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Imbued in English culture is a love and creator of Sports of all kinds.

I have a website where I have listed and linked to the 100+ various sports and games created by us Brits. One of Englands favorite games is Table Tennis. It was initially an after dinner past time and originated as a common sport in England during the 1800s and was commonly known then as “wiff-waff”. It’s history goes back to Real Tennis played by the English Royal Family in the 1150′s.

In the 1800′s the game was played when a row of books were to stood up along the center of the table as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to continuously hit a golf-ball from one end of the table to the other. Later, table tennis was played with paddles made of cigar box lids and balls made of champagne corks. Eventually, table tennis evolved into the modern game in Europe and the United States. The popularity of the game led game manufacturers to sell the equipment commercially. Early rackets were often pieces of parchment stretched upon a frame, and the sound generated in play gave the game its first nicknames of “wiff-waff” and “Ping-pong”.

 

A number of sources indicate that the game was first brought to the attention of Hamley’s of Regent Street under the name “Gossima”. The name “ping-pong” was in wide use before British manufacturer J. Jaques & Son Ltd. trademarked it in 1901. The name “Ping-Pong” then came to be used for the game played by the rather expensive Jaquesses equipment, with other manufacturers calling theirs table tennis. A similar situation arose in the United States.

 

The next major innovation was by James Gibb, a British enthusiast of table tennis, who discovered novelty celluloid balls in 1901 and found them to be ideal for the game. This was followed by E. C. Goode who in 1901 invented the modern version of the racket by fixing a sheet of pimpled, or stippled, rubber to the wooden blade. Table tennis was growing in popularity by 1901 when table tennis tournaments were being organized, books on table tennis were being written, and an unofficial world championship was held in 1902. During the early 20th century the game was banned in Russia due to a belief that was held by the rulers at the time that playing the game had an adverse effect on players’ eyesight. In 1921, the Table Tennis Association was founded in Britain, and the International Table Tennis Federation followed in 1926. London hosted the first official world championship in 1927. Table tennis was introduced as an Olympic sport at the Olympics in 1988.

 

In the 1950s rackets that used a rubber sheet combined with an underlying sponge layer changed the game dramatically, introducing greater spin and speed. These were introduced to Britain by the sports goods manufacturers S.W. Hancock Ltd. The use of speed glue increased the spin and speed even further, resulting in changes to the equipment to “slow the game down”.

 

There is a move towards reviving the table tennis game that existed prior to the introduction of sponge rubber. Classic table tennis like Liha or “hardball” table tennis players reject the speed and spin of reversed sponge rubber, preferring the 1940–60s play style, with no-sponge, short-pimpled rubber equipment, when defense is less difficult by decreasing the speed and eliminating any meaningful magnus effect of spin. Because hardbat killer shots are almost impossible to hit against a skilled player, hardbat matches focus on the strategic side of table tennis, requiring skillful maneuvering of the opponent before an attack can be successful.

 

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) worldwide governing body with national bodies responsible for the sport in each country. There are other local authorities applicable as well.

List of Members of the The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

The European Table Tennis Union is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Europe.

The English Table Tennis Association is the governing body responsible for table tennis in England.
The Irish Table Tennis Association is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Ireland.
The Polish Table Tennis Association is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Poland.
The Scottish Table Tennis Association is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Scotland.
The Table Tennis Association of Wales is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Wales.
The Canadian Table Tennis Association is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Canada.

The USA Table Tennis (USATT): national governing body for table tennis in the United States.

The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) is the governing body for table tennis in India.

It always amazes me how from a little Island like England we created and gave the world over 100 sports and games that have dominated the world.

Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com

My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com

The Chinese call Britain ‘The Island of Hero’s’ which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

For over 100 years, baseball has been that favorite summer past time. We have seen players come and go. Bats have been a staple in baseball through the years. However they have changed as well. There are different types of bats that have been used. In the early years wooden baseball bats have been made mainly out of white ash. In the early 2000s, maple wood bats became increasingly popular. Ash is among the most common materials chosen to make bats out of. The benefits of white ash bats include its durability, hard surface, light weight and overall feel, while maple bats have a high level of strength and therefore last longer than white ash bats. Ash baseball bats have played an important position in the history of the game. There are two types of ash: white ash and green ash. Because white ash is a high-quality wood, it makes a very good baseball bat. They are accepted by most leagues and organizations. Its unique characteristics lend itself to being the most common choice for game play or practice. On the other hand, the green ash, also known as water or red ash is rarely used to make bats. Maple baseball bats are among the most popular choices in bats. This is because maple wood has a tight grain that offers many of the qualities suited for hitting a baseball. The finer the grade of maple, the more expensive the bat.

A player’s age, height, weight, strength, and hitting style determine what kind of bat you should use. Generally, players in Little League or Youth League should use baseball bats between 16 and 23 ounces. At the high school and collegiate level, baseball bat weights generally range from 27 to 33 ounces. Bats may be listed as a negative number, meaning the bat’s weight equals the bat’s length minus the indicated number. For example, a 32-inch baseball bat with a bat weight of -5 weighs 27 ounces (32 – 5 = 27). Baseball bats used at the high school and college level usually cannot have more than a -3 ounce weight-to-length ratio. Heavier baseball bats can generate more power, but reduce bat speed. Lighter baseball bats offer increase speed and control, but reduce pop. The pros often gravitate toward lighter baseball bats which allow a player to make contact with the “fat of a bat” or its “sweet spot” more easily. Length is something else you should look for. Look for ranges from 26 to 31 inches for Youth League and 32 to 36 inches for high school, collegiate, and professional players. A Little League baseball bat usually cannot measure more than 32 inches long.

Other characteristics to consider is the bat shape. The barrel, taper, and grip. The barrel of the bat is the wide portion of a baseball bat that strikes a ball. Most barrels measure 2 1/2, 2 5/8, or 2 9/16 inches in diameter. Longer and wider barrels provide a larger sweet spot. Lighter baseball bats have shorter and narrower barrels for increased speed and control. The grip is a very important part to consider, especially for an aluminum bat. It has a baring on how much vibration you feel after contact. Make sure your baseball bat has a proper leather, synthetic leather, or rubber grip. Leather grips will provide the best hold, but do not absorb vibration as effectively as rubber. The taper on most baseball bats is 31/32 of an inch. A narrower taper allows you to rotate your wrists faster and “square up” on pitches more effectively. You will have to know your league rules that you play in because they all differ. These are all things to consider when you are trying to pick the right baseball bat.

The Worldwide skiing is one of the most popular sports, worldwide. In many countries one can find the best ski resorts and more importantly the best skiing conditions. For skiing one needs the best equipment available and they are novice of expert.

In the ski sport many manufacturers exist for years already. Most of them have good products with a very good reputation. The Atomic snow skis produces skis for both the professional downhill racers and the normal person who just wants to enjoy the sport. The Atomic is not just for the snow skis. They also produce products for Alpine skiing in general.

The company that originally began manufacturing these skis was founded by Alois Rohrmoser in 1955. Alois, with four other employees began making alpine skis and the company began its life in Austria and is still based there today. Not everything went good for Mr. Rohrmoser. Due to financial problems he was forced to sell his company to the Finish firm “Amer Sports”.

The Amer Sports was also selling/producing Wilson Sporting Goods and many other sports product names. But nevertheless they kept the production of these skis in Austria. The company itself has seen some troubles in the past couple of years due to mild winters that then result in lowered revenues for the company. The Austrian championship snow ski teams are well known for using Atomic snow skis.

As well as slalom experts have been using Atomic snow skis and won many races with this brand. Their face was almost a logo for these skis. The name is very solid locked to this fantastic ski brand.

Atomic snow skis is just one line of products. They also produce ski related products under additional company names. For more equipment that is used in Alpine skiing the company has a product line under the brand name Dynamic. For those that are interested in high-segment skiing the company name that represents those products as Volant. For the snowboarding enthusiasts there is the brand Oxygen.

The Atomic snow skis were the backbone of the growth of the company. At the same time it gave the ability to produce more and different quality goods for all areas of having fun with winter sports.

Amer Sports is a well-known and widely respected company with many different quality goods which are regarded by many consumers and the pro’s as the best available best products available on the market.

Hockey is a sport that is completed on the pleasure of the historical Stick and ball games. It is a game between  two teams are a field of curved sticks and a hard ball. It was the cradle of Asia and authorities credit Persia with the design around the 2000 BC.

Modern hockey was created in England. The real ancestor of hockey was Irish hurling. The hockey club was formed in 1861 in Black health. The first international hokey match was played between England and Ireland in 1985. In 1908, hockey was included in the modern Olympics. Most of the development is that the game once so rough and rebel were even adapted by women. The game has been mentioned in various names, but the basic idea of playing the game was the same. The term most used was adopted by the Irish. Although the term was invented centuries ago, the word has found its way to the current generation.

Hockey stick history

The hockey stick has been introduced in the early 1800s. The first stick is wooden with a flat blade. In the 1920s, hockey players to tape their sticks to increase and strengthen the team of the blade. The banana curve or bend in the magazine, that we see today was developed in several phases between the years 1957 to 1980. A player known as Bobby Hull broke a needle in a practice match and started playing with bent stick and found to his astonishment that there was greater accuracy in his shots. In the early 1980s, formed metal sticks. In the early 21th century, there were three types of hockey sticks, wood, composites (reinforced wood sticks) or aluminum. The aluminum hockey sticks are most often used today because of its lightness, durability, and it has replaceable blades.

The Olympic Hockey:

India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and England first made its Olympic debut in 1908 in London. India has dominated the sport for three decades, winning six Olympic gold medals and 30 consecutive games from 1928 to 1956. In 1920, hockey is played in early April as part of the Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. The tournament is also the first World Hockey Championship. And since hockey has several regular international tournaments for men and women.  

Hockey World Cup, the annual Champions Trophy and World Cup for young people. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is the world body. Organize events like the World Cup women’s world hockey and football hockey. FIH Hockey Rules Board under the rules of production for the sport. Many countries have extensive club competitions for senior and junior. Despite the large number of participants. Hockey is considered the sports team in the country with the second highest number of participants in the world after football.

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Many of us have heard the term polo shirt and many of us have worn them or still wear them. But how many of us know where the term polo shirt came from and whom it was that came up with it?

Indeed the shirt started with the game of polo. Polo started off as a sport played by Tibetan men who called the ball that they hit a pulu. In the 7th Century the Persians invented a new game, a game that made use of the pulu by riding horses and hitting it with sticks. By the time that the Persian game had become a recognized Indian sport, it was called “polo.” When the British occupied India, they enjoyed watching polo games. The British eventually learned how to play polo as well and brought the sport to England.

In the mid-1800s, sports teams in Britain began to wear knitted shirts at soccer games, at rowing matches and at other sporting events. Although they had long sleeves, their jerseys did share one feature with today’s polo shirt and that was they were made from a knitted material. By the19th century, a businessman and entrepreneur who saw the jerseys and liked them, redesigned them and sold them as “polo shirts.” Printed ads for “polo shirts” appeared in Maryland papers as early as 1887.

In 1923 the members of the Hurlingham Polo Team in Buenos Aires appeared at a match wearing the now newly labeled polo shirts. The popularity of the shirt grew and in 1920 a man named Lewis Lacey opened a clothing store in Buenos Aires and sold the shirts. The shirts now had a logo depicting a polo player on a pony.

In 1926 Rene Lacoste, a famous tennis player, brought the polo shirt to the public eye in a new way, showing his audience that the shirt could be worn for more than just polo.
Lacoste’s shirts were white, which was typical of tennis clothing then, short-sleeved, made of loosely knit piqué cotton with an un-starched, flat protruding collar. It also had a buttoned placket, and a longer shirttail in back than in front. He first wore the shirt at the 1926 U.S. Open championship. Beginning in 1927, Lacoste placed a crocodile emblem on the left breast of his shirts. The American press had begun to refer to him as “the alligator”, a nickname that he embraced.

In 1933, after retiring from professional tennis, Lacoste teamed up with André Gillier, a friend who was a clothing merchandiser, to market that shirt in Europe and North America. Together, they formed the company Chemise Lacoste, and began selling their shirts, which still included the small-embroidered crocodile logo on the left breast.

By 1972, Ralph Lauren took the ideas of Lacoste’s and Lewis Lacey and included his “polo shirt” as a prominent part of his original line called Polo. While not specifically geared for use by polo players, Lauren’s shirt imitated what by that time had become the normal attire for polo players. Lauren prominently included his new attire as the “sport of kings”. On the shirts he kept Lacoste’s crocodile emblem. This worked well as a marketing tool, for subsequently, due to the immense popularity of Lauren’s clothing, a majority of English-speaking westerners began to refer to Lacoste’s tennis shirt as a “polo shirt”.

Over the latter half of the twentieth century, as standard clothing in golf became more casual, the polo shirt became adopted nearly universally as standard golf attire. Lacoste’s “tennis shirt” in various golf cuts has resulted in specific designs of the tennis shirt for golf, resulting in the moniker “golf shirt”. Golf shirts are commonly made out of polyester, cotton and polyester blends, or mercerized cotton. The plaque typically holds three or four buttons, and consequently extends lower than the typical polo neckline. The collar is typically fabricated using a stitched double-layer of the same fabric used to make the shirt, in contrast to a polo shirt collar, which is usually one-ply ribbed knit cotton.

Now the polo shirt is worn as standard attire due to its comfort. The shirts are worn by students and adults, athletes and non-athletes alike. It seems the little crocodile is here to stay.

The first and the earliest written obviousness of the baseball in America are a written payment in 1791 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The document, discovered by Society for Spine of John of member of research of baseball in 2004, strong obviousness of offers that the baseball is a single American play, and it expresses doubts on held length belief that the baseball was derived from the baseball, a British play. It also to increase the question of origins of cricket, as one largely thought that the baseball followed the cricket, which was developed starting from a known folk play under the name of swell of saddles (1085 A.D).

As of 2000 B.C. the plays type of ball and stick were played. The hiŽroglyphes depict the ancient Egyptians inside playing a game similar to the baseball 1500 B.C., although there exists some principal differences between its description and modern play.

The payment 1791 of Massachusetts prohibited the play of the play to less than 80 yards of the house of meeting of city. The formal organization initially documented with the baseball of play in America was the jodhpurses of NY established above September 23, 1845. The first rules were written by Alexandre Cartwright, considered the father of the modern baseball. However, a long time before this the play of ball of time of a certain type was noted per many authors and inside many documents.

At May 8, 1844 schedule city in New York City prohibits the ball of it the play of left. It was said that abner Doubleday has invented play of baseball inside 1839. although a posterior investigation proved this to be a role of CartwrightøS of myth inside the baseball was also called into question. The majority of the experts and historians are appropriate now that it was simply the first to note the rules which had existed for completely a certain hour. Moreover, there is obviously strong that the changes of rule were one of the Cartwright reasons wrote them.

There much was written about the sport after the foundation Jodhpurses, such as articles relating to popularity and evolvement play rules of York of New in the principal current of the baseball. The original The jodhpurses reign the addressed stinking lines and supprimentes the plug outside, which implied striking the runner with the ball to gain an exit. They also traced the label-outside and the force-outside. Curiously, they it donÁøT provide a distance of pitching or a length of base line. The steps of Forty-two were the real distance written of at the house at the second base, and of initially with the third the Innings were also not mentioned. Instead of that, the first team with twenty and one were declared gaining it, given the two teams are allowed an equal number of with-beaters. Pitching the method was also described like underhand, perhaps similar to the ball of city, another play early with the English roots.

The rules can be initially written by Cartwright, but there is a length and implied history of the plays earlier with the similar rules. Much American and the English complaints of opposition to invent the baseball tried to discuss theirs positions by presenting the obviousness to support their complaints. In spite of all this, the origin of the modern baseball remains always a mystery.

After 1845, the history of the baseball in America starts to be rather clear. Rules were standardized in 1857. In 1858, the first league of baseball, the national Association of the low players of ball (NABBP), emerged. They were not professional players considered, because they did not receive any money for theirs participation. However, the plays were public and the admission was charged with be pilot plays. The first documented game of baseball of university was played in 1859 as Amherst A demolishes Williams 73-32 in 26 turns of beater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

In 1860, play of York of New generally indicated under the name of national of the pastime in much of written work. The baseball accelerated in popularity and draw aside slowly in all the country during the civil war. More than 100 clubs took place in existence when the finished war and 1869, the world first the professional team of baseball was established. Bottoms Of Red Of Cincinnati their first unconquered season finished. The NABBP crossed in two groups, for amateurs and that for the professionals. The leg of amateur of dissolved association after only a few years.

The national league, which always exists, was established in 1875 afterwards NABBP proved ineffective on several levels. Power shifted with the club the organizations and the baseball entered an age completely of conflict, pointed out most of the time for the dreaded clause of reservation of player who oppressed players and was held they like slaves with their contracts.

Nonwhite blacks and the Hispanic ones or all the other players on several occasions were forced out of, omitted, or sent to the minor leagues. It was a ashamed practice that endøof the didnÁt until 1947. The Western league of the players of baseball, a minor the league of the area of states of Great Lakes became the American league in 1899. A new era in the baseball started in 1901. It was known as era of ball of Dead , because of a reduction marked in offence produced in the two leagues. This era continued until the appearance of the Ruth baby in 1919.

Swimming is a young and old like the sports. Ancient swimming, based on existing historical materials research, domestic and foreign produce more consistent view is to live in rivers, lakes and sea in the vicinity of the ancients. Them in order to survive, bound to catch birds and fish in the water for food, through observation and imitation fish, frogs and other animals swimming in the action, and gradually learned how to swim. 
China has a long history, vast waters. Records in swimming, started 5000 years ago. However, swimming as a sport in recent decades to develop or something. 
Modern swimming originated in the United Kingdom. 17th century 60′s, many parts of the UK Swim was very active on the launch. Early 18th century spread to France, then a popular sport in Europe. 
In 1828, the United Kingdom George Terminal in Liverpool built the first indoor swimming pool, this pool to the 19th century 30′s, the major city in the UK city one after another. 
In 1837, in London the first swimming organization was established, while the British held the first swim. 
January 1869, established the city of London Swimming Club Association (now the British Amateur Swimming Association, the predecessor) and to swimming as a dedicated sports official fixed. And subsequently passed the British colony, and then throughout the world. With the development of swimming, swimming, swimming and sports shirts are divided into two major categories of swimming. Swimming is divided into practical side of swimming, diving, anti-breaststroke, tread water, ambulance, armed crossing; into competitive swimming breaststroke, crawl stroke, backstroke, butterfly. 
Competitive swimming, from the first Olympic Games (1896) included in the Olympics on the official project. Development up to now, various tournaments, major international competitions has continually promoted the development of competitive swimming, it moves better technology, has created one after another excellent performance. 
History and development since ancient times, whether for hunting, escape or wild beasts to save themselves when the case of shipwreck, swimming is an important one of survival skills.Far in 2500 BC, the ancient Egyptian Swimming has similar activities. Romans built huge bath, even upper class people as a leisure swimming and social activities of the place. Early swim, only to be seen as noble soldiers in their children’s education and training is an important part of the eighteenth century until the end of the working class and the opportunity to participate in swimming time increased, the swimming started to become a universal activity. 
Swimming from the United Kingdom and Australia, and later introduced to other countries, mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, began swimming around the world in general up Swimming Association also have been established. British Amateur Swimming Association (formerly the Metro Swimming Association) was established in 1869, was the first establishment of the National Swimming Association. In 1850 to 1860, the United Kingdom and Australia have been the international swimming competitions. When the International Olympic Committee on June 16, 1894 in Paris set up, swimming has been listed as one of 1894′s Olympic Games. The International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA), was founded in 1908. 
Breaststroke Breaststroke is the first type as the swimming competition, but also from the development of freestyle and butterfly out. In 1940 and 1950, as many Japanese swimmers to use the loopholes in the regulations diving competition in long distance to obtain benefits, swimming rules will be subject to change in 1956, swimmers are only allowed after the take-off and turn pool after underneath the surface can only make one arm stroke and kick movements.In order to reduce water resistance and enhance propulsion, chest swimming arm stroke, and kick there had been many reform movements, however, basic swimming would have been not much out. 
Freestyle Australians Willis in 1850 using a hands forward of swimming in the water, which can be regarded as the prototype of Swimming. And later the British swimmers Yuehantela true in 1873 adopted a leg and then with the chest with both hands alternately swimming crawl swimming style before, and later another Australian Lichakaer true and under the Delaware beaches Alex Wei salt type, created a ‘shallow kick’ kicks method. Since then, only little legs kicking changes. 
Backstroke Backstroke is Yang early floating on the water, and then use the chest swimming kicks forward. 1900 Olympic Games, started to swimmers to use the hand too far forward in the water swimming style, stampede-style kicks way to the 1912 Olympic Games will have to begin there. 
Butterfly butterfly arm stroke swimming is from Germany Erich Rademacher for the first time in 1926, the use of chest swimming race, when he was still swimming kicks way to use chest.1952 Olympic Games, the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA) decided to separate the swimming style and swimming chest, thus increasing the butterfly, and swimmers can also use dolphin kicks method.

 

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There is much debate has arisen where snowboarding. But whether it comes from skiing or snowboarding skateboarding, snowboarding is a legitimate sport that requires a landing on a mound of snow with a snowboard. It is difficult to really what started this sport, but one thing is certain: We always have the idea of the danger of slipping on a snowy slope on a board or sled.

The growing recognition of snowboarding around the world is evident in its establishment as a sport in 1995. As such, snowboarding has been included in the events of the Olympic Winter Games and Winter X Games. It even has a tournament at the U.S. Open alone. The growth of snowboarding as a sport, it is undeniable that more and more people are addicted.

Now they are among the many people who want the fun and excitement that only snowboarding can try to give are, it’s time to learn the basics of his first trip on a snowboard downhill. How to start?

First, it is necessary to snowboard team needs to acquire. You need the right snowboard clothing, shoes, and of course, snowboarding. Make sure board is not the ideal size for you, too wide or too narrow.

If you already have the necessary equipment, you can begin learning the basics of riding a snowboard. Here are some important points to remember when one begins to find his destiny in snowboarding.

Keep in mind that snowboarding is similar to skiing. Stabilize the movements of the body that allows you to control and snowboarding are the same as the motions of skiing. Therefore, if you are an expert skier, there will be fewer problems for you before. A skier will have easier to learn snowboarding Thrasher skateboard.

Always in a relaxed position. As with any sport, snowboarding requires a calm atmosphere hang loose. Most accidents and injuries in snowboarding happen when one is in an extended position. During the ride on a snowboard, keep your knees bent and rigid attitude will only make you absorb impacts between your snowboard and snow.

You do not immediately start to learn snowboarding in the snow-covered slope in the first period. Instead, begin with snowboarding on a small patch of snow. You have an idea of the sport. Pay attention to your board and your movement. Feel comfortable in your clothing and equipment?

Try steering the snowboard hire in the small area of the rotating in practice, the complexity of land is stolen, which means turning by lifting your heel tap, as you put your feet on a snowboard or curves heel on the ground by her turn on the heel. Once you understand the fundamentals of balance and direction of the snowboard champion, you go to a major revision of the snow, but not on a long steep.

Now they are have moved on a snowboard, you have to learn to stop snowboarding. Stopping a snowboard basically requires turning until you find your own way to a spot on. An upward certainly slow your snowboard, until it quit completely.

After learning all movements of riding basics, you can now try a tour of the big steep snow slope. Good luck!

It is hard to say who actually “invented” the first snowboard.  There are websites, magazine articles, extreme sports blogs dedicated to this subject but I think we should start the exploration of this topic with this observation; People have always figured out how to slide down a hill on some sort of sled, so perhaps it’s impossible to state who the ‘inventor’ of the snowboard was. However there are some big players who have certainly helped towards the growth of snowboarding, the sport and snowboarding, the industry.

There have been some adventurous folk however who have been documented as strapping a makeshift board to their feet and pointing it downhill in the snow. One of them was M.J. “Jack” Burchett. He cut out a plank of plywood in 1929 and tried to secure his feet with some clothesline and horse reins. Before the next step for the snowboard was taken, it had to wait over 30 years until 1963 when an American kid named Tom Sims, a student in eighth grade, constructed what he called a “Ski Board” for a class project.

In 1965 Sherman Poppen, a chemical gases engineer in Muskegon, invented “The Snurfer” (his wife came up with the name) as a toy for his daughter. He made the Snurfer by bounding two skis together and putting a rope at the nose, so the rider could hold it and keep it more stable. Many of his daughters friends wanted one of those new Snurfers, and soon Poppen licensed his new idea to a manufacturer. The Snurfer was sold over half a million times in 1966, but was only seen as a toy for kids, even though Poppen organized competitions with this new board.

Jake Burton (founder of Burton Snowboards) took part in those competitions and became really interested in the snurfer. For him it was a cool thing to do, not having the opportunity to go surfing (his parents would not buy him a board).

But Burton was really serious about skiing. After breaking his collarbone in a car accident, he was not able to take part in skiing competitions anymore. While Burton was into riding the Snurfer, Dimitrije Milovich spent some time sliding down some hills on a cafeteria plate in College, he comes up with the idea of an invention based on surfboards but combined with the way skis work. He started designing and making snowboards in 1969.

In 1972 Milovich started a new company called “Winterstick”. He produced several boards, and even got articles in the “Newsweek”, “Playboy” and “Powder” which helped to make snowboarding better known. Even though Milovich left the snowboarding business in 1980, he is still recognized as a very important pioneer of the sport.

In 1977 Jake Burton, who by now had finished NYU, moved to Londonderry, Vermont to make some money by building different versions of the Snurfer. His first boards were made of laminated hardwood. Burton shocked the Snurfer community by winning a Snurfer competition with his board prototype which had strange ‘bindings’ attached. This first binding made a big difference in handling the board and made it easier for him to beat the other riders.

After that, in 1979, Poppen stopped producing the Snurfer and went back to his old profession. He was out of the business, and never came back.

Parallel to Burton, Tom Sims produced his first set of snowboards in 1977. Being obsessed with skateboarding, Sims tried to go out in the snow and slide down the hill with a “snowboard” he built in a junior high shop-class. He just glued some carpet to the top of a piece of wood, and put an aluminum sheeting on the bottom. Prior to this he had been focussing on producing skateboards in his garage but with the help of his friend and employee Chuck Barfoot, snowboards became his main focus.

Barfoot, who actually made the snowboards, came up with the “Flying Yellow Banana”. It was just a skateboard deck on top of a plastic shell with skegs. Officially the first real ski technology for snowboards was introduced by Burton 1980 (it is said Winterstick already used a P-Tex base in 1974).

The new prototype had a P-tex base and combined more of the ski technology into snowboards with that. In the same year Sims signed a skate- and snowboarding deal with a big mainstream company (Vision Sports), which helped him financially and allowed the design of snowboards to move forward.

But Sims’ pal Barfoot was left out, and he tried to built his own firm. He did not succeed against the big competitors Sims and Burton. In 1982 the first National Snowboard race was held in Suicide Six, outside Woodstock, Vermont. The goal of the race appeared mostly to be “survival” as the race consisted of a steep icy kamikaze downhill run, called “The Face”. In 1985 still only 39, of the approximately 600 current snowboard trails in the area allow snowboards.

The same year one of the first (there was another one in 1981, called “Snowboarder”) Snowboarding magazines comes out. It’s name is “Absolutely Radical”. Later on the name is changed into “International Snowboarding Magazine”. In 1986 Regis Rolland, a French snowboarder, stars in “Apocalypse Snow”. His staring launches a new European Snowboarding generation of fans who organize their own regional events, such as the Swiss championship in St. Moritz. Snowboarding is becoming a more and more popular sport.

In 1994 Snowboarding was declared as an Olympic Sport. Now it finally became accepted as a real competitive sport, not only a new trend which would disappear again. Snowboarding debuted in the 1998 Olympics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image 1. Image courtesy of MySpace
Image 2. ‘Suicide Six’ snow trail in Vermont, USA. Image courtesy of suicide6.com
Image 3. Image courtesy of Snowboarder Magazine

The game basketball has been one of the most renowned sports in the planet. Basketball sports products and wares such as basketball shoes, basket ball, portable basketball backboards and hoops and sportswear sell millions of goods every year. One of the richest athletes in the world are basketball players, like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain, so are the basketball coaches too like Phil Jackson, Bob Knight and Pat Riley. Everywhere, you can see basketball courts in most corner of the neighborhood. And the youth and the old persons alike, handicapped or with two total pair of legs, ladies and guys, regardless size you qualify-everyone likes to play this game.
There are three basic equipment necessary for basketball. The hoop, the ball and the court. Unlike any other sports, basketball is distinct for it can be played both indoors and in the open. The first basketball game was just consisted of a circular ring mounted on a wall and a ball, and the rules were basic. Every team should try to have a score by shooting and throwing the ball through the hoop by following a set of rules. There are particular scoring systems to observe and fouls and violation to be avoided.
Consequently, these rules and regulations have been improved from the day it was first played. Today, considered to be one of the most common and permanent professional sports, certain set of rules and regualtions are required in order to play this game. The ball for example has to be 29.5 inches for men, and weighing 22 ounces, and 28.5 for women weighing 20 ounces. The basketball backboard is generally ten feet tall, nonetheless it may have variation. The basketball hoop should be 45.7 in diameters and the basketball court generally measures to 28 x 15 meters.
For non-competitive sports however, equipments can vary. Basketball players can be inventive with the backboard, some community courts only require a ring and an expansive place to dribble with. Some community courts and playgrounds also have portable basketball backboards, which can also be put up on backyard houses. Even the game itself can also diversify. Today we have six by six basketball, instead of five members. There is also the horseball which can be played whilst riding on a horse, and is a combination of rugby, polo and basketball. There is also the water basketball, wheelchair basketball and even unicycle basketball.
The women’s basketball has begun in 1892 and seven years afterward has become a recognized game because of the labors and pains of Senda Berenson. It’s also one of the sports that even the handicapped can do. True enough, basketball is considered to be both non-discriminatory and beneficial to improve physical agility and endurance as well as to sharpen thinking skills. It is also one of the main factors why parents want their kids to grow tall and stalwart, because one has to be at the least 6 feet high with clear-cut shooting skills in order to be a professional basketball player. That is why schools offer basketball courses to young kids and youngsters so they can better their skill while shooting on those portable basketball backboards.