## The Jones Hovercraft 2.0: Redefining Freeride Performance and Sustainability
The snowboarding world is constantly pushing boundaries, not just in performance but also in environmental stewardship. Enter the Jones Hovercraft 2.0, a board that not only delivers an exhilarating freeride experience but also sets a new gold standard for sustainability. Having put this deck through its paces across diverse terrain from Northern California to Washington, I can confidently say it’s more than just a snowboard; it’s a testament to thoughtful design and a thrilling companion for powder hounds.
### Unleashing Performance Across Diverse Terrain
From hardpack to deep powder, the Hovercraft 2.0 consistently impressed with its adaptable performance. This isn’t just a powder toy; it’s a meticulously crafted instrument for mountain exploration.
#### Unrivaled Edge Hold with Traction Tech
One of the standout features is Jones’ proprietary **Traction Tech**. These strategically placed serrated edges deliver tenacious grip, biting into firm snow without hindering the board’s natural carving flow. While perhaps not quite as pronounced as some other multi-point edge technologies, the Hovercraft 2.0 demonstrated exceptional edge retention, instilling unwavering confidence even in the most critical, challenging conditions. You can truly lean into your turns, trusting the board to hold its line.
#### Masterful Navigation Through Treed Terrain
For those who revel in the thrill of tree runs, the Hovercraft 2.0 is an absolute revelation. Despite its noticeable width, the board exhibits remarkable agility in unpacked snow, making quick, precise directional changes feel effortless – a crucial advantage when weaving through dense glades. During a March 2024 road trip spanning Northern California, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, this board consistently helped me uncover untouched powder stashes. Even after days without fresh snowfall, when open areas were tracked out, venturing into the trees with the Hovercraft 2.0 almost always revealed pristine pockets of snow.
#### The Pure Joy of Surfing Powder and Cruising Flats
Beyond the trees, this board truly shines in expansive, steep snowfields. It delivers an effortlessly fluid, surf-inspired sensation, allowing for big, sweeping turns that feel incredibly intuitive and exhilarating. What’s more, its efficient design ensures it maintains momentum beautifully, gliding smoothly across flatter sections of the mountain, preventing those dreaded slowdowns on the way back to the lift.
### A New Benchmark in Sustainable Snowboarding
What truly elevates the Hovercraft 2.0 beyond its exceptional performance is its pioneering commitment to environmental responsibility. This board isn’t just eco-friendly; it’s a statement about the future of outdoor gear.
#### Pioneering Re-Up Technology
The Hovercraft 2.0 proudly stands as the first snowboard to incorporate Jones’ groundbreaking **Re-Up Technology**. This innovative approach ingeniously repurposes components from used surfboards, transforming waste into high-performance materials. Jones’ research revealed that up to 95 percent of a snowboard can be recycled, and this ethos is evident in the board’s construction. Its robust wood core, for example, is entirely derived from recycled materials.
#### Eco-Conscious Construction from Top to Base
The sustainable innovation doesn’t stop there. The Hovercraft 2.0 integrates recycled steel in its edges and recycled ABS in its sidewalls, minimizing the demand for virgin resources. The topsheet is crafted from a carbon-neutral flax fiber, offering durability with a reduced environmental footprint. Furthermore, the use of a bio resin in its construction reportedly slashes CO2 emissions by a significant 33 percent compared to traditional epoxy resins. To top it all off, the board comes pretreated with a Wend natural wax, which is both biodegradable and entirely free from fluorocarbon forever chemicals like PFAS.
#### Leadership Beyond the Board
This profound commitment to sustainability is hardly surprising given the pedigree of Jones Snowboards. Founder Jeremy Jones is not only a legendary big-mountain snowboarder but also the visionary founder and president of Protect Our Winters (POW). It’s truly inspiring to witness a company that not only champions environmental causes but also translates that commitment into tangible, industry-leading product innovation.
### Is the Hovercraft 2.0 Your Next Powder Companion?
Ultimately, the Hovercraft 2.0 offers an immense amount to admire with very little to fault. However, it’s crafted for a distinct type of rider seeking a particular mountain experience.
While it performs admirably on groomed trails, it doesn’t necessarily set itself apart in hardpack conditions. Its true brilliance emerges when the snow gets deep and the terrain gets interesting. For intermediate to advanced riders whose primary objective is to seek out powder, conquer ungroomed terrain, carve down steep faces, execute playful turns, and master the art of tree riding while still enjoying a spirited ride back to the chair, the Hovercraft 2.0 is an absolute delight.
This board is, without a doubt, a pure thrill-seeker’s dream, taking me on some of the most memorable runs of my life. It has decisively earned its place, displacing my formerly beloved K2 Excavator as my go-to board for powder days. If exploring the untouched, surfing through deep snow, and navigating technical terrain is your passion, then the Jones Hovercraft 2.0 comes with our most enthusiastic endorsement.