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Growing the Sport
Thompson says the devices carve similar to that of ski-
ing, and the pole helps not only for initiating turns but also
with balance. “It’s fun carving on groomers and fantastic in
powder, and even moguls, where it really starts to have that
whitewater rapids type of feel, like bouncing from wave to
wave,” he adds. “You get a lot of great hooting and hollering
from the chairlift when you’re really going for it.”
Thompson received approval for bringing the SnoYak
device on chairlifts from the Vermont Passenger Tramway
Board in March 2018, the first step toward getting approval
for use at all Vermont ski areas. He plans to bring the SnoYak Courtesy of Skizee
to market with a limited release for the 2018-19 season
at a price point similar to the cost of a ski or snowboard/
The Skizee is a hand-controlled, powered device that propels the skier forward.
boots/bindings setup. He hasn’t encountered any resistance
to bringing his device to ski areas in New Hampshire and There is a lot of crossover, and a growing adaptive
Vermont, he says, because the SnoYak has a snowboard base community in kayaking and river sports as well as in winter
with metal edges, a safety leash, and can be attached at the sports, he adds.
foot to ride the chairlift safely. While all of these devices are human powered and gravity We customize
“I’ve also had a ton of interest from the adaptive side, powered, Jim Maidment, an inventor based in Labrador
which I hadn’t first expected,” Thompson says. “I had near Newfoundland in Canada’s easternmost province, is
planned to market it primarily to the whitewater side—core pioneering powered skiing with his SKIZEE (https://Skizee.ca). solutions.
kayakers, skiers, snowboarders, and newbies—but it turns “When I was a kid growing up in Happy-Valley-Goose
out that the SnoYak is a significantly less expensive product Bay, before the lifts were installed or at times when they
than a traditional sit-ski used by adaptive skiers, and for some weren’t working, I remember thinking if there was powered
adaptive users it may provide a much better experience.” skiing you could go anywhere,” says Maidment.

The American SkiBike Association For more information, visit
& Its Advocacy www.americanskibike.com

While ski bike policies vary greatly from one ski area to the next, the American SkiBike Association (ASA)
hopes to standardize the use of ski bikes across the industry, and has developed suggested best practices
for loading, riding, and unloading lifts safely with ski biking equipment.
According to Randy Kimball, ASA president from season, James Coleman of Mountain Capital Partners
2012 to 2017, consistent integration of ski bikes into introduced 40 new freestyle ski bikes across five ski
lift-served slopes would help ensure full-mountain areas in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona for rental
access. “Our goal is to be able to walk up to a lift, and use in snowsports programs.
show our ticket, ride the gear of our choice and enjoy “I have met many people who have never skied
the alpine environment,” Kimball says. before or thought they would never be able to ski
Some ski areas like Winter Park, Colo., already offer again who hopped on a ski bike and took to the
ski bike rentals and lessons, but others limit the use slopes,” said Jim Weiland, an adaptive instructor
of ski bikes as necessary adaptive equipment only. who also is an ASA adaptive rep and board member. AX500 Smart Gate NG
And while some areas still prohibit them altogether, Weiland, like many others, hopes that this season
Don’t ever let your customers wait in a ticket line again! Let them order
in 2018 around 115 US resorts allow ski biking in the number of ski bike riders on the slopes will be
tickets online, scan with their smartphone, pick up their lift pass and head directly to the lift.
some form, according to ASA. even more than last. Ski bikes have the potential to
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Programs like Disabled American Veterans attract thousands of bicycle enthusiasts and can offer teamaxess.com
included ski biking into their alpine programming a new snow experience for skiers of all ages and skill
for the first time during the 2016-17 season. And last levels, he said. —John Cameron

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20 | NSAA JOURNAL | FALL 2018
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