Frequently Asked Questions
Wait, aren’t those the lil skis people ride? Or those plastic grooved single skate decks?
A lot of people have used the name for their snowsport. Some are based on skis, some on skateboards. All are fun, but only some are our obsession :-)
- On the ski end, snowblades are the 2-3’ ‘short skis’ sometimes mislabed as snowskates. Ski boot sized ‘snow skates’ have a very similar name as well.
- On the skateboard end, there are (4) general categories of ‘snowskate,’ and within some a very diverse range of options that reflect the personal desires of each rider. These (4) categories are: single deck, bi-deck (most common & all-mountain capable), 4x4, and powdersurfers.
Where do I get one?
Online, mostly. There are only a few ‘large’ companies that produce enough qty to send to online and in-person ski shops, but most are available direct from their websites.
Where can I ride one?
Not every mountain is cool down with the disease (cool with it, in fixed-foot speak). Like the early days of snowboarding, some mountains just don’t let us ride: whether it’s mountain ops, ski patrol, management, or insurance – not everyone is willing to accept something new. Support those who will, especially the independent places. Always ride with respect, and follow the (4) main rules.
How I adjust / change my set up?
You can make all sorts of changes to customize your hardware. You can improve/adjust your grip. Change your deck, trucks, subski, leash. Adjust mount locations. Flip axel directions of your trucks (if truck allows). If you get a chance to meet another snowskater with an intriguing ride, ask if you can try it! We love to share our boards & help ppl find what works best for them. Only YOU can make your set ups what's best for YOU (and prevent forest fires).
Do you have any literature my good sir?
Yes, quite. We have a history of manuscripts documenting our sport. Well, sort of.
(2) Snowskate magazines have existed over the past 25 years, providing loads of entertainment & knowledge about our unique sport. We will work to add other documentation & more to this website, but these magazines had a noticeable impact on us in their past.
- Newborn - this slightly more recent magazine documented the sport as well, including more details of the scene in Europe. Does anyone have a link to an archive of this mag?
- Starfish - originally black&white, this eventually colorful tropical themed magazine had ads, photos, updates on contests, stories of wild times, and a resort guidebook to help direct us to friendly hills.
Where did it come from anyway?
During the last ice age, ancient native Hawaiians spent their winters surfing the snows of the summit of Mauna Kea, hiking a pilgrimage to honor their Gods of Stoke.
Nah, I'm kidding. But it does share a history with surfing, just like snowboarding. This binding-free concept has always been played with, but was sidelined during the early years of snowboarding, as bindings & technology improved that sport.
Legend has it, in the mid 90s Steve Frink put the first skateboard deck onto a ski and conquered his local mountain in WA with it, being the first to ride a bi-deck snowskate in it's current form. [Can you shed more light on this story? Scroll down to Contact Us & share your story!]
It didn’t ‘catch on’ (relatively speaking) until the 2000s when some snowboard companies started making bi-deck snowskates. Burton, Salomon, & a few others tried their hands at it, but kept the dimensions identical to a skateboard, which made it a little tough on the rougher surface of a ski mountain. Many viewed them as toys for the local sledding hill, and still scoff at them all to this day.
Soon thereafter some dudes in their garages, and professional dudes at Mervin Mfg (aka Lib Tech & GNU), started making better snowskates: larger, 35-45" x 9-10". They innovated flexible trucks, and then better skis, better leashes, better grip, better concave. Small companies grew, small companies shrank. The boards improved, the riders improved. But still, today, the sport has yet to go truly viral. Yes, it's bigger than ever before, with better availability, & more access. But we have a long way to go, as you'll often find yourself the only skater on the mountain, answering 'What is that?' every time you're in line. Come and enjoy the ride, some free soles, and a free soul.