The History of Snowboarding: A Timeline (2026)
Snowboarding went from a backyard toy to an Olympic sport in about three decades. Here's how it happened.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Sherman Poppen invents the Snurfer in Muskegon, Michigan |
| 1968 | First snurfing competition at a Michigan ski resort |
| 1970s | Tom Sims and Dimitrije Milovich (Winterstick) build early boards |
| 1977 | Jake Burton Carpenter founds Burton Snowboards in Vermont |
| 1979 | A Muskegon race is considered the first snowboarding competition |
| 1982 | First USA National Snowboard race at Suicide Six, Vermont |
| 1983 | First World Championship halfpipe at Soda Springs, California |
| 1985 | First World Cup in Zürs, Austria; only about 7% of US ski areas allow snowboarding |
| 1990 | International Snowboard Federation founded |
| 1998 | Olympic debut at Nagano, Japan |
| 2014 | Para-snowboarding debuts at the Sochi Paralympics |
The Snurfer (1960s)
In 1965, engineer Sherman Poppen of Muskegon, Michigan, fastened two skis together as a toy for his daughters. The Snurfer ("snow" + "surfer") was steered with a rope at the nose. Poppen organized snurfing contests starting in 1968.
The Pioneers (1970s)
Several innovators turned the toy into a sport. Tom Sims had built a board in school shop class in the 1960s and later founded Sims Snowboards. Dimitrije Milovich founded Winterstick in Utah. Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards in Vermont in 1977, and the company became one of the sport's most influential brands.
Contests and Resort Access (1980s)
Competitions spread quickly: national races, halfpipe contests and the first World Cup in 1985. But resort access was limited; in 1985 only about 7% of US ski areas allowed snowboarding. Through the late 1980s and 1990s, resorts opened up, and today the vast majority of ski areas in North America and Europe welcome snowboarders.
Going Olympic (1998–Today)
Snowboarding joined the Winter Olympics at Nagano 1998. Events have grown to include halfpipe, slopestyle, big air, snowboard cross and parallel giant slalom. Para-snowboarding debuted at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics.
How the Gear Changed
Early boards were flexible planks with simple foot straps, and the Snurfer was steered with a rope. Pioneers added better construction and materials; Sims experimented with aluminum on the base, and Burton developed early boards with bindings. Bindings soon became standard, giving riders far more control, and today's boards use refined shapes, cores and profiles for every style of riding.
Olympic Snowboarding
Since its 1998 debut, Olympic snowboarding has added and dropped events over time. Snowboard cross became an Olympic event at the 2006 Turin Games, and by 2018 the program included big air, halfpipe, parallel giant slalom, slopestyle and snowboard cross.
The Last Holdouts
Almost every ski resort allows snowboarding today, but a few in North America still don't. As of 2026, Alta, Deer Valley and Mad River Glen are commonly cited as ski-only resorts.
Keep Exploring
Read our snowboarding guide, types of snowboards, snowboard brands and snowboarding vs skateboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented snowboarding?
Sherman Poppen is credited with inventing the Snurfer in 1965 in Muskegon, Michigan, by fastening two skis together for his daughters. Pioneers like Jake Burton Carpenter and Tom Sims built on it.
When did Burton start?
Jake Burton Carpenter founded Burton Snowboards in Vermont in 1977.
When did snowboarding become an Olympic sport?
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Were snowboards banned from ski resorts?
Many resorts didn't allow them at first; in 1985 only a small share of US ski areas allowed snowboarding. Today almost all do.
When was the first snowboarding competition?
Snurfing contests began in 1968; a 1979 race in Muskegon is often considered the first snowboarding competition.