It’s about to get real at altitude this snow season.

In the hopes of an abundant snow year, do some fun prep to get your blood pumping and gear up for winter sports. Even though snowboarding is a relatively young sport, it has a colorful history. As you get ready, keep some of these helpful safety tips in mind too, so you can have an injury-free and fun season on the slopes.

Snowboarding was invented in the 1960s and started out as snurfing. Yes, you read that right. A fellow named Sherman Poppen, an engineer living in Muskegon, Michigan, strapped two skis together and added some rope for steering. His wife called it a snurfer, or snow surfing.1

Until the early 1980s, snowboarding was banned at resorts. Traditionally, skiing was comprised of an older demographic, and snowboarding was considered to be dangerous and a teenage fad. In 1983-84, the Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont opened its slopes up to snowboarding, a shrewd move that would put VT ahead of the curve as a destination.2

Snowboarding makes up 30% of resort revenues during the winter season.3 Far from being a fringe sport now, snowboarding was officially accepted into the Olympic Winter Games in 1998 and there are over five professional competitions in the US every year.

In 2000, snowboarding was the fastest growing sport in the US. It has taken over globally like wildfire. There is even a World Snowboard Federation that ranks competitors all over the world.

Skiing is more dangerous than snowboarding. The public misconception is that skiing is safer, but according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, skiing accidents outpace snowboarding injuries by a considerable margin.

No matter how good you are, you still need to wear a helmet. Statistically speaking, your chances of sustaining a head injury go down exponentially if you wear a safety-approved helmet. Estimates over time suggest that 7700 injuries and deaths a year could be prevented with the right equipment.4 Keep your head warm and all in one piece: it’s twofer!

Get in shape first, whether you are a seasoned vet on the slopes or a beginner. Safe USA recommends that rookies be in good physical shape before they attempt to learn, primarily because it prevents injuries. And that is also true for experienced boarders. Many accidents happen because of loss of control, so it is wise to get some professional instruction before tearing up the black diamond runs.

While you are waiting for that first epic storm to layer the mountains in glorious white powder, sharpen your skills with the Snowboarding App by Rat Rod Games optimized for Intel-powered devices. Whether a novice or seasoned pro, you can take it all the way to the extreme with over 15 different runs, 11 competitors to choose from, and 50 awe-inspiring stunts.

Stunning 3D graphics and animation combine with a rocking soundtrack to kick the adrenaline rush into high gear. Plus, gamers can compete against friends and earn experience points” to upgrade your rider’s abilities and equipment to upgrade equipment. This high-flying action is the next best thing to the real deal. To get a better look at the Snowboard Party app, now enabled for Intel® Atom™ processor-based tablets for Android*, click on this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ratrodstudio.snowparty&hl=en

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