 Poster: A snowHead
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I was at the GMEX ski show this weekend and was quite impressed with a set of blades with full release bindings.
As I only have the use of one arm I ski without poles anyway and do my best to only ski on piste would it be worth my while considering ditching my Atomics and getting some blades.
My main concern is that I would need to take both blades and skis to cover all eventualities which isn't realy an option.
Certainly if blades could cover most situations it would be much easier for me if only from a carrying point of view.
Any views on this would be helpfull.
Thanks.
Stephen.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Stephen I'm not a fan of blades, whenever I've used them, which is only once or twice a season, I've always had the feeling that there's nothing I'm doing that I wouldn't enjoy doing more on skis.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hi Stephen, if you're on piste most of the time then Blades should work well for you. Their limitations are in powder and at speed. If you're addicted to the feel of a well-edged ski locked into a high-speed carve then you might not get the buzz you're looking for...  ...but apart from that...
...why not hire a pair for a week and see how you get on in a variety of conditions?
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Stephen - Atomic have a set of slightly longer blades around 120cm with Full release bindings which should give you extra speed plus enable you to go slightly off piste. I use a pair of Head 94's with full release and find them very enjoyable.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Stephen, sound like blades would be ideal if you only want to play on the piste.
Blades are great fun and will perform well on hard pack, bumps or on a piste covered by 4" of snow.
Fringe off piste is do-able with fat blades but its hard work. For best effect on groomed smooth piste they should always be kept on an edge with your centre of gravity kept low.
If you like to go flat out in a straight line then they are not for you. But if you just like messing about then they're a blast.
I take mine and use them on and off throughout the week. The rest of the time I hire skis to suit my mood/conditions.
As you do not use poles they'll be easier to deal with in lift queues and to carrying to and from the slopes. I clip the leashes of the blades together and drape round my neck when walking to and from the slopes freeing up my arms.
As J2Dave says "hire a pair"
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have skied (sorry bladed) a couple of times and really enjoy the blast. I have a friend with the use of only one arm, he is a recent convert to blades and really enjoys it. He doesn't venture off piste and therefor there is not a problem.
Hire a pair and enjoy! If you are thinking of blading and skiing in the same week, go skiing first as it is hard to go back to the long planks after the blades. I pick up too many bad habits. I may be the only one that has this problem.
Enjoy 
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Blades are excellent fun, the only reservation I have is that I somehow feel i'm cheating and taking an easy option as on normal pisted runs I find them so easy to use.
I don't suppose that really matters though, skiing is about having fun isn't it?
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As far as I'm concerned, you can take every last one of the evil little pieces of oedure and recycle them into proper snow tools. Then peg out the inventor to be ravaged by a rabid marmot and his bones spread to every corner of the Alps! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Masque
I guess you are not a fan of blades then.
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Masque, come on now, don't be so reticent, say what you really feel. I suppose this means that if we offered you the use of snowblades you reject them.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Here here Masque!
It's not so much blades, more some of the prats who use them. It's the same with any method of getting down the mountain that is preferred by teenaged boys, they seem to upset every other type of snow user.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Stephen Sadler wrote: |
I was at the GMEX ski show this weekend and was quite impressed with a set of blades with full release bindings.
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I don't get that, the reason there's typically not normal bindings on blades is that you're not generating enough turning force to release them. There's no reason you can't take any stock binding and stick it on blades, is there something different about these?
Personally, I think they're awful things and ought to be banned, they're the the Ford Capri/Escort of the slopes and favoured by louts who can't be bothered to learn to ski. Whatever they cost it's money better spent on learning to ski properly. That would be my opinion anyway
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You know it makes sense.
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Comprex, we've 6 sets of blades in the chalet for guests to use. They're all Dynastars, no problems with them, but they don't get a lot of use. It's quite interesting, everyone wants to try them but I've never known anyone keep them out for more than one day. No experience of fitting lifter plates but I wouldn't think it neccesary, the blades are quite wide and by the time you've got them on edge you're probably past the point of no return. I'm with Masque i hate the bl**dy things.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'd rather slide down an icy black on my butt with my pants tangled in my boot clips than ever get on another pair! Many years after the 'incident', I'm starting to get 'flashbacks'. This I don't need in my dotage. It's bad enough that I'm stuck on skis until I'm fitter and the leg's stronger. Could be an interesting season!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Stephen Sadler, you can look upon skiboards (blades) as just an extreme carving ski especially the longer skiboards of 120 cm. Not so good in deep soft stuff or on frozen crud but nor are extreme carving skis. On piste they will take you anywhere that skis will.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Well, Stephen, personally I love my blades, but only go out about 3 times a year on them. (That's approx the number of lessons I teach on blades). I used to use them a lot, but then they got popular with morons ..................... Have you tried very short skis? Around 120-140 or so? I reckon that would do both jobs for you, and save any inconvenience carrying 2 lots with one arm. Blades are really for fun and games, good for balance, good for getting nervous people out of snowplough, but rubbish as an everyday ski. BTW even the snowboarders were complaining about the bladers last winter. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Why is it that any discussion about blades/ski boards always brings out nonsensical opinion by people who should know better - Anyone remember Jopro? 
These are inanimate objects! How can you possibly “hate the bloody things” or use the term "evil" to what is essentially a short ski?
You may not care for the minority of nutters that use them or indeed enjoy the sensation of blading yourself, but that’s not what this post is about.
As for the people who use blades….
I am 36 and whether I ski, board or blade I am courteous and safe at ALL times. Personally I’ve had and seen more collisions and near misses with out of control skiers than bladders. It’s the Tools on the tools that cause the problem NOT the tools themselves.
For someone with limited mobility of an arm and who plays on piste they are ideal tools for getting round the mountain and having fun.
Skating over flat spots becomes a doddle as they are lighter and shorter and thus require much less effort and upper body motion to propel.
Lift queues are less hassle as you’ll be in more control through the ruck of impatient Brits, French and Italians who normally stand all over your long planks.
Your balance and posture will probably be improved – lean to far back or forward on blades and you’ll be on your back bottom.
Hands free carrying to and from the slopes is a doddle as you can sling them over your shoulder, round your neck or even strap them to a backpack - You’ll always have a hand free to wipe your nose, press the lift button, open doors, flip a digit, smoke a fag etc…
Finally, They can be packed with your clothes in a large case and thus dodge the ski carriage at the airport. 
Stephen asked a perfectly reasonable question, which we should attempt to answer constructively, rather than ranting about blades being “evil” etc.
I hope I’ve done this.
Destructively, Masque, can you define a “proper snow tool”?
I think I can …… (s)he wears a masque! 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Boardski, Well forgive me for being a snowbitch!
Snow tools are anything that gets you down the hill (whatever the conditions) with grace, speed, elegance, skill and safety. Blades do anything but that, they’re poor fashion accessories that only serve to stroke the ego’s phallus. They assist nothing but bad habits and ill maners. On anything but a groomed piste they’re less use than a ƒart in a bucket – seems to match the people that swear by them.
And if you had more than the attention span of a goldfish, you'd know my gender - but then your post in your own words defines your edemic lazyness.
Unless, of course, you can claim otherwise.
ps. Evil is as evil does - is subjective and based on personal experience, so you can 'shove' that one.
Constructive comment? Blades are for those times when there's f'all left to do. If your budget and free time is that loose, go for it. Otherwise, rent a pair and find out how long it takes to get bored s'less. 
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face or *rse, it's an even toss-up.
But seriously it'll be skis until my Achilies is safe/strong enough to risk a stack on the boards.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Masque, Ego and fashion left me many years ago along with my Nevica ski jacket, C&A one piece and 205cm skis. My bad habits (w.r.t. skiing) are many but my ill manners are few. My attention span may well be that of a goldfish (my wife is testament to that) and I may well be very lazy, I really couldn't care.
I enjoy the way I ski/blade and board. I do this safely with as much grace, speed, elegance and skill as I can muster – which is not a lot these days.
Blades serve a purpose on the mountain and whether you like it or not they entertain AND educate many of those who choose wear them.
I firmly believe that a lot of people would benefit from a few days on blades.
I am not suggesting that they are the be all and end all of snow tools(if they were i'd have stopped skiing and boarding) but merely another tool in the box. The way in which they would benefit Stephen is obvious and need not be restated.
It is most unfortunate that you took a sore one whilst using blades but that’s not really a reason to condemn all blades. I wrecked my knee in 1997 on the first pair of parabolic skis I tried but I could not condemn all ski’s or even parabolics for that matter.
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OK, I'll concede that they can be fun and I'm happy to credit you with the skill and manners to enjoy them safely. However, as Easyski points out, you may be something of a rarity. Yeah I had a (very major) stack on a pair (entirely my own fault and I wasn’t going quickly), but I've also been wiped off my board on 6 memorable occasions by bladers that simply didn’t have the level of control to steer the bloody things, and once in a lift queue!
My karma may attract this sort of ‘incident’ but on the whole, most bladers I’ve actually met are complete f’wits.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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What strong emotions a straight forward and simple question can bring out in some people!
My 15 year old son boards, skis and blades, all very capably and in a well mannered way, while MrQ, my older son and myself all ski. He can blade anywhere we go, and that's most of the mountain. Scooting along on flat paths when we're all poling is much easier too.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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What's the difference between blades and the 1.0m skis I started on when learning using the 'ski evolutif' method at Les Arcs?
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And best of all they fit in my rucksac for travelling. Used them in deep powder this year, no problem as long as there is a decent slope to keep you moving. Ice also doesn't present a problem, keep them on edge and they're fine.
As for the manners thing, it's down to the user not the equipment. I don't think anyone has had reason to complain when I've been on them.
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You know it makes sense.
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Masque, point your gun at the correct target! Blades are more controllable than skis so your problem of being wiped off your board was a problem of beginners not of blades. As a boarder you should know better - most of the bad press about boarders had the same source, beginners not boarders.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks for the advice everyone, it looks like blades are worth some serious consideration and I will hire some this season to try out.
A question to Masque though, was your injury caused by the blades not releasing as I'm a bit concerned that I may not be able to hire the ones with the full release bindings (by the way I promise to do my best to avoid becoming a complete f'wit as you so eloquently put it).
Stephen.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Stephen Sadler, Nope, I just fell off the mountain and bounced off some rocks. Of course everyone's right and I'm just stirring the poo, but truthfully there are some people out there who really don't give a poo about anyone else on the hill and at the moment they seem to be preferring blades as their weapon of chioce.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Masque, they're not just on the hill. They're on the roads, at work, on boats, and particularly in supermarkets. There are just people everywhere who don't think of others.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Alastair, violin vs. fiddle really. All in how you play.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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There is an interesting suggestion being made here - that our persona changes depending on the choice of our method to head down the mountain that we may make on any particular day.
You can almost see the demonic grin suddenly contorting a skiers face as one morning he instead puts on his blades. Or him being overcome with an overwhelming desire for all things pink as he instead chooses a snowboard.
An interesting thought.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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easiski, one could argue that a lot of skiers don't seem to remember the "...piste behaviour, control and so on..." thing!
Maybe we should stick the 'rules of the piste' thing somewhere prominent at snowHeads, to provide a public service...
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 26-10-04 18:45; edited 1 time in total
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Perhaps we could have an online multiple guess test to see who is and who is not aware of the rules of the mountain and then post the rules later.
There may only be 20 or so questions about priority, accident procedure, piste signs and flags etc. but it would be interesting to see what we know and what we think we know.
Easyski, surely the piste patrol can kick them off the mountain and confiscate the offenders lift pass?
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Stephen Sadler,
How easy is it for you to get across to Xscape at Castleford. The slope fee includes either ski or blade hire.
The slope condition is fine for assessing blades and it would be a relatively cheap way of trying before you buy. You could even check with Ellis Brigham's next door to see if they have any demo blades available with release bindings.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I'm with easiski. they're fun - as with everything, they have their time and place. I'm off up to Tignes tomorrow with a couple of absolute beginners who want to experience the slide sensation for a couple of hours. Blades are ideal. Why put them through the pain when they'll probably not go up a mountain for another ten years?
Attitude, and bladers? Sure you get a few kids. So what, you get people with attitude on boards and skis as well. I've never seen an accident, or even a near miss, involving a blader. But as for skiers/boarders....
And as for being useless as a 'snowtool'... I've watched top skiers use them for a fun day out - they'd put most skiers here to shame - and could probably outslide them in most conditions, blades v skis. It's not so much the tool, as the artisan that's the problem!
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Stephen Sadler, it may not apply to you but I find that whenever I switch from skis to blades I suffer the dreaded "wobble" for about 2 descents of a typical blue. After that I have adjusted my stance and can start using blades' extraordinary carving power.
So my advice is, if you do try them, don't be put off by the initial wobblies but persevere until you find how to stand on them.
Another observation is that "kids", like my friends' son, who are doing somersaults, blasting down off piste by tipping back on the heels etc are not "skiing" on blades, they are rollerblading on them, using a somewhat different technique as far as I can see.
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FAQ
