Anybody ever try these things? I'm going skiing for one day (tomorrow) and I've really only been skiing three times in my life. I found it a lot easier to pick up as a kid.. the one time I went as a college student I remember falling a lot more. Anyway apparently I can rent "snow blades" if I want to but I have no idea about the conventional wisdom on these things... anyone ever try them before?

2/15/2008 9:28:50 AM

It's the only thing my wife & I use.

I took 3 snowboard lessons (three!) and nearly killed myself by the end of the week. I was worthless. I took skiing lessons and did "okay" (i.e. I could make it down the green slopes). I popped on a set of snow blades and was in heaven. Cruised down the greens/blues with no problem. Turning was so much easier than those long freaking skis and I never crossed my tips.

4 years later I've handled every black diamond I've faced on the blades. I would chalk this up to "me being me," but my wife had basically the same exact situation. She couldn't ski to save her life, so we got her on these, and a day later she was hanging with me.

Bottom line: everyone I've known to try them thinks they're 100% easier to control and stop with vs. skiis, and since snowboarding is an ENTIRELY different animal, I won't even compare.
Give 'em a try, there's no way you do worse on them than skiis. And don't use poles -- these are so short you can "skate" (seriously, make the motion as if you were on roller blades) to the lifts and whatnot

[Edited on February 15, 2008 at 9:51 AM. Reason : d]

2/15/2008 9:51:06 AM

that's what I was hoping to hear. they are only $5 more to rent (with a $200 deposit though!) and I figure, since I'm only going to be there for one day (Galena, IL), I might as well just try to maximize my time out there and not worry about trying to re-learn how to ski from back when I was in fifth grade

2/15/2008 9:52:45 AM

I have a pair of solomon snow blades, and they're all I've ever used. Its very easy to pick up...I never took any lessons, and a few hours into my first trip I had it down to the point that I was skiing the black diamonds, and hitting jumps.

2/15/2008 10:10:09 AM

may not be as fast, but yeah you pick stuff up quick.

good for people that don't want to learn how to ski.

will get left behind by your more advanced friends though.

2/15/2008 11:02:35 AM

I figure that I'll get left behind busting my ass on skis every five minutes anyway

2/15/2008 11:15:39 AM

thats probably a good point

2/15/2008 11:45:53 AM

What's a good size for me?

I'm 5'10, 165lbs.

I'm pretty sure I want them on the shorter side since I plan on getting into the more aggressive side of things, I just dont know how short is TOO short.


edit.

[Edited on February 15, 2008 at 12:06 PM. Reason : too short]

2/15/2008 12:04:07 PM

Yeah I'm so trying these next time I go. I used to do some pretty serious speed skating stuff back in the day (like won a bunch of competitions and shit) so I think I'd pick it up pretty quick.

2/15/2008 12:08:51 PM

yeah, i used to be a skater kid back in the day. If it's anything like aggressive skating, I should be money.

2/15/2008 12:10:54 PM

I hope you're comfortable with yourself, because everyone on the mountain is going to think you look like an idiot.

2/15/2008 4:07:56 PM

Man-up and learn how to ski.

2/15/2008 4:18:17 PM

I have a pair of Line Jedi's (later became some other name because of copyright infringements) which are different than the Solomon snowblades but kind of the same principle. They are a lot of fun and if you are worried about "looking like an idiot" as ddf583 so elegantly put it, you won't look any worse than a n00b on a snowboard who will spend 75% of the day on his ass.

My skiboards are 90cm in length. I think the max is officially 110. I wouldn't go less than 80 because its just weird. Also at least on mine, the bindings don't release, so when you do fall try not to go flopping down the mountain head over heels or you could break a leg. I fell wrong once and felt a lot of uncomfortable pressure on my Tibia.

2/15/2008 6:08:05 PM

yeah first time i went i used blades, probably did exponentially better than i would have on traditional skis

2/15/2008 6:35:42 PM

fruitboots of the mountain.

2/15/2008 7:02:55 PM

I couldnt give two shits about what other people think.

I'm out there to have fun. I'm decent on regular skis, but just think that snowblades look pretty fun.

2/16/2008 12:23:31 PM

they are fun. especially when you're gracefully going backwards - while beginner snowboarders not-so-gracefully fall - down the mountain.

2/16/2008 6:31:50 PM

They're really fun. I always just rent, but I'm about 5'9" and 160 lbs and I think they give me ~ 90 - 100 cm in length. Just make sure you get the bindings that release like regular skis. I know a couple of people that have broken their legs really badly on the bindings that didn't release.

2/17/2008 1:12:33 PM

by the time I got to the resort on saturday morning I had come to the conclusion that my last time skiing (jan 05) was so miserable and hard on me because of the icy, icy snow. I wanted to not be afraid of skiing and I was pretty sure I could do it if the snow was at least somewhat forgiving. it was. the weather was beautiful, the snow was mostly soft and I skiied fairly well all day. I didn't bust my ass once! granted it was galena, il and not colorado but I felt a LOT more in control than my last time.

and yeah, those snow blades did look pretty silly in comparison, though they'd be fun to try one day. but I'm glad I went with skiis...

[Edited on February 17, 2008 at 4:32 PM. Reason : .]

2/17/2008 4:30:55 PM

Quote :

"fruitboots of the mountain."

2/17/2008 4:42:16 PM