Snowboarding has a thriving community and distinct culture. From freestyle and all-mountain riding to competitive disciplines like halfpipe and snowboard cross, there’s a niche for every type of rider. The sport’s roots, which combine surfing and skateboarding, have influenced its laid-back, creative vibe. Have you ever wondered how this community started?

Sherman Poppen, an American engineer, invented the first snowboard-like device, the Snurfer (a combination of “snow” and “surfer”), in 1965. Jake Burton was one of the biggest innovators of the sport. Burton didn’t just improve the snowboard, he also convinced ski resorts to allow snowboarders to ride the chairlift, much to the dismay of many skiers. So love him or hate him, you can thank Burton for enabling us to strap into the Snurfer and send it down the mountain on a singular plank of wood.

By the 1980s, snowboarding began to take shape as a competitive sport. The first National Snow Surfing Championship was held in 1982 in Vermont, attracting 125 snowboarders. This event marked the beginning of organized competitions, which would eventually lead to the sport’s inclusion in the Olympic Games. Peter Line was one of the most influential people in the early days of competition snowboarding. Line invented lots of new tricks and a lot of the style and tricks performed in modern competitions can be traced back to his innovations such as “corked” rotations and the backside rodeo.

We can’t talk about the history of snowboarding without briefly mentioning Shaun White, an American former professional snowboarder and skateboarder. White is a five-time Olympian, and a three-time Olympic gold medalist in halfpipe snowboarding, holding the world record for the most Olympic gold medals achieved by a snowboarder.

I could give you a hundred different names for influential snowboarders, but that would not even be close to scratching the surface. These snowboarders that I’ve mentioned are just my personal choices and the ones that stood out the most to me. My one great hope is that one day I will be able to snowboard with something like the style and finesse they showed.

Hit the slopes

Here are a few places to snowboard, from “bunny hills” to advance slopes. Most offer lessons for beginners as well.

Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun Park - 99 Holiday Mountain Rd., Monticello; 6 trails; also has skiing, tubing, lessons and other amusements. skiholidaymtn.com, 845-796-3161
Catamount Mountain Resort - 78 Catamount Rd., Hillsdale, NY; 34 trails and 8 lifts; also has skiing, tubing and lessons. catamountski.com, 413-528-1262
Hunter Mountain Resort - 64 Klein Ave., Hunter, NY; 66 trails and 10 lifts; also has skiing, tubing and lessons. huntermtn.com, 518-263-4223
Belleayre Mountain Ski Center - 181 Galli Curci Rd., Highmount, NY; 50 trails and 8 lifts; also has skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and lessons. belleayre.com, 845-254-5600
Plattekill Mountain - 469 Plattekill Rd., Roxbury, NY; 38 trails and 4 lifts; also has skiing, tubing and lessons. plattekill.com, 607-326-3500
Gore Mountain - 793 Peaceful Valley Rd., North Creek, NY; 108 trails and 14 lifts; also has skiing, cross-country skiing and lessons. goremountain.com