Made from a combination of wood and metal with no bindings and only a rope for balance, it barely resembled the modern board in shape or performance. The thrill of this alternative to skiing inspired early boarders to try out new designs and ideas, but their progressive attitude and enthusiasm for the sport were not matched by the North American ski resorts. Skiers saw them as freaks, resorts refused to sell them ski passes and lift attendants turned them away. Faced, quite literally, with an uphill struggle, the pioneers refused to give in, and their persistence was rewarded in the 80s when the sport took off in a big way. It has taken a long time for snowboarding to be accepted, and tensions between skiers and snowboarders exist even now.
Skiers joke about 'gays on trays' and boarders respond with taunts of their own.
Many skiers are unhappy at the way snowboarding has invaded the pistes, and with its bad-boy image and unconventional clothing it has come to be seen, particularly amongst the older Generation of skiers, as a sort of modern reincarnation of the punk era. Despite prejudice from certain quarters, what started off as a small group of friends having fun has grown into a global industry. Men like Jake Barton and Tom Sims, who as teenagers pioneered the sport with custom-built boards, now own huge multinational companies and cannot produce boards fast enough to meet demand. Surf and skateboard brands have embraced the new market and ski resorts are now bending over backwards to accommodate snowboarders, setting aside areas exclusively for their amusement. Written by Andy Fraser, with thanks to The Skier and Snowboarder Magazine for providing information and photographs.