First on Board
Documentary Action Sports Programs
Developed for a Multigenerational audience.
First On Board programs contain skateboard, snowboard and BMX legends as they began their careers. First On Board's historical footage and snapshots are used by TV, feature film producers and editorial writers.
DVDs
Skateboardings's Crown Jewel
Price: 12.99 plus 3.99S & H
Snowboardings Holy Grail
Price: 12.99 plus 3.99 S & H
Curb Dogs #1
Price: 12.99 plus 3.99 S & H
Curb Dogs #2
Price: 12.99 plus 3.99 S & H

king of the mountain
Price: 12.99 plus 3.99 S & H


coming soon

Coming Soon

 
First On Board a DVD Program and Content Provider

Latest News: First on Board RELEASES King of the Mountain Videos. See the VIDEOS HERE!
RELEASE DATE FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAIN IS MARCH 2008!

The true life story of Richard Christiansen has taken an amazing and adventurous path. Richard, a California surf bum, moved inland to the outdoor oriented and athletically enthusiastic college town of Boulder, Colorado in 1979. It was in his loneliness and longing for the surf style and beach atmosphere that he opened his own surf shop. A budding entrepreneur, he decided to open up a surf shop, a thousand miles form the nearest ocean. He faced discouraging attitudes from other local business owners, but the surf shop was embraced by the carefree temperaments of the students in Boulder who welcomed the styles and attitudes of the Pacific shores.

Pacific Shores ~ 13th and College, Boulder, Colorado

It was located on the corner of 13th and College, adjacent to the University of Colorado campus. The shop carried surf boards, sex wax, board shorts, surfer magazines, and other surfing gear. The shop was a huge success, and they were very instrumental in sport promotion including, sponsoring teams for skateboarding and BMX trick riding, as well as a variety of other activities.

While becoming acquainted with the "in-land" surfer crowd, Richard mingled with the local skateboarders and became introduced to a sport he had never heard of before - snowboarding. At this time, snowboarders were banned from every slope imaginable. Richard found snowboarding incredibly exciting, and was entertained in its potential.

Pacific Shores ~ 13th and College, Boulder, Colorado 1980

 

During this time, skateboard contests were frequent, however his customers started looking for something extra as a winter sport. Skateboarders started showing up with crudely manufactured, and in some cases home made, "snowboards". He thought that a contest would help the fledgling sport.

In 1981, Richard Christiansen made the unthinkable possible as he organized and produced the FIRST EVER snowboarding contest. Since snowboarding was seen as a joke and an invitation for trouble, Richard and the contest were shunned from virtually every mountain in Colorado. Finally, a small ski area in Leadville Colorado called Ski Cooper accepted this event and became the first to allow snowboarders on their slopes. The contest was named "King of the Mountain," and welcomed some of the most influential people in the sport, Jake Burton and Tom Sims. The contest was a huge success.

 

Tom Simms 1984 Berthoud Pass
Jake Burton, Ski Cooper, Leadville, Colorado1981
Duane Peters, Boulder 1980

Richard then went on to produce action sport videos. The most well known documented the first snowboarding contest in history. The video is fittingly called "'Snowboarding's Holy Grail". This vintage footage captures the personalities and the beginning of what became a mainstream sport. No longer are snowboarders banned from the lift lines at "ski" resorts. Richard Christiansen, a man who brought the Pacific Ocean to the college streets of Boulder, Colorado also helped bring the excitement and thrills of snowboarding to the entire world.

After 25 years plus, Richard is still going strong. First On Board has produced not only a feature DVD about that first snowboard contest, but also "Curb Dogs" volume one and two have been remastered and released on DVD with bonus features not available on the original VHS format. Additionally, this past summer has seen the release of Richard's latest release, "Skateboardings Crown Jewel" which contains 1979 Hester Series contest footage from the Hi Roller Skatepark, in Boulder Colorado.

D David Morin and Duane Peters, Boulder, Colorado 1980

On this site you will find information about First On Board Products as well as projects that are in the works. If you have "Old School" footage of skateboarding, snow boarding, or BMX, or, if you participated in any of the events described here, we want to hear from you!

Please go to the contact page and drop us a line. If we like what you have, we may be able to include it in future projects.

We at First On Board know you'll enjoy watching our programs!

Eric Grisham, Hester Series, Boulder Colorado
Eric Grisham, Boulder, Colorado 1980
sia show

 

Jake Burton founder of Burton Snowboard CO with Richard Christiansen founder of the first snowboard competition

Jake Burton and Richard Christansen
 

 

 
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