Smugglers' Notch Vermont - Press Releases

Winter 2007-2008

Airboarding Catches on at Smugglers' Notch Resort

-Newest craze for on-slope sliding
-Sized for youth and adults
-Offered afternoons at Morse Highlands
-A family activity with a short learning curve

The scoop:
An Airboard, Smugglers' newest snow toy, 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 clinc 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." -Marge McIntosh, 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