Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics
Encyclopedia
Snowboarding
is a sport
that has been contested at the Winter Olympic Games
since the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan. Snowboarding was one of five new sports or disciplines added to the Winter Olympic program between 1992 and 2002, and was the only one not to have been a previous medal or demonstration event. In 1998, four events, two for men and two for women, were held in two specialities: the giant slalom, a downhill event similar to giant slalom skiing
; and the half-pipe
, in which competitors perform tricks while going from one side of a semi-circular ditch to the other. Canadian
Ross Rebagliati
won the men's giant slalom and became the first athlete to win a gold medal in snowboarding. Rebagliati was briefly stripped of his medal by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) after testing positive for marijuana. However, the IOC's decision was reverted following an appeal from the Canadian Olympic Association. For the 2002 Winter Olympics
, the giant slalom was dropped in favour of the parallel giant slalom, an event that involves head-to-head racing. In 2006
, a third event, the snowboard cross, was held for the first time. In this event, competitors race against each other down a course with jumps, beams and other obstacles.
Five athletes have won two medals. Philipp Schoch
of Switzerland, Shaun White
and Seth Wescott
of the United states are the only double gold medalists. Karine Ruby
of France and Americans Ross Powers
and Danny Kass
also won two medals. In the men's half-pipe event, American snowboarders have collected six of nine possible medals, achieving a unique medal sweep in 2002. Overall, the United States won a total of 19 medals, more than any other nation. The Americans and the Swiss collected five gold medals each. As of the 2006 Winter Olympics, 42 medals (14 of each colour) have been awarded since 1998, and have been won by 38 snowboarders from 11 National Olympic Committee
s.
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
is a sport
Olympic sports
Olympic sports, as defined by the International Olympic Committee, are all the sports contested in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Summer Olympics, as of 2012, will include 26 sports, with two additionall sports due to be added in 2016...
that has been contested at the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
since the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, Japan. Snowboarding was one of five new sports or disciplines added to the Winter Olympic program between 1992 and 2002, and was the only one not to have been a previous medal or demonstration event. In 1998, four events, two for men and two for women, were held in two specialities: the giant slalom, a downhill event similar to giant slalom skiing
Giant Slalom skiing
Giant slalom is an alpine skiing discipline. It involves skiing between sets of poles spaced at a greater distance to each other than in slalom but less than in super G....
; and the half-pipe
Half-pipe
A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, freestyle BMX, and inline skating. The structure is wood, concrete, metal, earth, or snow. It resembles a cross section of a swimming pool, essentially two concave ramps , topped by copings and...
, in which competitors perform tricks while going from one side of a semi-circular ditch to the other. Canadian
Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Canada competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Canada has competed at every Winter Olympic Games.Canada's biggest story at these games was the failure of the men's ice hockey team to win gold. For the first time, Canada's best players were able to compete at the Olympics, so...
Ross Rebagliati
Ross Rebagliati
Ross Rebagliati is a Canadian professional snowboarder.-Biography:Rebagliati was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He turned pro in 1991. He was the first ever to win an Olympic gold medal for this sport at the 1998 Winter Olympics. After winning the gold, he was found to have THC in his...
won the men's giant slalom and became the first athlete to win a gold medal in snowboarding. Rebagliati was briefly stripped of his medal by the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) after testing positive for marijuana. However, the IOC's decision was reverted following an appeal from the Canadian Olympic Association. For the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, the giant slalom was dropped in favour of the parallel giant slalom, an event that involves head-to-head racing. In 2006
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
, a third event, the snowboard cross, was held for the first time. In this event, competitors race against each other down a course with jumps, beams and other obstacles.
Five athletes have won two medals. Philipp Schoch
Philipp Schoch
Philipp Schoch is a Swiss snowboarder.In Snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Schoch won gold in Men's Parallel Giant Slalom....
of Switzerland, Shaun White
Shaun White
Shaun Roger White is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.-Early life:Shaun White is an Irish American...
and Seth Wescott
Seth Wescott
Seth Benjamin Wescott is an American snowboarder. He is a two-time Olympic champion in the snowboard cross.-Life and career:Wescott was born in Durham, North Carolina, and lives in Carrabassett Valley, Maine...
of the United states are the only double gold medalists. Karine Ruby
Karine Ruby
Karine Ruby was a French snowboarder and Olympic champion. She won a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano...
of France and Americans Ross Powers
Ross Powers
Ross Powers , is an American world champion halfpipe snowboarder from South Londonderry, Vermont. Though he originally rode at Stratton Mountain, Vermont, his home mountain is now Okemo, VT. Ross helps with the design of the Superpipe and also helped design the RossCross Family Terrain Park. Ross...
and Danny Kass
Danny Kass
Daniel "Danny" Kass is an American professional snowboarder.He was born in Vernon Valley, NJ.Danny grew up in New Jersey where he began his climb into snowboarding history at the age of twelve...
also won two medals. In the men's half-pipe event, American snowboarders have collected six of nine possible medals, achieving a unique medal sweep in 2002. Overall, the United States won a total of 19 medals, more than any other nation. The Americans and the Swiss collected five gold medals each. As of the 2006 Winter Olympics, 42 medals (14 of each colour) have been awarded since 1998, and have been won by 38 snowboarders from 11 National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
s.
Events
| Men's halfpipe | • | • | • | • | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Men's giant slalom | • | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Men's parallel giant slalom | • | • | • | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Men's snowboard cross | • | • | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Women's halfpipe | • | • | • | • | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Women's giant slalom | • | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's parallel giant slalom | • | • | • | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Women's snowboard cross | • | • | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total events | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Medal table
| 1 |  United States |
7 | 5 | 7 | 19 |
| 2 |  Switzerland |
5 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 3 |  Canada |
3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 4 |  France |
2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 5 |  Germany |
1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 |  Australia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Netherlands |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 |  Norway |
0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 |  Austria |
0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 |  Finland |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Italy |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 12 |  Russia |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Slovakia |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Sweden |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Number of athletes by Nation
| Nations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 30 |
| Athletes | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 125 | 118 | 187 | 185 | 430 |