AP Photo Archive
Max Bonem, 15, tries to keep his balance as he flies off a snow jump while sledding down a hill in Cincinnati, January 2004. A new kind of sledding known as airboarding is steadily gaining popularity as a more extreme pastime.

Airboarding: Extreme sledders only

Audrey Gailey GAI02002@BYUI.EDU special sections asst. editor

You’re flying down the slopes at incredible speeds on your torso — controlled and comfortable. You’re taking jumps and doing barrel rolls. At times your body is completely airborne. The snow boarders and skiers stop to watch you because you are riding an airboard.

“We call it a snow bodyboard. Others call it ‘Sled Zeppelin,’” said the makers of the Airboard, an inflatable sled built for comfort, control, portability — and speed.

Joe Steiner designed the airboard in Switzerland after spending 10 years doing extensive development and testing. The sleds were introduced at ski resorts in Europe in 2001 and in the United States in 2003. Only certain resorts around the country allow them. Resorts closest to BYU-Idaho that allow airboard access are Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho, and Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. However, they are simple to take in back country areas.

The sled was awarded Popular Science’s “Best of What’s New” in 2003. They are growing in popularity around the world — and even at BYU-I. Students can rent airboards at the Outdoor Resource Center, located underneath the stadium.

“Floating across the snow, horizontal and head first, dropping your shoulder into a turn, the airboard is unlike anything else on the slope,” according to a brochure from the makers of the sled. “It’s all about speed, control and fun.”

The benefits of the airboard are what make it fun.

They are durable. Airboards are made from tough-grade materials, similar to those used for white water rafts. The durability helps users control the sled easily while at high speeds. The sleds also have three sets of profile runners along the length of the sled. The runners on the outside help with turning, and the runner down the center increase straight-way speed.

Hand grips on either side of the sled allow a user to ride in a semi-push up position, with their face out of the snow for increased visibility.

By shifting body weight, a rider can swerve to the right or left. Riders can slowly carve back and forth down a hill or use turning as a way to slow down.

All a rider needs to do to stop the airboard is turn 90 degrees in either direction.

They are easy to pack. A deflated airboard can fit into a 12 x 16 x 3 inch knapsack. With an included hand-pump, the pack weighs 6.5 pounds.

As with snowboarding and skiing, safety should always be a priority when airboarding.