Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics

Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics: Snowboarding, a board based sport is a discipline of skiing. Snowboarding, the newest of the skiing disciplines, was developed in the United States during the late twentieth century. This popular sport has evolved from "snow surfing". Snowboarding technique combines techniques used in surfing, skiing and skateboarding. The aim of snowboarding is to descend down a snow-covered mountain slope, while attached to a narrow board. In the initial days, the snowboards were also known as "snurfers". The Federation Internationale de Ski or the FIS is authorized to govern snowboarding at the international level.

Snowboarding in the Winter Games: Snowboarding made its appearance in both the men's and women's skiing program during the 1998 Nagano Winter Games. The events, which were contested on the first occasion, were giant slalom and half pipe events for men and women. Later the giant slalom event was replaced by the parallel giant slalom.

Currently the six events included in the Olympic snowboarding competition are-

• Men's Parallel Giant Slalom
• Ladies' Parallel Giant Slalom
• Men's Halfpipe
• Ladies' Halfpipe
• Men's Snowboard Cross
• Ladies' Snowboard Cross

Categories of Snowboarding: Snowboarding can be classified in various categories. The common categories of snowboarding are-

• Parallel giant slalom
• Parallel slalom
• Giant slalom
• Half pipe
• Big air
• Snowboard cross

Rules of Snowboarding: The Federation Internationale de Ski or the FIS sets rules, which are followed during the snowboarding competitions at the international level. Some of the FIS rules set for snowboarding are-

• A number of officials are appointed during the snowboarding competitions to supervise the skiers' performance.
• All the equipments used during the snowboard competitions should be approved by the FIS.
• During the competition, electronic timing device is used to record the timings of individual skier. However, manual timing is also used in many competitions.
• A competitor, who commits a false start during the race, is liable of disqualification from the event.
• The dimension and nature of the skiing course, where snowboarding competition is held, is determined by the FIS rule-book.
• The entire skiing course should be properly marked for the competitors' convenience.
• Before the competition, the skiing course should be inspected by the technical officials to ensure the safety of the participants.
• In different snowboarding events, different starting methods are used during the competitions.
• The participants must pass through all the gates set on the course during the competition.
• The participants have to abide by the FIS rules set for snowboarding. On violating any of the rules, the competitor can be disqualified from the competition.

Medal winners in Snowboarding: The United States of America, Switzerland and France are in the leading positions in the field of the international snowboarding competitions. Some of the leading snowboarders of the world are Ross Powers, Shaun Roger White, Daniel Kass, Jarret Thomas, Markku Koski, Gian Simmen, Daniel Frank, Ross Rebagliati , Thomas Pruggre, Ueli Kestenholz, Philipp Schoch , Simon Schoch, Siegfried Grabner, Seth Wescott, Radoslav Zidek, Kelly Clark, Hannah Teter, Gretchen Bleiler, Gretchen Bleiler, Kjersti Buass, Daniela Meuli, Amelie Kober, Tanja Frieden and Lindsey Jacobellis.