Snowboarding happens to be a popular sport, conducted at the Winter Olympic Games. It is regarded as one of the most fun sports played across the globe. Mastering this game is not an easy task, but regular practice can make a huge difference. Not only snowboarding helps you to stay fit but also impacts your mental well-being. Moreover, you will be able to stay away from boredom by practicing snowboarding. It allows you to have a memorable time with your friends and family.
If you want to play a sport while staying in a cold environment, snowboarding is an ideal option. But one question strikes our mind - when did snowboarding start at the Olympics? If you also want to know how snowboarding has evolved, then this guide will help you. In this guide, we are going to tell how snowboarding begins at the Winter Olympics and who got name and fame via this sport.
Snowboarding events of Olympic in 1998
Before knowing when snowboarding appeared at the Olympics, you ought to know when snowboarding was invented. Though snowboarding was invented in 1965 by Sheman Poppen, it was officially declared as part of the Winter Olympics Sport in 1998 held in Nagano, Japan. It has earned a high reputation as one of the five major new disciplines or sports that are added to the Winter Olympic program between the years of 1992 to 2002. In the year of 1998, a total of four events for men and women were conducted in 2 specialties. One of the specialties was giant slalom. It is recognized to be a downhill event similar to the giant slalom skiing. The half-pipe happens to be another specialty in which the participants require performing tricks at the time of going from one side of the U-shaped course to another side.
Canadian Ross Rebagliati was the winner of the men's giant slalom. He was the very first athlete who won the gold medal in snowboarding. The IOC or International Olympic Committee stripped Rebagliati's medal as he was found consuming marijuana after certain tests. However, the decision of the International Olympic Committee was reversed after the following appeal from the Canadian Olympic Association.
Different events of snowboarding at the Olympics
As now you have learned when snowboarding starts at the Olympics, let's discuss the different events of the game. For the Winter Snowboarding Olympics in the year 2002, there was an expansion in the giant slalom for the addition of head to head racing. After this, it was renamed as parallel giant slalom. It was in the year of 2006 when a third event was conducted for the very first time at the Winter Olympics, regarded as the snowboard cross. In the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee approved the usage of Ski and Snowboard Slopestyle to the Olympics in 2014. There was an announcement of the decision in a press conference from the meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Durban in South Africa. The fifth event was held in the year of 2014, popularly known as parallel slalom. The Big air was added in the year of 2018.
Winners of snowboarding at Winter Olympics
Six athletes were the winner who won at least two medals. Shaun White of the United States happens to be the only triple gold medalist at the Winter Olympics. Sezz Wescott of the USA and Philipp Schoch of Switzerland happen to be the only double gold medalists.
In addition to this, Danny Kass and Ross Powers of the USA, Karine Ruby of France, were the winners of two medals. In the winter Olympics, ninety medals (30-Bronze, 30-silver, and 30-gold) have been awarded from 1998 to 2014. Snowboarders from the twenty-one National Olympic Committees were the winner of these medals. The greatest secret behind the success of the winners is that they made use of the best wide snowboards.
Snowboarding winners of Winter Olympics in 2018
Six athletes were the winner who won at least two medals. Shaun White of the United States happens to be the only triple gold medalist at the Winter Olympics. Sezz Wescott of the USA and Philipp Schoch of Switzerland happen to be the only double gold medalists.
In addition to this, Danny Kass and Ross Powers of the USA, Karine Ruby of France, were the winners of two medals. In the winter Olympics, ninety medals (30-Bronze, 30-silver, and 30-gold) have been awarded from 1998 to 2014. Snowboarders from the twenty-one National Olympic Committees were the winner of these medals. The greatest secret behind the success of the winners is that they made use of the best wide snowboards.
Sebastien Toutant of Canada won a gold medal for winning the big air snowboarding competition, conducted on 21st and 24th February in 2018 in Pyeongchang. This Canadian snowboarder was the winner of gold medal in slopestyle in the year of 2011 and 2013 at X games. In addition to this, he was the winner of two silver medals as well as a bronze medal in slopestyle as well as big air events conducted at X Games.
Kyle Mack wins the silver medal for winning the Big Air Final for men competition, held at the Winter Olympics of 2018 in Pyeongchang in South Korea. Kyle Alan Mack happens to be the American snowboarder who was born on 6th July in the year of 1997. He was born in West Bloomfield in Michigan and was specialized in Big Air and Slopestyle. It was on 4th March in the year of 2016 when he became the winner of Men's slopestyle final in the United States.
Billy Morgan of Great Britain, on the other hand, won the bronze medal. He was born on 2nd April 1989 and has stood on the tenth position in slopestyle final for men. He started snowboarding at the age of 14 years on a dry slope before which he participated in acrobatic gymnastics. It was in the year of 2015 when he launched the first quad work across the globe. He received the very first X Games medal in the year of 2016 at Xgames Oslo. In this event, he achieved third ranking in the Big Air competition.
Winners of Half pipe at Winter Olympics in 2018
In halfpipe, Shaun White of USA received the gold medals, whereas the Japanese snowboarder, Ayumu Hirano, received a silver medal in the competition. Scott James of Australia, on the other hand, was the winner of the Bronze medal of this winter Olympic event.
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you know when did snowboarding start at the Olympics. Snowboarding happens to be one of the latest Olympic sports. It has gained high prominence across the globe in no time. In accordance with Nielsen ratings, it happens to be the fourth most popular sport. It was accepted as an official sport in the year of 1985. It was in this year when the first world cup of this game was conducted. The total count of 258 quota spots is available to the participants to participate in the game.
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