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Hammacher Schlemmer is one of those companies that sells a lot of kinda cool stuff you never thought you might want, like the world's smallest humanoid robot and a voice-activated R2D2. But one thing we won't be putting on our Christmas list is the Powerboard, a gas-burning snowboard or “snowmoboard.”
The idea sounds cool on paper - slap an engine on a snowboard and let 'er rip. But it looks like something a couple of guys cobbled together after knocking back a few too many egg nogs and disassembling a belt sander.
The Powerboard barely resembles a snowboard and makes about as much sense as a riding mower with three seats. Hammacher Schlemmer says the Powerboard "combines the thrill of riding a snowmobile and the freedom of a snowboard, enabling you to surf effortlessly over the deepest fresh powder or on packed, granular snow."
A YouTube video suggests that's a bit optimistic.
The Powerboard uses a 6.5 horsepower engine and will supposedly hit 18 mph. But that video makes it look like the contraption can barely clear a jump, and it's covering those moguls like a Rascal scooter. It's kinda pathetic, actually.
And then there's the styling. It hardly matches the "durable" and "rugged" description offered up by Hammacher Schlemmer. The handle looks like a Swiffer mop. And they want $2,000 for it?
We'll stick with our saucer sleds.
POST UPDATED 12 p.m. PST.
Photo via Hammacher Schlemmer.
