Finally Surfing and Snowboarding Have Come Together

People who perform extreme sports are not your normal sports participants. They are masters of innovation and if something can be done differently, chances are someone will attempt it. Both surfing and snowboarding, although popular, are a little old now in some people’s eyes and could do with updating. It is no surprise then that one avid extreme sports fan gave in to curiosity and tried riding down the mountain side on his customised surfboard…and succeeded?

The sport of snow surfing is thought to have first been conceived in New Zealand when a visiting Australian surfer decided to see if he could ride his board on the white stuff.Ever since that fateful day, thousands have followed in his snow footsteps and now take part in the sport. Coordination and confidence are the two vital ingredients to succeeding in the sport say participants. Unlike snowboards, riders do not have any bindings to attach themselves to the board, but instead rely on aggressive carving and the use of the hands to ensure that the board stays under their feet.  Stopping has also proved something of a challenge due to the lack of sharp ‘edges’ on a surfboard, but most runs incorporate a run-off area where riders can slow down.


As with all emerging extreme sports, sponsors and industry brands have been paying close attention to see if it is worth their while getting involved.There is speculation that both Ride and Volcom are getting involved in the sport and have been sending their scouts out to snow surfing events recently. The sport is still very new however and it is unlikely that anyone is really thinking about big corporate deals and media packages just yet. That said, given the early growth of the sport, you might soon be seeing some snow surfers at a resort new you.

How The Sports of Surfing and Snowboarding Compare

Both surfing and snowboarding have continued to grow in participation levels over the last 10 years, to the point were they can be considered two of the most popular extreme sports around. It might be the case that one takes place on snow covered mountains and the other often takes place in warm waters with sandy beaches, but that doesn’t stop people enjoying both sports. But does being good at one sport necessarily mean that you will be good at the other? Let’s compare 3 of the main elements needed for these sports.

Upper Body Strength. There is no denying that surfing demands large amounts of upper body strength and endurance. You need endurance in order to repetitively paddle surfboards out to see against breaking waves, and power is need in the ‘pop-up’ phase of getting upright on the board when you have caught a wave. Snowboarding however, does not demand anywhere near as from the upper body, as it is only really used for balance and core-stability support

Timing. Both snowboarding and surfing require honed timing skills. In snowboarding it is vital to time your turns perfectly and even more important when doing jumps as lining up for the correct entry to the kicker can mean the difference between a clean landing and a face full of snow. Surfing also requires perfect timing and instincts not least when catching a wave when you have to paddle, pop-up, drop in and turn just at the right times.

Lower Body Strength & Agility. Whilst both sports do require a degree lower body fitness and co-ordination, it is snowboarding that demands the most from the legs. Snowboards require great skill and agility to turn and carve, and if your leg muscles are not in good condition you will simply not be able to ride well. However, don’t think the lower body can be neglected in surfing, your legs and core need to be strong and flexible, even just to stand up.