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1. History:
Before snowboards were invented, Sherwin Popper constructed the "Snurfer".
This sports- utility was made of two skis which were bolted together.
Some years later Dimitrije Milovich, who was a professional surfer tried to
improve the existing snowboard- developments. So he developed the
"Winterstick"- a snowboard which is similar today' s snowboards.
Several years later Jake Burton improved the Winterstick, he used ski
technology. For better control he took real bindings, high backs and steel
edges.
So the first snowboard was developed.
Tom Sims was also one of the men who got the idea of snowboarding.
2. Boards:
Generally there are three main parts of snowboards: Freestyle-, Freeride-
and Raceboards. Of course there are other parts, but all of them are based on
the three main parts.
Freestyleboard: ~~~picture~~~
First there are the freestyleboards. They are characterised through a very
short shape, their light weight and their medium flexibility. All these things
are perfect for doing tricks, like big- airs, halfepipe- riding and so on but
you can' t go very fast with these boards.
Freerideboard: ~~~picture~~~
The freerideboard' 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. Freerideboards are also very
flexible- so there is a real surfer- feeling. When you are boarding in powder
snow.
Raceboard: ~~~picture~~~
These boards are simply designed to reach top speed. They are medium in
length and weight, but they have got a very long nose and they are extremely
stiff. So the riding feeling is very direct: Every movement of the body 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. They support the direct power transfer to the board. Of course there are also the two types of hardboot bindings.
3. Boots:
There are two different kinds of boots: Softboots and hardboots.
Hardboots: ~~~picture~~~
They are similar to ski' s boots and are made oft plastic. Hardboots are
only used in comparison with hard bindings and raceboards.
Softboots: ~~~picture~~~
They are like moon boots and made of material and a bit of plastic. They are
used with freestyle- and freerideboards.
4. Bindings: ~~~picture~~~
There are different standard bindings for raceboards and for freeride- and
freestyleboards.
Step in bindings are also used for hardboots and softboots. 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.
Stance of the binding: ~~~picture~~~
There are two possibilities: Your right or your left foot is in front of
you. If your front foot is your left one you call it "regular". Most of the
snowboarders go regular.
The opposite is "goofy"- there your right foot is in front of you.
5. Technique:
The thing which is in front of you when you are standing on the board is
called "nose". The opposite of it is called "tail".
Around the whole board there is something shining metal: It is the steel
edge of the board.
And the final things are the places were you can fix the bindings. There you
can choose your type of binding- standard bindings and step in bindings.
6. Contest:
Halfpipe: ~~~picture~~~
The halfpipe is the arena for freestylers. It is a artificial snow groove. Riders go from wall to wall and jump out at the edge. The halfpipe is about 110 meters long, 15 meters wide and 4 meters high.
Snowboard Cross: ~~~picture~~~
It' s a combination of contest and show. Four riders start simultaneous in a artificial snow arena. There are hills, jumps, etc.
Giant Slalom: ~~~picture~~~
It is a course, which is stuck very far and fast. The course is about 300 meters long and there are about 30 gates.
Super- G: ~~~picture~~~
It is similar to the Giant Slalom, but it' s a bit longer. The best 30 riders are qualified for the 2nd run. The best one from both runs is the winner.
Parallel Giant Slalom: ~~~picture~~~
There are the same requirements as there are at the Giant Slalom. It' s about 200 meters long, and they go head to head.
Parallel Slalom: ~~~picture~~~
It' s a course, which is stuck very close and it' s about 100 meters long and there are about 20 gates. The riders go head to head, and the best one reaches the next run.
7. Injuries:
About 7 500 000 people are skiing, and about 71 000 people are hurted. That
is about 1 %.
There are about 700 000 snowboarders and about 8 000 hurted boarders every
year. That' s about 1, 1 %.
37 % of all accidents happen at jumping, 33 % happen at freeriding and the
remaining 30% happen at other things, for instance at contests. ~~~picture~~~
Most people hurt their handjoint, their shoulder or their knee.
Frequent injuries are fractures, bruises and pulled muscles. ~~~picture~~~
Most accidents happen between 13 and 14 o' clock. When you look at the whole
week, most people hurt at the weekends. ~~~picture~~~
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