My first impression was, “this is how I will die”, my boyfriend being a skateboarder in his youth thought I was over reacting, until he stepped on and immediately wobbled straight off. The trick with the Freebord is to not try and ride it like anything you may be familiar with because you haven’t ridden anything like this before. Freeboards were first created in 1996 to replicate the ride of a snowboard where there is no snow and since their creation Freebord remains one of the largest producers of freeboards in the world. Freeboards have six wheels in total, with two trucks at either end and two spring-locked wheels that are just behind the trucks, these pivot 360 degrees permitting the board to move horizontally across a run provided none of the four corner wheels are touching the ground.

A freeboard is smaller than a snowboard measuring in at roughly 7.5 to 9 inches wide and between 29 and 36 inches long and are traditionally made from maple or bamboo which is a tough hardwood without a lot of flexibility, the movement comes from the wheels. There are two “binding” type of things on top of the board that you just slip your feet under and this is where it rides more like a snowboard than a skate board in that you need to use your hips and carve down the hill rather than point the nose of the board straight down like a skateboard, if you do that the board becomes really hard to control. As I have some snowboarding experience I took to it a little easier than my ex skateboarding partner but I still found it a very different ride, as soon as you relax into it the control becomes a little easier but it does take some practice, you are looking at a few weeks’ practice to get used to the Freebord or maybe with nerves of steel you might take to it quicker.

The Freebord is a fast, nippy thing and after seeing videos of some experts at events and competitions it makes me want to persevere because not only does it look like a lot of fun but it would also give you masses of cool points if mastered.  RRP $244.99

4.7 out of 5

Buy now

Pros

Great build quality

Looks great

Fun, fast and unique ride

Good value for money

Cons

Difficult sport to begin (helmet, knee and elbow pads are a must)

Need to find a large, safe, hard surface place to practise