A snowboard under your feet, bright sunshine in the sky and a perfectly groomed descent into the valley. For winter sports enthusiasts who prefer travelling in the snow on a board instead of skis, there is nothing better. For many of them, the snowboard is not just a piece of sports equipment. It is also a piece of freedom and a way of life. But what makes snowboarding so popular? SnowTrex has compiled seven facts that show how a niche sport has developed into a worldwide winter sports phenomenon.
Nevertheless, snowboard enthusiasts were initially not at all welcome in the ski resorts in the motherland of snowboarding, the USA. Lifts were taboo for them and sometimes they were only allowed on the slopes at night. However, with the first snowboard races in Colorado in 1981, acceptance continued to grow. in 1985, it was the James Bond film “In the Face of Death” that made the snowboard world-famous. During an alpine chase, the double-zero agent strapped part of a smashed snowmobile under his feet in the film sequence and escaped several attackers this way. This is how the winter sports phenomenon finally gained a foothold in Europe. By the time a high-circulation daily newspaper in Austria reported on the first descent of a “snow surfer” from the Grossglockner in July 1986, nothing stood in the way of the snowboard’s triumphant advance in the Alps.
According to the statistics portal “Statista”, over 700,000 snowboards were sold worldwide in 2019 alone. Overall, however, sales figures for snowboards have fallen sharply in recent years, meaning that the sport’s boom period is probably over for the time being.
The most famous snowboarders
Jake Burton
The US American, who died in 2019, is regarded as the forefather of snowboarding as it is known to millions of winter sports enthusiasts today. The ‘snowboard pope’ grew up on the East Coast in New York State. However, he later began his business studies in Boulder, Colorado. He was initially a keen skier. But then he further developed the “Snurfer” invented by Sherman Poppen. Burton thus created the basis for modern snowboards. He was so successful with these that he founded the company “Burton Snowboards” in 1977. The company went on to become a global market leader for snowboards, winter sports clothing and snowboard accessories. Alongside Poppen, Dimitrije Milovich and Tom Sims, Burton is now one of the four fathers of the snowboard.
Tom Sims
The 1975 skateboard world champion and 1983 snowboard world champion is probably only known to a few in the world of snowboarding. This is despite the fact that millions of cinema-goers have been able to marvel at his skills on the big screen. It was he who stood in for Roger Moore as a stunt double in the snowboard chase in the Bond film “In the Face of Death”. As entrepreneurs, Sims and Burton were considered rivals for decades.
Shaun White
While the first two Americans were extremely successful commercially, their young compatriot rose to become one of the most successful snowboarders in the world in the early 2000s. The Californian was originally a skateboarder. However, he started snowboarding at the age of six. Before White retired in tears at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing – his fifth Winter Games – he became Olympic champion in the halfpipe in Turin in 2006, Vancouver in 2010 and Pyeongchang in 2018.
He also won a total of 13 gold medals at the Winter X-Games, more than any other athlete in the history of the event. Eight of them in the superpipe and five in slopestyle.
Terje Håkonsen
The first snowboard superstar from Europe was Norwegian. Against the wishes of his father, who wanted him to become a ski racer, Håkonsen started skateboarding in 1985. He was inspired by the film “Back to the Future”. in 1987, he stood on a snowboard for the first time and started his very own success story. The Norwegian became world champion in the halfpipe three times. His fluid and elegant riding style is still a role model for many up-and-coming snowboarders today. Terje Håkonsen also became famous through action sports films. In these, he was filmed freeriding in deep snow. His particularly high and spectacular jumps led to the term “big air” being coined.
Nicola Thost
She is the most famous snowboarder in Germany. After the woman from Pforzheim celebrated her debut in the Snowboard World Cup in January 1997, she achieved the greatest sporting success of her career just under a year later. At the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Thost won gold in the halfpipe at the premiere of the snowboarding competitions. in 1998, she went down in history as the first female Olympic snowboarding champion.
The snowboard equipment
The most important piece of equipment is, of course, the snowboard. For beginners and recreational athletes, boards are available with pre-installed bindings. Professionals usually opt for an unfinished snowboard and buy the bindings separately. This allows them to customise their equipment perfectly to their needs. But regardless of the shape of the sports equipment – whether race board, all-mountain board or freestyle board – the following applies: the softer and more flexible the board, the easier it is to manoeuvre and the less likely it is to tilt. A characteristic that penalises riding errors less severely. Stiffness is also a decisive factor when it comes to bindings. If you prefer to ski on groomed slopes, you should opt for a stiffer binding. If, on the other hand, you feel more at home in snow parks and thus in the freestyle area, it is better to rely on a softer binding.
Snowboard boots also play a decisive role in ensuring the best possible riding experience in all situations. The rule of thumb here is that the boots should only be about half a size larger than the buyer’s normal shoe size. And, of course, the helmet is essential. Unlike snowboards, bindings and boots, which are all available at reasonable prices without compromising on quality, personal safety is more important than price when it comes to helmets. After all, we all only have one head! When choosing head protection, it is important that it fits perfectly and stays in place. If you are unsure about what to buy, you can refer to the latest evaluations by Stiftung Warentest or other experts.
The same applies to the back protector. Because the feet are firmly attached to the board, the back is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body in the event of a snowboard fall. This is why the protector is now an integral part of professional snowboarding equipment. Just like snowboard goggles, which must always fit securely. They should not be too small and should be adapted to the shape of the helmet. After all, they provide reliable protection from sun glare and snow flurries. The most important factor for clothing, i.e. the snowboard jacket, gloves and trousers, is waterproofness. Because every snowboarder knows that the best place to take a break on the piste is in wet snow. And even minor stumbles usually end up on the bottom of your trousers or on your knees. However, unlike most skiers, snowboarders can of course do without poles.
In the following clip, a material professional shows how winter sports enthusiasts can make their snowboard fit for the next winter by doing it themselves:
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The most important snowboard disciplines
In snowboarding, the disciplines are divided into two areas: the racing competitions and the freestyle competitions. The former is won by the athlete who finishes first with the fastest time. In the freestyle disciplines, on the other hand, the athletes’ performances are scored in the same way as in figure skating. The winner is the athlete with the highest combined total score.
Halfpipe
This is the best-known competition in freestyle. At some events, it also takes place in the larger superpipe. In this channel of snow and ice, the snowboarders have to jump as high as possible over the edges. They then perform complex tricks in the air before having to land safely and race to the next jump on the other side.
Slopestyle
A discipline that is no less spectacular. In their run, the snowboarders also have to perform the most innovative and complex tricks and jump combinations possible on a slope. They can use various obstacles such as rooftops, pipes, railings and boxes. At the end, the run is rounded off by three large jumps (kickers).
Big-Air
High, wide and complicated jump combinations including flawless landings are required here. Athletes ride down a single, steep and extremely large ramp and then, as the name suggests, are catapulted high into the air.
Snowboardcross
One of the three main disciplines in snowboard racing. A total of six athletes race at the same time over a course that is peppered with banked turns, wave sections and jumps.
Parallel slalom/parallel giant slalom
in this discipline, two athletes race “parallel” down a slope with blue and red gates. In the second run, they then switch courses and at the end the athlete with the fastest overall time advances to the next round.
The most important snowboard competitions
Olympics
For snowboard professionals from all over the world, as for their colleagues from other sports, there is nothing bigger than the Olympic Games. in 1998, the IOC included snowboarding in the Winter Games programme for the first time. Since then, athletes on snowboards have been an integral part of the competitions under the sign of the five rings. The halfpipe was the first Olympic event for snowboarders in 1998. parallel giant slalom was then added to the programme in Salt Lake City in 2002. Snowboard cross has been an Olympic event since 2006 in Turin and a mixed competition was also held here in 2022. Slopestyle was held for the first time at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, before the first Olympic champions in big air were crowned in Pyeongchang in 2018.
At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the female snowboarders also competed for medals in big air for the second time and impressed with spectacular tricks:
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Winter X-Games
They are particularly popular with sponsors and young spectators, making them very attractive for the athletes. The Winter Games for extreme athletes were first held in 1997. Until 2017, the competitions were always held in the Rocky Mountains. Since then, however, there have also been four parallel events in Norway in addition to the USA. Between 2010 and 2012, the “Winter X-Games Europe” also took place three times in Tignes, France.
The Winter X-Games are one of the most spectacular events in the professional snowboarding competition calendar. The video summary of the 2022 slopestyle contest in Aspen shows why:
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World Cup
This is the most traditional competition series for professional snowboarders. It has been touring the globe every winter since 1994 under the umbrella of the International Ski Federation (FIS). It now comprises six different disciplines.
World Championships
Two years later, the FIS also organised its first official world championships in snowboarding. These are held every two years. However, there had already been other world championships before that. However, they were organised by smaller sports associations. The first unofficial snowboarding world championship took place in 1985 in Soda Springs, California.
The best ski resorts for snowboarders
In order for snowboarders to really enjoy their day on the mountain, the respective ski resort must fulfil several important requirements. These include: As few to no drag lifts as possible, hardly any flat drags between pistes and gondolas, wide runs, the opportunity to freeride safely in deep snow and snow parks where kickers, rails and other obstacles invite you to perform tricks. And at the end of the day, of course, there are plenty of après-ski locations to celebrate. SnowTrex shows you exactly which ski resorts offer all this especially for snowboarders here.
FAQs about the snowboard
How much does a snowboard cost?
For a good snowboard, whether used or new, winter sports enthusiasts should invest between 300 and 600 euros. Snowboard boots cost between 100 and 200 euros, while snowboard bindings also cost between 100 and 200 euros.
Is it difficult to learn to snowboard?
Snowboarding is actually easier than skiing. The reason is that the snowboard is “only” controlled by balance and weight transfer. Skiers have the advantage that they can look straight down the slope. However, the sport is more difficult to coordinate because the movement of the torso, the legs and the use of the arms have to be harmonised.
How healthy is snowboarding?
Snowboarders not only train their balance and coordination on the piste, but also the muscles in their torso and legs as well as the stability of their ankles. What’s more, the downhill runs on your favourite board also strengthen your stamina.
When should winter sports enthusiasts start learning to snowboard?
Ideally, children between the ages of five and six should get on a snowboard for the first time on a winter holiday to learn the right technique for the slopes. The sport is not yet recommended for younger children, as their muscles are not yet fully developed at this age and are therefore not yet suitable for the demanding movements.
Who is the most successful snowboarder in the world?
Following his retirement after the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the US-American Shaun White is considered the most successful snowboarder in the world. he won three Olympic gold medals in the halfpipe in 2006, 2010 and 2018. His medal haul at the Winter X-Games is 18 – 13 gold, three silver and two bronze.
