Latest posts for the topic "Are people on Snowblades really hated?"

Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:05:18 GMT

I've been skiing with a few friends lately and they hate the fact I have blades. Do most people dislike people who blades on the mountain or just them? It's not like im an idiot or anything on them.

For the record they r not too keen on snowboarders either. One said "they sit about at the top of the run at the tows to strap their back foot in. Right in the way where others are trying to get off the tow."

What's their problem?

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:20:41 GMT

I wouldn't say I hate snowboarders, but they frighten me, because most of them keep falling over and seem to have very little control of their boards.

I hate it when I'm innocently ski-ing along and I hear that nasty scccccr sort of noise behind me , and I know it's another blasted snowboarder, who's very likely to crash into me and knock me flying. So I try and get out of the way as fast as possible.

And I also hate it when I'm ski-ing behind one on a very narrow piste, and I know if he/she falls over there's nowhere for me to go and I'm going to smash into them. Hence I always try and give them a very wide berth. And I try not to get on a chair lift with them, because they behave in a very odd way when they get off at the top.

Most of all, I hate it when they lose their board, and it comes rocketing down the mountain like a javelin straight for me :shock:

The people who 'ride' them seem quite like 'normal' people when I talk to them once they've returned to the normal bipedal state.

Perhaps the problem is that there are an awful lot of bad snowboarders on the slopes. I don't have any problems with the skillful sort, who wouldn't dream of crashing into me, any more than I would be likely to crash into them. We co-exist together quite happily on the slopes :D

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:37:00 GMT

I don't mind if anyone wants to use blades, just don't understand why they would.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:54:21 GMT

I dont hate boarders. Some of buddies are boarders. If they sit in a silly place, they get a faceful of snow from my skis, simple.
I also dont hate people who ski on blades. I also just wonder why the hell they would want to do that, and assume they must be slightly retarded or something )

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:58:21 GMT

My defence to that is that they are good fun and calling someone a retard is a bit low.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:01:18 GMT

Graeme1986 wrote:My defence to that is that they are good fun and calling someone a retard is a bit low.

Banter, Graeme. Chill out )
From what I have seen of blades, they look anything but fun. And no, thanks, I wouldn't want to give them a try 8)

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:06:18 GMT

Graeme1986 wrote:My defence to that is that they are good fun and calling someone a retard is a bit low.

Pay no attention to Tony, Graeme. Since he got his new skis he's gone all sharp and pointy. When his avatar was a sock puppet he was all cute and cuddly. He hasn't give me a cuddle for ages now :cry:

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:10:08 GMT

AllyG wrote:

Graeme1986 wrote:My defence to that is that they are good fun and calling someone a retard is a bit low.

Pay no attention to Tony, Graeme. Since he got his new skis he's gone all sharp and pointy. When his avatar was a sock puppet he was all cute and cuddly. He hasn't give me a cuddle for ages now :cry:

Ally

No more cuddles for you Ally I am afraid. You're on your own now.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:10:57 GMT

They are fun, though do seem somewhat limiting. A lot of good racers train on snowblades occasionally to improve balance, or work on some drills.

I think people look down on snowblade users because they thinks it's too easy, and also there still exist some of that old "my skis are long, so I'm a good skier" snobbery from years gone by. Ripping on snowblades takes skill. Like any type of skiing, a good skier will look good, no matter what they use.

Trencher

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:12:33 GMT

[quote=

I think people look down on snowblade users because they thinks it's too easy, and also there still exist some of that old "my skis are long, so I'm a good skier" snobbery from years gone by.

Trencher Really?
Certainly never came into my mind. I just think it looks silly, hard work, and pointless. My daughter hired blades for the day in Mayrhofen a couple of years back, and wished she hadn't bothered very soon afterwards.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:19:01 GMT

Graeme,
What's the difference in the way they ski - between blades and normal skis I mean?

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:34:15 GMT

AllyG wrote:Graeme,
What's the difference in the way they ski - between blades and normal skis I mean?

Not Greame, but I have used them. Being so short, your fore/aft balance needs to be spot on. Your movements need to be more subtle, than on longer skis. Gross body movements will cause gross ski movements - not good. So some time on snowblades, will help quieten your skiing movements. The small radius sidecut make learning to carve easier, but doing it well on snowblades requires good skills, with fast slalom like turns working best (for me anyway).

Trencher

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:32:38 GMT

Thanks Trencher,
I get what's bad about snowblades now, but maybe Graeme will be able to tell me what's good about them - there must be something fun about them, or else he wouldn't use them.

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:43:29 GMT

AllyG wrote:Thanks Trencher,
I get what's bad about snowblades now, but maybe Graeme will be able to tell me what's good about them - there must be something fun about them, or else he wouldn't use them.

Ally

I wasn't saying that they are bad at all. They really are fun, and most skiers would benefit from using snowblades occasionally. I wanted to get across that although they are easy to use, you can get a lot out of using them.

Trencher

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:46:29 GMT

Graeme

Nothing wrong with snowblades at all,

If you think the blades are good fun you should try skiboards. I skied for years love it and still do, but i've done a couple of season on skiboards in the states and they are a whole different story.

See below for the boards i'm currently using

These are Summit Custom 110's, which can handle pretty much anything on the mountain.

At the end of the day we are all on the mountain to have some fun and blast down the white stuff who cares what you use, just my opinion of course :wink:

Matt

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:47:05 GMT

Sorry Trencher,
Your description made them seem very difficult to use, and I equated difficult with bad.

Maybe I'd better have another look at what you said in the morning, when I'm awake :D

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:11:32 GMT

I have a pair of ski blades i think there fun for a day but skiing a hole holiday would not be he best.

The only difference is that they are sorter, slower and require no technique. As long as you have balance and a bit of guts and anyone that as skied for more than an hour will be able to turn and stop. The worst thing is they are rubbish in powder. it would be better if you had bricks tied to your feet.

I have 2 friends that use them when we go skiing. This is cuz they cant ski properly and are unwilling to spend time to learn.

But i have nothing agents them really.

Snowboarders well that is a different kettle of fish, my mate has picked up the i'm going to stop here in the way thing within 5 mins of having a board on his feet even though he hated people doing it more than me.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:26:59 GMT

olly123456789 wrote:I have a pair of ski blades i think there fun for a day but skiing a hole holiday would not be he best.

The only difference is that they are sorter, slower and require no technique. As long as you have balance and a bit of guts and anyone that as skied for more than an hour will be able to turn and stop. The worst thing is they are rubbish in powder. it would be better if you had bricks tied to your feet.

I have 2 friends that use them when we go skiing. This is cuz they cant ski properly and are unwilling to spend time to learn.

But i have nothing agents them really.

Snowboarders well that is a different kettle of fish, my mate has picked up the i'm going to stop here in the way thing within 5 mins of having a board on his feet even though he hated people doing it more than me.

I have some snowblades and found them good fun for learning a few tricks 360 flat spins, riding backwards etc, O/H has been on them for 3/4 seasons, she has recently bought some skis and is going back on the long planks "because she has said snowblades are frowned upon". The only downside for me when skiing with her is when we hit a flat spot she has to walk rather than pole along. Yes they are crap in pow )

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:20:17 GMT

AllyG wrote:I wouldn't say I hate snowboarders, but they frighten me, because most of them keep falling over and seem to have very little control of their boards. This is not really the case, most beginner snowboarders fall more often than beginner skiers, but thats due to the nature of the activity not skill level. A lot of snowboarders have a huge amount of control and can get through a difficult spot/situation with relative ease.

I hate it when I'm innocently ski-ing along and I hear that nasty scccccr sort of noise behind me , and I know it's another blasted !!! snowboarder, who's very likely to crash into me and knock me flying. So I try and get out of the way as fast as possible. Very likely? You must get hit often by snowboarders, as there are a lot these days. When a snowboarder needs to lose speed quick, he or she must get the edge, and this make the noise you describe.

And I also hate it when I'm ski-ing behind one on a very narrow piste, and I know if he/she falls over there's nowhere for me to go and I'm going to smash into them. Hence I always try and give them a very wide berth. And I try not to get on a chair lift with them, because they behave in a very odd way when they get off at the top. First point is identical for both skiers and snowboarders. I used to hate blue runs through trees for this reason, now I love them and get p****d of with skiers for carving the entire width, but I accept it and would not post about it. Second point I grant you, but it's thier mountain too! A little understanding and awareness goes a long way )

I have snowboarded down the main route to Wengen to be confronted by over 10 skiers standing across the entire piste, waiting, chatting or whatever. I agree snowboarders seem to sit in stupid places, but when on a flat and thin run on a board the last thing you need is a bunch of skiers waiting for thier pals

Most of all, I hate it when they lose their board, and it comes rocketing down the mountain like a javelin straight for me :shock: Seen it once in 80 days of being on the mountain.

The people who 'ride' them seem quite like 'normal' people when I talk to them once they've returned to the normal bipedal state.

Perhaps the problem is that there are an awful lot of bad snowboarders on the slopes. Anad all skiers up there are born good??? I don't have any problems with the skillful sort, who wouldn't dream of crashing into me, None of them dream of any such thing any more than I would be likely to crash into them. We co-exist together quite happily on the slopes :D

Ally

Ally, this is a bit of a generalisation. Not wanting to argue I think there are a few things need corecting amongst this. I have no problem with anyone up there, and admit to getting frustrated from time to time, but I dont think slating an entire disiplne is very constructive.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:31:48 GMT

Tino,
Snowboarders do frighten me. I'm very sorry if I've hurt your feelings. And I do try very hard to keep out of their way. I agree I've never actually had a loose snowboard hit me, or nearly hit me (that was a bit of an exageration - sorry) but I've had several snowboarders tell me afterwards that they lost their boards (when I was ski-ing beneath them).

I was actually trying to defend snowboarders - so I obviously didn't do a very good job! I certainly don't hate them.

I could also have written about some of the skiers that frighten me, but the subject was those short skis and snowboards. Plenty of other things frighten me as well, like fog, but overall I enjoy my ski-ing holidays very much.

Sorry again, for hurting your feelings, as a snowboarder,

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:42:16 GMT

AllyG wrote:Tino,
Snowboarders do frighten me. I'm very sorry if I've hurt your feelings. And I do try very hard to keep out of their way. I agree I've never actually had a loose snowboard hit me, or nearly hit me (that was a bit of an exageration - sorry) but I've had several snowboarders tell me afterwards that they lost their boards (when I was ski-ing beneath them).

I was actually trying to defend snowboarders - so I obviously didn't do a very good job! I certainly don't hate them.

I could also have written about some of the skiers that frighten me, but the subject was those short skis and snowboards. Plenty of other things frighten me as well, like fog, but overall I enjoy my ski-ing holidays very much.

Sorry again, for hurting your feelings, as a snowboarder,

Ally

Ally, I am a big boy now and not hurt by your comments, I just think they are a little myopic. I do most my riding (when not alone) with skiers, they never comment on my riding or habits unless they are trying to get a rise ) however thats mainly cos they cant keep up :lol: I just think as more experienced folk, we should have a little more understanding of those who are learning whatever discipline, after all they keep the sport accesible for all of us!! Of course there are dangerous people out there, I agree with you. I got pushed down a 30ft steep bank by a skier who could not stop adequately at Christmass. I went down it on my back, backwards and although angry gave him a wave from the bottom signaling I was ok, then i got on with it.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:53:00 GMT

Tino,
I'm glad you're okay. I'd never deliberately hurt anyone's feelings in any of my posts.

I know skiers can be awful sometimes. As I said, I could describe plenty of incidents where I've been frightened, or even hurt, by other skiers.

I think it's that noise the snowboarders make that frightens me, coming from behind me, and I don't know where they are or which direction they're coming from, and what is the best way of getting out of their way (because I'm not good enough to be able to ski while I'm looking behind me).

Perhaps if you could give me some guidance about what to do when I hear that noise behind me, and how not to get in their way when I get off a chair lift, it would help both of us and more particularly any snowboarders I might come across in future :D.

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:07:40 GMT

AllyG wrote:Tino,
I'm glad you're okay. I'd never deliberately hurt anyone's feelings in any of my posts.

I know skiers can be awful sometimes. As I said, I could describe plenty of incidents where I've been frightened, or even hurt, by other skiers.

I think it's that noise the snowboarders make that frightens me, coming from behind me, and I don't know where they are or which direction they're coming from, and what is the best way of getting out of their way (because I'm not good enough to be able to ski while I'm looking behind me).

Perhaps if you could give me some guidance about what to do when I hear that noise behind me, and how not to get in their way when I get off a chair lift, it would help both of us and more particularly any snowboarders I might come across in future :D.

Ally

When you hear that skidding noise behind you, it is generally a good thing, whether it's made by skis, or a snowboard. It means someone is slowing, or stopping. When you are hit from behind, you won't hear a thing. The three times I have been hit from behind, there was no warning (all three were skiers).

Trencher

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:45:41 GMT

Thanks Trencher,
It seems I just have to stop worrying about that noise.

You're quite right, the one time I've been hit from behind it was a skier trying to get through the small gap between me and someone else in my ski class, and I never heard anything at all - I had no clue there was anyone coming up from behind me until I was flat on the ground wondering what happened (and it was a wide, gentle, blue piste with plenty of space both sides of us).

And another time, a skier came down out of control from above and actually skied over the back of my skis, and I never heard or saw anything until afterwards. But that time I was okay, although it must have been extremely close :shock:

I always ski very carefully. I've never hit anyone - snowboarder, skier, pedestrian, whatever, since I was 8 years old :D

Ally

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:36:51 GMT

tino_11 wrote:

AllyG wrote:I wouldn't say I hate snowboarders, but they frighten me, because most of them keep falling over and seem to have very little control of their boards. This is not really the case, most beginner snowboarders fall more often than beginner skiers, but thats due to the nature of the activity not skill level. A lot of snowboarders have a huge amount of control and can get through a difficult spot/situation with relative ease.

I hate it when I'm innocently ski-ing along and I hear that nasty scccccr sort of noise behind me , and I know it's another blasted !!! snowboarder, who's very likely to crash into me and knock me flying. So I try and get out of the way as fast as possible. Very likely? You must get hit often by snowboarders, as there are a lot these days. When a snowboarder needs to lose speed quick, he or she must get the edge, and this make the noise you describe.

And I also hate it when I'm ski-ing behind one on a very narrow piste, and I know if he/she falls over there's nowhere for me to go and I'm going to smash into them. Hence I always try and give them a very wide berth. And I try not to get on a chair lift with them, because they behave in a very odd way when they get off at the top. First point is identical for both skiers and snowboarders. I used to hate blue runs through trees for this reason, now I love them and get p****d of with skiers for carving the entire width, but I accept it and would not post about it. Second point I grant you, but it's thier mountain too! A little understanding and awareness goes a long way )

I have snowboarded down the main route to Wengen to be confronted by over 10 skiers standing across the entire piste, waiting, chatting or whatever. I agree snowboarders seem to sit in stupid places, but when on a flat and thin run on a board the last thing you need is a bunch of skiers waiting for thier pals

Most of all, I hate it when they lose their board, and it comes rocketing down the mountain like a javelin straight for me :shock: Seen it once in 80 days of being on the mountain.

The people who 'ride' them seem quite like 'normal' people when I talk to them once they've returned to the normal bipedal state.

Perhaps the problem is that there are an awful lot of bad snowboarders on the slopes. Anad all skiers up there are born good??? I don't have any problems with the skillful sort, who wouldn't dream of crashing into me, None of them dream of any such thing any more than I would be likely to crash into them. We co-exist together quite happily on the slopes :D

Ally

Ally, this is a bit of a generalisation. Not wanting to argue I think there are a few things need corecting amongst this. I have no problem with anyone up there, and admit to getting frustrated from time to time, but I dont think slating an entire disiplne is very constructive.

Couldn't agree more. I have spent a little time with you, and a number of other mates who are boarders, and whilst we always have some skiing vs boarding banter, none of it is nasty or aggressive. I actually think a good boarder looks better than a good skier, and very nearly swapped my skis for a board for a day in ADH recently.

I think you're right - the issue is with beginners and people of each discipline with limited experience. I know what Ally means about the sound of a board behind you on icy terrain, but you have to get on with it and trust the person behind you to avoid you, as it is their responsibility. Otherwise, you'd never get down a slope anywhere.

Now, I thought we were talking about people with snow blades?

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:42:44 GMT

My son off to Germany (Bavaria) at half term with Air Cadets.
Part of the programme is half a day on blades. The chap who teaches them was very enthusiastic about how much fun they are and says they are great for getting beginners to carve.

We'll see what my son has to say about them when he gets back.

Interested to know what the skiing is like where he's going. They don't stay in a resort, but check out resort conditions and ability of their different groups the night before and go to different places.

My daughter is learning to snowboard in April and she's already been warned about sitting down in ridiculous places!

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:02:38 GMT

Most skiers that try snowblades or skiboards for a day or two here or there tend to dislike them as they find them overly restrictive,when really its their skillset that restricts them.

They do require a very different technique to ski-ing to get the most out of; once you've got the skidding turns, turning round the hand, moving into switch (i.e going backwards) type moves sussed then theres a lot more enjoyment to be had.

Re:Are people on Snowblades really hated?

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:03:48 GMT

I still think they look crap.