Downhill Bodyboarding

Over the last 3 winters, while I was landlocked, and while there was snow on the ground, I spent my time trying to develop a bodyboard for the snow. I had several successful rides, using an old beat up BZ board, and I'd take it to some golf courses and ride some hills. Golf courses were the best, because where I'm from, most of them were very hilly, The grass is short and the terrain is smooth. Often times there were many drainage ditches and tee tops and things like that to ride on.

Well here's what I did - I waxed the crap outta it with cold water wax for the first year and it worked fairly well. I'd use PAM or something like that to smooth up the bottom for a faster ride. I would ride dropknee and just like in the water I'd use my back foot as a rudder to guide and steer. But I found that I didn't have as much control as I wanted. So that year was only like 2 snowfalls, so time was limited.

The next year, I added 2 fin-like rails on the bottom near the tail. I cut some 1/2" right-angle metal pieces and mounted them on the bottom. That year, there was a thick ice sheet (about 8" thick) so those rails would dig in, allowing some guidance and steering capabilities. I was able to throw out the tail and carve somewhat on some hills.

It was definitely fun, and I had a blast. But since then, I've obviously moved, there's not much snow, and I kind of gave that up for waves. But fun, nonetheless.

Now, my question is more like, would it be possible to take it to the real slopes at resorts? Would they even let you ride it? I'm not into skiing and I suck at snowboarding, but I thought this may be a possible idea. . . . . any thoughts?