A snowboarder is someone who rides down snowy mountains standing sideways on a single wide board, called a snowboard. Unlike skiers who have two separate skis and face forward, snowboarders strap both feet onto one board and ride with their body turned to the side, similar to how surfers ride ocean waves or skateboarders ride down streets.

Snowboarding is a relatively young sport, invented in the 1960s and becoming popular in the 1980s. Early snowboarders faced resistance from ski resorts that thought the sport looked too wild or dangerous, but today snowboarding is an Olympic sport and millions of people worldwide enjoy it. Snowboarders carve smooth turns down slopes, jump over terrain features, and perform tricks in special parks built with rails and jumps.

The stance and technique of snowboarding feel different from skiing. Snowboarders shift their weight from their toes to their heels to turn and control their speed. Many young people find snowboarding easier to learn than skiing at first, though mastering either sport takes practice and determination.