Biking on Snow?

Head to any ski slop in the U.S. and you’ll see skiers and snowboarders swooshing down the snow-covered mountainside. But don’t be surprised if you spot a few bikers as well! Only these bikers aren’t riding regular bicycles—their bikes have skis instead of wheels! They’re participating in a sport called ski biking. Ski biking is gaining fans in America because it’s both fun and accessible to people of all abilities.

Unlike skiers or snowboarders, ski bikers can rush down the slopes sitting down. Or they can ride standing up, which makes it easier to do tricks like jumps and flips. “It’s wide open what ski bikes are able to do,” says Devin Lenz, the founder of Lenz Sport, a ski bike manufacturer based in Colorado.

Look at any ski slope in the United States. You’ll see skiers and snowboarders swoosh down the snow-covered mountainside. But don’t be surprised if you spot a few bikers too! These bikers aren’t riding regular bicycles. Their bikes have skis instead of wheels! The bikers are participating in a sport called ski biking. Ski biking is gaining fans in America. It’s fun, and people of all abilities can take part.

Skiers and snowboarders must stay on their feet. But ski bikers can rush down the slopes sitting down. Or they can ride standing up. That makes it easier to do tricks like jumps and flips. “It’s wide open what ski bikes are able to do,” says Devin Lenz. He started Lenz Sport, a ski bike manufacturer based in Colorado.

Although most Americans have never heard of the sport, ski biking has been popular in Europe for decades. European national ski biking teams compete in events like downhill and slalom, which involves racing through a winding course marked by poles. The world’s fastest ski bikers have reached recordbreaking speeds of more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) per hour.

Ski biking didn’t start as a sport, though. It was originally invented about 150 years ago as a means of transportation in the Alps, a mountain range that stretches through seven countries in Europe. Back then, people rode wooden bikes fitted with long runners like those on a sleigh to deliver mail and other goods in heavy snow. Today’s ski bikes are more hightech, but they still work in the same way—by taking advantage of the physical forces at work around them to zip down the slopes.

Most Americans have never heard of the sport. But ski biking has been popular in Europe for decades. National ski biking teams compete in Europe. They race in events like downhill and slalom, which has a winding course marked by poles. The world’s fastest ski bikers have set records of more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) per hour. 

Ski biking was invented about 150 years ago. But it didn’t start as a sport. It was a means of transportation in the Alps. This mountain range stretches through seven countries in Europe. Back then, people rode wooden bikes to deliver mail and other goods in heavy snow. The bikes had long runners like those on a sleigh. Today’s ski bikes are more high-tech, but they still work in the same way. They use the physical forces around them to zip down the slopes.

Skis, snowboards, and ski bikes are all propelled by the downward pull of gravity. At the top of a mountain, skiers, snowboarders, and ski bikers have potential energy because of their raised position. When they push off downhill, gravity transforms this stored energy into kinetic energy, or the energy of motion. That causes their snowboards, skis, or ski bikes to accelerate—or change speed—moving faster and faster down the mountain.

Ski bikers have some key advantages over skiers and snowboarders, though. Riding seated lowers a biker’s center of mass—the point around which an object’s mass is concentrated. This makes it easier to balance without tipping over. A ski bike is also easier to steer—a rider can just turn the handlebars and lean to the side, like on a regular bike. Also like a typical bike, a ski bike has a rigid metal frame with a suspension system, such as shockabsorbing springs. They help the bike absorb impacts as it goes over bumps.

Skis, snowboards, and ski bikes have something in common. All are driven by the downward pull of gravity. At the top of a mountain, skiers, snowboarders, and ski bikers have potential energy. That’s because of their raised position. When they push off downhill, gravity takes over. It transforms this stored energy into kinetic energy, or the energy of motion. That causes their snowboards, skis, or ski bikes to accelerate. They change speed, moving faster and faster down the mountain.

But ski bikers have some big advantages over skiers and snowboarders. When they ride seated, they have a lower center of mass. An object’s mass is arranged around this point. A lower center of mass makes it easier to balance without tipping over. A ski bike is also easier to steer. A rider can just turn the handlebars and lean to the side, like on a regular bike. A ski bike is like a regular bike in another way. It has a rigid metal frame with a suspension system. Its springs help absorb shocks as the bike goes over bumps.

While the skis on ski bikes are shorter than traditional skis, they still have similar design features. For example, each ski has a slight hourglass shape. This helps carve a curved path into the snow when turning. The skis also have a subtle upward arch, called camber, in the center. When a person rides a ski bike, the arches flatten, distributing the rider’s weight so the skis make better contact with the snow.

Some people ride ski bikes with their feet balanced on pegs or pedals. They give riders something to push against as they jump snowbanks, twist in midair, or pop a wheelie. Other people strap their boots into small foot skis that glide over the snow as they cruise downhill. “With four points of contact rather than two, you have added balance and stability to go faster and maneuver,” says Katie Zakutansky. She’s a biomechanical engineer at Engineering Systems, Inc., an engineering and scientific investigation company. For an even steadier ride, there are ski trikes with three skis.

The skis on ski bikes are shorter than traditional skis. But they still have similar features. For example, each ski has a slight hourglass shape. This helps carve a curved path into the snow when turning. The skis also have a slight upward arch in the center. It’s called camber. When a person rides a ski bike, the arches flatten. This spreads out their weight, so the skis make better contact with the snow. 

Some ski bikers balance their feet on pegs or pedals. Riders can push against them as they jump snowbanks, twist in midair, or pop a wheelie. Other people strap their boots into small foot skis. They glide over the snow on the way downhill. “With four points of contact rather than two, you have added balance and stability to go faster and maneuver,” says biomechanical engineer Katie Zakutansky. She works at Engineering Systems Inc., an engineering and scientific investigation company. And some people ride ski trikes which have three skis. These offer an even steadier ride.

Since ski biking doesn’t require standing, the sport is a natural fit for many riders with disabilities. “It can be life changing for people with disabilities or people who never thought they could ski,” says Jim Weiland. He’s an adaptive ski instructor with the American SkiBike Association, based in Utah. In adaptive skiing, people use specialized equipment, like ski bikes, to participate in the same activities as people who ski in a traditional manner (see Adaptive Sports).

Ski bikers don’t have to stand, so the sport fits many riders with disabilities. “It can be life changing for people with disabilities or people who never thought they could ski,” says Jim Weiland. He’s an adaptive ski instructor with the American SkiBike Association, based in Utah. In adaptive skiing, people use specialized equipment, like ski bikes. Then they can do the same activities as people with traditional skis (see Adaptive Sport).

Riders with disabilities have championed the ski bike and encouraged mountain resorts to embrace it too. Addy McCord is one of those riders. She’s the director of the ski patrol at the Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado. After serving in her job for more than 20 years, a surgical complication meant she couldn’t ski without pain. Ski biking has allowed her to continue doing the patrol job she loves. Initially, the resort worried that ski bikes could cause accidents with other people riding down the mountainside. (People had the same concern when snowboards were first introduced.) McCord showed them otherwise. She’s one of many people acting as ski biking “ambassadors” who are helping to open access to slopes across the country, says Chris Schuler. He’s the founder of the ski bike manufacturer SKIBYK in Washington State.

Today, at more and more ski resorts, ski bikers of all abilities cruise down the slopes alongside skiers and snowboarders. At the end of the day, the sport is all about having fun, says Schuler: “Just go out and ride.”

Riders with disabilities have promoted the ski bike. They encourage mountain resorts to welcome it too. Addy McCord is one of those riders. She’s the director of the ski patrol at the Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado. She did her job for more than 20 years. Then she suffered a problem after surgery, and she couldn’t ski without pain. She loves her patrol job, and ski biking allows her to continue doing it. At first, the resort worried about accidents. They thought ski bikes might crash into other people on the mountainside. (People had the same concern when snowboards were new.) McCord proved them wrong. She’s one of many ski biking “ambassadors.” These people are helping to open access to slopes across the country, says Chris Schuler. He’s the founder of the ski bike manufacturer SKIBYK in Washington State.

Today, you’ll spot ski bikes at more and more ski resorts. Ski bikers of all abilities glide down the slopes with skiers and snowboarders. In the end, the sport is all about having fun, says Schuler. “Just go out and ride.”