Snowboarding Variations - Snowboarding on Pavement (Tierney Rides)

In the spring of 1999, two brothers, Kurt and Tyler Tierney, embarked on a project to simulate the true feeling of snowboarding on pavement. Through much trial, testing and some tribulation, their project took the form of what is now called the "T-board", short for "Tierney Rides Board".

The T-board has only two wheels, for a number of reasons. To accurately reproduce the intensity of carving available on a snowboard, the brothers had to find a way to increase the turning angle of what was normally possible on a regular skateboard, which was restricted by its platform-style construction. The T-board would also have to posess a profound turning ability, so as to realistically perform the sharp turns and carving ability of a snowboard. And finally, unlike most downhill skateboards, the T-board would have to be completely stable at very high speeds, just as a snowboard would be on its edge.

After years of testing, experimentation, refining systems and rider feedback, the brothers adamantly stand behind their two-wheeled invention, which, as they say, is unlimited in almost every way, due to the physics of the board alone.

As Kurt says, "People often ask, 'What’s different about your board?' We like to say, anything with more than two wheels and you’re steering a platform, not carving on an edge. Also, you can have a car, which turns really well, but it will never feel like a motorcycle!"

Now that they have reached their goals of producing the ultimate snowboard trainer, the time has come to market it to snowboarders, surfers and other riders that would find it to be a valuable cross-trainer.

Tierney Rides recently sent a T-board to Ben Boyd, the Rocky Mountain representative of the USSA (United States Ski & Snowboarding Association), for his thoughts on the board.

Ben: "I think this is a great cross training tool for novice up to high level snowboard athletes. The T-Board feels like a snowboard, and has all the same characteristics, being easier to turn at high speeds (and being very stable) to being harder to turn at slow speeds. For this reason, it will really help our athletes with egding drills, for both our boarder crossers and half pipers. It will help with all the skills needed for snowboarding: stance, pressure, edging and rotary control. Not only that, they are fun as hell to ride."

Shortly following his review, Ben requested that Tierney Rides send him an adequate amount of boards so that his team could train more effectively throughout the summer months.

The T-board is also used by several other professionals, including both the US and Canadian Snowboard Teams, Olympic athletes such as Chris Klug and Lisa Kosglow, professional snowboarders Ryan McDonald and Mark Fawcett, extreme sports group Team Louish, as well as the USSA (United States Snowboard Association) and AASI (American Association of Snowboard Instructors).

Peter Foley, the head of the US Snowboard Team, after having his team test the T-board, said, "[The team] tested the T-board and found it to be a great cross training tool. Many of them plan to use T-board to augment their conditioning programs while away from the snow. The body movements used in T-boarding are very similar to snowboarding. Most importantly T-boarding provides the same carving sensation as snowboarding."

The T-board, while highly effective for extreme riding speeds and tight carving, is actually surprisingly easy to learn, and most snowboarders pick it up within minutes. It does ride very differently than a traditional downhill skateboard, however, and feels very similar to carving edge-to-edge in moderate powder.



For more information, pictures and media visit the Tierney Rides Homepage. Also, watch the New T-Board Video and see the similarities of carving on a Snowboard and the T-board.

See related products in our Snowboarding Shop:

T-Boards Hot Picks

Snowboard Boots Hot Picks

Snowboard Bindings Hot Picks