Skateboard or a Portal to the Future? Freebord Riot Skateboard Review

Reviewing the Freebord 1980 Riot: Innovative Technology allowing Snowboarding Without Snow? Streets of powder or a Blizzard of Complication?

Looking for a unique way to take the hill? The Freebord will help you stand out from the crowd and experience the slide.

In Chotchkiemoto’s endless quest to bring you crucial skateboard knowledge, we tried the innovative technology of the Freebord.

The Freebord Company was created in 1996, by Steen Strand and Mike Vaughn. The boards they produce are visually complex. Primarily because of the two extra wheels.

At first glance, a Freebord looks like an orthopedic shoe of a skateboard, more Forrest Gump than Usain Bolt. The fully assembled board has super-wide trucks that extend beyond the sides of the board. It also contains two structures attached to the underside. Each of these devices looks like a cross between a suitcase roller and an inline skate wheel assembly. Is that all, no: There is also the matter of the bindings: There are locations where your feet are to be partially secured while riding.

Once you get over the shock you will see that under the layers of polyurethane and steel lies a highly specialized beast. This creature is a masterpiece of design and engineering intended to bring you a new perspective, but will it let you out of its grip unharmed?

Freebord’s Website is under renovation at the time of this post, but the European Website is fully operational. You need Euros for a new one here, 439 of them to be exact, for the Freebord 5X. Expensive, yes, but what do you get for the money? A specialized machine for the glide and the slide. Were amazed by the concept, but could not get ahold of the elusive the 5X. Luckily, we happened upon an older model , the 1980 Riot and tried it out. It was not built in 1980, but shares the rebellious, groundbreaking, window smashing energy of that era.

Do you need to move to Slovakia to get your hands on a Freebord? Not necessarily, We at Chotchkiemoto picked up a slightly older model called the 1980 Riot. Some of our older readers may remember the 80s. A time of rebellion and change in politics, music and style which appears to be conveyed by the black, white and red graphics. Our model came with big, cushy red wheels as well. An example can be seen in the picture below.

What about the combination of wheels Wheel friction that takes place in that small space where the wheel makes contact with the road is a constant friend …and enemy of the skateboarder. Ever found yourself in a panic as you descend a hill much too quickly? With the Freebord, you can slide to a stop or attain a lower speed, like you might on a snowboard. If you like the idea of drifting and have a little bit of an incline available. You might want to try a Freebord product.

Where can you find a Freebord now for a reasonable price? There’s one on ebay, for 80$, at the moment . If you act quickly the one at the link can be yours.

So, What’s it like to ride this highly engineered extravaganza? In a word, complex. It takes some getting used to. To start, you need a bit of a hill and some patience. The adjustable bindings take practice to use. You need to be careful not to trip over them as you familiarize yourself with the movements of the board. As a snowboarder, I was impressed with the action of the board within turns.

The slide is real. The Freebord has the ability to mimic the sliding movement available to snowboarders. The slide requires a little speed, so there is a learning curve. It also is useful to have a gentle hill with no traffic on which to practice. Overall, I’m super excited about this addition to skateboarding.

It’s a yes for Chotchkiemoto. It is a highly specialized piece of equipment sure to elicit strong opinions where ever it is seen. Yes, we know it is different, but that’s a plus. Think about it; Change is good. Remember how you used to feel about visiting your uncle, Gus, who lives off the grid in that part of West Virginia that is not accessible by road, That has changed right? With the distinctive performance and clearly thoughtful engineering on full display, we love the Freebord. With practice, you can be descending the streets of Chamonix, or Gstaad, or where ever you choose to skate in no time.

Is there a place for a Freebord in your life? Please let us know if you have thoughts about the Freebord 1980 Riot or other Freebords. Is the Freebord an example of folly better off consigned to history’s waste bin, or is this the future of skateboarding in a six wheel disguise? For more about this and other important skate culture ideas view our other posts and , Contact Chotchkiemoto.