Snowblades pluses minuses..safety

[skizilla]

I am a long time skier and snow boarder and am thinking of getting snowblades. I skied them a couple times and liked them alot. Thye definatley made me a more capable skier in packed sno glades and steeps. Are there any disadvantages to them. Also I am tall and heavy are there any brands you would reccomend over others.

Are there any safety concerns with snowblades?

 

[cbcbd]

Haven't tried them, but the only concern with the snowblades with non-releasable bindings is that... they don't release.
But you can get blades with regular bindings.

 

[Grassi21]

I'm hoping to pick up some used snow blades for myself in the next year or two. Another parent (I think it was SkiDork) posted about wearing snowblades while helping his child learn how to ski. He claimed less fatigue in the thighs than using his normal boards.

 

[SkiDog]

really no offense, but kids might literally throw rocks at you...stick with REAL SKIS...just go a little smaller in length...

AND LEAVE THEM HOME IF THERE IS ANY POWDER...no float.


for kids to learn though...they seem like a good middle ground.

M

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

In the park they look like a blast, for beginners – great, but once you can ski the whole mountain, IMO, they are dangerous. They have no stability at speed.

 

[Grassi21]

The way I envisioned using them is on the bunny slope, holding my child in front of me while I wedge down the hill so he or she can get the feel of gliding down hill. Once the kid is able to ski outside of the bunny area I would ditch them in the closet until the next kid is up for learning.

 

[dl]

using blades to teach kids to ski is ideal. you can skate around all you want, ski backwards (they have twin tips), rush up hill if necessary, etc. i used them for this purpose (until they got ripped off) and i highly recommend them.

try them at speed however.....and you're on your own.

 

[thetrailboss]

I have a pair of Atomic Prime X skis that several members have seen me use. Unlike snowblades, these skis have conventional bindings as well as conventional ski dimensions (in width). They are 110 cm long. I believe that they are not on the market anymore, but a visit to EBay or a local shop might turn up a pair or two.

They handle very well at speed and are fun in most conditions. Deep snow--probably not. They hold edge well, but with that short of a stick, if you get on serious ice, you don't have as much grip, as I found out once on FIS at Sugarbush.

Another minor downside is that my pair have shop bindings on them...meaning that they can be adjusted to ANY boot size. Good for you and your significant other if you want to swap off; bad for security because anyone can walk off, or ski off with them by the flip of a couple switches.

My buddies have Snowblades and swear by them. They bomb down stuff and jump into the glades. IMHO they go too fast at times and ski out of control because their skis are so short.