Snowboarding evolved in the 1960s as a combination of surfing and skateboarding. The equipment has become more advanced over time to accommodate new tricks and styles of snowboarding. Snowboarders are constantly reshaping the sport in competitions like the X Games, U.S. Grand Prix and World Championships. The 2010 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, introduced several official snowboarding events.
Half Pipe
In the half pipe event, athletes snowboard down a 100- to 140-yard-long half cylinder of groomed powder. Up to 10 points are earned by performing various jumps and rotations on a freestyle snowboard. Olympic qualifying runs determine which snowboarders will advance to the finals.
Parallel Giant Slalom
The parallel giant slalom is a downhill race against the clock. Snowboarders zigzag between gates marked by red and blue flags spaced 20 to 25 meters apart. Athletes must use a rigid snowboard that can sharply carve into the snow during turns. The speed and potential impact means snowboarders wear protective gear such as shin guards and helmets.
Snowboard Cross
Also called boardercross, the snowboard cross uses a run similar to a BMX course, where four snowboarders compete against each other at the same time. The type of snowboard used varies, but the board might be slightly longer and stiffer than a freestyle board.
Slopestyle
Starting with the 2014 Olympics, slopestyle is an addition to the snowboarding competition. The slopestyle course includes man-made features such as jumps, rails and boxes. Competitors race down a terrain park and are scored based on the difficulty and execution of tricks.
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