If you like the idea of zipping across the landscape on a stand-up tracked vehicle, but find the likes of the DTV Shredder and Scarpar just a little too intimidating, then you might like the Mattracks Powerboard. Designed specifically for use on snow, the device features one continuous snowmobile-type rubber track on the bottom, that is powered by a mid-mounted 200CC 4-cycle gas engine. Delivering a top speed of 18mph (29kph), this thing probably isn’t going to be appearing in any sports drink ads anytime soon, but it still looks like it could be fun.
Riders steer the Powerboard by shifting their weight and carving into turns, just like with a snowboard. The adjustable-length T-bar handle contains the throttle control, and helps with leverage and stability. Spiky metal foot platforms located fore and aft of the motor allow for the use of any type of footwear, and don’t require the rider to be “clipped in.” A dead man switch/tether automatically stops the vehicle when the rider falls off.
The Powerboard has a mainly aluminum chassis and a high-density plastic shell, which contribute to a total weight of about 150 pounds (68 kg). Its direct drive track features 1.75-inch (44mm) lugs in a paddle style tread, which the company claims will propel it over all types of snow. The 6.5hp engine can reportedly run for two hours of typical use on three-quarters of a gallon (2.8L) of gasoline.
This isn’t Mattracks’ only snow-going product – the company also makes tread systems that replace the wheels of vehicles such as Hummers, turning them into freaky-looking tank-like monsters.
The Mattrack's Powerboard is available through Hammacher Schlemmer, for US$2,500.
