Snowboard cross: Difference between revisions

BoardercrossSnowboard cross courses share common traits with motorcycle motocross courses, hence the similarity between the names of each sport. Competition format is typically a [[time trial]] followed by a [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out tournament]].<ref name=coach>{{cite web|title=Boardercross Competition|url=http://www.snowboard-coach.com/boardercross-competition.html|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>

When [[Steven Rechtschaffner]] and partner [[Greg Stump at Swatch]] had run out of ideas for segments for a TV show they were producing for [[Fox TV]] called ''Greg Stump’sStump's World of Extremes'', for FoxTV theyRechtschaffner recalled thisthe race concept that had been in Rechtschaffner’shis head for years. Given the need to come up with a final segment, Rechtschaffner, a passionate snowboarder, pitched the idea to Stump, who loved it, and [[Whistler Blackcomb|Blackcomb Mountain]], who put up prize money and [[snowcat]] time in order to build the first ever course in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rechtschaffner|first=Steven|year=1991|url=https://vimeo.com/9091556|title=The Very First Ever Boardercross|format=video|work=Greg Stump's World of Extremes|publisher=Fox|access-date=20 April 2022|via=Vimeo}}</ref> John Graham, who was Stump’sStump's Businessbusiness Manager at the timemanager, was credited with coming up withconceiving the name ''boardercross''. After being seen on the Fox TV show and re-aired on [[MTV Sports]], otherothers peoplebegan started putting onstaging boardercross events in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Rechtschaffner travelled to many of these events in order to help othersthem learn how to build the boardercross courses.

Rechtschaffner had [[trademarked]] the name boardercross primarily as a way to ensure that people putting on events did so in a positive way that was safe, exciting and respectful to the world of snowboarding. For these same reasons heHe denied the ski sanctioning body [[International Ski Federation|F.I.S.]] the rights to use the Boardercrossname moniker"boardercross", as he shared the majority of snowboarders' belief that a ski sanctioning body should not be in charge of snowboarding events. That’s why Boardercrossboardercross is referred to by the F.I.S. as “Snowboard“snowboard Cross”cross” in Olympic events, even though the overwhelming majority of boardercross racers still refer to their sport by the correct snowboardingoriginal term.{{cn|date=February 2022}}

In the year 2000, Rechtschaffner channeled the spirit of boardercross ininto a series of hit video games he produced for [[Electronic Arts]] called ''[[SSX]]'', which sold over 8 million copies over the following years.

In 2006, boardercross, (referred to as Snowboard''snowboard Cross by the F.I.S.,cross'') became an official Olympic event at the Torino[[2006 Winter Olympics|Turin Olympic Games]] and subsequent Winter Olympics.

All participants needuse a snowboard toin competecompetition. The snowboard should be fairly heavy and stiff (but not a hard board). Helmets are required equipment for racing in FIS sanctioned events. A [[mouth guard]], though not always required, is beneficialrecommended. Since participants are competing side-by-side, tight clothing is essential to ensure competitorsthat arethey do not gettingget caughtentangled onwith each other's gear. As competition increases in intensity some riders choose to wear [[body armourarmor]] (like back and spine protectors) to ensure greater safety whenwhile competing at high speeds. where crashes can be dangerous.