Snurfer
Encyclopedia
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
. It uses a noboard
Noboard
A Noboard is a snowboard binding alternative.-History:The original snowboards, developed in the 1960s by Sherman Poppen and Dimitrie Milovich, had no fixed bindings, the riders stood on the board like a surfboard...
type of snowboard binding alternative. The Snurfer was created in 1965 by Sherman Poppen in Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
. Poppen was outside his house one day sledding with his daughters, when his 11 year old was going down the hill, standing on her old sled. Poppen then ran inside his shop and bound two skis together. Poppen used a string and tied it to the nose of the board so the rider could have control of the board. Poppen's wife called it the Snurfer, and soon after creating the first one, Poppen's daughters' friends all wanted one. Sherman Poppen licensed the concept to Brunswick Corporation
Brunswick Corporation
The Brunswick Corporation , formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is a United States-based corporation that has been involved in manufacturing a wide variety of products since 1845. Brunswick's global headquarters is in the northern Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois...
to manufacture the Snurfer. In later years, JEM Corporation licensed the product, manufacturing the boards into the 1980s. The Snurfer's retail price was $10-$30. Brunswick sold about a million Snurfers through 1966-1976.
The first "World Snurfing Classic", hosted in February 1968 at Blockhouse Hill in North Muskegon. Sponsored by Muskegon Community College
Muskegon Community College
Muskegon Community College is a community college in Muskegon, Michigan. Providing service to the lakeshore region of West Michigan, MCC is located near the shores of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan...
, it was reported that event drew more than 300 local competitors. In later years the event, renamed the National Snurfing Championship, attracted Snurfers from all over America. The competitions spawned innovations and improvements. The 1979 National Snurfing Championship again hosted at Blockhouse Hill in January 1979 included Jake Burton Carpenter
Jake Burton Carpenter
Jake Burton Carpenter , also known as Jake Burton, is an American snowboarder and founder of Burton Snowboards. He grew up in Cedarhurst, New York.- Biography :...
of Vermont, who showed up with a custom board that had a prototype binding to secure his feet to the deck. He was not allowed to compete in the Standard Division, but instead won the Open Division, for boards classified as modified. His innovation led to the establishment of Burton Snowboards.
In 1980, the event was moved due to a lack of snow in the area. Still sponsored by the college, in 1981 the event was officially moved from Muskegon to Pando Ski Area, near Rockford, MI due to growth and the need for improved access to the site by emergency vehicles. Growth in the sport was recognized in media coverage. "Besides the Snurfer, the most popular boards seemed to be the wider, wooden Burton Downhill Board and the yellow plastic Sims Board." Two local television stations, as well as a crew from the syndicated television show P.M Magazine were in attendance for the title runs.