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Growing the Sport
LETTING IT SLIDE

Ski Bikes, Fat Bikes, Ski-Sled Hybrids, and Powered Skis Gain Momentum

BY COLIN BANE

IN THE 1990S, RENEGADE SNOWBOARDERS BATTLED for access
to the slopes—today, they’re a welcome core of our customer
base. Will that someday be the case for some of the alterna-
tive sliding devices now on the market? Given the growing
emergence of these sports at numerous ski areas, there is an
opportunity to expand winter sports even more.
Proponents say these snow-sliding devices are a great way
to bring new guests to the mountains. They have an easier
learning curve, can be less physically demanding than skiing
and snowboarding, and are likely to appeal to many adaptive
users—which is why many areas are already offering them,
or are quickly warming up to the idea.
Just as snowboarding borrowed from skateboarding,
most of these alternative sliding activities bring elements
of other sports, from mountain biking to kayaking. Here is
a look at some of the most popular ones.
One of the hottest alternative sliding devices on the
slopes right now is the SKI BIKE (also called the SNOW BIKE).
Nearly one in four ski areas in the US now welcome them,
a number that is growing quickly, says Jeff Butcher, a board
member of the American SkiBike Association.
The association was formed in 2001 to grow the sport, Courtesy of SNO-GO
promote competitions and events, increase rider safety aware-
ness, and improve access for adaptive as well as non-adaptive
participants (www.americanskibike.com). While the association The SNO-GO is a seatless device with two rear skis that turn in parallel when the
user stands on the rear skis and leans on the handlebars.
is relatively young, ski bikes and earlier iterations of the sport
have been around for decades as a niche sport. of wheels attached. The rider uses the ski edges to steer and
“I’ve been riding ski bikes for nearly 50 years,” says control the bike.
Butcher, co-owner of Koski Snowsports, a prominent ski There are three main categories of ski bikes. Type 1 is a
bike manufacturer in Tiburon, Calif. “We’re welcomed at “ski bob”-style bike with two skis attached—one in front and
over 115 resorts and on our way to being welcomed just one in back. The rider sits down and uses short foot-skis for
about everywhere. It’s really in the last five years that ski extra balance and steering control. Because the Type 1 ski
bikes have really started to take off across the country.” bike has a low center of gravity and four points of contact
Butcher attributes the recent growth to improvements with the snow, it is usually considered the easiest to learn.
in equipment and an increased willingness from ski areas to Type 2 is a “freestyle ski bike—essentially a full-frame
work with manufacturers to develop safety standards and best mountain bike with a front and rear ski and with foot pegs
practices. “The biggest thing is visibility,” he adds. “The more (in place of pedals) attached to the frame. The rider, wear-
people see ski bikes out there and have access to them, the ing snow boots, generally stands on the pegs but can also sit
more they’re thinking, ‘Gee, that looks like fun!’ and wanting down on the bike. This type of bike provides a higher center
to give it a go.” of gravity and has two points of contact with the snow.
In general, the design of a ski bike is similar to a conven- Types 1 and 2 are the most commonly seen ski bikes
tional bike in that it has a metal frame, but with skis instead at US ski areas, but a recent evolution is the Type 3 ski

14 | NSAA JOURNAL | FALL 2018