Although snowboarding has been around since the sixties, its explosive popularity has been fairly recent. The kind of rabid enthusiasm that fired the phenomenal growth of snowboarding the past five years has a way of attracting a lot of attention, even that of an institution as staid as the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As early as 1994, in Lillihammer, the IOC attempted to allow snowboarding as an exhibition event. Although that idea never became reality, the IOC remained very much aware of snowboarding and its continued dramatic growth.

It's no surprise, then, that the IOC turned to the Olympic hosts of the '98 games in Nagano, Japan, to ask if they would include snowboarding in the medals competition. Although adding an entirely new snow-sport event would cost the Japanese organizing committee plenty, the decision was an easy one. Given the size and economic clout of the huge snowboarding community, and the level of funding the Nagano committee received from the IOC, the Japanese readily agreed to host the new event.

But first, the IOC needed an official snowboard organizing body. The Federation International du Ski (FIS), a forty-plus-year-old organization that has formatted Olympic ski races since its inception, was the logical choice. It also helped that members of the FIS board also sit on the IOC board. The much younger, and arguably more appropriate, International Snowboarding Federation (ISF), was passed-over. Even though the ISF was created by and for snowboarders, and despite the fact it had been organizing snowboarding competitions for over a decade, the FIS received official status from the Olympic committee.

Immediately, and predictably, snowboarders questioned FIS' new status in regards to snowboarding. To boarders it seemed that the organization's entire experience was with skiers--not snowboarders--and its interest had come about only after snowboarding's meteoric rise in market share. Would this IOC decision force snowboard competitors who had Olympic aspirations to abandon all ISF events? Would the decision force FIS team membership, rules, and uniforms? Would present pros be forced to drop their hard fought sponsors for a US Skiing jersey?

In the face of a possible boycott, the FIS has agreed to negotiate. With input from the likes of David Igemie, president of Ski Industries of America (SIA), Jake Burton, president of Burton Snowboards, and longtime Alpine rider, Mark Fawcett, the FIS eventually agreed to the creation of an organization called US Snowboard, with elected snowboarders in leadership roles. Then it created a three event US Olympic trial tour to be called the Grand Prix fetching a $75,000 purse. They agreed that the schedule wouldn't conflict with either ISF or FIS present schedules.

Although this calmed the fears of many snowboarders, others remain wary. They are concerned that the FIS still holds all the cards, and in recent history has consulted but a few snowboarders at best. Those concerns came to the forefront when the FIS named Sharon Harned as "Director of US Snowboard." Although her recent background included membership in the US Snowboarding Association (USSA), her longtime position was with US Skiing.

The fact is, the jury is still out on the ongoing FIS-ISF issue and probably will be until opening ceremonies in Nagano, Japan. The two have been continually corresponding since October in an effort to find a common ground.

Meanwhile, the first Olympic-qualifying Grand Prix events in Sugarloaf, Maine December 18-22, 1996 and Snowmass Colorado on January 1-5, 1997 were a complete success. They brought together riders from both federations, some of whom hadn't competed together in years, and all reveled in the opportunity. Consisting of Giant Slalom and Halfpipe events, the competitions were the best the US had seen in over three years. The judging was conducted according to FIS rules while US Snowboarding points were awarded.

Sharon Harned said that this season's events will be followed by more Grand Prix competitions early in the 1997-1998 season and that the tour would allow all riders to earn the FIS points necessary to qualify riders for Olympic competitions as well as seeding athletes at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano.

The fact remains that if a competitor makes it to the finals in the Grand Prix events, FIS membership is required. The only thing anyone can do now is to try and educate FIS and the IOC about the needs of riders and how they differ from skiers. The outcome of the first Grand Prix events has shown that they are willing to learn, and first steps have been taken. Ted Martin and Sharon Harned are working hard to bridge the gap.

The good news is the $75,000 purse brought out hungry riders who are blood-thirsty for additional revenue. The Grand Prixs also showcased ISF and FIS riders going head to head for the first time in a long time. Most of all the Grand Prixs demonstrated what the best riders in the world really stand for: individual style and consistency, not politics and alliances.

For more Grand Prix information contact:
Christy Martin
Grand Prix Manager
PO Box 477
Vail, Colorado 81658
(970)926-USGP

Hopefully, both riders and the snowboard industry will be able to look beyond the money of Olympic politics to create a Winter Games in which everyone will be proud to take part.

Stay tuned.

-- Hans Prosl, Mountain Zone Staff