When did snowboarding first become popular in the United States?

While the precursor to the modern snowboard, the "Snurfer," was invented in 1965 and gained significant traction with approximately one million units sold by the end of the 1970s, snowboarding as a competitive sport began to grow in popularity during the 1980s.12

Early development occurred in relative isolation, with the first national competitions held in the 1970s and official events like the National Snow Surfing Championships emerging in 1982. A major breakthrough in public awareness occurred in 1985 when professional snowboarder Tom Sims appeared as a stunt double in the James Bond film A View to a Kill.2

Despite initial resistance from the traditional skiing community and limited access to ski resorts, the sport surged in popularity throughout the mid-to-late 1980s. This growth was further fueled by the influence of the skateboarding community and the eventual willingness of insurance companies to cover snowboarding at resorts. Mainstream acceptance continued to build, leading to the sport's debut at the Winter Olympic Games in 1998.21