Smugglers' Notch Vermont - Press Releases
Airboarding takes slope-sliding to a whole new level at Smugglers' Notch Resort
-Sized for youth and adults
-Offered afternoons at Morse Highlands
-A family activity with a short learning curve
The scoop:
An Airboard is an inflated sled similar in size to a water raft and A-shaped. The Airboard is steered by shifting body weight side to side, thereby engaging the urethane grooves on the underside that act as edges. A wrist strap keeps the device connected to the rider in case of a tumble. Legs and feet can also influence the Airboard's downhill path.
Airboards for adults and older children are about 48 inches long and weigh six pounds (there are smaller sizes available for younger kids). At Smugglers' a selected slope at the Morse Highlands area is designated for Airboard-only use from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Guests attend a short instructional clinic before venturing on their own. Users must be at least 10 years old, 48 inches tall, and wear a helmet. A rider with an Airboard is easily transported on the Morse Highlands lift.
A couple of runs complete the learning curve on the Airboards. The instructional clinic, rental and one hour free ride (a total of two hours) costs $25. Rentals for the two hour freeride are available for $20.
The buzz:
-"It's really a lot of fun! You do need some arm strength to guide the Airboard down the hill." - Dick Goff, Airboard instructor
-"Carving turns are definitely recommended, versus a kamikaze straight down approach." -Stacey Comishock, activities director
-"It's more fun than tubing. You can run bumps and even perform barrel rolls - sometimes when not intending to!" -first time Airboarder