Before snowboards flew down Olympic halfpipes or ruled the back bowls of the Rockies, there was a simple, rope-tied wooden board built in a Muskegon backyard that changed everything. It was called the Snurfer. And it didn’t just inspire a generation of kids to stand sideways on snow: it launched the entire sport of snowboarding.
Now, 60 years later, we’re celebrating its legacy the best way we know how: with great beer, good people, and a whole lot of Michigan winter pride.
It was Christmas Day, 1965, and Sherman Poppen, an engineer and dad from Muskegon, was just trying to help his kids enjoy a snowy backyard. On a whim, he fastened two kid-sized skis together side by side, added a rope to the nose, and told his daughters to stand up and try to surf down the hill.
They did, and they loved it.
Sherman called it the Snurfer (a mix of “snow” and “surfer”), and by the next winter, neighborhood kids were begging to try it. The design was simple: no bindings, no edges, just a solid wood board with a rope to help with steering and balance.
But the ride? That was something special.
Poppen knew he had stumbled onto something big. He quickly patented the design and partnered with Brunswick (also based in Michigan) to mass-produce the Snurfer. In the years that followed, thousands of kids across the Midwest were standing sideways on snow and loving it.
The Snurfer became the first “snowboard” before the word even existed.
By the late 1960s and early ’70s, Snurfing was a full-blown regional phenomenon. Poppen organized Snurfing competitions right here in Muskegon, drawing riders from across the state and eventually across the country.
One of those riders was a kid from Vermont named Jake Burton.
Burton loved the Snurfer but wanted more control and performance. He started experimenting, adding foot straps, tweaking the board shape, and eventually founding Burton Snowboards, now the most iconic name in the sport.
Burton would go on to become a snowboarding pioneer, helping the sport gain mainstream recognition, entry into ski resorts, and eventually a permanent place in the Winter Olympics.
But make no mistake – it all started with Poppen, the Snurfer, and Muskegon.
Muskegon isn’t just another snowy town. It’s the birthplace of modern snowboarding, and we believe that is a legacy worth celebrating!
Saturday, January 24th | 2–5pm
📍 The Brewer’s Lounge @ Pigeon Hill (Downtown Muskegon)
We’re turning the Lounge into a mini Snurfing museum meets beer hall for one afternoon only. Whether you’re a lifelong boarder, a snow sports fan, or just a lover of great Michigan stories, we hope you’ll come celebrate with us.
Historic Snurfer Boards on Display
Take a walk through snow-riding history. See the evolution of Snurfer designs from the 1960s onward, including rare models and collector boards, plus stories and trivia from the people who were there.
The Launch of Snurfer Lager
This limited-release lager is clean, crisp, and brewed to honor Michigan’s wintry roots. Designed to be the perfect après-sled pint, Snurfer Lager is only available in limited quantities and it’s dropping at this event.
Chill Tunes, Warm Vibes, and Local History
We’ll have the beer flowing and plenty of local legends swapping stories about Muskegon winters, homemade sleds, Snurfing memories, and how a backyard toy became a global movement.
