Snowboarding Associations

Originally, the sport did not need an association because it was exercised too little. It was not until 1985, when the number of adherents was already so great that even international competitions could be conducted, that a central organization became necessary.

In 1989, the International Snowboarding Association was founded, but a year later by the International Snowboarding Federation succeeded as the world’s central organ. From now on, it represented the interests of drivers and their regional or national associations, and organized official world championships.

The discussion about the introduction of snowboarding as an Olympic discipline in 1994 also aroused the interest of the FIS; the sport received their program in 1995 and a year later conducted the first championship. The fact that the International Olympic Committee took notice of the FIS events, winning the bid of the Olympic competition took care of a growing dispute between the ISF and FIS.

At the core of their differences was the fact that one had to deny FIS competitions to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games, and especially the drivers of the ISF felt inadequately represented. With the growing new pole of power, the ISF had been pushed farther and finally, in 2002, registered for bankruptcy, after which the FIS acquired all of their competitions.

But because not all drivers would be represented by a ski federation, in the same year the Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour (TTR) was held. It is attended by the athletes and the industry, and enjoys a high reputation among the drivers. In contests, the one who may be selected as a winner of a “Ticket to Ride” secures, (as was also the name of the tour), the right to participate in the Tour Championship.

Since the 2005/2006 season, the TTR World Series continues in which drivers can earn points at the various events. The importance of the contest is given by the so-called star system (1-6 star events). Points are awarded depending on the ranking and importance of the event. The first overall winner of the TTR was the Frenchman Mathieu Crepel.

As an alternative to the ISF, on August 10, 2002, the World Snowboarding Federation (WSF) was formed in Munich by representatives from fourteen nations. Today, it works closely with the TTR and leads the official standings of the driver (do not confuse with the FIS) ranking list.