Snowboarding exploded in popularity during the 1990s, but its road to legitimacy was anything but smooth. On this episode of History of the 90s, Kathy Kenzora traces the rebellious roots of snowboarding, from outlaw status at ski hills to its mainstream breakthrough and eventual Olympic debut. Joining the show is Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, who made history at the 1998 Nagano Games by winning the very first Olympic gold medal in the sport. Together they trace snowboarding’s wild early days, the cultural clashes with the skiing establishment, and what it was like to stand at the center of a sport redefining winter athletics. It’s a deep dive into how the 90s helped turn snowboarding from counterculture to global phenomenon.

 Guest:

Ross Rebagliati

Instagram: ⁠⁠@rossrebagliati98⁠⁠

Contact:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices