Snowboard
The search for the origins of modern snowboarding takes us exactly to the surfers and skateboarders of the American West Coast.
Motivated by the surfing and skateboarding in the summer, athletes who loved the feeling of movement on water/street wanted to continue "surf" in the winter.
An American, Sherman Poppen wanted to continue the "surf-feeling" movement in the winter; to be able to surf also on "frozen waves", designed a "Snurfer". A "Snurfer" was a water ski with bent upward shovel to which a line was fastened for steering. Although hardly controllable, without bond and reinforced edges, the Snurfer developed to be one of the best selling products. Eventually, annual championships were organized.
To be continued in the next eNews edition.
Marco GALMARINI
ICSD Technical Director - Snowboard