Snurfer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of snowboard designed specifically for riding on snow without the use of bindings
2. An unbound board used in winter sports to glide over snow, resembling a surfboard for snowy conditions
3. A snow riding device that allows users to maneuver freely on the surface, similar to surfing but on snow

Etymology: The snurfer was invented in 1965 by Sherman Poppen, an engineer in Muskegon, Michigan, who fastened two skis together side by side and attached a rope to the front so his daughter could ride it on the snow. The contraption was a sort of ski-board hybrid, with the rider standing on a single wide platform and steering by shifting weight, much as a surfer does on a wave. The name is a blend of "snow" and "surfer", reflecting that resemblance. Its base "snurf" is the coinage that gave the device its identity, with "-er" added to form the noun for the device itself. The snurfer went on to be commercialized as the Snurfer, and it helped pave the way for the later snowboard.