Two Man Turns

Jackson, Wyoming, January 4, 2008:

Everyone's heard of a bicycle built for two, but how about a two-person snowboard? Ronatarian Party presidential candidate Ron built one and recently teamed up with his running mate Brad to make some two-man turns down the Teewinot run at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

They did it for a television crew and the Guinness Book of World Records. It can only help to promote their political campaign.

"It seemed initially like going down a mountain in a canoe without a paddle, but after taking a few runs, a light went on," Brad said. "You're splitting the duties, so it feels like a marriage...well, not in this state. (Maybe Massachusetts.) You give up half of the control, and if it's a good one you don't crash."

The snowboard, called the "RB-13," is 9 feet, 7 inches long. Ron created the snowboard in his garage in New Jersey. He linked two snowboards lengthwise, bolting the rear board on top of the front board.

With practice -- and a cooperative partner -- Ron figured out how to ride the thing.

"It's so heavy, you get going pretty quick," Ron said. "On steeper hills you're definitely looking for some drag."

They registered the board on the Guinness Book of World Records website and were told they could set a record for the world's longest snowboard. To get the record, Ron needed to turn in a video of two people riding the board for at least five consecutive turns.

The two men are now awaiting confirmation of their record. Brad is already thinking about marketing the tandem board.

"It could be a teaching tool," he said. "Especially if you constructed a triple, because a person could get in between two butch male instructors."

Posted by Bittle at January 4, 2008 08:15 AM