Thelma and Louise

Children, mums, dads and grandparents line up for this new winter sports fun! A high-tech inflatable sledge, durable and easy to ride, whether on the little hill in the Knole park in UK or the 10km long slope in Bodenmais, in the Bavarian Forest.

 

I first saw an airboard about 2 years ago in a sports’ shop in Geneva with my partner. There it was, a big green inflatable pillow among skis and ice-skates. The sales person came up to him confidently and said it is a great present for the children. But what about me?! Should I give up because I’m over 40, don’t ski and have a creaking back from time to time?! Definitely not, I want the fun of riding a sledge, so we bought an airboard and rediscovered sledging. Best of all, airboards work on all types of snow including deep powder so you are not limited like traditional sledges and the air cushion gives a comfy ride.

When to go?

That winter my partner visited me in Romania, I knew that snow is rare in the UK and when it comes, it is more of a worry than a pleasure. I wanted to impress him and show him the fun of snow. Being brought up partly in the mountains, I learned to love the snow and enjoy it in any way that I can. In the Carpathian Mountains the winters are long and the snow is deep as a man. In the winter holidays you can hear the noise of the slay-bells from miles away. So I booked a long weekend at a Hungarian count’s estate in Transylvania. We stayed for 3 nights in the fabulous hunting lodge of Count Mikes from Zabola www.zabola.com In 2008 it cost us for a room and half board no more than EUR 300; and the food was absolutely scrumptious! We dined by candle light in front of an open fire, with four courses of great Hungarian cooking. The room was comfortable with an amazing red claw-foot bath at the end of the bed! The Chateau and Guest Wing both 18th century buildings were being renovated at that time. The Count owns one of the largest private forests in Transylvania, which he recovered after the communist regime.

In the morning, we inflated the airboard and off we went to find ourselves a slope. We walked a few minutes through the forest and then we found it: a 500m path downhill through the forest. 3 hours later we were still smiling, had red cheeks and children’s sparkling eyes from rushing down the hill on the airboard, then slowly climbing back up. Not dangerous, although you would feel safer with a helmet. Also it would have been better to start on a hill without any trees around…

Ok, so how do you ride the airboard?

First you can either sit, or lie on it. Next grab the side handles, then push yourself off to start, keeping your feet of the ground until you slow down. To steer just twist the airboard the way you want to go; to stop twist it until it is perpendicular on the slope, don’t use your feet to steer or brake, you might hurt yourself. Do not forget that you are going down a slope and you can be fast! Professionals have reached speeds of more than 80mph and even we have reached 30mph.

Having had that success, we bought the children two giant blue Easter Eggs –blue airboards – and it snowed that day as we sat in church and we went off to Knole Park near Sevenoaks. The following year we took the children to Romania and stayed at a hotel in Predeal at the top of the mountain www.susai.ro . This had fantastic views across the mountains and a big field with deep snow just in front of it. After we had practiced there, we went out to the woods where we found a path. 3km downhill, with curves, bends and bumps. We cut through the powder snow and after 6 runs had made a run to rival the Cresta Run for bob-slays! We were exhausted, went back to the hotel and sat on the terrace in the sun for lunch. The girls then searched the longest icicle – nearly a meter! – and then went for a swim in the infinity pool while we took turns in the sauna.

Since then we've been back to Romania and airboarded in the UK many times. The four boards always raise interest on the slopes with their bright colours. If you put two people on together, they go even faster as my Mother found out! The good news is that now they have a lighter weight version that is cheaper, but unless you are planning to be a pro on big ski slopes – see u-tube searching airboard – this should give many hours of fun… as they say, the fun is remembered long after the price is forgotten!

What is it made of?

It is made with the latest technology of extremely durable nylon fabric, coating resist to mould and water corrosion. The high performing technical valve has a plain and anti-freezing construction. There are three sizes, 50, 130 and 180. While the 50 is sold for children they will outgrow it fast, go for the 130. Prices depend on size and fabric from GBP 60 to GBP250 for the top of the range. These pack flat and can be carried in hand luggage .

What you need?

Unlike snowboarding or skiing, aiboarding doesn’t require a lot of equipment and it is very easy to learn to ride and drive one. Children and adults can easily learn how to airboard within an hour of trying it. Remember to wear safety gear, goggles are an absolute must.

Where to go?

Wherever you can find a snowed downhill path that is safe for tobogganing. Alternatively slopes for airboarding can be found in: Austria (8), Germany (16), France (10), Switzerland (24), Canada (3), USA (9), New Zeeland (8). In some of these places the equipment can be rented. The ski areas require you to take a one-hour lesson on the Airboard before setting off solo on the slopes. More about airboarding, products, slopes, news, events you can find on www.airboard.com

So, if you don’t ski and want some fun in the snow in comfort think about trying an airboard. Good luck!