Snowboarding

by Paul Mason

Overview

Though it’s relatively new, snowboarding is one of the most popular winter sports out there both because it’s thrilling to watch and fun to do! From half pipes to slalom courses, find out about the various types of snowboarding and what you’ll need to try it out!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781448871315
Publisher:	Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated, The
Publication date:	01/15/2012
Series:	To the Limit
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

Paul Mason has written more than 100 books for children, on topics ranging from extreme sports to urban myths. Notable titles include Money Doesn't Grow on Trees and From Armpits to Zits for teens, and Monster Hunter, a series of books on tracking down and dealing with vampires, werewolves, extra-terrestrials, and ghosts. An avid surfer, snowboarder, and mountain biker, Paul writes many sports titles and has also produced a website guide to ski resorts.

Table of Contents

What is a Snowboarder? 4

The Early Days 6

Equipment 8

Clothing and Stuff 10

Basics 12

Powder 14

Freeride 16

Ollies 18

Half-Pipe Heaven 20

Can you Make a Living? 22

Competition 24

Mountain Safety 26

Have you Been Paying Attention? 28

Glossary 30

Further Information 31

Index 32

Editorial Reviews

Snowboarding has evolved from skateboarding, skiing, and, surfing (especially boards called Snurfers)—as readers will discover in this neatly-produced “Winter Sports” series, featuring color action photos on every page. Today’s snowboarders have also been influenced by the excitement of extreme events in the Winter X-Games. Mason introduces readers to the basics of both major styles, including freestyle (with tricks similar to skateboarding) and freeride (with longer downhill runs in fresh powder). The equipment for this sport is simple—warm, comfortable clothing that breathes and a board with boots and bindings. Beginners decide which foot to put forward on the board and learn to start, turn, and stop, while advanced riders develop skills like aerial spins, flips, and grabs or sliding the board on obstacles and carving turns into the snow. More complex events include snowboard cross (racing alongside three other competitors) and the giant slalom race, in which two riders twist through gates side-by-side. Most challenging of snowboard maneuvers are spectacular aerial tricks on a half-pipe carved in the snow—or a huge one called a “superpipe.” Stars of skateboarding perform extreme tricks in contests like Slopestyle, Big Air, and Extreme Freeride, in which riders choose their own perilous path down a rugged mountain. In 1998, snowboarding came to the Olympics, but other contests take place at the Winter X-Games, a Snowboard World Tour, and important events in Austria, Japan, and Canada. Champions like Shaun White from California and Jonathan Charlet of France come from all over the world; in fact, the world’s largest snowdome (indoor with artificial snow) is in Dubai. This compact volume stresses the thrills of the sport. It would be a useful companion for Olympic and X-Game watchers. Readers can test their snowboarding knowledge with a short quiz. Includes a glossary, as well as lists of books, websites, DVDs, and top snowboarding sites. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft; Ages 9 to 14.

Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft

11/01/2013
Gr 4–6—The colorful, appealing design will draw students to these fact-filled titles about popular winter sports. (Actually, curling's still gaining fans: though enjoyed by 1.2 million Canadians, only 16,000 people in the U.S. play). The books' tiny font is offset by attractive design elements, including the use of captions, highlighted information, and sidebars in bright colors. Dramatic color photos and a readable text cover important athletes, rules and gear, and instructions for both watching and/or participating in these sports. One noteworthy feature is mention of differently abled athletes and the ways in which they may participate in athletics such as sled hockey and the Paralympic games. All the volumes include a quiz, and Curling and Figure Skating offer topics for further research. Fact-filled and readable, these titles will be a hit with both sports browsers and research writers.

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