Nagano 1998 Snowboard signed by Shannon DUNN-DOWNING (USA). Shannon Dunn-Downing is an American snowboarder and Olympic medallist. She received a bronze medal in the halfpipe event at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, becoming the first American woman to win a medal in snowboarding. Snowboarding was developed in the United States in the 1960s as people across the country began to seek out new winter activities. Men’s and women’s snowboarding made their Olympic debuts at the Nagano Games in 1998 with giant slalom and halfpipe competitions. The discipline proved an instant success and returned to Salt Lake City four years later with parallel giant slalom and halfpipe competitions. Snowboard cross made its debut in Turin. The Olympic Museum Collections