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Snowboarding: from the Snurfer to the Olympics
The back story
About Snowboarding: from the Snurfer to the Olympics
Snowboarding began as a toy and became a culture, then an Olympic sport. Today halfpipe, slopestyle, big air and boardercross are among the most-watched events of the Winter Games.
The Snurfer
In the 1960s, the Michigan engineer Sherman Poppen joined two skis together, tied a rope to the front, and gave his children a new way to slide down a hill. He called it the Snurfer, and it was licensed and sold as a toy.
Nagano 1998
In December 1995 the IOC decided to add snowboarding to the Nagano 1998 Games, with giant slalom and halfpipe for men and women. France’s Karine Ruby won the first women’s Olympic giant slalom.
Snowboarding joined the Olympic programme at Nagano 1998, with giant slalom and halfpipe for men and women (olympics.com).
The champions
Shaun White won the halfpipe at Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and PyeongChang 2018, the first snowboarder with three Olympic golds. Chloe Kim won the women’s halfpipe at PyeongChang 2018, aged 17, and again at Beijing 2022. Austria’s Anna Gasser became the first women’s Olympic big air champion in 2018 and defended her title in 2022 (olympics.com).
Our advice: many resorts now have terrain parks for every level. Start in the smallest one.
Why it's on our list
- The Snurfer
- Nagano 1998
- The champions
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Snowboarding: from the Snurfer to the Olympics before you go.