 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello
I am thinking of getting some snow blades because quiet frankly I'm just not the best skier in the world! So can anyone offer me some advice or reviews with their experiences of blades please? I absolutely love skiing but unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I'm rubbish and I've hurt myself quite badly a couple of times now. I have absolutely no intention of throwing the towel in so please don't tell me I'll be better off doing that, but I just want to hear what blades are like.
Thanks. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Get shorter skis maybe - adult skis now come down as far as 130cm without the social stigma attached to skiboards (as their propnents will tell you they are called).
Everyone hurts themselves skiing sooner or later so don't let that be a barrier - some good private lesson maybe a better solution?.
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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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personally I'd get some 1-1 lessons with a recommended instructor and take it from there, before looking at spending money on more equipment.
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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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Hello again
Thanks for your replies but I've had private lessons as well as the group lessons to start with on my first trip abroad. It's more a confidence thing now rather than ability because I've been sking for a while. I just wanted to know about people's experiences on blades because I'm very interested in them now.
Thanks.
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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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Dropping down to shorter skis can really help sort your technique out (it did for me). Once you start doing things properly you can then start going longer again. I used Rossi Free'zb mini skis a few years back which helped get my balance and carving right. More recently I used Icelantic Scouts, which are short but make off-piste very easy. Then I went back on to longer freeride skis (Dynastar Legends) and the people I used to struggle to keep up with off-piste I now leave trailing far behind.
Ignore those who get sniffy about skiboards, do what you enjoy Butterscotch and give everyone else the finger. I think telemark looks gay but will no doubt try it sooner or later! But def rent shorties before you buy.
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Telemark may look gay but at least it only carries the social stigma of being a beardy unwashed hippy. 
IMO skiboards aren't the answer to problems being able to ski as intrinsically they are less stable and require you to be more to be on the sweet spot for balance. But if you come from a skating or rollerblading background then they might be more intuitive.
I think anyone serious about skiboards would say go for a proper make like Hagan I think or Icelantic rather than Salomon & make sure you get releasable bindings. There is a Us website which specialises in all things short & spinny.
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Thanks everyone 
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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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Butterscotch, my brother in law is an unconfident skier and found snowblades (ie the Salomon ones) much easier. He also hated poles and has used his own blades for 5 years now. However, after a day spent trying to tow him round through crud last year (blades are not much good in new chopped up snow) we persuaded him to try 120cm Wedze skis (these are Decathlon's own make). He found them far, far, better. Being heavier and longer they chop through the crud much better, and are more stable and less tiring on the legs. All ski hire shops rent out short skis now (Atomic make some too, which are better than the Wedzes according to my local ski shop man) and they're well worth trying. You can use them with poles, or without - as you like. I use snowblades from time to time, just for fun, though this last season I didn't, as I am getting increasingly reluctant to use non release bindings, for safety reasons. If you buy skiboards, do go for ones with proper bindings, same as the bindings on skis. But though I do blade sometimes, I do agree with the comments above that short skis are better, and that you should rent before buying.
Finally, I also agree that lessons, rather than new equipment, is a better answer - how much tuition have you had, overall. It takes most of us many weeks of tuition to get anything like competent.
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Would also recommend releasable bindings - mostly because I found the non releasables so fiddly to do up by comparison.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've had about 8 days of lessons, all with a private tutor. One even told me I wasn't meant to ski! Ha ha! But in actual fact, I'm not that bad now - I've done red runs and survived, and I do carve my way down the mountain, but after a couple of bad falls I've lost my confidence and it's not fun anymore. That's why I want to try blades, because most people say how much fun it is and I know from my last holiday where I did a week on my 158cm ski's (no lessons this time), I was just concentrating on getting down in one piece rather than the thrill of skiing.
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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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Butterscotch, you are being a bit hard on yourself, maybe. If you are not a natural at learning to ski, 8 days of lessons is not much at all. I've had a lot more than 8 weeks and am no great shakes. Some people seem to learn extremely quickly but most Snowheads would strongly recommend that you keep having a lesson or two every holiday. But find another tutor - telling you you're not meant to ski is not too good when you need to build your confidence. Where do you ski?
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There are some very narrow minded people out there, and on this thread, who think they own the snow and the mountains just because they ski or board on something over 130cm long. I have skied to a good standard for many years but because of a knee injury, I have gone onto blades (Head Big Easy 94cm) and have just bought a pair of Summit 110cm skiboards 2008/9, with release bindings.
This is my choice. I could either stop skiing, not a chance, or I can use these brilliant, well designed, highly technical short skis/blades. My snow, my mountain, my choice. I pay the same for my lift pass as you skiers and boarders do and i will go down mountains, skillfully and in control, on what ever I choose. No stupid replies necessary.
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You know it makes sense.
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I agree with Scatty Ratty on the snobbery out there.
I too am a confident skier. I own a pair of 205cm non-carvers - which - last time I used them, I had other skiers refer to as 'chopsticks' - which I did find quite funny. I enjoyed having to ski more agressively on skis which didn't just turn on their own. As an aside, I bought these when carvers were just coming out, and most established skiers mocked carvers like they now mock 'skiboards' (personally I think 'short skis' is a more accurate term)
However, I decided to have a go with snowblades, and enjoy them very much. I have a pair of very fat 90's (poss blizzard), which aren't great on piste I admit. Rolling from edge to edge is a little harder as they want to stay flat. I have friends who love their salomon 90's though. I've tried the 90's 99's and 130cm salomon snoblades, and the 99's are best for me. Although the 130's exhibit less chatter doing high speed curving turns they are completely useless off-piste. Yes, the 99's (and even the 90's) are better off-piste. The secret is to use more of a water-skiing type technique. Just lean back - right back.
After using snoblades (and my gigantic 205's) I really do fail to see the point in all that length. I am as fast as 99% of 'full-size' skiers on the piste, I can carve the same radius turns, or tighter radius turns. I can ski off-piste on very steep terrain where the trees are so tightly packed that normal skis would really struggle, and have occasional full attempting 360 flats spins (which I 'can' do on my 205's, but they're a lot slower!)
Long skis were invented before piste bashers, so you could float better in soft snow. On-piste this isn't an issue. Off-piste, you adopt a different technique (you push the snow rather than float through it). The only disadvantage I have found with snoblades- the only reason that tempts me back to full length skis, is the snowpark. Jumping on snoblades is amuch more precision affair - there is much less margin for error. The landing has to be pretty precisicely perpendicular to the slope. None of this falling onto the backs of your skis, and recovering. You get it right, or you wipe out!
To those who talk of the theoretical stability of longer skis - well they are right - in theory. But unless you plan on topping 50mph, blades will be fine (48mph is my snoblade record - thanks to my GPS, and I admit, it was scarier than on skis)
Anyway, I've ranted for long enough. I hope someone finds this and decides to ignore the long tradition of stuffiness surrounding skiing, and give everything a go.
This year, I'm snowboarding - that's if my aging knees and backside will take the punishment!
Enjoy the snow in 2009/2010 everyone
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