-
Invention of "Snurfer"
1965 Sherman Poppens invents the "snurfer" for his daughter as a toy. Simply two skiis attached to each other with a rope for control. "Snurfing" Video -
Period: to
"Snurfing" Grows
During the 1970s Poppen organized competitions in Michigan attracting snurfers from across the country. -
Period: to
Modern Snowboard Develops
In the 1970s and early 1980s the original snowboarders Burton, Milovich, Sims, Barfoot and Olson slowly developed products and advancements that formed the modern snowboard much like what is used today. Olson created GNU SnowboardsBarfoot SnowboardsSims SnowboardsBurton -
First real snowboard
Jake Burton Carpenter creates the first snowboard using water ski foot bindings and flexible wood. Leading to the founding of Burton Snowboards later that same year. Burton Snowboards -
First World Snurfing Competetion and Beginning of Competetive Snowboarding
Snurfing History</a>First ever World Snurfing Competition where enthusiasts from all around the world came to compete. Burton showed up with his modified board which brought much protest as it did not have the normal rope attached to the board. Burton was allowed to compete in a modified division in which he won as the only competetor and thus was the beginning of snowboarding competetions. <a href='http://www.mashf.com/Snurfing%201978.htm' > -
First National Snowboard Race
The first National Snowboard race was held in Woodstock, Vermont and was one by a team racer for Burton. United States of America Snowboard Association -
Snowboarding Advances to Halfpipe
First snowboarding half pipe competetion held in Soda Springs, CA organized by Tom Sims and a snowboard instructor Mike Chantry. -
Snowboarding Recognized as an Official Sport
The popularity of snowboarding is realized as the sport is made official at the first World Cup in Zurs, Austria. -
International Snowboarding Federation
Following the collapse of the less organized National Association of Professional Snowboarders the international official group of the sport is formed in the ISF or International Snowboarding Federation. -
Snowboarding as Olympic Sport
The ISF continued to formulate rules and regulations which led to the adoption of snowboarding as an Olympic sport in the 1998 Winter Olympics. -
ISF Folds Operations Yielding to FIS
After many years serving the sport the ISF was forced to close operations as the Olympic Committee recognized the Federal International Ski as the official regulating body of the snowboarding sport. This pulled funding and support away from the ISF eventually leading to its demise. FIS Website -
Snowboarding Widely Accepted
After some initial issues with ski resorts snowboarding has reached a nearly universal acceptance as being allowed at a reported 97 percent of resorts. Initially separate slopes were designated for snowboarders which has faded away into the new acceptance. Many parks now include jumps and parks specially to attract snowboarders. The sport has gained followers of all types as many young boarders are better than the older ones and females make up 25% of boarders.
