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Snowboarding

Combining elements of surfing, skateboarding and skiing, snowboard is the most recent sport to join the Olympic Winter Games – and one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

The first official snowboard competition was held in Colorado, USA, in 1981. It became an official Olympic sport in a remarkably short time without going through the usual process of being a demonstration sport at the Games.

Two snowboard events were introduced as Olympic Winter sports at the 1998 Nagano Games, halfpipe and individual giant slalom (one racer at a time). The parallel giant slalom replaced the individual giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games, while the snowboard cross became an Olympic sport for the first time in 2006, at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

How It Works

A snowboard is a single board that is both shorter and wider than traditional downhill skis. The snowboarder's feet are strapped on the board, one in front of the other.

There are three snowboard categories for both men and women in the Olympic Winter Games: halfpipe, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross.

In the halfpipe (which looks a lot like skateboarding, but on snow), one snowboarder at a time performs a routine of acrobatic jumps, twists and tricks, moving from one side to another on the inside of a half-cylinder-shaped snow tube or ramp. The riders are judged on their height and style.

In the parallel giant slalom, two snowboarders race head-to-head down the mountain through a series of gates. The fastest of each pair goes on to the next round. The top finishers compete in more runs – nine in total – than in any other skier in the Olympic Winter Games.

In snowboard cross, four racers start in a pack down a course of jump ramps and obstacles. The fastest two racers from each heat move on to the next round.