After reading this article, I have come to the conclusion that God gave us some pretty crazy imaginations. Snowriding is about to get hit with the newest most unbelievable form of transportation, the hangboard. With its invention in 2001 in Canada by Don Arney, the hangboard was created to combine hang gliding and snowboarding for a new, innovative thrill. It is made out of aircraft aluminum which makes it light and very strong. These new toys fit onto any ordinary snowboard and cost about $1495.00. this is the most recent innovation to rock the world of mountain riding since the snowboard was created in 1929. Hangboarders say that is the closest that they have ever gotten to flying because you are parrallel to the ground when you are fitted into the contraption. They are hoping that this will bring more people to the slopes and help resorts get a little more money.
To me, this looks like one of the stupidest things I have ever seen someone ride and I have seen a man ride down a hill on a ladder connected to two snowboards. But, I am not going to mak any assumptions about the ride itself because it looks like a lot of fun. To steer the thing, you have to use your feet to push on rudders and shift your weight which makes it a little like snowboarding, but being horizantal to the ground makes it a whole new animal. Unlike snowboarding, I don’t think that this sport is going to take off very fast especially since the price tag is so high. But I don’t think it is the last time you will hear about them either. I wouldn’t be supprised if it became an olympic sport sometime in the future, it would fit in right with rythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming.
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March 5th, 2008 at 8:15 am
This looks crazy. I’m wondering what the “purists” will say about a sport like this. Do the old traditionalists think that this is getting too high tech, or are snowboarders a different breed? Do they accept these things as progress?
March 17th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
People are constantly trying to come up with new ways to have fun/hurt themselves. Your comment on it becoming an Olympic sport right next to synchronized swimming is pretty funny. Anyway, I agree with you in saying it might not be so practical. oh, i’ve still got to get you my new web address thing….it’s kburgh1.wordpress.com…I’ll put it on your latest blog too…
March 18th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Defiantly not so practical. But it does look kind of fun! I agree with Kyle on funny comparison to synchronized swimming.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
hmm sounds interesting…it would be cool to try-maybe if the price came down a bit??