A New Exhibit at Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum
The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum opens its newest exhibit, “From Snurfing to Snowboarding” on Friday, November 28, with an opening party on Friday, December 5.
Visitors will experience the sport’s evolution from the tiny hills of Michigan to the rise of global snowboarding culture by 1990, when participation surpassed one million riders.
This groundbreaking and immersive exhibition traces snowboarding’s journey from homemade toy to global phenomenon. The story begins in 1965, when Michigan engineer Sherman Poppen nailed two skis together so his daughters could glide down a hill, creating what his wife first called the “Snurfer” setting off a cultural spark that would change winter sports forever.
The exhibit chronicles snowboarding’s early evolution through rare photographs, patents, product catalogs, and personal artifacts, many of which come from the archive of one of the sport’s earliest pioneers, Paul Graves. After receiving his first Snurfer in 1966, Graves went on to become the first sponsored professional rider. His future influences were pivotal in legitimizing snowboarding as a sport.
In 1982 Graves founded the National Snow Surfing Championships at Suicide Six (now Saskadena Six) in Woodstock, Vermont, an event that opened the doors to ski area access for snowboarders and drew national media attention. That 1982 competition also marked the legendary snowboard rivalry between Vermont’s Jake Burton Carpenter and California’s Tom Sims, an East vs. West duel that defined the sport for years.
“This exhibit captures the energy and creativity that snowboarding brought to the mountains,” said Dave Schmidt, the exhibit curator. “It’s not just about boards; it’s about the people who brought the sport to life.”
The opening party on Friday, December 5, between 5and 8 p.m., offers a first look at the exhibit, refreshments, and a chance to celebrate the roots of one of winter’s most popular sports. This exhibit was made possible by generous support from Cabot Hosiery, Stratton Mountain Resort and Chuck and Jann Perkins.
You might also like
