| Snowboarding is arguably the most popular winter | | | | controllability was greatly improved as well. |
| sport in the world. In the few decades that | | | | Aside from the board itself, there is an assortment |
| snowboarding has been in existence, it has gone | | | | of other snowboard gear that is required. Boots are |
| from a highly maligned, ugly cousin of skiing to a | | | | an essential part of a quality snowboard set-up. |
| premiere event of the Winter Olympics. The sport | | | | Snowboard boots are the primary means of |
| continues to attract thousands more devotees every | | | | transferring power from the rider to the board, which |
| year. | | | | is the primary means by which the board is controlled. |
| Over the years, manufacturers of snowboard gear | | | | An inadequate set of boots makes snowboarding |
| have greatly increased the range of available items, | | | | much harder, and much more uncomfortable. |
| while dramatically improving the technology. Early gear | | | | One of the more overlooked pieces of snowboard |
| was primarily constrained to a rudimentary version of | | | | gear is the helmet. While helmets are recommended |
| today's snowboard, and all other equipment was | | | | for anyone wishing to slide down a hill, snowboarders |
| adopted from skiing and other outdoor winter | | | | tend to be a little more "adventurous" and as such, |
| activities. Today, however, there are a plethora of | | | | helmets are extremely important. Modern helmets are |
| companies that make nothing but snowboard specific | | | | designed with a variety of features, not the least of |
| equipment. | | | | which is safety. Many helmets include built-in |
| The snowboard itself has undergone a several | | | | headphones which can be plugged into most music |
| technological advances since it was first invented. | | | | players, and most are equipped with a variety of |
| The earliest snowboards were basically flexible | | | | ventilation features as well. |
| wooden planks to which straps, or in some cases, | | | | As the snowboarding industry continues to grow, the |
| water ski bindings were attached. Soon thereafter, | | | | equipment is sure to become more and more |
| fiberglass was added to these boards, greatly | | | | advanced. Ski companies are taking cues from |
| increasing their flexibility as well as their durability. | | | | snowboard manufacturers and creating products |
| Further adaptations taken from ski manufacturing | | | | designed for the more freestyle techniques |
| allowed these boards to glide much easier, and their | | | | pioneered by snowboarders. |