Go Freebord! from Freebord Mfg. on Vimeo.
Unlike a skateboard, Freebords have six wheels: Four outside edge wheels and two caster (center) wheels located in the middle of the trucks.
The center wheels act as the base of a snowboard. They are slightly lower than the outer edge wheels and can rotate 360°, creating what’s known as rocker. This rocker is what gives riders the ability to slide laterally (like a snowboard) much more different than a longboard. The outside edge wheels allow you to carve turns and control slides the same way as the edges of a snowboard.
Leaning into turns and slides, Freebord riders are able to modulate how much of their weight is on their base (center wheels) and edges (outer wheels), and enjoy the full spectrum of carving, sliding, drifting, spinning, and slashing motions possible on a snowboard.
Located on the top of the board are two polycarbonate bindings with metal bases that allow the rider to adjust their individual stances. Freebord bindings serve the same purpose as snowboard bindings by giving the rider more control and leverage over the board. The biggest difference is that riders are not strapped into these bindings, so you can step on and off the bord as needed.
Fun Fact: Freebords didn’t always have bindings. They were added when a rider who had lost his leg to cancer wanted to ride, so he slapped some skyhooks on and the rest is history. That rider was Tim Seward.
Freebord decks are also quite different from your average skateboard deck.
Now that you understand just how much control you have, imagine every run is now a snowboard run– having complete control opens up a new world of possibilities. This unique freedom is what allows you the freedom to choose lines you’ve only ever dreamed about.