Scene from Pajarito Mountain Freeride Team’s 3rd full movie ‘Transitions’. Watch movie teaser here. ScreenShot/LADP

SPORTS News:

The Pajarito Mountain Freeride Team is going to the United States Amateur Snowboarding Association (USASA) National Championships March 28 to April 7 in Copper Mountain, Colo.

Seventy local athletes comprise the Pajarito Mountain Freeride Team, which is a competitive ski and snowboard team that trains at Pajarito Mountain and competes in the USASA Southwest Freeride Series.

The team is hosting a fundraiser at 7 p.m., March 21 at Pajarito Mountain Ski Lodge to raise money to help pay entry fees and travel expenses to nationals. The fundraiser includes a pizza party, movie premiere and silent auction. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any team member or at the door.

About USASA

The goal of USASA events is to promote the sports of snowboarding and free skiing, be fun for competitors of all abilities, foster development of athletic skills, and serve as qualifiers for national and international competition.

Snowboarding was accepted by the International Olympic Committee as a full medal sport for the 1998 Games in Japan. Every US Olympic Team athlete started their competitive career in the USASA.

Snowboarding is a rather new sport that began in the U.S. in the 1960s. Back then a short-thin board with a rope attached at the nose, called the “Snurfer”, was ridden without bindings. In the ’70s the snowboard shape began to evolve, but it wasn’t until the early ’80s that steel edges and P-tex bases were introduced.

This technology gave the control necessary in all snow conditions and the growth of the sport has mushroomed ever since. In the early days most ski areas did not permit snowboarding on their slopes. Today, due in part to the improved image of snowboarding brought about by organized competition, only a few areas discriminate against snowboarders.

Snowboarding has been the fastest growing winter sport for several years and popularity has spread worldwide.