Snowboarding is the means of descending down a hill with a snowboard strapped to one's feet. This sport was inspired by surfing and skateboarding and firmed by in the 1960's and 1970's back in the United States.

History of Snowboarding

The history of snowboarding began in the United States in the state of Vermont. Jake Burton Carpenter developed the first snowboards in his garage workshop in Manchester, Vermont. By the mid 70's Jake was developing snowboards out of wood and fixed rubber straps on the wood, which were bindings. Today Vermont is home to Burton Snowboards, which manufactures two-thirds more snowboards than any other snowboard company in the world. It is clearly one of the best products available in snowboarding today.

In the early days Vermont also played an important part in the world as it opened the very first terrain parks and snowboard parks to snowboarders. It would be years later before other ski hills and resorts opened their mountain to other snowboarders.

Snowboard Gear

For snowboarders general ski wear is acceptable for snowboarding. This includes a winter jacket, waterproof pants gloves, hat and or a helmet. Snowboards generally range in length from 140cm to 165cm. There are a variety of snowboards, which are used for a number of different types of riding styles.

Racing/Alpine: long, stiff to very stiff, hard boots, slightly waisted, directional.

Freeride: waisted, sometimes flexible, medium to long length, soft boots, directional.

All-Mountain: waisted, varying flexes and lengths, soft boots, sometimes slightly directional, meant to perform well as a Freeride and Freestyle board.

Swallow-Tail: Generally a wider board that has a split running down its tail, which gives it the general look of a swallow's tail. These boards are made specifically for use in powder.

Split: Not to be confused with the swallow-tail, the split board consists of a stable powder board that can be broken down into two touring skis, for use in deep backcountry conditions

Fish Shape: A shorter, wider board with a tapered tail designed to eliminate leg fatigue in deep powder

Freestyle (rails): waisted, flexible, short, soft boots, twin-directional, light.

Freestyle (pipe): waisted, semi-stiff, medium length, soft boots, either twin-directional or directional, light, deep sidecuts.