Powder Day Board Comparison: Jones Hovercraft 2.0 vs. Storm Chaser vs. Cardiff Powgoda

Join me on another quality Utah powder day where I compare deep snow performance of the Jones Hovercraft 2.0, the Jones Storm Chaser, and the Cardiff Powgoda. Enjoy!
00:00 Intro
01:20 Jones Hovercraft 2.0
03:13 Jones Storm Chaser
06:38 Cardiff Powgoda
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Specs and Biases:
6'3", 180-90 lbs, size 11.5 boot, 23.5" stance. +18 -6 angles (usually.)
Generally riding as fast and hard as possible in natural terrain. Big, long, high speed turns. Powder, chunder, groomers, and natural airs. If a board is really surfy, I can be persuaded to slow down and spend some time slashing around. Not spending much time in the park.
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[@hb7030]

I really appreciate that you actually test gear in the conditions they're made for. A lot of reviewers just get boards, test them in whatever crap snow is out there, and then make a conclusion. Anyways, I just bought a storm wolf so I am not in the market for another powder board for a bit but just wanted to say you're doing a great job.

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks! I'm super curious about the Storm Wolf considering how much I love the Storm Chaser. Need to get on it.

[@hb7030]

@@Drift-ProductsAnd I want to get my hands on the storm chaser! If you are ever in Idaho, DM me and we can trade. I ride the 162 storm wolf.

[@Drift-Products]

Where are you riding in Idaho?

[@hb7030]

Boise and resorts within a few hours. So McCall and sun valley

[@aaronemmett3480]

Nice vid again, conditions looked awesome, itching to get out on the Powgoda. Great content

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks 👍

[@brianp9268]

I really like this format

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks, glad to hear it!

[@bakamono7]

Wow these are good reviews! Thanks for putting so much fun into them. My top 3 has changed a bit thanks to you Brigham. Gonna have to choose from Powgoda, 25 Storm Chaser w/ camber, or 25 Surfer with almost zero 3BT on tail and powder hull bat wing bubble.

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks so much! I'm excited to get on that new Surfer in some pow.

[@justinmuir9163]

That Snow looks so good...

[@Drift-Products]

It was!

[@user-bv7xn3jx5y]

I wish I was there man... Great vid!

[@Drift-Products]

Thank you! Not a bad day...

[@snaxs2000]

Sweet review. My hovercraft is coming in two days. Looks like it performed as I would expect.

[@Drift-Products]

You'll love it!

[@Jacko1980]

Another great review. Loving watching some snowboarding too, would have been interesting to see how the flagship did in that too

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks! I can tell you, the Flagship is almost as good as a pow board and way better once everything is tracked up. The only downside is it's not super turny or nimble. At least in the sizes I like to ride it.

[@victorystone1984]

I bought my first powder specific board this year, the Nidecker Beta 162. Before this I only ever had one board and as I've gotten older I wanted something that was less work in deep snow. The Beta did not disappoint. It's awesome in the steeps and in low angle pow it stayed on top. I know some people didn't like it but I highly recommend this board, especially for the price.

[@Drift-Products]

Rad board. I tried it but didn't get it in any pow. Nidecker has some sweet boards and good prices. I've owned two Mellows and ridden them a ton. Underrated for sure.

[@victorystone1984]

@@Drift-Products yeah I've been impressed with my boards fit and finish. Definitely got me looking at other Nideckers, especially for my kids. Definitely got my eyes on the 2025 Mellow, heard Angry mention it as a favorite so far

[@Batwing2465]

Well damn!!! Thanks to you and your excellent review, I'm out $600 after pulling the trigger on the Cardiff Powgoda 162. 🤣😂

[@Drift-Products]

Nice! I'll need to see if I can get a kickback from Cardiff for my hard work! Enjoy.

[@Batwing2465]

@@Drift-Products You should especially being a local. Cheers!!

[@SynergyMaxxx]

Nice review as always🙌 If you could choose only one board just only for powder (that float well both deep and small angle) among these four, which one would you choose? - K2 Special Effects - Jones Stormchaser - Nidecker Beta - Nidecker Mellow

[@Drift-Products]

Storm Chaser and then Special Effects. The Nideckers are good boards but they don't measure up to the other two in pure pow.

[@SynergyMaxxx]

@@Drift-Products Thanks a lot!

[@Phos9]

Was going to say that you could set the hovercraft further back, but getting more float by sinking the tail more adds drag. Actually has me wondering now if low angle float could be improved by moving weight a tiny bit forwards on the hovercraft, or if it wouldn't be able to stay afloat at all like that. I take it the powgoda remains the best in tracked powder? I think the reason it can deal with it so well is that there's no distinction between the front kick and the early rise, the board from rear kick forward is a stretched out S.

[@Drift-Products]

Actually had it set all the way back. I’ve also ridden it in pretty deep snow not so set back. It’s fine but has limits if the snow is deep enough.

[@joshuasills]

Has the Powgoda unseated the surfer as your favorite resort pow board? Great reviews as usual. Keep them coming.

[@Drift-Products]

Hmmm. Can't say it's unseated it but probably about the same. If the Surfer came in one size bigger, I'd probably still give the nod to the surfer by just a bit. The Powgoda feels maybe a touch more versatile.

[@timhunt7155]

I’m very tempted to get the storm chaser 24 as it’s on sale, how would it hold up on long snake tracks back to the lift? Or should I just get the camber version 25?

[@Drift-Products]

I think it would be fine, but the more icy and nasty the tracks get the worse it will do. If you really want it to be okay on edge you might want to wait for the 25 version. But I can tell you, the current one is so good in the pow!

[@tRickBeee]

xlnt video. ever try out an Amplid Morning Glory? looks like a similar outline to the Powgoda

[@Drift-Products]

I’ll bet it’s great, just a little too small for me for a board of this kind so I probably won’t ever get it.

[@Batwing2465]

Great review, but yes, it would have been interesting if the order of the boards were different considering the snow getting tracked out and also heavier as the day continued.

[@Drift-Products]

For what it's worth I've had the Storm Chaser and Powgoda in every kind of condition but I'd never tried the Hovercraft in that super deep untouched snow so I put them in that order on purpose. And I'd still put the Powgoda and Storm Chaser ahead of the Hovercraft in the deepest pow. Thanks for watching!

[@Batwing2465]

@@Drift-Products Thanks for the reply and the great content on your channel.

[@Drift-Products]

Thanks!

[@antonshoemaker665]

Size 12.5 boots fit on the 162 powgoda?

[@Drift-Products]

Yep wouldn’t be bad at all.

[@troypattillo4100]

Which mountain?

[@Drift-Products]

Beaver Mountain!

[@troypattillo4100]

@@Drift-Products I’m considering season passes for the kids and I. Is this your main playground?

[@Drift-Products]

Ya, it's the closest. I go South sometimes too. The terrain is limited but the Beav is a great place to hang with the fam.