We have covered the popular winter sport of skiing, but what about snowboarding? If you are interested in snowboarding, continue below to find out everything you need to know about snowboarding!

1. What is snowboarding?

Snowboarding is the activity of descending down a hill or mountain on a snowboard.

2. What is the history of snowboarding?

The idea of modern snowboarding started in 1965. A Michigan engineer, Sherman Poppen, fastened two skis together and attached a rope to one end of the skis. This allowed Poppen to control the skis while he stood and glided downhill. Poppen's wife, Nancy, called this the snurfer. Soon, Poppen's daughters showed their new snow toy to their friends, and their friends showed a special interest in it. Poppen decided that the snurfer was a hit, so he licensed it to the Brunswick Corporation. The Brunswick Corporation sold almost a million snurfers in a decade.

Then, in the early 1970s, Poppen held snurfing competitions at a Michigan ski resort. One of the people who attended Poppen's snurfing competitions was Tom Sims. Sims was a skateboarding enthusiast who has crafted his idea of a snowboard in the early 1960s. Sims snowboard was a piece of carpet, which was glued onto a piece of wood, with an aluminum sheeting bottom. Sims manufactured his snowboard and sold them throughout the 1970s.

Snowboarding became increasingly popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Throughout these years, many people came up with new snowboarding designs and mechanisms. This led the path for the snowboarding equipment that we know today.

Finally, in 1998 snowboarding was recognized as an official Olympic event.

3. What equipment do I need to snowboard?

While the amount and type of equipment you need to snowboard varies among your skill level, and where you are snowboarding, there is a basic list of equipment. You will need; a hat or helmet, snowboarding goggles, a jacket and proper clothing for the cold, a snowboard, snowboarding boots, and snowboard bindings. If you plan on snowboarding at a popular ski resort, you can rent all of the necessary equipment. Just make sure you wear a jacket, proper clothing for the cold, and a hat!

4. Can anybody snowboard?

Yes, anybody can snowboard! While anybody can snowboard, people who have experience skateboarding, surfing, or skiing may have an easier time snowboarding.

5. Is snowboarding harder than skiing?

No! In some aspects, snowboarding is actually easier than skiing. While skiing is a lot easier to initially learn than snowboarding, it is much more difficult to master skiing than snowboarding. Thus, snowboarding is the opposite. You will most likely have a harder time learning how to snowboard. But once you get the hang of snowboarding, you will have an easier time mastering different skills, tricks, and techniques!

6. Where can I snowboard?

You can snowboard anywhere that you can ski! Thus, you can snowboard on backcountry trails, remote ski areas, or your local ski resort!