# How the Snurfer Invented Modern Snowboarding

> A 1966 patent for a single-board snow vehicle that allowed riders to stand sideways and steer using a rope, effectively creating the sport of snowboarding.

- **Patent:** US 3378274
- **Original title:** Surf-type snow ski
- **Owner:** Brunswick Corp
- **Granted:** 1968
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 42
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, mechanical

## What it does

The invention describes a single, wide board designed for sliding down snow-covered slopes while the rider stands upright. It features a flexible steering rope attached to the front of the board, which the rider holds to maintain balance and guide the direction of travel. By shifting their weight and pulling on the rope, the rider can carve turns on the snow surface. This design eliminated the need for individual skis and bindings, focusing on a surf-like experience on snow.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover boards with mechanical metal edges for high-speed ice carving.
- Does not cover modern high-performance bindings that lock boots to the board.
- Does not cover motorized snow vehicles or sleds.
- Does not cover boards with complex suspension or dampening systems.

## The clever bit

The innovation was the realization that a single, wide surface with a simple tether could provide enough stability and control for a rider to stand sideways, mimicking surfing on snow.

## Real-world examples

1. The original Brunswick Snurfer
2. Early backyard snow-sliding boards
3. Modern recreational plastic snow-sliders

## Why it matters

This patent represents the foundational design of the Snurfer, the precursor to the modern snowboard. It shifted winter sports from a two-legged skiing paradigm to a single-board surfing paradigm, eventually leading to the multi-billion dollar snowboarding industry.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How the Snurfer Invented Modern Snowboarding cover?

A 1966 patent for a single-board snow vehicle that allowed riders to stand sideways and steer using a rope, effectively creating the sport of snowboarding.

### Who owns patent US 3378274?

Brunswick Corp owns this patent, granted in 1968.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.

### What is patent US 3378274 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 42 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent represents the foundational design of the Snurfer, the precursor to the modern snowboard. It shifted winter sports from a two-legged skiing paradigm to a single-board surfing paradigm, eventually leading to the multi-billion dollar snowboarding industry.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover boards with mechanical metal edges for high-speed ice carving.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3378274/snowboard-snurfer-poppen

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US3378274

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How the First Modern Water Slide Was Designed](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2982547/slip-n-slide-carrier) — A 1960 patent for a water-based amusement structure featuring a sloped surface and a water supply system to create a sliding experience.
- [How Joseph-Armand Bombardier Designed the Modern Snowmobile](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3023824/snowmobile-bombardier) — A 1962 patent by Joseph-Armand Bombardier describing a lightweight, engine-driven vehicle using an endless track system for travel over snow.
- [How James Plimpton Invented the Modern Roller Skate](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/37305/roller-skates-plimpton) — A 19th-century invention that introduced pivoting wheels to roller skates, allowing users to steer by leaning their bodies.
- [How the Game Twister Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3454279/twister-game) — A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles.
- [How Modern Rollerblades Became Adjustable and Interchangeable](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4492385/inline-skates-rollerblade-olson) — A 1982 patent describing a skate design that allows users to swap between wheels and blades and adjust their position on the boot for better performance.