When Sherman Poppen decided to lace up a pair of skis in 1965, he must have had little idea that he was about to start an incredibly popular sport. Despite its relatively short history, snowboarding has become one of the world’s leading winter sports.
This seems particularly hard to imagine when we think about how it was considered a poor relative of skiing. Ski enthusiasts felt like they ruled the slopes. There didn’t seem to be anywhere for snowboarding fans. But times have certainly changed, and most resorts now welcome those who wish to participate in both sports.
So how did the sport grow? What are the secrets behind your success? From the beginning, it was clear that snowboarding was positioned as more than just a sporting activity. While people may view cross-country running, for example, primarily as a means of getting some decent exercise, it’s hard to think of snowboarding that way. Instead, it tends to be seen as something of a lifestyle choice.
It has always had associations with skateboarding, extending to a certain sense of style. Looking good is at the core of what this sport is all about. If you can’t manage to look good, both on and off the court, then you’re pretty much out of place.
In fact, in many ways this is where things differ considerably from skiing. There is an expectation here that the board you choose and the clothes you wear really say something about you. But it is also the case that style is a very important part of the sport. Obviously, that’s not the case with skiing.
So the rise of the sport can be explained by its positioning. It offers something very different from other winter sports. He manages to combine danger, excitement, skills, fashion, and style. All of this helps explain why it has risen in popularity at such a staggering rate.
If you haven’t tried snowboarding before then you might want to look into whether it’s possible to get lessons locally. There are also numerous online stores that sell appropriate equipment and accessories.