1990
|
The USASA holds their first
national championships in February, at Snow
Valley, California. The worst snow storm of the
decade hits just before the event begins. The
storm closes all roads to Big Bear leaving
Amateur snowboarders from all over the country
stranded. A rescue caravan of locals led by USASA
president Chuck Allen sneaks the competitors past
the police barricades and gets them to the
contest on time.
|
1990
|
In June, Breckenridge Ski
Corporation announces plans to house the
Snowboarding Hall Of Fame, with artifacts from
the sport's not-so-distant past.
|
1990
|
Vail Ski Resort develops the
1st in-bounds obstacle area called a
"snowboard park." The area caters to a
growing snowboard market. Other resorts quickly
follow.
|
1990
|
The International Snowboard
Federation forms after the National Association
of Professional Snowboarders collapses. The idea
is to be a sanctioning body for international
competition.
|
1991
|
The 1991 Victoria World Cup
Japan is held at Rusutsu Resort on Japan's north
island. The contest was the most costly ever,
with over one-million dollars spent.
|
1992
|
Ken Achenbach and some
friends create a baseless soft binding called
"Simply Filth." Many in the industry
shrug it off as another wild idea.
|
1992
|
During a February 17 photo
shoot in Squaw Valley, California, snowboarder
Steve Graham accidentally collides with
photographer Bud Fawcett. Fawcett suffers nerve
damage to his left arm. The accident results in a
court battle which no one will talk about.
|
1993
|
Snowboarding's third wave of
snowboard manufacturers spring up. By the fall
there are over 50 different companies marketing
snowboards to the public.
|
1993
|
Snowboarder TV goes on the
air off ESPN with host Greg Tomlinson. The show
features great riding, music and very little
talking. It is well received.
|
1993
|
Following the success of 411,
a skateboard video magazine produced by Paul
Schmitt, TransWorld Publications creates
TransWorld Snowboarding Video Magazine by Mike
"Mack Dawg" McIntire.
|
1994
|
At the Lillihammer, Norway
Olympics snowboarding was hoped to be performed
as a "cultural exhibition", by the host
country Norway. The FIS gets wind of the
performance and forces it's cancellation. Many
believe it will not be until 1998 that
snowboarding gets awarded by the Olympics.
|
1994
|
The first Amateur World
Championships are held in Slovenia.
|
1994
|
Both the USSA and the USASA
hold amateur national championships. The USSA
holds theirs at June Mountain, California. And
the USASA holds theirs at Sierra in Tahoe,
California. Both organizations claim to have an
"official" national team.
|
1994
|
Ride Snowboards becomes the
first snowboard company placed on the NASDAQ
stock exchange. They sell out the original
500,000 units in the first two weeks and another
75,000 units are released. In the sale Ride
offers one unit (two shares and one warrant) for
$10 American currency. By the middle of June 1995
the share price reached $28 a share, six times
it's original value.
|
1994
|
Burton Snowboards releases
the first interactive CD-ROM catalog. Taking
snowboarding into the computer age.
|
1994
|
Avalanche Snowboards sells 80
percent of it's company to businessman Robert
Edwards for an undisclosed amount. Edwards had
previously worked with Anthony Industries, the
parent corporation of K2 Skis.
|
1994
|
In September, Molson, the
Canadian beer, uses snowboarding footage shot by
FLF in it's beer ad premiering on Monday Night
Football. Riders such as Damian Sanders, Dave
Seoane, and others obtian a small fee.
|
1995
|
In March, five different
manufacturers including Burton and Airwalk show
step-in soft bindings. Many in the industry rush
to call step-in soft bindings snowboarding's next
big thing.
|
1995
|
Rob Morrow steps down as
president of Morrow Snowboards. Dennis Shelton
takes over as president.
|
1995
|
In December, Morrow
Snowboards becomes second snowboard company when
Smith-Barney takes them public. Shares open at a
price of $11 American.
|
1995
|
The 1995 Winter X Games is
the first snowboarding contest in which other
sports are also played.
|
1998
|
At the Nagano, Japan Winter
Olympics, Snowboarding is finnally awarded by the
Olympics. |