Over the last couple of years we’ve seen a resurgence of ‘snurfers and noboards’, the predecessor to snowboarding, a simple binding-less board, perfect for making turns in powder. Similar to how the re-popularization of telemark skiing affected the ski world, binding-less boards are all about exploring back-country, the increased difficulty of the sport and making aesthetically pleasing turns. No, you can’t charge as hard or have the control on a snurfer or noboard as you would your typical snowboard, but thats not the point.
Snurfers are strikingly similar looking to ordinary sleds, with their handle lanyards, wooden construction and small shapes. Taking a snurfer out on a good powder day is an excellent way to make seemingly mundane or short lines a whole lot of fun. You’ll have no problem attaching skins or donning snowshoes, just walk up with your lightweight board, step on, rip down and start the hike up again. No worries about having to bail when your not strapped in, or even bending over to unstrap or pick up your board, simply pull it up by the rope.
So why take the plunge on adding another item to your ski or snowboard quiver you may not use that much this season? Regardless if you ski or snowboard, a simple snurfer or powder board is relatively inexpensive, or better yet a great home DIY project.