Freebordsite.com brought you a list of Basic Freebord tricks a while back, now it’s time to get into some serious shredding.  The tricks described below are recommended for serious Freebord riders only and should not be attempted without proper protective gear and at least some experience on a Freebord.

Freebord Grinds

Once you learn how to Ollie, the next trick in your arsenal should be a grind.  There are dozens of different grinds in skateboarding but the two center wheels of a Freebord can make them next to impossible.  Here are a few you can actually do fairly easily on a Freebord once you get the hang of it.

And a little helpful advice before you go out and try to grind a thirty-foot handrail down a flight of stairs:  when learning grinds on a Freebord, try it an on flat rail first—leave the handicap ramps and stairs alone for a while!

50-50 Grind

The 50-50 Grind is probably the first one you should learn and easiest of them all.  To get started, approach a rail or ledge at a steep angle traveling at a fairly decent speed (be careful not to go too fast or you’ll overshoot).  Next, Ollie the Freebord high enough to get over the rail or ledge and land the center of both trucks on the rail—this step might be a little difficult until you get a feel for how the center caster wheels play into the mix (remember, you can raise or lower those truck with an Allen wrench).

Your forward momentum should carry the grind for you.  All you have to do is balance and make sure that you remember to pop out when you lose momentum or you will eat pavement.

Nose Grind

The Nose Grind is very similar to a 50-50 except instead of bring both trucks down on the rail, you only bring the front truck down.  Keep the back truck off—but directly over—the rail.  This is similar to a nose manual in many ways but the wheels aren’t on the ground, the hanger is.

5-0 (a.k.a. Tail Grind)

The Tail Grind, sometimes called a 5-0 Grind, is like a Nose grind but instead of bringing the front hanger down on the rail, you bring the rear hanger down.  The 5-0 Grind is essentially a manual but with the hanger grinding on the rail instead of the wheels rolling on the ground.

Crooked Grind

The Crooked Grind starts off the same as a Nose Grind but instead of landing with the rear truck centered over the rail, it’s balanced over the edge of the rail at an angle (hanging in free space).  With the Freebord angled so much, it may be difficult to maintain your balance and momentum for long so don’t forget to pop out of the grind before you’re Freebord catches and you keep going.  And use those bindings to your advantage—you can push and pull with your feet on a Freebord.

Freebord Slides and Stalls

Sliding is like grinding but with the wood of the Freebord touching the rail instead of the metal of the hangers.  The tricks all start the same way (approach the rail at an angle and Ollie up onto it) but add a rotation while you’re in the air before you hit the rail.

Boardslide (a.k.a. Bordslide)

Do not attempt Freebord boardslides on ledges until you have a strong feel for how the center caster wheels affect your landing.  Use a flat rail first until you know what you’re doing.  That said, the boardslide is fairly easy.  Roll in, Ollie up, and when coming down rotate your Freebord 90 degrees so it’s perpendicular to the grind rail.

Bring the Freebord down with the rail centered between the edge wheels and maintain your balance.  Your Freebord should slide right along the rail if you can keep your weight balanced evenly.  As with the grinds, pop out before you lose all momentum.

Lip Slide

Lipslides are a little harder because, like it says in the name, you’ll be sliding on the lip of the Freebord.  That means when you land the Ollie you want to have just the very front tip of the Freebord up on the rail.  You can use your front wheels to maintain board position but keep in mind they’ll radically decrease your speed.

You can do frontside or backside lipslides but frontside area little bit easier to learn.  For a backside slide, rotate your Freebord 90 degrees so it’s perpendicular to the lip and land with your leading foot.

Nose Stall

Stalls can be a bit tricky on a Freebord because of the bindings but if you master them, you can use them as a jump off point for a series of sick tricks.  To do a stall you’ll need a ramp or a ledge (a rail will work if you come at it perpendicularly).  As you Ollie up toward the lip of the ramp or rail, shift your weight forward so that when the lip of the Freebord lands on the edge your weight is directly over the contact point.

This should effectively kill all of your forward momentum (unless you’re going too fast when you come in) and leave you hanging for an instant.  Holding a stall on a Freebord is almost impossible because the bindings don’t let you get your foot far enough toward the front of the Freebord but if you use the binding of your trailing foot as a sort of counterbalance you can hold them for a bit.

If you’re on a ramp, all you have to do to exit the stall is let your weight shift back toward the downhill slope.  On a rail or ledge you have to pop back off or you’ll fall.

Handslides

For handslides, you’ll need some slide gloves because—well—you slide on your hands and asphalt will give you a nasty rash (road rash).  To handslide, get some speed (usually a nice gradual hill is a good spot to slide).  Crouch low on your Freeborb and lean forward.

As you feel the Freebord start to slide out from under you, place your hands on ground and use them as a balance points (like the two other legs of a tripod—the Freebord is the third leg).  By using your abs and leg muscles, you can then control how and where the Freebord will slide.  You can do 180s, 360s, 720s,or even backside/frontside combinations of them with practice.

It takes a while to get handslides down.  Start slow and small and work up once you get the feel for it.  And when sliding, always wear knee and elbow pads and a helmet.

Trinity (a.k.a. The most epic freebord trick known to man)

I’ll leave you with an epic Freebord handsliding trick that should only be attempted by excellent Freebord riders.  It’s called the Trinity.  Basically it’s a frontward handslide that extends so far the Freebord actually rises up on its front edge wheels and nose lip.  To start a Trinity, get some speed and crouch low.

Ease into a frontside handslide by leaning forward on the Freebord.  Bring your hands down and extended them as if you’re doing push-ups.  At the same time, rotate the Freebord and pull your trailing leg in a little so that the Freebord tips up on its front wheels and nose lip.  Don’t tip this too far or the Freebord will catch and you’ll got face first into the asphalt.

To come out of a Trintiy intact, drop the Freebord back down into position and use your abs to curl yourself back up.  As you approach vertical again, ease the freebord back into place and stand up.

Trinitys can also be done backside and even in 360 combos as well.

Here’s a video of a Trintiy handslide so you can get a better idea of how to do one:

Freebording vs. flowboarding vs. snowboarding? What’s it all mean and who comes out on top?

At first glance, it’s easy to confuse Freebords with Flowboards.

• They’re both variations on traditional skateboard models
• They both try to replicate the feel of riding a snowboard without the snow (though only one actually comes close)
• They were both created in the mid 1990s by pairs of forward-thinking snowboarders

But when you look a little closer, there are actually several huge differences between Freebords and flowboards.

A Quick History of the Flowboard

In the mid 1990’s Pieter Schouten and Mike Simonian were both attending the Art Center College of Design in Vevey, Switzerland when they decided that there had to be a way to bring the fun and excitement of the snow-covered slopes to the hard and unforgiving urban terrain of asphalt and concrete.  They took a hard look at the mechanics of traditional skateboards and knew that in order to replicate the feel of a snowboard on pavement they had to overcome the skateboard’s inability to carve hard turns on an edge.

They spent several months in a garage working on a design that incorporated a pair of “angled axles”—essentially curved rods that feed through the center of 7 skateboard wheels.  By rocking forward or backward on these curved axles, riders could replicate the edge of a snowboard and carve hard into the asphalt like no skateboard could.

For all the innovation and experimentation that went into the product, Mike and Pieter failed to recreate the “gliding” perpendicular motion of a snowboard across the fresh powder.  That’s something that only Steen Strand and Bayard Winthrop have been able to do with their revolutionary six-wheeled Freebord design.

(Read The History of the Freebord if you want to learn more about the board and the sport’s development.)

Freebording:  Accept No Substitutes

Freebords easily replicate the carving or edge riding of snowboards because their front and rear hangers extend the edge wheels out to or beyond the edge of the Freebord itself.  However, it’s their rotating center wheels (placed on casters slightly behind the two pair of edge wheels) which easily allow the Freebord to “glide” sideways.

Also, thanks to an inventive young cancer survivor and Freebord enthusiast named Tim, Freebords have adopted a fixed binding system—much like modern snowboards—that allows Freebord riders to ensure their feet won’t leave the Freebord unless they want them to.  This allows for more gnarly tricks and greater control.

There are a number of additional factors that make Freebords better or more authentic to snowboarding than flowboards.

• Freebords have dedicated edge wheels to help correct over rotating (flowboards tend to be “tippy”)
• Freebords go faster (though they can be kept at manageable speeds by carving and bleeding off momentum just like on a snowboard)
• Freebords require fewer replacement parts (depending on use of course but flowboards each have 14 wheels—and 28 sets of bearings—while Freebords only have 6)
• Freebords are more customizable with truck, wheel, and board variations to make your ride your own

Freebords vs. Flowboards:  The Final Showdown

When choosing a Freebord or flowboard, it comes down to the rider’s personal choice:  do you want to truly replicate the snowboarding experience or do you just want a new way to skateboard?

What do the pros think?  A majority of current snowboard riders agree that Freebords give you a more authentic snowboard feel on asphalt than flowboards.  While both board sports are great and take the excitement of skateboarding to a whole new level, Freebording comes out on top.

One of the best things about the sport is that the equipment is so customizable.  You can truly make your ride your own by adjusting the trucks, wheels, Freebord composition, grip tape, bindings—just about everything about the Freebord.  And that’s exactly what makes it a little hard to get into at first.

There are a number of things you should consider when buying your first Freebord.

Size of the Freebord

Freebords come in a variety of sizes ranging from 75 to 85 cm.  If you want a Freebord that’s really responsive (maybe even a bit twitchy) smaller is better.  Larger Freebords tend to be more stable and provide more foot room.  Generally larger riders prefer larger Freebords, smaller riders, smaller Freebords.  However, the opposite can be just as true.

In the end, the size of your Freebord should be determined by your riding style, not your body size.  We recommend trying a variety of different sizes—if you can—before you buy in order to ensure you’re getting something you’re comfortable riding on.

Take a look at this Freebord Sizing Chart to get a better idea of what size Freebord you should start out with.

Freebord Composition

The majority of Freebords are manufactured from Maple plywood.  It’s rugged, will last through some hard thrashing, and sturdy.  However, it is a bit on the heavy side and is not as stiff or responsive as it could be.  If you want a lighter, more responsive Freebord, you might consider a bamboo Freebord.

Bamboo Freebords are relatively new to the market.  They have 3 ply Maple cores with two plies of bamboo on the outsides.  They offer rigid construction that’s much lighter and more maneuverable than standard plywood Freebords.  They’ll also last a lot longer—bamboo is the strongest natural material on earth relative to its weight.  In other words, they’re great for grinding and aerial tricks.

Freebord Trucks, Wheels, and Bearings

Just like on a skateboard, the trucks, wheels, and bearings on your Freebord will determine how tight or loose your Freebord is, how fast it will go, and how much grip you’ll have on the asphalt.

The design of the Freebord truck has evolved to the third generation.  These G3 trucks are the only models you’ll be able to find new (who wants to buy used replacement parts?) and feature advanced design and manufacturing spec’s that are truly top-tier.  Not only are they built wider for more stability and strength, they’re designed to hold up to wear and tear.  However, keep in mind that these trucks can be tightened or loosened to fit your riding style.  The looser they are, the more play in your Freebord and the more control you will have.  (It’s recommended that beginner Freebord riders keep their trucks tight until they learn the feel of the Freebord.)

While Freebord wheels come in a variety of sizes, it’s generally the composition that affects their performance.  The basic Freebord wheel is a urethane-blend based wheel and is good for beginners and those who primarily use their Freebords for cruising.  They tend to be slower and a bit “sticky” so hill bomber s and serious trick riders often upgrade to Slasher wheels.  The Slasher wheels are a made of a custom blended plastic that’s designed to give you speed, grip, and durability all in one.  These wheels are great for intermediate and advanced riders who want a little more control over their Freebord.  In addition, they’ll hold up better and resist flat spotting.

Freebord bearings come in two models.  The standard set of bearings will give you everything you really need—especially when you’re just learning.  If you want more speed, however, switch them out for the Bones bearings.  Bones bearings are nearly frictionless compared to the standard model and will have you ripping down hills as fast as possible.  It should probably go without mentioning that Bones bearings are recommended for advanced riders.

Freebord Kits

Probably the easiest way to buy your first Freebord is to pick up a kit from BlackDiamondSports.  Their kits come pre-customized according to your riding style and body size.  If you want something that’s loose and responsive for the advanced rider you know you can become, something that’s tight and stable for the beginner in you, or something in between, these kits give you everything you need in a convenient all-in-one package.  Not to mention they shave some serious cash off buying your Freebord piece by piece.

That’s why we’ve compiled some of the best Freebord videos right here for you.  Below you’ll find a great mix of freestyle, hill bombing, flatland, and aerial tricks around.  Some of these riders represent professional teams, some just have the passion and have turned the streets of their hometowns into their own personal playgrounds. 

We hope that these videos inspire you to get on a Freebord and take your riding to the next level. 

Freestyling

This first Freebord video features a dude who calls himself Freebordman shredding the hills, stairs, and skateparks of Spain.  If you thought it was tough to get a Freebord in the air without a ramp, this guy is going to prove you wrong.  (Notice the creative use of staircases and even speed bumps in this one.) 

Freebord Rider King Hassan really knows how to rip it up.  This is a video of his very first Freebord ride at an indoor skatepark.  Something tells me he’s been honing his skills on the street a little bit. 

What do you get when you take 26 Freeborders and let them loose on the streets of San Francisco, at night, with neon game pieces strapped to their heads?  You get this, a real-life version of Tetris.  Talk about creative use of the Freebord. 

Parking lots and skateparks provide excellent fodder for the Freeborder.  Check out the compilation from YouTube user Monterevolt.  If you think you can’t find a good place to Freebord in your town, these guys will prove you wrong. 

Hill Bombing

And what would a set of Freebord videos be without some epic hill bombing?  This first clip features the hills of San Francisco as they get shredded by a group of pro Freebord riders.  These aren’t the long and winding hills of the Californian Mountains.  These are the crowded streets of the city itself with traffic, speed bumps, and pedestrians. 

Nogales is an excellent place to Freebord.  There are great stretches of open road that run down the face of steep hills leading all the way to the beach.  YouTube user PalmeroFreebord created this compilation of a group of Freeborders taking on those hills.  While these aren’t the steepest hills we’ve seen bombed, the creative use of a hatchback car as a mobile camera platform earns this video a spot on the best of list. 

This next video comes from a group of professional Freeborders from Europe.  For some reason the Swiss and Austrians love their Freebords.  Maybe it’s because of all the seriously righteous hills (or should I say mountains—you know, the Alps) over there.  Yeah, this clip does have a lot of freestyling in it too, but watch out for the speed runs down the face of Alps. 

This next session comes from Dave Snow.  It’s a great mix of hill bombing in the wilds of the mountains and the populated urban areas.  Speed gives this Freeborder his kicks–look at the skill with which he weaves between the parked cars.

What Not To Do

When making your own Freebord video you really want to put in a few bails.  Bails are always good for a laugh or inducing vomiting depending on the severity.  But when your video is more bails than anything, it might be time for a re-edit.  Steezbucket gives us this great Ghetto-Rigged Freebording video in which he uses completely thrashed skateboard equipment and even a ghetto rigged trampoline to create a Freebording reel.  While some of the tricks are landed quite well, I don’t know if I’d want to Freebord on duct-taped old ramps and plastic garbage cans.  To each his own though—right? 

Submit Your Own Video

If you’ve got a video that you think should be on this list (whether you made it or just found it lying around) send us a link.  It might make it on the list.

Freebording is all about conquering the asphalt and making the concrete yours.  No matter where you live you can find excellent Freebord runs to shred.  There are groups around the country and around the world (Germany and Australia really love the Freebord) with members ranging from beginner to advanced that are dedicated to discovering the best places to Freebord.  Once you get the hang of the Freebord, you might consider joining one.  Until then. . .

Many of the places that skateboarders shred are also great places to break out the Freebord.  If you like freestyle riding, hit up a skatepark.  If you like hill bombing, find out where the longboarders hang.  If you want to do a little flatland, hit up the parking lots.  Keep your eyes open because you can take your Freebord anywhere.

Freebording in Your Own Back Yard

The best place to start looking for excellent Freebord runs is in your own home town.  Have a look around for gradual hills with some length to them, long and winding paths–especially in parks and city owned property—even parking garages can offer an intrepid Freeborder one heck of a run.

College campuses are also a great place to look for runs.  There are often large swaths of concrete or asphalt and areas that are dedicate automobile-free zones so you don’t have to worry about getting picked off by a pickup.  Beware of trespassing laws and campus security—they might bring a swift end to your Freebord run.

The key is to match the terrain with your skill level.  You don’t want to go bombing a steep on the first day you get your Freebord—trust me.

Branching Out Across the United States

Freeborders are great.  When they find a chill ride, most of the time they post video to YouTube and Vimeo.  Sometimes, they blog about it.  We’ve had a look at some of the best Freebord runs around the United States and come up with a few to get you started if you think you’re ready to leave home.

• Bascom Hill, Madison, WI – It’s fast, frantic, and a bit gnarly (watch out for the bumps or you’ll eat it!)—perfect for the intermediate or advanced Freebord rider.

• Observatory Dr., Madison, WI – Observatory Dr. towards Park St. offers a long winding hill with smooth pavement, perfect for that long mellow ride for someone a few steps up from beginner.  Watch out for buses!

• N. Breese Terrace, Madison, WI – Right next to Camp Randal, this smooth wide hill gives intermediate riders an excellent Freebord ride without any hassles. (Thanks to tgbrown2 for these)

• Parkside Road, New London, NH – A nice mix of mellow hills and flat runs.  Perfect for grinding and other intermediate aerial tricks.  For a more advance run, try the hill next to Hannaford Supermarket. (Watch the video here.)

• Mount Baldy, CA – A fairly mellow hill with some truly tight turns that will keep you on your toes (or on your backside).  Good for intermediate level Freeborders. (Watch the video here.)

• Santa Barbra, CA – This city if full of a wide range of hills from the mellow to the most gnarly.  Whatever your skill level, you’re definitely going to find something here worth riding. (Watch the video here.)

• Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State University, FL – This indoor run is a lot like riding a parking garage without the traffic.  Makes sure you know the campus regulations about skateboard/Freebording and always wear a helmet! (Watch the video here.)

Get In the Game

If you want to find the best Freebord runs in your area, get on the Internet.  Facebook and MySpace are great places to find groups devoted to Freebording and YouTube will give you tons of video from epic runs.  Keep an eye out here too because we’ll post some of the best videos around for you to study.

The most important part of finding a good Freebord run is using your imagination.  Don’t just see the sidewalk or the street, or the park path, see it as a snow covered slope and make it yours.

Freebording is a great sport and as more and more freebord riders learn to carve up their world, new tricks are coming out of the woodwork. Some are variations on old skateboarding tricks, some have come from the snow covered slopes, and some can only be done of a freebord. Below you’ll find a list of basic tricks (and how to do them) that will get you started on your way to becoming the next master freeborder.

Always remember to keep your freebord in tip-top condition before you attempt any tricks (that means check your gear and buy replacement freebord parts when you need them) because equipment failure will lead to total devastation—not to mention make you look like a bit of a tool.

And always, always wear the proper protective gear! (Helmets can save your life and your pretty little face!)

Basic Freebord Tricks

Frontside 180 – Rolling ahead at a decent speed, ease backward taking some of your weight off the edge wheels and push forward with your trailing leg. Follow through until you’ve completed the revert. Now your previous leading leg should be trailing and the trailing leg should be leading.

Backside 180 – Just like above but backwards! Push backward with your trailing leg and follow through until you’ve rotated 180 degrees and your leading leg is now trailing.

Frontside 360 – Similar to the 180, just continue pushing forward with your trailing leg—all the way around in a circle. It’s important to maintain the correct amount of weight over the center caster wheels by balancing your body over the freebord. Too much weight on the center and the freebord will slip out from underneath you, not enough and the edge wheels will catch—which will either dry up your momentum or stop you quickly. It might be helpful to push backward with your leading leg at the same time but be careful not to take it too far—that’s a sure recipe for disaster.

Backside 360 – Reverse the Frontside 360 above and push backward with your trailing leg. It might also help to push forward with your leading leg at the same time but don’t unbalance yourself or the freebord will toss you like a bull rider.

Frontside/Backside Overslide – The frontside and backside overslides are similar to the 180s but instead of following through with the motion until you’ve rotated a full 180 degrees, ease off halfway through the trick and maintain a freebord position horizontal to you path of travel. Basically, you’re using the caster wheels as the main support for your body weight but keeping the rear or forward edge wheels (depending on whether you’re ripping a frontside or backside) for balance. You might feel a tendency for the freebord to continue the 180 motion so you have to “push back” against the freebord then maintain the horizontal position by alternating the “push” motions. Whenever you use the fronstide edge wheels be extremely cautious not to put too much weight on them. That will cause them to catch and your body’s momentum will put you face first into the asphalt.

Press – To complete a Press, simply lean back, taking some of your body weight off the front of the freebord and transferring it to the back. This will lift the front of the freebord off the ground, keeping the two rear edge wheels and the rear center wheel on the ground for stability. Take it slowly or you’ll go end up.

The Manual – Take the Press a little higher and you’ll go into a manual. This move lifts the rear center wheel right off the ground and puts all of your weight on the two rear edge wheels. Use your leading foot/leg for balance to keep the freebord from dropping down onto its tail.

Nose Press/Nose Manual – Reverse the motions of the Press and Manual to achieve a Nose Press and a Nose Manual. These moves may be a little more difficult because the majority of your body weight will be over the leading edge of the freebord. Be especially careful not to let the lip of the freebord hit the ground and watch out for cracks in the pavement, loose stones, or other hazards as any sudden decrease in momentum will send you off the leading edge of the freebord.

Frontside Nose Pivot – This move can be used to quickly rotate your leading leg to the rear or your trailing leg to the front. To complete this move, transfer some weight to the front of your freebord, as if you were attempting a Press or Manual. Then, push forward with your trailing leg quickly once the rear wheels of the freebord clear the ground. This will cause the freebord to “spin” on the front three wheels and reverse the freebord’s direction.

Backside Nose Pivot – This trick starts off the same as the Frontside but instead of pushing forward with the trailing leg, push backward.

Ollie – If you’ve ever skateboarded before, you know what an Ollie is. Essentially, it’s a bunny hop with a board. You lift the frontside of the board up and as that starts to drop, you bring the backside up. Ollies are an essential trick to learn as they gift you the gift of air and can be used to transition between uneven surfaces. Ollies on a freebord are a little easier than on a skateboard because you have the bindings to help “pull” the board up. Essentially, you squat (with knees bent) and then explode upward with your leading leg extending slightly before your trailing leg. Practice Ollies at slow speeds first because landing one gets harder the faster your going.

Pivot 180 Jump – like the Nose Pivot above, the Pivot 180 jump will quickly get your freebord reversed. This time though, you’ll being doing it with flair. Once you get the freebord up on the leading wheels and begin the pivot, bend your leading leg and then explode upward as you continue to bring the rest of the freebord around. This takes your remaining wheels off the ground and lets you complete the move in the air.

Jump 180 – this move lets you get your freebord reversed off the pavement. Bend your knees, explode upward and as your freebord wheels clear the ground spin your legs round in a circular motion (pushing forward with your trailing leg and backward with your leading leg). Reverse the push directions to complete a backside jump 180.

Standstill Spin – Start from a stationary position (hence the standstill) and bend your knees slightly. Explode upward but not so much as to lift your freebord off the ground. At the same time, push forward with your trailing foot and backward with your leading foot. This will take just enough of the weight off your edge wheels to cause the center wheels to slide. The pushing motion brings the freebord around in a circle. At the same time, twist your body to match the motion of your feet. This move can be terminated in a 180, 360, or even 720.

Advanced Tricks Await You!

These are just some basic tricks to get you started. Once you understand the mechanics of the freebord, you can move on to more complex tricks including Coleman slides, rails grinds, hand slides, and more. Get out there and learn to shred your world but always ride carefully and with the proper protective gear!

Freebords Make Snowboarding Year-Round Possible—Even On Asphalt!

Freebording was created when an enthusiastic bunch of snowboarders decided that they just couldn’t wait for the white stuff to get their ride on.  By examining how snowboards really work (how the edges cut into the snow for hard slicing and how the flat base allows slides and switches) and comparing that motion to the mechanical limitations of skateboards, the creators came up with a Freebord design that gives riders the best of both worlds.  They get the mobility and freedom that snowboards offer and the portability and the sick possibilities that skateboards allow all rolled into one.  Now there’s no need to wait for snow!

If a Skateboard and a Snowboard Got It On, You’d Get a Freebord!

Essentially the Freebord is a skateboard with wider trucks but the addition of a fifth and sixth wheel (which rotate 360 degrees) in the center section of the deck is really what makes this machine so extreme.  It is this extra pair of wheels that allows Freebord riders the amazing snowboard-like level of control because they’re set lower than the four main wheels, creating a “rocking” motion that riders can use to slide, slow down, reverse, and even stop just like they would in the snow.

Freebords also utilize unique S2 bindings instead of relying on grip tape alone to give riders that extra bit of control.  These bindings make sliding, stopping, and switching directions as slick and simple as leaning into it.  But unlike the bindings you’d find on snowboards, these custom made S2 bindings don’t actually lock a rider’s feet to the board.  That’s essential for safety as Freebords were meant for hard surfaces—faceplanting on pavement hurts a “little” more than getting whitewashed.

Freebord Riders Break Nature’s Laws

Snowboarding is a downhill sport no matter how you look at it but Freebording doesn’t depend on the tenants of Newtonian physics (A.K.A. Gravity).  Freebord riders can take on just about any urban terrain and the boards are perfect for any riding style.  Whether you want to take it the extreme and rip your Freebord down the steepest hills—hill bombing like a madman—or simply cruise around town showing skaters how it should be done, Freebords make your ride your own.

And just as it is in skateboarding, the type and style of your hardware can change the feel and handling of your Freebord instantly.  That’s why stores like Black Diamond Sports stock a wide variety of wheels, trucks, bindings, and of course the Freeboards themselves.  Customize your ride and take your Freebording experience up a notch or three.  Black Diamond Sports even sells pre-mixed kits that have everything you need to fit your style of riding (bombing the steeps, cruising the mellows, or something in between) on the cheap!

So if you’re looking for the thrill of carving down a snow covered slope but can’t wait for Mother Nature to put the powder down, check out Freebording.  And get all your Freebord essentials from your friendly neighborhood exclusive Freebord supplier BlackDiamondSports.com

No, Relatively Speaking.

Another way of looking at it is if you can snowboard, you can Freebord but keep in mind Freebords are meant for pavement and cement.  Taking a header on either of these hard surfaces is much more likely to cause grievous bodily harm than falling in fluffy snow.  But when you compare Freebording to other pavement sports (skateboarding or rollerblading) Freebording doesn’t seem that scary.

In fact, Freebording shares a lot of the same dangers as skateboarding.  Typical skateboarding injuries range from broken ankles, wrists, elbow, and even head injuries (which are much more severe than injuries to the limbs), many of which stem from riders thinking they are invincible and finding out otherwise when they don’t wear proper protection.  However, you also have to look at the type of Freebording you’re thinking about taking up when considering how dangerous it will be.

How Are You Going To Ride?

Freeriding is probably the safest form of Freebording.  Basically you’re just using your Freebord to cruise around town, maybe down a small hill or two.  Freestyling, however, is much more dangerous.  Whenever you try to do tricks, jumps, or even Ollies with a Freebord (it can be done) you’re increasing the chances of getting injured.  However, there is still one form of Freebording that’s even more dangerous.  That’s hill bombing.

Bombing is essentially finding a huge hill and cruising down the entire length.  Freebords can reach speeds of fifty plus miles per hour and any time you’re going that fast with nothing between you and the asphalt but a little piece of plywood there’s a very good chance that even a slight miscalculation or a crack in the pavement will cause you to fall.

Minimize Your Risk—Come Correct

You can minimize the danger of Freebording by riding responsibly on solid, smooth, and relatively flat terrain.  Also, learn how to ride before you set out to conquer a hill.  As with anything, practice makes perfect and you should plan to spend a few weeks or even months using your Freebord cautiously before attempting anything too dangerous—no matter how sick it may be.

And this should go without saying:  always wear protective gear.  Knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and helmets will prevent or lessen the severity of injuries.  Also, keep your Freebord fresh to avoid potentially dangerous equipment failure.  Replace your hangers and wheels regularly and always inspect your Freebord for wear and tear before each use.

Keep Your Kit Tight!

You can find everything you need to make your Freebording experience as safe as possible at BlackDiamondSports.com.  They have all the protective gear and replacement parts—you’re going to shred some wheels pretty quickly when you first start riding—to keep you and your Freebord in shape.  Have a look through the Freebord Store today and get on a Freebord tomorrow.

Can You Snowboard?  Then You Can Freebord!

Technically Freebording is much more like snowboarding than skateboarding.  You can slide and glide horizontally, rotate 360 degrees, and carve like no other when riding a Freebord—even on asphalt—but one key skill you have to learn is balance.  When you’re first starting out, it might be helpful to get on the Freebord while holding onto a stationary object and just get a feel for how the Freebord moves.  It rolls back and forth but it also has that crazy rocker motion caused by the two caster-mounted center wheels.  When you shift your weight over those wheels, the Freebord slides horizontally—that’s something no skateboard can do.

Once you’ve got a feel for the Freebord, you should take it out on some smooth surfaces in an area that’s relatively flat (you don’t want to go bombing a steep on your first run unless you want to end up road pizza.)  Make sure there isn’t any traffic to hit, or to hit you, and you may want a little privacy so nobody sees you fall the first hundred times.

Don’t forget to wear protective gear!  Freebording, even on “safe” surfaces, is always potentially dangerous.  To minimize your risk of injuries and the severity of them wear good quality knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards.  And always wear a helmet!

The Freebords Unleashed!

Once you think you’re ready to “let go,” keep your shoulders centered over the Freebord to maintain balance and go with the flow.  You can carve a turn by leaning into it.  The harder you lean, the harder you carve.  It’s a little different than skating because the Freebord’s wheels sit farther out on the hangers and replicate a snowboard’s steel edge.  Be careful not to lean too far though or you’ll either slide out or catch and edge and end up eating asphalt.  Be especially careful of leaning too far over your toes.

Next, shift some weight onto those center wheels and get a feel for how the Freebord glides.  Remember, those wheels rotate 360 degree so your Freebord will spin and reverse direction fairly quickly.  Too much weight over those wheels will send the Freebord sliding right out from underneath you.

Practice makes perfect and whether it takes a day or a month you will get the hang of it.

Keep Your Equipment Tight

A few tips about your equipment that can make learning to ride your new Freebord easier:

1)     Find a Freebord that fits you—They’re available in a ton of sizes and several different materials.

2)     Adjust your Freebord to fit you—Tweak the bindings to your stance, raise/lower the center caster wheels to a comfortable spot (lower = more rocker motion, higher = less), and tighten the trucks to match your riding style.

(You may also want to buy a truck and wheel kit–available from Black Diamond Sports–to fit your style of riding:  downhill, freestyle, or freeriding.)

3)     Keep your equipment in good repair.  Replace worn wheels and loose trucks often.  Inspect your hanger arms and truck baseplates too–you don’t want your Freebord falling apart while you’re bombing a big hill—it wouldn’t be pretty.

To get a Freebord that fits you and customize it to your riding style, hit up the Freebord store at Black Diamond Sports.  They’ve got everything you need to get started—including pads to protect when you bite it.  Visit BlackDiamondSports.com today.

Freebords and skateboards are both basically long pieces of plywood with wheels bolted to the bottom, right?  So what’s the big difference?  Freebords are built to move across the pavement the way a snowboard glides across the powder.  That means you can slide, glide, spin, and revert anytime and anywhere without waiting for an Ollie or a jump to take your wheels off the ground.

How is that possible?  Skateboards only have four wheels.  They roll forward and backward and that’s it.  Sure the trucks tilt so you can turn but you’re severely limited as to what you can actually do.

Freebords have six wheels.  The four main wheels work just like a skateboard’s.  They’re mounted on trucks and rolled forward, backward and tilt to turn.  However, the hanger arms on a Freebord’s trucks are so long that the wheels actually extend past the edge of the Freebord.  That gives the ride a lot more control and allows them to cut or carve to the extreme, just like when a snowboard’s steel edge knifes into the snowpack.

But it’s the two center wheels that make a Freebord really special.  They’re mounted on casters so they spin 360 degrees.  Also, they’re set lower than the four main wheels which creates a rocker effect.  The lower you mount those caster wheels (they’re all adjustable) the more rocker effect you get and the more freedom and control you have over your Freebord.

By rocking backward or forward and balancing the majority of your body weight over those center caster wheels, you can actually lift the four main wheels right off the ground and spin and glide right across the pavement as if it were white stuff.  When sliding you only use the main wheels for balance and to control your speed.

Freebording Is All About “The Glide”

This action not only gives Freebord riders more opportunity for tricks and gnarly fits of “self expression,” it also makes Freebording a little harder to learn.  Tip too much weight over those center wheels and you’ll slide out.  Put too much on the main wheels and you’ll either come to a stop or “catch an edge” and bite it—not something you want to do on asphalt!

Another huge difference between skateboards and Freebords are the bindings.  The original model Freebords just used kick lips and grip tape to keep a rider’s feet in place.  Modern Freebords use S2 bindings.  These bindings act just like those on a snowboard, keeping the rider’s feet on the board and giving them insane amounts of control over where the board goes.  The cool thing is that they don’t lock your feet–you can push or ditch quickly—and they’re adjustable so you can duck your stance as much (or as little) as you want.

Don’t Have a Freebord?  Get One!

So if you’re a skateboarder looking to learn something a little bit gnarlier or a snowboarder looking to take your talent off the slopes and onto the street, Freebording might just be for you.  Hit up the shop at BlackDiamondSports.com to get all you’re gear.  They’ve got every size and model of Freebord available (even some near-indestructible bamboo Freebords), custom wheel and truck kits, and replacement parts.  They’ve also got essential protective gear to protect your bean if you bite it—and you will.  Hit up Black Diamond Sports today and get in the game tomorrow!

Sometime in the mid 1990s when the X Games were just coming into their own and athletes were just starting to go “extreme,” a group of snowboarders and inventors got together under the direction of Steen Strand and created the unique sport of Freebording.  Essentially, Strand wanted to combine the grace and ease of lateral movement (or “sliding”) that snowboarding allows with the year-round fun of skateboarding.  He knew that if he could recreate the motion boarders loved on the slopes without the snow that he would have something spectacular.

Freebording Started In a Garage . . .

Strand teamed up with Bayard Winthrop and the two began manufacturing prototypes in Strand’s Garage.  The first usable Freebords were essentially standard long boards with a pair of caster wheels bolted to the bottom just behind the trucks.  These caster wheels simulate the gliding action that a snowboard’s base allows.  Eventually Strand extended the hangers on those trucks so that the wheels stuck out past the edges of the Freebord in order to simulate the grabbing action of a snowboard’s steel edge.

Freebords appealed to riders, especially in those in the underground skating/boarding scene in California (many of whom were featured in mid-90’ skate documentaries like Concrete Powder, Science Friction, and Never Winter) and flourished.

Technology Improves the Ride

However radical those first Freebords were, they weren’t exactly perfect.  The caster wheels had a tendency to vomit ball bearings, the boards themselves were long and ungainly, and they lacked any sort of binding—relying solely on skateboard grip tape.  Over the years, Freebording, the sport and the equipment itself, have undergone some fundamental changes.

On the technical side, the boards have shrunk to more manageable sizes and weights in addition to losing their kick tails.  The casters have undergone numerous redesigns, ending with a piece of machined hardware that keeps its ball bearings snug and tight.  In addition, the trucks’ base plates have been significantly widened for stability and strength.  Also, the composites used in the construction of the Freebord wheels have changed, allowing for greater variations in hardness which widens the styles of Freebording that riders can enjoy.

However, the most noticeable addition to the Freebord’s original design is the adjustable S2 binding system which allows the Freebord rider a much great level of control and stability in any situation.  The bindings weren’t actually one of Strand’s design elements.  They were invented out of necessity by a California rider who lost a foot to cancer.  The rider (whose name is Tim) rigged his own binding to keep his artificial limb from sliding off his Freebord, and when Strand heard about this homemade rig he incorporated the bindings into the final design.

Where Can You Get a Freebord?

If you’d like to get your hands on a Freebord and get in the game, visit the shop at Black Diamond Sports. They carry every model of Freebord, every wheel and truck variation, and even have even kits so you can customize your Freebord for your style of riding.  Get on BlackDiamondSports.com today and get on your Freebord tomorrow.