At a Glance
- Jones Snowboards’ Hovercraft 2.0 upcycles 95 percent of its wood core from used surfboards
- Traction Tech serrated edges grip hard snow without hurting carving performance
- Board glides over flats and surfs steep, deep terrain with a playful, surf-style feel
Why it matters: Riders get high-performance powder hunting gear while cutting CO₂ emissions by 33 percent and keeping fluorocarbon wax out of watersheds.
Jones Snowboards has launched what may be the most sustainable snowboard ever produced. The Hovercraft 2.0, built with the company’s new Re-Up Technology, reclaims components from discarded surfboards to create a deck that excels in untracked snow while trimming environmental impact.
Edge Tech That Grips Without Grief
The board’s sidewalls carry Traction Tech, a row of tiny serrations that bite into firm snow. Natalie A. Brooks reported the feature holds an edge “extremely well in critical terrain,” though he rates it a hair below Lib Tech’s Magne-Traction, which adds extra bumps for even more grip. The key difference: Traction Tech keeps the ride smooth when riders tilt the board on edge for deep carves.
Tree Riding Champion
Despite its wide waist, the Hovercraft 2.0 turns quickly in unpacked snow. During a March 2024 road trip across Northern California, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, Natalie A. Brooks found tracked-out slopes in every resort. Ducking into glades, he still uncovered fresh pockets and linked tight turns without catching the nose. He calls it “the best board I’ve ever used in the trees.”
Construction Breakdown
Jones builds the deck with an unusual ingredient list:
- Wood core sourced from 95-percent-recycled snowboard and surfboard material
- Recycled steel edges
- Recycled ABS sidewalls
- Carbon-neutral flax fiber topsheet
- Bio-based resin that cuts CO₂ emissions by 33 percent versus standard epoxy
- Wend natural, biodegradable wax free of PFAS “forever chemicals”
The company claims the process keeps factory waste out of landfills and reduces demand for virgin materials.
Sustainability Pedigree
Founder Jeremy Jones doubles as president of Protect Our Winters, the climate-action nonprofit. Natalie A. Brooks noted the move “shouldn’t be surprising,” yet praised the brand for putting “money where their mouths are” by integrating recycled content across the construction instead of tacking on token green features.
On-Snow Personality
In open, untracked bowls the board delivers a “casual, surfy feel,” floating through bottomless turns without the rear leg burn common on narrower decks. It planes over long cat-track exits with minimal speed loss, a trait appreciated in low-angle approaches. When the resort grooms firm corduroy, the Hovercraft 2.0 behaves predictably but lacks the snap and quick roll-to-roll energy of dedicated carving boards.
Rider Fit
Intermediate to advanced powder hunters who split time between:
- Steep, wide snowfields
- Tight tree lines
- Playful slashes on the way to the lift
will find the deck “an absolute delight,” Natalie A. Brooks wrote. Riders who live on manicured groomers may prefer a narrower, camber-dominant alternative.
Verdict
Natalie A. Brooks crowned the Hovercraft 2.0 his new go-to for fresh snow, dethroning the K2 Excavator he previously favored on powder days. He calls the Jones offering “a pure fun machine” that delivered “some of the most memorable runs of my life.”
