Snowboarding has seemingly become one of the most popular sports in the United States, especially after the launch of the Winter Dew Tour at Colorado’s Breckenridge Ski Resort five years ago. Since then, snowboarding sport has undergone a series of evolution. For instance, new snowboarding tricks have been developed to replace or improve the old ones.
In addition, advanced sporting equipments have been designed to advance the sport to high levels. On the other hand, some prominent riders have emerged in the last five years, leading to a steep competition among competitors in the sport.
However, a number of fatal outcomes have been recorded, owing to the adoption of dangerous snowboarding tricks. Therefore, an aesthetic analysis of snowboarding appears significant for a comprehensive evaluation of the sport.
In general, snowboarding is believed to have recorded a remarkable progress over the last five years. Stakeholders in the snowboarding sport reaffirm that, the sport has evolved extensively to reach the highest level of progression, ever since the sport was invented.
A recent report indicates “eight years ago few, if any, adaptive snowboard lessons were offered; today, there are adaptive schools at most resorts and many offer snowboard lessons along with adaptive skiing techniques” (Disabled Sports par. 44).
From a practical approach, the observed progression in snowboarding is attributable to the establishment of advanced training courses and adoption of new snowboarding tricks, which have offered riders with new opportunities to endure the strenuous episodes of the sport.
Ordinarily, it is believed that, popularity of snowboarding has led to the development of adaptive equipments, which are ability-oriented to suit the needs of the riders. It is claimed “as snowboarding grows in popularity, options in equipment and teaching aids increase” (Disabled Sports par. 36).
In recent years, snowboarding seems to have attracted more riders than it was the case one decade ago. Consequently, new snowboarders are introducing new snowboarding tricks to achieve fun and victory in the game day-by-day.
Some of the new snowboarding tricks which have been developed in the last five years include the double cork and triple cork tricks. These tricks have earned several snowboarders immense prominence, owing to their success in attempting the tricks in risky environments.
For instance, the double cork snowboarding trick was first attempted by Shaun White at the 2010 Winter Olympics. This trick had not been practised before, but it gained popularity in the sport after the Olympics.
Richards claims “It has been no time at all since we were wowed by Shaun White throwing down double corks in Whistler’s super-pipe at the 2010 Winter Olympics; it is crazy that such an insanely technical trick was to become out-dated” (par. 1). Shaun White had faced immense competition from Kevin Pearce.
Therefore, the tragic elimination of Pearce gave White high chances of achieving victory in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Shortly, after the 2010 Winter Olympics, attempts for triple corks begun in the month of May when Nils Arvidsson attempted the trick successfully although he nearly missed the footage.
Torstein Horgmo was the second to attempt triple cork tricks successful in June 2010. Horgmo achieved success in trying the new trick; hence he is known to be the world’s first rider to attempt the triple cork trick in the history of snowboarding.
“It was not long after the Olympics in 2010 that triple corks were being attempted. There was a lot of excitement around an attempt by Nils Arvidsson in May 2010, the near-miss footage” (Richards par. 4).
It is believed that, double cork and triple cork tricks are the most challenging snowboarding tricks. Since their invention, only a few snowboarders have attempted them successfully without sustaining injuries. They require extensive skills in landing to prevent injuries to the riders.
Therefore, those who have attempted the tricks successfully gained auspicious acknowledgement from the snowboard team; that is probably why Dave Richards, the Operations Director of the Nonstop Club remarks that triples are “massive tricks, and [they earn] full respect to anyone who attempts them” (par. 3).
The remarkable successes in double cork and triple cork tricks are regarded to as immense progress in snowboarding in the last half decade.
However, these tricks have attracted immense criticism from the public and the sporting community across the United States, owing to their health risks. Despite the prominence accorded to the snowboarders who applied the tricks successfully with safe landings, double cork and triple cork tricks are quite dangerous.
Dangers of the double cork and triple cork snowboarding tricks can be explained by the two fatal outcomes which have been reported since 2009. In the first outcome, Kevin Pearce sustained traumatic brain injury on Dec. 31, 2009 while preparing for the Vancouver Olympics, leading to a tragic end of his snowboarding career.
Pearce fell from the super-pipe and hit his head on the ground while he attempted to rotate; thus, becoming unconscious, owing to the brain injury. During an interview with Rachel George early this year in February, Pearce remarked, “I was so sick and so dizzy and so gone after that” (par. 3).
Pearce’s mental trauma is believed to have been caused by the two successive falls he experienced during his training for the Vancouver Olympics in which he was attempting to qualify for the U.S Olympic team (George par. 2).
The second fatal outcome in snowboarding sport was the death of Sarah Burke in 2012, owing to injuries she suffered during training on Jan. 10, 2012 which was run in Park City, Utah. She had contributed immensely to the progress of snowboarding by pushing for the acceptance of super-pipe triple cork in the Olympics (DeBruin and Pells par. 2).
In a brief conclusion, snowboarding has recorded remarkable progress in recent years, owing to advanced training courses. However, the two fatal outcomes involving Sarah Burke death and Kevin Pearce have aroused immense outcry from the sporting community and the public at large. It is argued that double cork and triple cork tricks expose the riders to health risks as it was the case with Kevin Pearce and Sarah Burke.
Snowboarders lament that snowboarding used to be quite safe before the introduction of the double cork and triple cork tricks although minor injuries were recorded.
Double cork and triple cork tricks involve a high level of athletic skills; thus, making it difficult for new riders. Currently, the popular criticism of the risky snowboarding tricks seems to have made progress in snowboarding games, not worth appreciation.
Consequently, new policy guidelines have been established to prevent unsafe practices in sports, primarily in snowboarding sport, which had not been given significant priority in the past. Ideally, progress is worth successful healthy outcomes in sporting activities.
Works Cited
DeBruin, L. and Pells E. Sarah Burke Dead: Skier Dies after Accident during Training at Park City, Utah. 2012. Web.
Disabled Sports. Snowboarding. Web.
George, R. Head Injuries a Rising Danger for Snowboarders, Skiers. 2013. Web.
Richards D. Re: Doubles are so Winter Olympics 2010. 25 May, 2012. Web.