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Why did Sherman Poppen add a rope to the front of the Snurfer?
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snowboarding
Snowboarder Torah Bright of Australia competing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Sherman Poppen, often referred to as the "father of the snowboard," added a rope to the front of the Snurfer to provide a means for steering the device.12
Poppen invented the Snurfer in 1965 by bolting two snow skis together to create a prototype for his daughters. Because the original design lacked specialized boots or bindings, the attached rope allowed the rider to maintain balance and control while sliding down snow-covered hills.12