The History of Snowboarding
Dr. Tyner
HIST 161
The History of Snowboarding
The invention of snowboarding is directly related to the increase of concussions through the years. At first the snowboard was very basic, but now it has become a sport that a lot of people participating in. However some people choose not to wear helmets that protect their heads, which make them more susceptible to concussions. The National Ski Patrol says that only 61% of people wore helmets for both skiing and snowboarding in the 2010/2011 season. That number is up from of 57% during the 2009/2010 season. The evidence is showing that snowboarding has become more and more competitive and dangerous.
No one really has a clear knowledge of who made the first snowboard. Voje writes “M.J. Burchett was one of the first to build what is now called a snowboard in 1929. He used a plank of plywood, some clothesline, and horse reigns to build the first snowboard.” The clothesline and horse reigns were used to keep his feet secure. This was the very first recorded snowboard. However crude it may have been, it was still a snowboard.
Next on the scene was Sherman Poppen who loved to surf. In 1965, he created a surfboard for the snow. Voje says that Poppen’s wife came up with the name for the surfboard for snow. She called it the snurfer. This design was made by binding two skis together with a rope attached at the nose of the board for people to hold. He made the first one for his daughter but soon found that everyone in his neighborhood wanted a snurfer for themselves. The first snowboard sale price was $15. Poppen sold over a half a million snurfers in 1966.
Then along came Dimitrije Milovich in 1969. His idea came from sliding down a hill on a cafeteria platter in college. Milovich founded new company called Winterstick. After Milovich left the snowboarding business, Jake Burton, a new face, finished college. He entered a snurfer competition and beat everyone with his homemade board. One of the key reasons he won is
HIST 161
The History of Snowboarding
The invention of snowboarding is directly related to the increase of concussions through the years. At first the snowboard was very basic, but now it has become a sport that a lot of people participating in. However some people choose not to wear helmets that protect their heads, which make them more susceptible to concussions. The National Ski Patrol says that only 61% of people wore helmets for both skiing and snowboarding in the 2010/2011 season. That number is up from of 57% during the 2009/2010 season. The evidence is showing that snowboarding has become more and more competitive and dangerous.
No one really has a clear knowledge of who made the first snowboard. Voje writes “M.J. Burchett was one of the first to build what is now called a snowboard in 1929. He used a plank of plywood, some clothesline, and horse reigns to build the first snowboard.” The clothesline and horse reigns were used to keep his feet secure. This was the very first recorded snowboard. However crude it may have been, it was still a snowboard.
Next on the scene was Sherman Poppen who loved to surf. In 1965, he created a surfboard for the snow. Voje says that Poppen’s wife came up with the name for the surfboard for snow. She called it the snurfer. This design was made by binding two skis together with a rope attached at the nose of the board for people to hold. He made the first one for his daughter but soon found that everyone in his neighborhood wanted a snurfer for themselves. The first snowboard sale price was $15. Poppen sold over a half a million snurfers in 1966.
Then along came Dimitrije Milovich in 1969. His idea came from sliding down a hill on a cafeteria platter in college. Milovich founded new company called Winterstick. After Milovich left the snowboarding business, Jake Burton, a new face, finished college. He entered a snurfer competition and beat everyone with his homemade board. One of the key reasons he won is