snowblades - SB-ten

[el-bagr]

Last night I picked up some lightly-used Salomon SB-Ten snowblades for $99. I've never ridden snowblades before, but they've always looked interesting and the price seemed right. Anyone have any experience with these little guys? Bladegirl?

[BladeGirl]

That would be me. My hubby switched to blades after breaking his tibia and fibula skiing, and having a plate put in his leg six years ago. he said that the torque longer skis put on his leg felt uncomfortable.

I tried 'em and liked 'em. Not enough to switch for good (a ski both my blades and my Rossi Bandit XLs), but I use 'em at Tux because they are lighter to carry up and are good for tight spots (chutes and the like). They are a ball in the trees and are fun on bumps too. They ARE less stable and more wiggly, and I find I need to put more weight on them to stop the wiggling. I bet you pick it up in two runs, though. Have fun!

-BG

[el-bagr]

Great, thanks BG. I thought they looked fun all around, and particularly useful for backcountry chute descents. Hopefully I have found new gully-rockets!

[BladeGirl]

el-bagr:
Great, thanks BG. I thought they looked fun all around, and particularly useful for backcountry chute descents. Hopefully I have found new gully-rockets! er, well, I left out one big failing: they SINK in light powder. At least ours do. So far we've only had that problem out west (Utah). But the darn things are so small, they make a great second set for play, so have fun!

-BG

[NH_tele]

I can't imagine skiing Tucks on Snow Blades...

Of course, that would probably involve locking my heel down, and we can't have that, can we? ;)

[Lftgly]

I find them great on rock hard icy groomed runs, like a bad day at :cannon: . I once skied two dozen runs on Zoomer's icy moguls, and actually enjoyed it on snowblades. I would have quit after one run with my usual boards.

I tried them once as an alternative for late summer skiing in Tucks, since I knew it was going to be hard corn and short runs. They worked well (the less the skis weigh, the more :beer: you can pack up!).

Since then, they've been relegated to groomed runs. Early season, when you're skiing the same runs over and over, it's like a whole new mountain when you switch to blades.

My suggestion: when your legs get tired and you're ready to quit at the end of a day skiing on your regular boards, grab the blades for the last hour. You'll find that you use slightly different muscles, they're lighter, and you can still carve after the good cover is skied off.

BG is right. Take it easy for the first two or three runs, as you make the adjustment to the shorter length. Also, if you're going to switch off on pairs of skis, I'd recommend you ski the long boards earlier, the blades later in the day. It's harder going up in length.

[M@]

I rented a piar last year at gunstock - was skiing with the inlaws and got pretty tired of the same old run over and over. So I rented a pair and had a ball. Lots of fun - and perfect for the times when you've done all there is to do.

One word of advice: After you learn to go backwards on them - realize that when you catch and edge going backwards, your going down HARD. I bounced my chrome-dome pretty hard.

If you can ski the long-boards, you can do the skates no problem.

Decathalon in New Hampster is going outta biz, (Ski+Ride and KmRn take note) and I checked yesterday and ski stuff was up to %20 off. We're checking again on fri I think, and I've got my eye on some noridca boots, and some of the blades.

[elwood]

Do you use poles when blading? I've seen these crazy kids without poles, but that would bee too much like SNOWBOARDING for me!!! Knuckle draggers... :p :D

[DMC]

I dont know about those blades...
Just about everyone I see riding them looks like they are going to fall on their face...

[BladeGirl]

Elwood,
There is no reason to use poles with blades. I've tried it both ways and it is a different experience with poles than without. With poles it is more rhythmic and restrictive, more like regular skiing. Without poles one can be more unpredictable.

Lftgly,
Sometimes I'll start on my long boards and carry the blades to the top & chain 'em up, then switch later in the afternoon, but switch back for the last run to carry the blades down. makes for easy switching.

DMC,
You haven't seen bladeguy. Since he's used 'em exclusively for five years he's gotten really really good, and looks it too.

-BG

[M@]

I look like I'm gonna fall over any second. And I do fall over quite a bit, but I've only done it once. They're on sale next door though (decathalon) and I might grab a pair. I figure they'd be excellent for the little one's lessons. NO big long skiis to get in the way.

But it's an entirely differn't type of skiing, altogether.

[Finhead]

Hi all. Just some ramblings from a long time quiet lurker.

I have a pair of Canon M5 ski boards. 113mm wide. Not bad in light pow, unless you trek way into the (Mt Snow North Face) glades looking for fresh pow. Then my 200lbs sunk real quick.

I do love them on the groomers and icy bumps. I equate them to roller blading on snow. You can hop, skip, and cha cha over most anything.

Forward and backward balance can take a little getting used to, however, they actually make me look good in the steep, packed moguls. Unlike the long boards.

When the legs are burning or the runs are just packed crud, I will switch to the ski boards and it is a whole new playground.