2024-2025 Jones Storm Chaser, 152 cm
Available Sizes: 142, 147, 152, 157 cm
Stated Weight (152 cm): 6.6 lbs / 3 kg
Blister’s Measured Weight (152 cm): 6.7 lb / 3.05 kg
Stated Stated Nose-Waist-Tail Widths (152 cm): 32.2 / 27.5 / 30.2 cm
Stated Sidecut Radius (152 cm): 6.9 m
Rocker Profile: Christenson Surf Camber (rocker-camber-rocker)
Stated Flex Rating: 3/5
Core Construction: Bamboo surf core with paulownia, bamboo, and basalt stringers
Base: Sintered 8000 with Traction Tech 2.0 edges
Reviewer: 5’ 11”, 175 lbs / 180 cm, 79 kg
Stance: +29 / +5, 23”
Boots Used: K2 Ender, Nitro Select, K2 Orton
Bindings Used: Now O-Drive, Jones Apollo
Test Duration: 25 days
Test Locations: Alyeska Resort, Chugach Mountains, & Turnagain Pass, AK
Intro
The 2024/25 Surf Series from Jones is a snowboard collection comprised of the Storm Wolf, Mind Expander (including men’s, youth, split, and twin variants); Mountain Surfer (a bindingless pow surfer); and the freshly updated Storm Chaser, which is offered in both a split and solid. This lineup is the product of Jones’ collaboration with Chris Christenson, a world-renowned surfboard shaper, and it focuses on “hand shaped surf-inspired boards to deliver the most friction-free, effortless glide you will ever feel on snow”.
I was able to ride the Jones Storm Wolf over the last two seasons and was extremely pleased with its hard-charging performance on the deep days (see our Full Review), leaving me eager to try its shorter, surfier sibling, the Storm Chaser. Perhaps most of all, I was curious to see how it would ride in conditions other than pow, as a test of this short-and-wide shape’s versatility.
What Jones Says about the Storm Chaser
“The Storm Chaser is a powder hungry swallowtail designed by surf shaper Chris Christenson that floats like a dream and effortlessly glides through low angle terrain on the deepest days. It’s a phenomenal pow board as the Surf Camber profile pops the nose up when you lean into the fall line, but it’s also an epic spring carving board because its super wide so you won’t have toe or heel drag.”
Construction
The Storm Chaser is built around a bamboo core with paulownia and bamboo stringers in the pocket of the sidecut, which are meant to improve edge response and turning power. Basalt stringers and biaxial fiberglass are added to reportedly enhance the torsional response and increase the transfer of power along the length of the board, while also helping to eliminate chatter in the tip and tail. In practice, I have been impressed by how damp the Storm Chaser’s nose is while riding rough terrain and have experienced minimal chatter.
This board’s sintered 8000 base feels fast and seems to retain wax well, even on abrasive icy groomers and spring corn. I did manage to get a narrow, 3cm-long base shot from something very sharp at the resort, but I am pretty impressed by both the minimal damage and how well the p-tex repair bonded to the base.
Maintaining their environmentally conscious practices, the Jones Storm Chaser utilizes recycled rounded ABS sidewalls, recycled oversized edges, bio-resin, and a top sheet made of castor beans. I have grown to appreciate the oversized edges fully wrapping around the shape of the Storm Chaser to add protection around its more vulnerable swallowtail. The top sheet seems durable after 25+ days of use at the resort and getting bounced around on my snowmachine’s snowboard rack, plus it does a great job of shedding snow and ice buildup.
The Storm Chaser, along with many other current Jones boards, goes through a process that they call “Forever Flex,” which is meant to eliminate a break-in period and achieve consistent flex throughout the life of the board. Jones claims that, by flexing the fresh board fibers and epoxy at the factory, the materials settle into their final arrangement within the board’s layup. This is reportedly done with machines to mimic extreme riding to help stabilize the flex and rocker of their boards. In my eyes, it seems to deliver its promised consistency — I haven’t noticed any considerable softening or change in flex / snap of the Storm Chaser, nor the Storm Wolf (which I have logged well over 60 days on).
Shape
The Storm Chaser has a distinctive shape that’s optimized for carving in powder and on fresh groomers. Intended to be ridden several centimeters shorter than a typical shape, the Storm Chaser packs substantial float in a fairly stubby shape, accomplished through its very wide nose and waist. This is paired with a tapered tail, which enhances the board’s maneuverability by reducing drag and allowing for quick, responsive turns.
The 24/25 shape has undergone some changes from last year. In addition to the transition from rocker to traditional camber underfoot (keep reading), the 24/25 model has a 5 cm longer contact length but a 9 cm shorter effective edge when comparing the new and old 152 cm lengths. The new model also features a narrower tip and tail, and a slight redesign of the tail shape.
Like all of its siblings in the Surf Series, the Storm Chaser features a 3D contour base, which uses a 7 mm spoon-like bevel on the nose over the rockered section. This bevel keeps the nose feeling faster via drag reduction while also helping to make turns feel smoother and surfier. While the spooned nose on the Storm Wolf wasn’t very noticeable on groomers, the 3D nose is quite evident with the Storm Chaser. With such a wide nose and shorter shape, the roll from edge to edge on firmer conditions seems much smoother, faster, and requires less effort on the Storm Chaser than on similar shapes such as the Rossignol Sushi, Season Forma, and others. In powder, the Storm Chaser’s 3D nose is phenomenal — more on that in the Powder section below.
Featuring a fairly tight 6.9 m sidecut radius, the 152 cm Storm Chaser feels extremely nimble and excels at tighter carves. This playful sidecut is not the most conducive to high speed, Super-G-inspired carving by any means, but is instead designed for playful, slashy riding. I typically opt for stiff boards that inspire confidence at high speeds with the desire to ride fast, and that usually means longer sidecut radii. The Storm Chaser is not that, but as I’ll discuss, I’ve come to fully embrace its surfy, playful spirit.
The Storm Chaser’s newly updated tail is fairly typical for shorter volume-shift swallowtails and is quite similar to that of the Season Forma, though the Storm Chaser’s tail comparatively features more exaggerated rocker.
Finally, a note on the edge design. The Storm Chaser features Jones’ Traction Tech 2.0, which consists of two “traction bumps” along the sidecut — think of it as a dialed-back version of Mervin Manufacturing’s Magne-traction found on Lib Tech and Gnu boards. As with the Jones Storm Wolf, I haven’t noticed any negative effects while riding powder and do feel it’s generally helpful on firmer conditions by creating more edge bite. The Storm Chaser’s edge serrations do feel more subtle / less noticeable than Jones’ Traction Tech 3.0 and other more aggressive Magne-traction-like designs from other board manufacturers. Perhaps the 3.0 grips better on ice and harder conditions, but the 2.0 feels more intuitive and smoother overall, especially when railing carvable conditions.
Rocker / Camber Profile
New for 24/25, the Storm Chaser features a “Christenson Surf Camber” profile instead of the previously used “Christenson Surf Rocker” profile. While I have not spent any time on the older Storm Chaser or Christenson Surf Rocker profiles, I conceptually think the change to a more camber-heavy profile is a step in the right direction.
I typically prefer camber between the bindings for improved edge hold, carving, and pop. With the Storm Chaser’s Surf Camber profile, the rockered portion at the nose begins right at the binding inserts, and the tail kicks up just aft of the v-notch of the swallowtail. Compared to the similar shape of the Season Forma (153 cm), the 152 cm Storm Chaser features significantly more rocker lift overall, as well as a much longer section of rocker in the nose. I’ll give more detail on how this rides down below, but the Storm Chaser seems considerably more nimble and planes more quickly in powder than the Forma, which I think is due in part to the Storm Chaser’s more dramatic rocker. Its camber between the bindings does an excellent job holding an edge when the board is laid over, both in deep carves and with quick, slarvy turns. For a shorter, volume-shifted swallowtail, the camber in Storm Chaser still feels poppy and snappy when airing cliffs and making the most of side hits.
Flex Pattern
Jones rates the flex of the Storm Chaser as 3/5 and a “happy medium personality,” which seems fairly accurate and matches the board’s shape very well. Under my 175 lbs, the 152 cm Storm Chaser’s flex feels lively and playful, both longitudinally and torsionally, which aids in getting such a wide shape from edge to edge. As a rider who often leans toward stiffer boards, boots, and bindings, I was pleasantly surprised by the Storm Chaser’s fun and dynamic ride, especially in untracked powder and on fresh groomers.
I should note that I have primarily ridden the Storm Chaser with stiff, carbon-highbacked bindings (Now O-Drive and Jones Apollo). Given that the Storm Chaser is such a wide board, I have found that a stiffer binding combination helps to get the board on edge easier and is more effective in transferring power compared to softer bindings like the Union Atlas or Force. Compared to the Season Forma and Rossignol XV Sushi, the Storm Chaser feels slightly softer throughout the entire board, especially between the bindings.
Overall, the flex of the Storm Chaser is well matched for a nimble, surfy shape that rails turns in pow and on groomers. While I would prefer a stiffer flex for bombing through tracked snow or chop, the Storm Chaser feels lively and right at home sending side hits and dropping cliffs.
FULL REVIEW
Now that we have covered the basic construction, tech, and shape of the Storm Chaser, let’s dive deeper into how it performs on the mountain:
Powder
Of all the surfy, stubby, volume-shift boards I have been on, the Storm Chaser is one of my favorites for a few reasons. The Storm Chaser rides the line well between being short and maneuverable and long enough to feel fairly fast in deep powder.
For most powder days with over a foot of new snow, I usually opt for a swallowtail or fish shape in the 158 – 176 cm range, such as the Amplid Snowmellier, Jones Storm Wolf, or Weston Japow, since they are easier to ride in powder and much faster when the snow feels bottomless. I’ve found the volume-shift shapes in the 144 -153 cm range — especially the Rossignol XV Sushi, former K2 Cool Bean, and Season Forma — can feel sluggish and boggy when riding on lower-angled terrain with bottomless pow. That said, they can be a blast on days when it’s snowed less than about 12” or you’re otherwise feeling the firmer base underneath the fresh snow.
In the case of the Storm Chaser, it successfully bridges the gap for those looking for an agile board for tighter terrain that doesn’t feel excessively slow in deep or low-angle powder. With more volume than the longer pow-focused boards, the Storm Chaser floats with ease and does not bounce along the subsurface on shallower powder days, making it a prime candidate for lighter, continental-style snowpacks and boot-to-deep days.
Of the similar shapes I have tested, the Storm Chaser is one of the more well-rounded options, having enough float to be pretty fast yet remaining very surfy and slashy due to its playful shape. The spooned shape of its 3D nose does a fantastic job keeping the tip up when conditions get deep while remaining easy to roll from edge to edge. The shape of the updated tail feels efficient in reducing leg burn on deep days, yet is well balanced and keeps the tail from sinking excessively low, which can create unwanted drag (especially with similarly short shapes).
The maneuverability and versatility of the Storm Chaser in deep and shallower powder is impressive. I appreciate how the board will lock into powerful, stable carves, but can still be flicked by slightly loading the nose for instant slashes and great agility in tighter terrain. Longer boards (e.g., Storm Wolf and Weston Japow) inspire more confidence at higher speeds with set up or tracked powder, which is largely due to their added length and stiffer flex patterns. However, with those sorts of longer boards, pow days with less than 10-12” can start to feel “scratchy” due to their long swallowtails bouncing off the subsurface when laying over turns. It’s here where stubbier shapes like the Storm Chaser seem to shine.
Soft Chop
In soft chop and moderately to heavily tracked snow, the Storm Chaser is adequate. As mentioned above, longer and/or stiffer shapes such as the Amplid Snowmellier, Season Forma, Nitro Squash, Weston Japow, or Jones Storm Wolf absorb or blast through tracked snow much better, especially at higher speeds.
The Storm Chaser does fine at slower speeds, feeling easily controllable, but it takes significantly more user input at higher speeds to remain in control and absorb chatter / chop. I think the instabilities of riding on soft chop come largely from its shorter length and lack of tail. It’s especially evident when riding wet, heavy snow at Alyeska Resort; the Storm Chaser generally feels more stable in lighter, lower-density snow.
Crud and Variable Snow
Although swallowtail shapes (especially short ones) are not generally the first pick for variable snow and chunder, the Storm Chaser does a decent job of absorbing and carving through it — as long as speeds don’t get too high.
As the pace picks up, the inherently short effective edge and tighter sidecut radius feel less trustworthy. Its edge hold is generally predictable on variable snow, but I have found the Storm Chaser is prone to losing an edge when the conditions get icy — most notably in high-use traverses and scraped-off rollovers.
Unsurprisingly, I find longer and stiffer boards like the Season Forma and Squash to handle chunder and firmer conditions with a greater sense of composure. True to the underlying theme of the Storm Chaser being a cruiser board and not so much a “hard charger,” its edge hold and carving performance feels just fine at a more mellow pace.
Groomers
Let’s get right to it: I have yet to find a board that is as much fun to carve as the Jones Storm Chaser.
Its sidecut is a perfect match for the flex and shape, inspiring more edge-to-edge carving per vertical foot than I have felt with any other board. Yes, I have become infatuated with the euro carve after riding the Storm Chaser for a season.
The Storm Chaser’s shape and camber encourage aggressive, laid-over carving with unprecedented edge hold. Its wide nose and tail prevent any heel or toe drag, allowing for the edge to dig deep. While I typically do not have issues with toe and heel drag (using a size 9-10 boot), the Storm Chaser’s width means I haven’t even come close to losing an edge due to boot drag.
Edge-to-edge transitions are surprisingly smooth and fluid on the Storm Chaser, especially compared to the Rossgnol Sushi and Season Forma, which I believe is in part due to the smooth transition offered by the Storm Chaser’s 3D spooned nose. Perhaps it’s my riding style, but I have found some of the wider shapes can be harder to drive and transition from edge to edge — but not with the Storm Chaser.
Groomer-specific shapes such as the Amplid Pentaquark and (presumably) the Jones Freecarver series (which I have not tested) are designed for fast, hard, precise carving with supportive tails. In contrast, the Storm Chaser takes a more playful, surf-inspired approach to carving. As seen in its powder performance, the Storm Chaser can rapidly transition from a fully loaded, laid-over euro-style carve to slashing huge powder clouds on groomers. The price for this playfulness is the precision and predictability of edging on ice and very firm conditions, where it feels more prone to washing out. But on fairly grippy groomers, it’s been an absolute blast.
Of the similar swallowtails / pow-groomer boards I’ve tested, my three favorites in terms of overall performance in both powder and on groomers are the Storm Chaser, Weston Japow, and Nitro Squash. Of the three, the Storm Chaser is the most playful and agile on edge, while the Japow and Squash offer more stability at higher speeds due to their longer shape and more supportive tails.
Spring Corn and Hot Pow
The Storm Chaser was one of my go-to boards for harvesting spring corn and hot pow last season. It felt right at home laying deep carves and playful slashes on corn, offering enough float and volume to stay on top regardless of how hot or decomposed the snow was. Despite its pow-focused shape, it offered enough rigidity in the shovel to avoid folding there and the spooned nose was noticeable in how easily it glided through wet and heavy pow while still offering a lot of maneuverability. The Storm Chaser is stiff enough to slash and spray heavier snow with ease while still feeling nimble and easy to throw around, performing similarly here as it does in shallower powder.
Who’s It For?
The Storm Chaser is ideal for intermediate to expert level riders who are looking for a short, nimble board with a focus on powder performance, carving, and a surf-inspired approach to riding the mountain. It feels energetic all over the mountain, but in pow and on fresh corduroy, the Storm Chaser begs to be laid over on edge.
For those looking for a stable, hard-charging board for the deepest of days and the choppy conditions that often come after, look elsewhere. Opting for a longer shape — such as the Storm Chaser’s sibling, the Storm Wolf — can offer a lot more stability and a higher speed limit. However, for those who enjoy the art of the carve and take a cruisy, playful approach to the mountain, the Storm Chaser is definitely worth a ride. It’s a blast in fresh snow, offering enough float for most powder days, yet can also rail groomers with excellent edging when laid over in any condition apart from slick ice. Overall, it’s one of the more versatile volume-shifted swallowtails I have had the chance to ride.
Bottom Line
The Storm Chaser is true to its namesake — it is a fantastic powder board for chasing pow. While there are more confidence-inspiring boards for the deepest days of the year, especially if you prefer big turns over quick carves, the Storm Chaser is a unique board that floats well, carves beautifully, and remains extremely maneuverable.
Where the Storm Chaser really stands out from similar shapes is its versatility and performance on groomers. It does a fantastic job transitioning from fields of pow to manicured corduroy, enticing the rider to continue to lay the Storm Chaser high on edge and rail turns the whole way down.
Great Review! I was about to pull the trigger on a Telos Backslash until I read this review. Now, the first world problems of choice arise. Any time on the backslash that you would care to share? or any theoretical comparison perhaps? cheers
Hey Jeremy, Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, I have not logged any time on the Telos Backslash to make comparisons, but it does look like a fun shape! While the specs are fairly comparable (nose, waist, and tail widths), the biggest differences I picked out at a glance are the sidecut radius, effective edge lengths, tip length, and tip shape. I can’t speak directly about performance comparisons. Still, I would suspect the Storm Chaser with the shorter sidecut radius (6.9m / 152cm vs Backslash 7.1 / 9.4m / 153cm) and effective edge length (107cm / 152cm vs Backslash 117cm / 153cm) would feel more maneuverable and nimble. I’m guessing the Backslash would be a bit more stable due to the geometry and stiffer flex on variable, firm snow. Another feature that stands out in the Jones lineup is the 3D nose in powder. It feels faster and a little easier to throw around when conditions are deep compared to similar shapes such as the Season Forma. Alternatively, a similar shape that I have grown to love is the Jones Hovercraft, which seems like a longer (but still volume-shifted) version of the Backslash. Hopefully that doesn’t further complicate your decision, but it’s worth a look. If you do opt for the Backslash, I’d love to hear your thoughts after you get some time on it!