The Snowboard Halfpipe From the 1970s to Today: The Rise of Terrain for the Extreme

Halfpipe at Snowmass Park in Snowmass, Colorado (Photo: Jaclyn Youngentob)

The following video examines the history of the snowboard halfpipe. In the 1970’s, skateboarders and surfers were looking for another terrain where they could experience a thrill. They found their new terrain in the mountains: snow. Initially, snowboarding was not widely accepted at winter mountain resorts. Initially, even major snowboard outfitter, Burton, did not accept the halfpipe in competition. Snowboard enthusiasts had to find places and ways to practice their board skills on natural terrain. Some early snowboarders practiced on the edge of a landfill. Eventually, Breckenridge, in Colorado, built the first permanent halfpipe. Over the next few decades, snowboarding became widely accepted and became a media spectacle. Technology, such as the Pipe Dragon, was invented for more efficient building and carving of the halfpipes’ walls. It allowed for snowboarding to become an Olympic event in 1998. The sport has given rise to household names such as Shaun White and Chloe Kim.

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