Kirkwood
ProjectSnowskate.com was created by Kendra Wilson in order to increase awareness about snowskating and develop a community of snowskaters dedicated to progressing the sport. Kendra is an international business professional living in Reno, Nevada. She contributes content related to snow sports to TheSkiChannel, Mountain Rider’s Alliance, and Komunity.com.
Snowskating is a relatively young snow sport. The idea is to ride a skateboard-shaped deck with a small ski (sub-deck) attached with snowskate specific trucks. Snowskates do not include bindings. A leash is used to ensure that the skate does not get away from the rider. (Click here for a snowskate anatomy lesson.) Because this is such a new and unfamiliar sport, many ski resorts do not allow snowskates. ProjectSnowskate’s goal is to change that.
Please feel welcome to use this space to ask questions about snowskating, provide relevant snowskating information, or offer suggestions on actions to take or people to contact regarding progression of the sport.
This is great Kendra, nice work. Is there a way to add a “FB” link where you can re-post your articles? I def. think it’s worth sharing. Just a thought.
Keep up the good work!
never mind, i see it now! I just over looked it (stupid me
Really cool idea, snowskating is so much fun the people need to know!
Craig, Thanks for reading and for your support!
I really like that pic of Kirkwood
Me too! You took it, you master photographer, you!
Hey there!
Are you maintaining a list of resorts that accept snowskaters in the Tahoe area? If so, you can add one more: Jim took his boards & different Predog leashes (and best persuasive attitude!) to Tahoe Donner Downhill last year, met with the hill manager, and got him to agree to snowskaters (as long as they use leashes). They’ve got a great little park there now – they really expanded it last year. And it’s cheap and almost always locals-only
Woo! You guys are awesome! Thanks for the info. I’ll work on compiling a list for Project Snowskate.
I’ve added this site on the Chillerdecks website links, keep it up Kendra!
Wow Kendra, nice site. After about 15 years since my first “Home-Made” snosk8 that consisted of an oval piece of 3/4 inch plywood, a 4×4 piece of wood, and a kid’s ski all woodscrewed together, I am finally seeing incredible progress in the sport.
My name is Pat and I snowsk8 @ a couple areas here in Colorado. One area is Crested Butte (thanks Paul Elkins for that one) and Sunlight Ski Area. A few of the Snowboard Instructors were advocates at explaining to the mountain manager at Sunlight that snowsk8s were safe. His foot traffic dilemma stemmed from the Colorado Transportation Safety Board stating that snowsk8s were considered foot traffic and that a different type of insurance was necessary to allow this new sliding device. We simply had to convince them that we were not foot traffic and proved this by actually strapping our front foot to the top deck and taking the strap off once we cleared the lift. Problem solved, and another Colorado ski area that allows snowsk8ing.
Along that same trail (no pun intended), my good friend and original skate rat from Cali’s Z-Flex Team, Jim Davey, recently took his snosk8 to Wolf Creek Ski Area an area not allowing snosk8ing. With a push from his brother, he strapped in and got on a lift, then another, then another. No problem? Well, not exactly. On the 4th lift, a lift op asked him to wait for the head lift op. 10 minutes later he showed up and explained that he had to wait for the “Owner” of the mountain to have a visit with him (o-no, jail, fine, kicked off the hill; thoughts of incarceration filled Jim’s head). The Owner showed up and began his inquiry about this new downhill device. The Owner invited Jim on the next chairlift and together they chatted about snowboarding, skateboarding, employment status, and various other things. Finally, the Owner wanted to see Jim exit the chair and clear the lift lane. He did that and waited for the Owner to come up to him. The Owner, gathering his thoughts, finally rode by Jim and said, “Good to go Jim”! I couldn’t believe my ears when he told me this!!! Colorado’s notorious “Deepest Snow Resort” has bowed to this new budding sport.
wow! who took that pic at the top of you at Kirkwood? Amazing!!
Kendra,
Your blogs and videos are amazing. Project Snowskate was so well done that I had to show everyone in my office.
Meg
where can i get a snowskate in salt lake
Hey Jimmy, did Predog snowskate owner Jim get in touch with you? Hope you find a way to get your hands in a snowskate!
Great vid, I am glad resorts here in WA are liberal and progressive, friends and I love snow skating on groomer days.
Kendra, looks you have the Ramp from rockertrucks, hows compared to the classic? I rode the punkrocker, and its almost too soft.
I love the ramps. The punk rockers are too soft for me too. Snowskater Alan Gerlach says that the ramps give you the most pop for the biggest ollies. But, to be fair, I haven’t ridden the classic rockers… Good luck choosing!
Well i just got my snowskate and you should post a vid on fow to ride them oh and by the way i love the vid you did one of the best ive ever saw ROCK ON and wat were the names of those websites u said
What type of snowskate would you perfer 4×4 single deck or bi-level
A bi-deck is more realistic if you want to ride mid mountain. But I’ve heard that the 4x4s have the best “skate feel.”
Hi Kendra, my take on the 4×4 vs bi-deck is a categorial question. If you want to ride hardback, ice, and rails, the 4×4 makes sense. But be warned, due to the metal skegs in each ski, the 4×4 is not conducive for lateral sliding, the action most snow skaters use to slow down (besides finishing your turn across the hill).
Hello Kendra im kind of new to snowskating but im getting there… in sweden my country they often dont let snowskaters on the lifts so is it ok for me to show this video ?
Yes! Please do and let me know how it turns out!
Hi, reminds me of the days snowboarding was somewhat banned (fear of anything new, those humans). Another resort allowing snowsk8s is Leysin (Switzerland, they allow snowsooters as well). I don’t know if this is useful here, since this is Europe, but I stumbled over your great site. Anyways I like the idea of being open and allow things and through that give people the chance to think and act responsible (as in any other area, the opposite would cut off everyone’s freedom). Myself, I am snowboarding, skiing and snowsk8ing once in a while. Mine is a classic Burton model, and somewhat a bit tricky to keep the balnace on such a short board for my 6.2 ft. On your videos I see even you riding a much longer snowsk8, who does make them ? Even if it is allowed here, the number of people practicing is on no radar for any statistics, you barely ever see someone on the slopes. Keep it up and have a nice ride.
Rudolph