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M.J. "Jack" Burchett first snowboard-like device
In 1929 M.J. "Jack" Burchett created one of the first snowboards by cutting out a plank of plywood securing it to his feet using horse reins and clothes line. -
The Snurfer
Sherman Poppen developed the "Snurfer" as a present for his daughter in 1965. After overwhelming interest in the product, Poppen licensed the "Snurfer" with Brunswick. It became a popular gift and sold one million units in the decade following its introduction. -
Development of Snowboards Based on Short Surfboards
Dimitrije Milovich based his new snowboard design off of the new short surfboards. His invention the "Winterstick" became nationally recognized in magazines leading to expanded interest in the product. He later created the WInterstick Company which became the first snowboard company. -
Milovich's Boards Gets Media Attention
The snowboards Milovich created get mentioned in magazines such as Newsweek and Playboy. -
Winterstick Releases First Snowboard
Dimitrije Milovich's company, Winterstick, begins and releases its first swallow tail board in a basically non-existant market. -
Tom Sims starts making snowboards
Tom Sims takes previous versions of snowboards and puts aluminium sheeting on the bottom for more speed. -
Jake Burton moves to Vermont and makes Snurfers out of different materials
Jake Burton had been Snurfering since a young age because his parents would not buy him a surfboard so he turned to Snurfing instead. He made his original boards out of laminated hardwood with the worlds first binding. Jake won the first competition he entered with the board and simultaneously changed the world of Snurfing forever. -
Graves Wows Fans at Snurfer Contest
At the annual snurfer contest in Michigan Paul Graves wows the crowd with his freestyle demonstration. He performed four sliding 360s and even dropped down to one knee for part of the course. He finished his run by dismounting with a front flip. -
Chuck Allen forms the United States Amateur Snowboard Association (USASA)
It was the first national snowboarding organization that held competitions and was soon to be followed by the International Snowboarding Association the next year and the International Snowboarding Federation the year after that. -
Snowboarding is Introduced into the Olympic Winter Games
Snowboarding was introduced to the Olympics in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. The events that year included Giant Slalom and Halfpipe for both men and women. There was some controversy surrounding the games though. The FIS (International Ski Federation) got jurisdiction over the competitions even though the ISF (International Snowboarding Federation) was well established. Even though the ISF was not thought up to the task of running the Olympic competitions it was a huge leap forward for the sport.
