Jones Snowboards’ Mountain Surfer
Surf the white winter wave with this handmade, binding-less piece of equipment
It’s safe to say no name is as linked to backcountry snowboarding as Jeremy Jones—so much so, his name is rarely seen without “Big Mountain” preceding it. Under his eponymous brand, Jones Snowboards, he has designed and released a wide array of heavy terrain-specific snowboard designs. Though his latest offering (and undoubtedly most unconventional) is what’s caught our eye this time around. The Mountain Surfer is a snowboard in its purest form: a binding-less plank of wood for surfing deep powder. At 4’6“ (139cm) in length, it’s the result of design collaboration with legendary California surfboard shaper Chris Christenson, and offers a new experience on snow, whether that’s charging the steep and deep in Tahoe or a backyard stash in Vermont.
In recent years, a slow, nearly silent resurgence of riding binding-less snowboards—called noboarding—has been underway. As one can imagine, riding sans-binders takes serious skill and practice, leaving those involved in the movement few and far between. Jones’ Mountain Surfer aims to make the act of returning snowboarding to its surfer roots more accessible. Two metal foot hooks and a foam pad improve board control and traction, making it easier to ride and able to be ridden in less than waist-deep conditions. Simply remove the hooks for the full snow surfing experience.
The all-wood construction certainly limits the board’s tech aspects, though Christenson’s craftsmanship still shines through. Drawing on inspiration from speed-focused surfboard shapes, he designed the Mountain Surfer with a contoured base with a slightly tapered, subtle concave channel in the body and near the tail with a rounded convex spoon nose. The reverse camber (rocker) aids in keeping the nose aloft in powder while the sizable width helps create a loose, surfy feel. The handsome, Austrian-made Mountain Surfer, goes for $349 at. For more information, visit Jones Snowboards.
Images courtesy of Jones Snowboards
