Xtreme Kid Sports

By now most everyone has heard of, if not tried, snowboarding. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular extreme kid sports as more and more are converting from skiing to snowboard. Snowboarding is actually simpler for young kids than skiing is because the width of the board is wider and easier to balance on. In the last decade snow boarding has gone from skateboarding on snow, to the Olympics quicker than you one could ever imagine.

Snowboarding really got its start when a man by the name of Sherman Poppen decided to nail kid’s skis together in an attempt to improve their skills. As he saw how quickly kids took to this and how much fun they were having his entrepreneurial side took over and he went into mass production of the ‘snow board’. Millions of dollars and thousands of happy boarders later, Sherman will always be remembered for bringing snow boarding to the masses.

Snowboarding was very quick to change from a hobby to a professional sport, requiring skills, determinations, and agility in equal measure. The first official competition took place in 1982 and since then snow boarding has seen more and more competitions take place. As the competitions started to spread, so did the extreme nature of the sport and competitors alike took it to a whole new level. The kind of things that people are doing these days weren’t even heard of 10 years ago.

The biggest achievement for snow boarding occurred in 1998 when snowboarding made it to the winter Olympics. Held in Nagano Japan, the sport was given more than its fair share of coverage. Since that time the sale of snowboarding and snowboarding equipment has said to have risen by 47%.

The rise of snowboarding has not just been a result of competition. It is also because it fits under the category of a fun, exciting extreme sport and more importantly; a sport that can be done freestyle! Making appearances on TV alongside motor cross, skateboarding, and surfing, snow boarding has also been aided by the personalities that have come to be so well known in extreme sports. The fact that the sport is open, flexible, and adaptable appeals to the masses. You can gently slide down relaxing snow mounds, screech down steep hills, or flip, twist, and slide on equipment and man made ramps. The potential is only limited by the individual.

Many kids who have attempted skate boarding make a natural transition into snowboarding and vice versa. Most kids love the freedom it allows, the speed and adrenaline, and appeal in the sport itself. Regardless of age many ski clubs offer snowboarding lessons. (I took one myself with my 3 year old and learned a ton!) The course teaches the basics as well as how to be safe… the biggest safety tool is the helmet. Getting the kids accustomed to wearing it right from the start will save you years of hassle latter. Most ski clubs and resorts require helmets for everyone so hoping it won’t ever even be an issue.

Athletically speaking, kids and adults need to have good balance, a very strong midsection, and strong legs as it’s a tremendous workout. Once you get used to the feeling of the board and the snow beneath your feet it’s just an amazing experience. Watching your child succeed and discover their new ability is such an awesome feeling too. Snowboarding is also one of those sports that’s fantastic for kids that are not comfortable with team sports. You can still encourage them and cheer them on without them feeling the pressure of having to succeed or stand behind a team. Everything they do is up to them, big or small and it is all so rewarding.