The toy that inspired modern snowboarding in 1965 was the Snurfer.
Sherman Poppen created the Snurfer in Michigan by fastening two skis together for his daughter to ride down a snowy hill. The name combined “snow” and “surfer,” reflecting the board’s surfing-inspired stance and sideways riding position.
Poppen patented the design and licensed it to the Brunswick Corporation, which marketed Snurfers as recreational toys. Competitions later attracted riders who experimented with board control, jumps and racing techniques.
The Snurfer did not have the bindings and specialized construction of a modern snowboard, but it established the basic idea of standing sideways on one board. Riders and designers such as Dimitrije Milovich, Jake Burton Carpenter and Tom Sims later helped develop snowboarding into a distinct equipment industry and competitive sport.