, the spin is frontside, but jumping and turning one's back to the fall line is a backside spin. When applied to terrain however, the frontside/backside distinction is different; a halfpipe for instance, has frontside and backside walls. If one were to straight run down the middle of the halfpipe, the rationale would be apparent; the rider faces the frontside wall, and approaches on the toes, while backside wall is behind them and is approached on the heels. This applies to rails and boxes as well; the method of approach determines the name of the trick, not the direction of rotation. A boardslide, executed facing up hill, is actually a frontside boardslide, because the obstacle is approached from the frontside. - Switch: This term is adopted from skateboarding and refers to riding a snowboard with the opposite stance (i.e. goofy instead of regular). Because of the twin-directional nature of most snowboards used today, riding switch is nearly the same as riding fakie. (i.e. on a twin tip board a rider will appear goofy when riding one direction and regular when riding the opposite direction). Therefore switch and fakie are commonly used interchangeably with switch being the most often used term. However the term switch is considered a misnomer since it is used as a term for riding backwards, it does does not usually refer to an opposite-stance setup. Riding switch can be considered roughly equivalent to signing one's name with the opposite hand. It requires learning each movement and maneuver over again using the opposite muscles and the opposite side of the brain. - Fakie: This term (also originating in skateboarding) refers to riding a snowboard in the opposite direction. The term fakie is only commonly used in half pipe maneuvers (when a rider will air out of the pipe vertically and gravity will bring the rider back into the pipe in the opposite direction i.e. 'air to fakie'), or occasionally in rail or box maneuvers when landing in the opposite direction. An example of the terms fakie and switch being used would be: a boardslide starting in the natural position and landing fakie is referred to 'boardslide to fakie" A boardslide starting fakie and landing fakie is referred to 'switch boardslide' This example also shows the use of the term switch in place of fakie, as it is in most maneuvers. - Grabs: Grabbing the edge of the board while in mid-air. The six basic grabs are the mute (front hand, toe edge), indy (back hand, toe edge), stalefish (back hand, heel edge), melon (front hand, heel edge), nose and tail grab. Each grab has virtually endless permutations depending on exactly where one places one's hand on the edge and what one does with ones legs (known as "boning" or "poking") while in the air. For instance, an indy grabbed between the back foot and the tail is known as a "tindy" (tail+indy), while an indy grabbed close to the front foot with the board shifted backside is known as a crail. Likewise, a mute grab with the front knee tucked and back leg poked is a Japan air, and a method grab with both legs bent back evenly. In addition to the six basic grabs and their variations are a whole host of different grabs such as the Taipan (similar to a Japan but the front hand reaches behind the front leg), the Grasser (essentially a method with the front leg pulled back and back leg extended out forward in a twisted, yogi-like contortion.), There are many other names that are too numerous to detail exhaustively. - Rotation: rotation occurs when the board and body turn in relation to the fall line. The smallest possible rotation is a shifty, and while theoretically limitless, a 1260 (three and a half rotations) is a the largest spin currently practicable at the highest level of snowboarding. Rotations must be in multiples of 180 degrees; less or more most often involves falling. 360s, 720s and 1080s involve taking off and landing with the same foot forward, while 180s and 540s and 900s involve landing switch. This is opposite in halfpipe spins where gravity changes your relative direction and therefore a half rotation is landed naturally and full rotations land switch. - Manual (or "press"): A maneuver adapted from skateboarding, while traveling parallel to the fall line of the slope the rider leans over the front "nose" or rear "tail" of the snowboard until it flexes and begin to lift the other end into the air. Which end of the board the rider's weight has been placed on will determine the name of the trick (i.e., nose in the air is a "tail press" while tail in the air is a "nose press"). This maneuver may also be performed on rails or boxes. - Butter: Originally coined from the phrase "buttering the muffin", a maneuver performed on the surface of the snow or obstacle in which the rider slides perpendicularly to the fall line of the slope while in a nose or tail manual position. 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 wrists, the tailbone, and the head. Useful safety gear includes wrist guards, padded or protected snowboard pants and a helmet. 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 hips, knees, spine, shoulders, and on the genitalia based on gender. Padding can be specialized for snowboarding, or it can cross sports. For example, knee pads used for volleyball can be useful for snowboarding. They can also be useful if a snowboarder may wish to rest on the knees, such as after coming to a stop. General safety tips for winter sports, alpine conditions and skiing should also be respected. Mountain maintenance is a very important aspect of safety. In places where the mountains are steep and there is high snowfall avalanches are very common. In order to keep these parts of the mountain safe, ski patrol may either close or "rope off" dangerous areas, or fire explosives at the dangerous areas to trigger avalanches before anyone is allowed to ride the mountain. Riding closed trails or "ducking ropes" is extremely dangerous due to avalanches or unseen, dangerous terrain, which includes trees and unmarked objects. This practice is considered illegal by ski patrol and can result in severe consequences. When riding in areas without ski patrol an avalanche beacon, avalanche probe, snow shovel, advanced skills, experience, and a riding partner or "buddy" are required for safety. Without using the buddy system avalanche safety gear is useless. Many environmental hazards are present in alpine locations. Dehydration, Hypothermia, Altitude, Frostbite, Windburn, and Ultraviolet radiation can all be avoided by following standard safety precautions, taking preventative action, and knowing certain conditions that exist. Muscle strain and injury can often be prevented by performing an aerobic warm up and/or stretching session. This gives flexibility to ride significantly better than is than possible without stretching. The following areas that can be easily protected from injury by stretching are: - Quadriceps
- Hamstrings
- Lower back
- Calves
- Groin Film Snowboarding films have become a main part of progression in the sport. Each season, many films are released, usually in the fall. 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 comercial 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. 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. In countries where snow is either rare or an impossibility, dry slopes and indoor snow slopes are present. One such country is the UK, and this artificial snow phenomenon is well documented in the movie "Standing Sideways" by Damien Doyle. Other snowboard movies: Burton Process (1-5), Follow Me Around, People, Decade, Technical Difficulties, Stand and Deliver, Amp, Pulse, Shakedown, From _ with Love, The Community Project, DC Mountain Lab, Afterbang, Lame, After Lame, Attack of the Living Shred, Revenge of the Grenerds, Smell the Glove, Vivid, Pop, Futureproof, More, Wildcats, Destroyer, Happy Hour. 
Source: Wikipedia
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