Airboard Freeride 180 Bodyboard

I bought one of these for my girlfriend who has bad knees and can't ski or snowboard without being in pain. It seemed like a good way for her to enjoy downhill runs in the backcountry. So far, it's been okay, but not stellar. We took it out on a couple of deep powder days near Tahoe (18" of new snow) and here's my take: 1) The Airboard itself is sturdy (thick PVC) and has heavy duty rubber on the bottom. I'm not too worried about punctures. 2) Setup is pretty easy. Pump it up and you're ready to go. 3) The pump is compact, but looks a little flimsy. I'm a little worried that the pump will get trashed in a wreck, but I'm sure we can buy another one if necessary. 4) It requires a pretty steep hill in order to get moving - steeper than I needed with my powder skis. I imagine it'll be easier to get moving in snow that's a little less deep. That said, you can always take a running start and jump on it. 5) Once it gets moving, it's a fun ride! Totally surfy feel. Bumps are great - face shots galore! Getting forward on the board helps with speed and turning. It's not as quick turning as skis or a snowboard, but you can direct it pretty well. Aiming to take it out again next season and will update my review as we get more experience with it.

The ride of your life has arrived! I am a huge Airboard fan (I already own the Classic) and was able to catch my first ride on the Freeride. I was amazed at how well the board responded for big arcing S turns. I was on a packed run, and the Freeride was unbelievable in stability, responsiveness and sheer fun! And when you want speed, the thing kicks into turbo gear with grace and ease! Jumps, bumps, packed snow, whatever - the Freeride put every other downhill experience to shame. This is no sled, this is an AIRBOARD!

I just ripped through 8 inches of fresh December powder on my new Airboard Freeride! This is the ultimate powder sled. Freeride’s performance was killer. The wider platform kept me floating over the snow and the broad, upturned nose kept the bow riding high. Where the slopes provided a dip or a jump, I took it without worry, launching myself into the atmosphere knowing that I had 10 inches of trapped air cushioning me from the hard, cold ground below. I continued on down the mountain carving sweeping turns until I let it loose and bombed the final face. While the final descent raced my heart and caused my eyes to tear into blurs, making those sweeping turns reminded me that I was in control. The Freeride is the baddest ride out there. And while it ain’t free, it is the best winter investment in fun that you can make.

I'm an avid snow body boarder and have been riding backcountry and ski slopes on an Airboard Classic for 3 years. I couldn't wait for deep powder to take my new Freeride for a spin, so I initiated the board on groomed intermediate slopes today. Awesome! This board is extremely stable at speed. The Freeride offers a comfortable cruising ride with easy turning and hockey-stopping, even in packed snow. I can't wait for the big storm to see how it rides the deep stuff.