Boardsports are sports that are played with some sort of board as the primary equipment. Surfing, first mastered in the Pacific islands, was the first board sport. Eventually, it was expanded to land applications, often with the addition of wheels. Many board sports are classified as action sports or extreme sports, and thus often appeal to youth. Board sports have had a history of being dangerous, "punk" or reckless, and thus were marginalized in the sports community. However, many board sports have gained mainstream recognition, and with this recognition have enjoyed wider broadcast, sponsorship and inclusion in institutional sporting events, including the Olympic Games.

Surfing was the first boardsport, or the mother of the other boardsports, originating from the Polynesian culture. Skateboarding was then invented by surfing looking to "surf" on land. Snowboarding came around when surfers and skaters were looking to board on the snow. Wakeboarding was invented by people so that they could get towed in snowboard fashion behind a boat in the same relation as waterskiing to alpine skiing. Mountainboarding was then invented by snowboarders who wanted to keep riding on the piste even after the snow had gone.

External links

• WakeCrew: It's like FaceBook, but cooler because it is for wakeboarders
• www.ukboardsports.com UK Boardsports Forum - Information and discussion forums for boardsports enthusiasts in the UK