Outdoor Adventures SNOWBOARDING Rennay Craats
Published by Weigl Publishers Inc. 350 5th Avenue, Suite 3304, PMB 6G New York, NY 10118-0069 Website: www.weigl.com Copyright 2008 WEIGL PUBLISHERS INC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Weigl Publishers Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Craats, Rennay. Snowboarding / Rennay Craats. p. cm. -- (Outdoor adventures) Includes index. ISBN-13: 978-1-59036-687-5 (hard cover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-1-59036-688-2 (soft cover : alk. paper) 1. Snowboarding--Juvenile literature. I. Title. GV857.S57C74 2008 796.939--dc22 2007006573 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 11 10 09 08 07 Every reasonable effort has been made to trace ownership and to obtain permission to reprint copyright material. The publishers would be pleased to have any errors or omissions brought to their attention so that they may be corrected in subsequent printings. Project Coordinator Heather C. Hudak Design Terry Paulhus All of the Internet URLs given in the book were valid at the time of publication. However, due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, some addresses may have changed, or sites may have ceased to exist since publication. While the author and publisher regret any inconvenience this may cause readers, no responsibility for any such changes can be accepted by either the author or the publisher.
CONTENTS 4 All About Snowboarding 6 Getting Started 8 Snowboarding Basics 10 Snowboarding Levels 12 Staying Safe 14 Other Outdoor Adventures 16 Snowboarding Around the World 18 Join the Club 20 Healthy Habits 22 Brain Teasers 24 Glossary/Index
All About Snowboarding People began snowboarding in the mid-1960s. One of the first snowboards was invented by Sherman Poppen. It looked like a water ski with a rope on the front and was called a Snurfer. Snowboarders held on to the rope and stood on the board like a surfboard. It was difficult to stay on and steer the board. In 1963, a teenager named Tom Sims became frustrated that he could not skateboard in winter. He created a skateboard for snow in his wood-shop class. He later improved and redesigned his board. Soon, more people were trying snowboarding. Over the years, snowboarding has become more common. Ski hills are now filled with snowboarders of all ages and skill levels. Snowboarding is a combination of several sports. It has many of the same movements as surfing, but like skiing, it is done on a snow hill. Snowboarders also perform skateboarding tricks. They shift their weight from side to side as they glide over the snow. Unlike skiers, snowboarders do not use poles. They stop by digging the board into the side of the hill. As snowboarders improve their skills, they can try more challenging ski runs or learn tricks on a ramp of snow called a halfpipe. Snowboarding is sometimes described as surfing on snow. 4
CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS PAST People buy more than 500,000 Snurfers in 1966. In 1977, Jake Burton Carpenter makes a snowboard in a barn in Vermont. In 1983, less than 10 percent of ski hills allowed people to use snowboards. Snowboarding debuts as an Olympic sport at the 1998 winter games in Nagano, Japan. PRESENT Today, more than 3.4 million people snowboard. Jake is the owner of Burton, one of the world s best-known snowboard makers. Twenty percent of visitors to American ski resorts are snowboarders. Many important competitions are held for snowboarders around the world. Halfpipes provide a location for snowboarders to practice tricks. These moves require balance and strength. 5
Getting Started Snowboarders need to keep warm and protect themselves from the wind, snow, and Sun when stepping onto the slopes. They also have to decide what kind of snowboard they are going to use. Stiff boards are faster. They are designed for carving at high speeds. Boards with some flexibility are better for beginner snowboarders. Warm clothes will keep a snowboarder comfortable in cold weather. 6