Who doesn�t remember how fun it was to play in the snow as a child and take a ride on a sled over frosty white hills? Snowboarding brings back this joy for snow. In fact may people think the key to its popularity is that it is easy to do than traditional skiing. But don�t kid yourself. To be a real snowboarder takes a lot of effort.

A bit of history
It is a very young sport, which only just became part of Olympic competitions. Its debut was at the Nagano games of 1998, although in the United States people have been snowboarding since the 1960s, and the first world champhioships were held in 1983.

In Spain snowboarding is recognized by the Real Federation of Winter Sports and there is a Spanish Snowboarding Association ([email protected]). Competitions are held every year. And on  March 11-12 of 2005, the Sierra Nevada snow resort will host an event of the FIS world cup in the Parallel slalom and snowboardcross disciplines.

Don�t get lost
It is worth stopping a minute to consider the terminology because there are myriad forms of snowboarding, and many tests for evaluating the skill of these daring riders.

The basic forms are:
- Freestyle: it may be the best known because it is the most spectacular. Enthusiasts concentrate more on acrobatics than on the descent itself and do all kinds of jumps and things. It is a discipline that has made famous the half-pipe: a sort of half-tube made of snow so that, like skaters, the snowboarders used the vertical walls to gain height and do amazing jumps.
- Freeride: this is more focused on descending over rough terrain, off the beaten ski trail. Sometimes it overlaps with freestyle as enthusiasts use natural barriers to do acrobatics.
- Slalom: this can be considered the most classical competition. The goal is clear, none other than to go down the mountain faster than anyone else. But lately so-called snowboardcross is gaining popularity. It blends apline and freestyle with a descent brimming with turns and obstacles.

How to get started?
Beyond the many styles and competitions, the main thing is to have fun. And for this you just need three basic things: a relatively flexible board, special boots and fasteners that tie them to the board. The dimensions and rigidity of the board, normally made of wood and fiberglass, depend on the boader�s level of experience and the kind of snowboarding he or she wants to do. In any case beginners should seek advice because these factors have a lot of influence on the stability and speed of the ride they will make.

It is essential to wear a safety helmet as a bad bump can be lethal. Extra protection is not a bad idea either, such as elbow and knew pads to avoid bruises. And be careful about failling backwards! Remember your feet are attached to the board and this limits your mobility. In fact, coccyx injuries are common among people who practice this sport.