Editing Boardsport (section)

{{short description|Sports that are played with a board as primary equipment}}
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{{tone|date=March 2009}}
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'''Boardsports''' are active outdoor sports that are played with any sort of board as the primary equipment. These sports take place on a variety of terrains, from paved flat-ground and snow-covered hills to water and air. Most boardsports are considered action sports or [[extreme sports]], and thus often appeal to youth. Some board sports were marginalized in the past. However, many board sports are gaining mainstream recognition, and with this recognition, they have gotten wider broadcasting, sponsorship and inclusion in institutional sporting events, including the [[Olympic Games]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716183518/http://www.tackyworld.com/skateboard/article/?id=107551 It's Official: Skateboarding Joins the Olympics - Article - Tackyworld.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

[[Surfing]] is the first known boardsport, originating from [[Polynesian culture]]. [[Skateboarding]] was then invented by surfers looking to "surf" on land.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030302060040/http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/skateboard.html Inventor of the Week: Archive<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is hard to estimate when most boardsports were invented because people have been making homemade versions throughout history. For example, it is not hard to conceive of a person, who is familiar with the concept of [[skiing]] or [[sledding]], standing sideways on a plank of wood and riding down a snow-covered slope. M.J. "Jack" Burchett is credited with first doing this in 1929, using horse reins and clothesline to secure his feet on the plank of wood.<ref>[http://www.snowboardinghistory.com/ Snowboarding History<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116084703/http://www.snowboardinghistory.com/ |date=January 16, 2011 }}</ref> Most boardsports have similar, equally unknown origins.

Using data collected in the past decade, it is estimated there are 18-50 million skateboarders,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/skateboarding.shtml |title=HickokSports.com - Sports History - Skateboarding |access-date=2011-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204013828/http://hickoksports.com/history/skateboarding.shtml#hist1 |archive-date=2010-12-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4021/is_2002_Oct_1/ai_92087410 |title=American Demographics: Your Questions Answered - statistics about skateboarders - Brief Article - Letter to the Editor - Statistical Data Included |website=www.findarticles.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050123084452/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4021/is_2002_Oct_1/ai_92087410 |archive-date=23 January 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 5-25 million surfers,<ref>[http://www.surfline.com/community/whoknows/whoknows.cfm?id=1012 Number Of Surfers In The World | Surfline.Com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and 10-20 million [[snowboarder]]s<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neuropeans.com/topic/sports/powderhausen/history/ |title=Neuropeans - Arts, Sports, MKP2001, Neurope Tower, Europanto<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2011-01-11 |archive-date=2002-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020318160301/http://www.neuropeans.com/topic/sports/powderhausen/history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><!--<ref>http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=587281 {{bare URL inline|date=April 2023}}</ref>--> in the world. Approximately 100 million people<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pumpedupsup.com/blogs/news/76011909-global-boardsports-participation-tops-100-million-with-contribution-from-stand-up-paddle-boarding|title=Global Boardsports Participation Tops 100 Million - with Contribution from Stand up Paddle Boarding}}</ref> participate in boardsports worldwide.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.globosurfer.com/| title=Snowboarding| accessdate = 29 April 2015}}</ref>