Snowboarding

SNOWBOARDING

Contents:

History / Introduction

Technique (general

Technique (details)

Three types of snowboards

Conclusion

Bibliography

1. History / Introduction:

Today I'm going to make a presentation about snowboarding. First I will tell you something about the snowboarding's history:

The first real invention was by M.J. Burchett in 1929. He took a plywood and after he had cut a shape into it, he fixed his feet with horse reins. It's clear to understand, that this didn't work in any good way - but it was a step forward.

Then for a longer time nothing happened. In 1965 Sherman Poppers constructed "The Snurfer". This sports-utility was made of two skis which were bolted together. His invention was quite successful and so he organized competitions for people who ordered his "Snurfer".

In 1975 Dimitrije Milovich, who was a professional surfer tried to improve the existing snowboard-developments. First he just took his surfboard, went into the mountains and then he rode down the hill - in deep powder snow and with his surfboard. It didn't take him a long time to recognize that a common surfboard was too big and heavy to ride it in snow. So he developed the "Winterstick" - a snowboard which was similar to today's snowboards.

Short after that Jake Burton ( today's most popular snowboard factory "Burton Snowboards) used ski technology in snowboards. He cooperated with Milovich with the result of the final development of professional snowboarding. They used real bindings, steel edges and high backs for better control.

Today Snowboarding becomes even more popular. Most of younger people learn snowboarding because it's more than just the sport: They want to be different to the adults and there's also the whole lifestyle of snowboarding (music, clothes, .).

2. Technique (general):

The thing which is in front of you when you're standing on the board is called "nose". The opposite of it (the thing which is behind you) is called "tail". Around the whole board there's something shining metal: It's the steel edge of the board. The sharper it is, the more control you have about your board. And the final things are the places where you can fix the bindings.

There you can choose your type of binding - Standard bindings or Step-In bindings. Both types have their own advantages: Standard bindings are very stable, cheap and light. Step-In bindings on the other side are not as stable, a bit heavier and also more expensive. But the advantage is their comfort: You just step into the binding like you do it with skis' bindings. So you don't waste your time fixing your reins every time after getting up the slope.

On the next sheet I'll show you more detailed pictures of both binding types.

3. Technique (details):

[ show of the bigger pictures with a more detailed explanation ].

Two types of the position on the board:
Another important thing is how you're standing on your board. There're two possibilities: Your right or your left foot is in front of you. If your front foot is your left, you call it "regular". About 80% of all snowboarders go "regular". The opposite of it is "goofy" - there your right foot is in front of you.

Test to find out which type you are:
You can test if you're regular or goofy if you just run and then slip on the ground. The foot which is in front of you is the foot which should be in front of you when you're snowboarding.

4. Three types of snowboards:

Introduction:
Generally there are three main parts of snowboards: Freestyle-, Freeride- and Race-Boards. Of course there are other parts, but all of them are based on the three main parts.

Freestyle:
First there are the Freestyle-Boards. They are characterized through a very short shape, their light weight and their medium flexibility. All these things are perfect for doing tricks like big-airs, half pipe-riding and so on but you can't go very fast with these boards.
It's suggested to take Standard bindings because freestyling can be very harmful to the bindings - Standard bindings are more stable.

Freeride:
The Freeride-Board's length reaches from medium to very long. They are quite light and have a long nose. These facts makes those boards to real "powder"-specialists. The long nose and the whole long board are optimal to stay ON the snow - it's more difficult to sink down. Freeride-Boards are also very flexible - so there's a real surfer-feeling when you are boarding in powder snow.
You can choose your binding type. There aren't really any disadvantages on both sides.

Race:
These boards are simply designed to reach top speed. They are medium in length and weight, but they've got a very long nose and they are extremely stiff. So the riding-feeling is very direct: Every body movement is transferred directly to the board you need to be a very good snowboarder to control a Race-Board.
Now there is a difference in bindings compared to Freeride/Freestyle-Boards: You need "Hardboots". This boots are quite similar to ski's boots. They are also made of plastic and so they support the direct power-transfer to the board.
Of course there are also the two types of hardboot-bindings (Step-In and Standard).

All-In-One-Boards:
This is just a combination of the three main types. It takes the advantages of all types and so it's a good decision to buy such a board if you're not really sure which kind of snowboarding you want to practise.

5. Conclusion:

I've chosen this presentation-theme because I'm very interested in this sport and I also practise it since 3 years. It's a great sport and I can just suggest everybody to try it out! I also hope that I brought snowboarding nearer to my audience and explained them things they didn't know yet.

6. Bibliography:

Pictures: www.burton.com

Videos: www.coloradoboarders.com

All texts are written by me