The Inspiration… In 1965, Sherman Poppen watched his daughter try to stand as she rode her sled downhill. Inspired, he screwed two skis together to create the "Snurfer" (a combination of the words snow and surfer). Thousands of Snurfers were sold in the following years. Although these early plastic boards weren't designed for technical riding, they provided the inspiration for modern snowboarding.

During the 1970's a few innovative designers, including Jake Burton Carpenter began experimenting with new designs and materials for snowboards. Snurfing was still a popular snow sport and the new designs weren't quickly embraced. The first snowboarding competition was held in Leadville, Colorado in 1981.

Slow Growth and an Image…During the 1980's, snowboarding slowly spread across the US. Changes in design, including highback bindings and metal edges, made snowboards easier to ride. Although snowboarding was slowly gaining in popularity among riders, it was also developing a "bad boy" image. A majority of snowboarders were adolescent males who rode their boards aggressively and tested their own limits (just as they had done on their skis!). Because of the negative image, many ski resorts banned snowboarding on their slopes.

The Evolution of a New Sport…Throughout the 1980's and 1990's the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championship and World Snowboarding Championship gave the emerging stars of this new sport the chance to show off their skills. Freestyle riding on the slopes and in the new halfpipe events created a buzz worldwide. More people were paying attention to what these young riders were doing.