{"id":51165,"date":"2025-01-19T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-19T11:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowtrex.de\/magazin\/?p=51165"},"modified":"2025-06-26T14:34:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T12:34:34","slug":"snowboarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowtrex.co.uk\/magazine\/top-10\/snowboarding\/","title":{"rendered":"Snowboarding – 7 facts about disciplines, history, equipment and co."},"content":{"rendered":"

A snowboard under your feet, bright sunshine in the sky and a perfectly groomed descent into the valley. For winter sports enthusiasts who prefer travelling in the snow on a board instead of skis, there is nothing better. For many of them, the snowboard is not just a piece of sports equipment. It is also a piece of freedom and a way of life. But what makes snowboarding so popular? SnowTrex<\/a> has compiled seven facts that show how a niche sport has developed into a worldwide winter sports phenomenon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n \"Snowboarding<\/a>
\u00a9 Dmytro Vietrov\/shutterstock.de<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
Snowboarding has evolved from a niche product for winter sports enthusiasts into a lifestyle that has become an integral part of ski resorts around the world<\/div>\n <\/div > \n

Nevertheless, snowboard enthusiasts were initially not at all welcome in the ski resorts in the motherland of snowboarding, the USA. Lifts were taboo for them and sometimes they were only allowed on the slopes at night. However, with the first snowboard races in Colorado in 1981, acceptance continued to grow. in 1985, it was the James Bond film “In the Face of Death” that made the snowboard world-famous. During an alpine chase, the double-zero agent strapped part of a smashed snowmobile under his feet in the film sequence and escaped several attackers this way. This is how the winter sports phenomenon finally gained a foothold in Europe. By the time a high-circulation daily newspaper in Austria<\/a> reported on the first descent of a “snow surfer” from the Grossglockner<\/a> in July 1986, nothing stood in the way of the snowboard’s triumphant advance in the Alps.<\/p>\n

According to the statistics portal “Statista”, over 700,000 snowboards were sold worldwide in 2019 alone. Overall, however, sales figures for snowboards have fallen sharply in recent years, meaning that the sport’s boom period is probably over for the time being.<\/p>\n

The most famous snowboarders<\/h2>\n

Jake Burton<\/h3>\n

The US American, who died in 2019, is regarded as the forefather of snowboarding as it is known to millions of winter sports enthusiasts today. The ‘snowboard pope’ grew up on the East Coast in New York State. However, he later began his business studies in Boulder, Colorado. He was initially a keen skier. But then he further developed the “Snurfer” invented by Sherman Poppen. Burton thus created the basis for modern snowboards. He was so successful with these that he founded the company “Burton Snowboards” in 1977. The company went on to become a global market leader for snowboards, winter sports clothing and snowboard accessories. Alongside Poppen, Dimitrije Milovich and Tom Sims, Burton is now one of the four fathers of the snowboard.<\/p>\n

Tom Sims<\/h3>\n

The 1975 skateboard world champion and 1983 snowboard world champion is probably only known to a few in the world of snowboarding. This is despite the fact that millions of cinema-goers have been able to marvel at his skills on the big screen. It was he who stood in for Roger Moore as a stunt double in the snowboard chase in the Bond film<\/a> “In the Face of Death”. As entrepreneurs, Sims and Burton were considered rivals for decades.<\/p>\n

Shaun White<\/h3>\n

While the first two Americans were extremely successful commercially, their young compatriot rose to become one of the most successful snowboarders in the world in the early 2000s. The Californian was originally a skateboarder. However, he started snowboarding at the age of six. Before White retired in tears at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing – his fifth Winter Games – he became Olympic champion in the halfpipe in Turin in 2006, Vancouver in 2010 and Pyeongchang in 2018.<\/p>\n

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\n \"The<\/a>
\u00a9 Leonard Zhukovsky\/Shutterstock<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
The US American Shaun White is a three-time Olympic champion in the halfpipe, making him the most successful snowboarder of all time<\/div>\n <\/div > \n

He also won a total of 13 gold medals at the Winter X-Games, more than any other athlete in the history of the event. Eight of them in the superpipe and five in slopestyle.<\/p>\n

Terje H\u00e5konsen<\/h3>\n

The first snowboard superstar from Europe was Norwegian. Against the wishes of his father, who wanted him to become a ski racer, H\u00e5konsen started skateboarding in 1985. He was inspired by the film “Back to the Future”. in 1987, he stood on a snowboard for the first time and started his very own success story. The Norwegian became world champion in the halfpipe three times. His fluid and elegant riding style is still a role model for many up-and-coming snowboarders today. Terje H\u00e5konsen also became famous through action sports films. In these, he was filmed freeriding in deep snow. His particularly high and spectacular jumps led to the term “big air” being coined.<\/p>\n

Nicola Thost<\/h3>\n

She is the most famous snowboarder in Germany. After the woman from Pforzheim celebrated her debut in the Snowboard World Cup in January 1997, she achieved the greatest sporting success of her career just under a year later. At the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Thost won gold in the halfpipe at the premiere of the snowboarding competitions. in 1998, she went down in history as the first female Olympic snowboarding champion.<\/p>\n

The snowboard equipment<\/h2>\n

The most important piece of equipment is, of course, the snowboard. For beginners and recreational athletes, boards are available with pre-installed bindings. Professionals usually opt for an unfinished snowboard and buy the bindings separately. This allows them to customise their equipment perfectly to their needs. But regardless of the shape of the sports equipment – whether race board, all-mountain board or freestyle board – the following applies: the softer and more flexible the board, the easier it is to manoeuvre and the less likely it is to tilt. A characteristic that penalises riding errors less severely. Stiffness is also a decisive factor when it comes to bindings. If you prefer to ski on groomed slopes, you should opt for a stiffer binding. If, on the other hand, you feel more at home in snow parks and thus in the freestyle area, it is better to rely on a softer binding.<\/p>\n

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\n \"With<\/a>
\u00a9 Nomad_Soul\/shutterstock.de<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
With the right combination of board, boots and bindings, snowboarders can enjoy a carefree day on the piste<\/div>\n <\/div > \n

Snowboard boots also play a decisive role in ensuring the best possible riding experience in all situations. The rule of thumb here is that the boots should only be about half a size larger than the buyer’s normal shoe size. And, of course, the helmet is essential. Unlike snowboards, bindings and boots, which are all available at reasonable prices without compromising on quality, personal safety is more important than price when it comes to helmets. After all, we all only have one head! When choosing head protection, it is important that it fits perfectly and stays in place. If you are unsure about what to buy, you can refer to the latest evaluations by Stiftung Warentest or other experts.<\/p>\n

The same applies to the back protector. Because the feet are firmly attached to the board, the back is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body in the event of a snowboard fall. This is why the protector is now an integral part of professional snowboarding equipment. Just like snowboard goggles, which must always fit securely. They should not be too small and should be adapted to the shape of the helmet. After all, they provide reliable protection from sun glare and snow flurries. The most important factor for clothing, i.e. the snowboard jacket, gloves and trousers, is waterproofness. Because every snowboarder knows that the best place to take a break on the piste is in wet snow. And even minor stumbles usually end up on the bottom of your trousers or on your knees. However, unlike most skiers, snowboarders can of course do without poles.<\/p>\n

In the following clip, a material professional shows how winter sports enthusiasts can make their snowboard fit for the next winter by doing it themselves:<\/p>\n

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How to Wax a Snowboard<\/div><\/div>
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