Snowboarding

This book provides a comprehensive look at the snowboarding phenomenon, including its history; techniques and equipment; biographies of the sport's pioneers, athletes, and heroes; key sites and events; and future directions.While snowboarding didn't become a commercial success until the early 1980s, the roots of the modern snowboard go back to at least 1964, when Sherman Poppen invented the "e;Snurfer"e; by bolting two skis together and adding a rope for stability. Today snowboarding is one of the most prominent and appealing youth sports. Want proof? Professional snowboarder and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White was the highest paid athlete entering the 2010 Winter Olympics with an estimated annual salary of $10 million.The book is a highly accessible and extensive overview of snowboarding, providing an introduction to the sport and lifestyle of snowboarding; a historical timeline of the rapid growth of snowboarding; techniques and equipment used; and a discussion of key places and events, such as Alaska, Winter X Games, and the Winter Olympics.