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, skate-style 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 brand-new 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 Lift-off: Lift-off: The Story of the Superpipe, presented by Toyota, originally aired on NBC as a 43-minute special and is now a four-part web series. Watch for new episodes dropping weekly starting on April 14th on .