| Snowboarding is an exciting fast paced sport that | | | | boxes, rails, to any object a track designer can |
| can take several forms. You can race down the hills | | | | dream up. Jibs and glides refer to how the rider will |
| or mountains maneuvering quickly or glide and slide | | | | build power and speed then slide across objects for |
| down in a rough free style. Snowboarding itself is | | | | either a short or long duration frequently performing |
| loosely based on other similar sports like surfing, | | | | some other physical stunt while doing so. |
| skateboarding and skiing. Developed just prior to the | | | | The boxes used are objects used that have highly |
| 1980's it became a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998. | | | | polished surface that allows the rider move very |
| Initially, there was a little animosity between skiers | | | | easily. Naturally, this also means that while on the |
| and snowboarders, but over time as the popularity | | | | box, rail or other object the rider has no traction so |
| of snowboarding has increased this has been | | | | the snowboarder will need to be extremely skilled. |
| resolved. In most resorts where you find skiing you | | | | Free style can also be done in half pipe, which is a |
| will also have access to snowboarding at least in one | | | | type of man-made trench-link ditch made of snow. |
| form or another. | | | | Tricks done in the half pipe are customarily done as |
| Free ride snowboarding is the most common style of | | | | the rider moves from one side of the pipe to the |
| the sport. This is in part to its versatility since any | | | | other. Free style unlike free ride snowboarding has a |
| terrain available will do. You can do tricks where you | | | | look that puts most spectators in mind of |
| catch as much 'air' as possible in the jump then do | | | | skateboarding. |
| tricks. You can jib, which is, in fact a method of | | | | Since there is so much need for balance in free style |
| sliding or gliding down rails or other terrain obstacles, | | | | a soft boot with a very flexible board is the one |
| however this is done far less than in other styles like | | | | preferred. Free style riders also prefer shorter |
| free style. It is during free ride snowboarding that | | | | boarders and sometimes even file down the edges. |
| the sport shows its relationship with surfing the most. | | | | The shorter length gives them the ability to make |
| Just as you might see a surfer glide down a wave | | | | quick moves, change direction and rotate the board |
| doing tricks on the board this closely resembles the | | | | faster than with a regular board. Free style takes a |
| power of free ride snowboarding. | | | | lot of practice, but participants who love this activity |
| In free style there may or not be a hill or mountain, | | | | do not complain much. |
| but there is grace as the participants find ways to | | | | Both these styles are part of a fast growing |
| utilize man made terrain features to perform jibs and | | | | intensely popular sport in which the practice |
| glides. These features can be anything from jumps, | | | | necessary to become a better rider is the fun part. |