Riding fresh powder.
Those who know the feeling undoubtedly have their own emotions come out when they hear that phrase. It elicits a feeling of freedom, weightlessness, and flow. There really is nothing like it, and for those who pursue it, a lifelong passion is born at the first moment those turns connect.
Surfing gives you many of those same emotions. Being able to ride on water, propelled by the energy of the ocean, produces a feeling that is hard to replicate. But just because it can be hard, doesn’t mean people won’t try.
Jones Snowboards, paired with Chris Christenson, have developed a pair of bindings meant to get as close to surfing while on snow. While it isn’t anything completely transformative, the soft feeling and responsiveness is enough for a deeper look. I had a chance to test these bindings in a variety of conditions in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia this season. So read on to hear how the Jones Meteorite bindings are as close as you can come to replicating surfing on snow.
Jones Meteorite Bindings: First Impressions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Soft and responsive | Not great at high speeds |
| Solid construction | Does not absorb a hard impact |
| Freeride and surf modes | Needs powder to truly perform |
Taking the bindings out of the box, you can tell that this is a solid construction. Made in the Nidecker factory, the design is the famous NOW bindings (now YES.) innovation that changed snowboard bindings a decade ago. The big differentiator is the kingpin central pivot and their SkateTech system, that allows for a better edge-to-edge energy transfer on the bindings. I’ve ridden NOW bindings for years and they were always a favorite. Now, with Jones getting the license, they have put their own spin on it.
All the construction is second to none, and felt solid in the hand. The straps are soft and have a bit of give to them, allowing for a bit of leeway when you’re really leaning into your turns.
Notable Features of the Meteorite Bindings
The big feature here it the ability to swap the ankle straps between freeride mode and surf mode. Freeride mode sits higher and locks your feet in, while surf mode rests lower on the foot, giving you the ability to move around a bit more and have more play in your edge control.
Another advantage to these bindings (and all with the NOW system) is the swappable bushings on the four corners of the binding. Meteorites come with a more firm bushing, which is suited to freeriding, however if you want an even more softer feel you can swap that out for a softer feel.
I found the ratchet straps in these bindings to be quick and effective. You can put them on and off with ease, and they stay tight throughout the day. Should you need to loosen or the straps on the fly, you can do so with a quick release lever without needing a tool.
Drawbacks
Being on the softer end of the stiffness spectrum, these bindings have a fair amount of give. This is great when you’re riding bottomless powder, and even when carving on the cruisers, but in variable conditions, I found it difficult. Hard landings from airs and drops meant that the bindings gave out a bit. They never showed signs of breaking or cracking, which does happen in softer bindings, however you lose a ton of energy with sudden impacts.
Final Thoughts
The Meteorite bindings from Jones provides riders with a responsive, softer feel, without giving out too much. They are suited well to people who prefer to stay on the ground and like to do quick turns, slashes, and anywhere else where you need to whip the board around in a short distance. If you like to pin it at high speeds through variable conditions, you might want a stiffer binding. But for those who enjoy soul turns, These bindings are well-suited for fun, playful maneuvers.
