Part 1, The Essence of Freestyle Lift off: The Story of the Superpipe, Presented by Toyota

In the early days, snowboarders were banned from most ski resorts. Because of this, a few riders began to venture out on their own and started shaping transition by hand, paving the way for what is largely considered the first halfpipe. Soon, skatestyle influence began to dictate more distinct guidelines, such as where and where not to grab your board. As it grew, the quality of pipes progressed and paved the way for freestyle riding becoming a direct counterpoint to racing, cementing itself as a brandnew discipline. Eventually, this movement brought about fully established pipe contests, such as the Burton US Open in Stratton, Vermont. This newfound exposure then ushered in a new wave of halfpipe heroes, fostering epic battles and rivalries for years to come. About Liftoff: Liftoff: The Story of the Superpipe, presented by Toyota, originally aired on NBC as a 43minute special and is now a fourpart web series. Watch for new episodes dropping weekly starting on April 14th on