Snowboarding+page++2

Three teams that are most competitive are the USA, Finland, and Japan

Snowboarding first started to appear majorly in the 1970s when a conflict arose between snowboarders and ski resorts. The ski resorts did not want to allow the snowboarders on the slopes because of the complaints from skiers. Skiers felt that the mountains where “theirs” and snowboarding should not be allowed. It wasn’t until around the 1990s that most ski resorts had accepted snowboarding and allowed it on the slopes. Resorts found that the new revenue brought in from the snowboarders brought in was well worth allowing this new sport. The first national competition in the United States was held in 1982 and the first World Championships were held in 1983. Later in 1994 the International Ski Federation introduces snowboarding as a FIS discipline. This was a major step for the new sport and this introduction was what paved the way of snowboarders in the Olympics. Snowboarding for women and men made its debut in the Nagano Olympic Games in 1998 with giant slalom and half pipe competitions. The sport was a big success and accepted easily into the games. Snowboarding returned in the Salt Lake City games four years later with parallel giant slalom and half pipe competitions. The rules for the snowboarding are set by the Federation international ski or FIS. All the equipment used must be first approved by the FIS - The dimensions and nature of the skiing course where snowboarding competition is held is determined by the FIS rule-book and the skiing course should be properly marked for the competitor’s convenience. FIS sets specific rules for each type of snowboarding competition for example the half-pipe competition has its own set rules. The course is a half-cylinder shaped course which looks like a pipe that has been cut in two down its length and is dug into a hill. The competitions are Giant Parallel Slalom- Men and women Half-pipe- men and women Snowboard cross- men and women
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The first snowboards can be traced back to 1920s in America.
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