Fact: Snowboarder Smurf and Smurfette were released back in 1998 in honour of the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan and the introduction of snowboarding into the games. Twenty years later in 2018 both of these smurfs, are still as popular as ever.
#20452 Snowboarder
Snowboarder Smurf can be found riding a red snowboard with a blue star on the front, while wearing an orange ski jacket, black gloves, brown pants and wearing silver goggles. Schleich produced Snowbaorder Smurf from 1998 to 2006.
Snowboarder Smurfette can be found wearing a green ski jumper, mustard coloured pants, while riding a purple snowboard with a pink diamond on the front. Smurfette is also wearing wrap around sunglasses and matching navy blue gloves and boots. Schleich only produced Snowboarder Smurfette between 1998 to 2002. Which makes her a little more harder to find.
#20453 Snowboarder Smurfette
For the hard core collectors out there who like to collect smurfs with different markings, there are two interesting things to note with the snowboarding pair.
- Snowboarder Smurf was the last smurf made in Portugal.
- The Peyo marking on the Snowboarder Smurfette was more of signature marking than a standard text like others released around this time.
The smurfs have had a long association with the Olympic Games. Back in 1980 the smurfs were the official mascot for the Belgian Olympic Team for the Moscow Summer Olympics. In parts of Europe at the same time, Coca Cola ran a promotion that included the smurfs.
In 1979 Schleich released the Olympia Super Smurfs that displayed the Olympic rings on the box. These boxes only were produced with German writing on them – Olympia Schlumpf. You can also find these boxes with the Olympic rings blacked out.
By 1980 these Super Smurfs were given the name ‘Die Schlumpfiade Superschlumpfe’ The following text is taken and translated from the 1980 Schleich catalogue
The Smurfs are getting more and more sporty. They have mastered a total of 12 disciplines, and in the olympic year they have their own smurfs
It is unclear why the sport themed smurfs were given their own special article numbers: 4.501 to 4.0512.
If you like to have something to do while watching the 2018 Winter Olympic Games – try this
http://games.smurf.com/snowboard/
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B