I'm getting Cabin Fever lately and want to try flying in the snow.

I saw a video linked here with someone cruising with a nasawing on Skiboards. Compared to long skis and snowboards, they seem the easiest and most intuitive way to get moving out on the snow (online research also confirms that).

The only thing I heard is you have to land more carefully on them compared to long skis. They're also not so great on thicker powder, but you can turn and stop faster and at least you have 2 edges compared to snowboards.

They're just like skating (ice or inline) ... so much so, that my first outing on them, I kept face-planting while trying to step-turn corners

I got some Fischer Web XXLs which were, at the time, the widest buggers you could get - apparently the surface area of regular 160cm skis.
Powder is doable but you look a tit trying to balance and if you stop, you're sunk.
They're not actually that fast although they're much easier to go flat out on, as they change edges much quicker than I remember regular skis did and so you can get right over and use all the edge you got. Can stop quicker on my snowboard though ...

Awesome for groomed runs, great on ice (keep your edges sorted!) and ok in powder. Treat 'em like skates and we do half-pipe things, jumps etc no worries.

Fun factor warp 10!

I've got some ski skates (about a meter long) that are hella fun on hardpack and edge enough to hold back enough power to load up and jump. I was new to the airtime then so didn't land on the feet all that much (not that I do now) but the biding setup meant they stayed put so you spring back to your feet and throw yourself again. Not wide at all.

Powder was a no go.

Best part for me that you didn't need to cruise to build up speed to stay upwind....they were so short you could almost walk back to regain any lost ground.

These look like ski blades to me ... from Herc IIRC



Mac, I especially bought the wide ones. My buddy has Rossignol (sp?) ones and they're 99cm (the definitive length for ski blades/fun skis whatever they call this class of skis) but narrow like regular skis. But then, I weigh twice what he does and sink more in powder

You sorta gotta ride through powder like you're rollerskating or inline skating and are trying to balance on the rear wheels only - bloody hard work and not too much fun but doable. Powder that just comes up to the top of the boots is gravy

I was at the point of deciding between snowblades and skis last winter, and was advised to go with 130cm twin tip short skis because of my height and weight. I didn't really want full length skis because I don't plan on doing much downhill with them. Twin tip is not necessary, but it gives you the option to go backwards. Mine also have release bindings, which are key in the jumping situation. Although I haven't done many jumps with the skis, if I land wrong, supposedly they will pop off instead of breaking my legs. The extra length will also give a bit more forgiveness on the landing as opposed to the skiblades in the vid above.

The ideal that you still step easily appeals to me - just like you can leap off your ATM when necessary. But we still have such deep powder around here (or slick ice). I don't know if I would get much use from a pair this year.

Lad, if you can get a deal on them now, try it. That powder is gonna settle as it warms, then set up when it cools off at night, turning into something you'll be able to ride on the shorty's, then you are one step closer to familiarizing yourself to the fluffy stuff!

I might be closing in on a skiboard pair soon! :bisou:

Course, I'd still be a little freaked out if all drifts turn into hard ice patches.

That last video reminded me exactly of the cool vids by kite bladers, (except I'd much prefer my vulnerable hindquarters bouncing over snow than pavement!) :cool2:

I also just got a great deal on a new 162cm Morrow Lithium snowboard that would get me over the powder. But getting the fittings and boots will cost me more than the board...then there is all that "learnin' n' fallin' stuff" I'd have to do first.

*** If anyone wants to do a trade for some rigged skiboards, shoot me a U2U quick.

I think I got mine for $100CDN new - with bindings. I could make a quick call if that price sounds good.

New? Not bad. I think I spotted a slightly used, w/ bindings, for $50(?) - need boot, tho.

Just let me know - they were/are at SportMart up here and when I found mine they were stuck in a cardboard box in a nondescript place. Seems like they just have leftover that they can't rid themselves of. Then I saw them in the new stock at Sport Check around Christmas. Just say the word and I can see if I can track some down for you. I can ship them to you from NABX - but then you'd have to wait until next winter to try 'em probably.

I had thought of getting shorty twin tip skis for this winter but never bothered to ask the sales guys if you can mount big boy boots on the little skis (they are the junior sets).

These are the ones I have (the $100 ones):
Mole RPX175

Snowblades are a blast in hardpack. Very forgiving of poor kite handling in turns because you can get around so quick that even if the kite is too far ahead you'll catch right up. But they are skittish at speed.



Macboy - I'd skip those junior twin tips - they're not just short but designed for a lot lighter weight. Unless you're light as a kid, there won't be any pop, you'll just mush them out or break 'em.

krumly

I got a pair of nearly new Groove Taxi skiboards. They are a funky yellow and checker pattern, but fat and short (which is what I was looking for).

But, considering I'll be mounting the funky yellow and checker blades on some firetruck red thrift-store Nordica ski boots...well, let's just say I won't be trying these out near any crowds! :duh:

congrats! i can only say that snowblades aka skiboards re the most fun and the most easy way to get yourself into snowkiting. and dont worry about speed - if you are a beginner you will be going faster than you can bear with ;-) i remembe i had to edge very hard and direct them upwind to stop that kite from accelerating me freightingly faster and faster :o
and even in the lowest of posible kite-able winds, snowblades still rock:

here a video with snowblades and my 7.7 sqm lynn twister in about 4-8 knots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGO0Wep1bGA

Very smooth vid...

I gave the skiboards an initial try the other day and kinda stumbled - snow's still too deep and inconsistent. Also trouble standing back up! I'm still more comfortable on boards then skate - and even more comfortable in a buggy! :bird: