U.S. Snowboarding, the snowboarding arm of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), is committed to the progression of snowboarding by providing athletic programs, services, and competitions for male and female athletes of all ages, coast-to-coast. Since the inclusion of snowboarding as a medal sport in 1998, U.S. Snowboarding has accounted for 14 Olympic medals, including the sweep of the podium in men’s halfpipe in 2002 and a best in the world performance of seven medals in 2006.
History
Early years
*The first U.S. Snowboarding Team was officially named in 1994, prior to the 1994–95 season in order to prepare for the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, where the sport would make its Olympic debut, however the United States had participated in snowboarding World Cup competitions since the tour was created in 1988.
1965 – Invention of the Snurfer. Snowboarding was born in 1965 when Sherman Poppen created the "Snurfer" by bracing a pair of skis together and riding sideways down his backyard hill in Muskegon, Michigan. Through the late 60s, 70s and early 80s snowboard designs developed with the help of snowboard innovators.
1968 – Tongue-in-cheek, students at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, MI organize the first "World Snurfing Championship." Hosted at "Blockhouse Hill" in Muskegon State Park, the event draws between 200 and 300 spectators, and becomes an annual affair.
1978 – JEM Corporation, manufacturer of the "Snurfer," sponsors the "National Snurfing Championship" in Muskegon. This is the first competition to offer prize money.
1979 – Jake Burton and Paul Graves compete in the "National Snurfing Championship" in Muskegon.
1981 – Modern competitive snowboarding begins with a small contest held in April at Ski Cooper in Leadville, Colorado.
1982 – Paul Graves organizes the National Snowsurfing Championships
1983 – Jake Burton Carpenter organizes the National Snowboarding Championships
1987 – North American Snowboard Association formed
1988 – The first World Cup is held. Four World Cup events were held with two in North America and two in Europe.
1988 – United States Amateur Snowboarding Association formed. Former amateur surf promoter Chuck Allen incorporates the United States Amateur Snowboarding Association (USASA) in July with a $500 donation from Transworld SNOWboarding Magazine. USASA is the first governing body exclusively for competitive amateur snowboarding.
1989 – The USASA held a Trampoline Snowboarding Contest at Snow Valley, California.
1990–94
1990 – The USASA holds their first national championships. Held in February, at Snow Valley, the worst snow storm of the decade hits just before the event and closes all roads to Big Bear. Amateur snowboarders from all over the country are left stranded.
1990 – The International Snowboard Federation (ISF) forms. Following the collapse of the National Association of Professional Snowboarders, Ted Martin, Kazuo Ogura, and Christian Savioz create the ISF as the sanctioning body for international competition.
1993 – First official World Championships held. The ISF holds its first official Snowboard World Championships in Ischgl, Austria.
1993 – The International Ski Federation (FIS) votes to recognize snowboarding. The FIS votes to recognize snowboarding and plans several events in 1994 with a full-fledged World Cup Tour to start in 1995.
1995–2009
1995 – First U.S. Snowboarding Team named. Created as the snowboarding arm of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, U.S. Snowboarding created a national team to compete on the World Cup tour in preparation for the Olympic Games, where the sport was to debut in 1998. Former competitor Peter Foley was named head coach.
1995 – First World Cup tour held
1996 – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix created
1997 – U.S. Skiing changes name to U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. When U.S. Skiing became the official National Governing Body of snowboarding in 1997, the organization changed its name from U.S. Skiing to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.