Really short skis

[Vis]

Has anybody ever tried using really really short skis? If so did you cut an old pair down and move the bindings or do you have to buy kids skis? Somebody out there has to have tried something like this. Just curious if it works.

[Tighe]

I had a pair of Solomon kid skis for awhile. They were like 120 or 130s. They were fun in deeper soft heavy snow, but weren't that stable at speed. Alex Peterson did great in the early days on kids Elan skis from the mid 80's.

Jeff Adamski rides some skis that are about 2.5 ft long. Look more like long skates.

Depends upon what you are trying to do with them I think.

[steveb]

I and quite a few people, Mike Barg for one, use ski blades when the snow is really packed. I use a pair of 95's. They are really maneuverable ,nice and light and edge really well. When the snows chunky or deeper they don't have the float.

[Dean Rizer]

I was in the Midwest store about two weeks ago. I noticed a very short 3' or less, fat pair of skis with tips on both ends and metal edges. They were in the XC section and were mounted with snow board bindings. Has anyone tried them? They also had the long skate type blades that can be mounted to a XC binding plate for XC ski boots. There was no way to lock/ strap down the back heel, could be exciting at speed. I wonder how these would work on a down hill ski plate and ski boots? The idea is similar to the ice boat blade skates built by Jim Oaks. The XC blades were fairly light, Jim's were built to smash pressure ridges.

[pete168]

hi-Tempo in white bear has the ski blades with cam style bindings on sale for $199

[Mike B]

I have a pair of 90cm Salomon X-10 snow blades that work great on hard pack. They are a lot of fun. Great for unhooked tricks and jumps.

I also mounted downhill ski bindings on a pair of nordic skate blades. The blades are about 18" long and are very stable on ice. They also go fast as hell!!!! And, just a little bit scary.

I will bring both up to Mille Lacs this weekend.

[Jeff A]

I use a pair of 100cm skis that ar tipped up on both end with metal edges. Thee skis have a cam lock binding and rarely come off. They work great for me! I used them in all conditions last season: from ice to powder to slush to hard pack. I love the manuverability they are a blast.

I was having some knee problems with the longer skis that the short skis didn't aggravate. (I just had a total knee replacement Nov. 1st 2006 to fix that problem.) I've been out three times this season and starting to jump again. I was out Wednesday on Waconia in the 20+ winds, the skis worked great.

For ice, a longer edge would be nice.
For over-powered flying, a longer ski may help to go faster.
I have NO problem going up wind.
I can easily kite backwards as well.

I bought them used from a guy who only used them a couple of times. After watching me use them all last season, he said he should have charged me more!

By the way, I'm 150 lbs. and I fly my Slingshot B5 in 8 to 30 mph winds.
I've been snow kiting for 6 or 7 years now.

Jeff A
(The Flying Lime)

[Dean Rizer]

Jeff, I'm glad to hear you are back out and up there. I've been trying to find something to ride on ice that is stable at speed. My hockey skates are OK but the blades don't feel locked down and they aren't the best on cracked, refrozen or rough surfaces. I've tried speed skates, they are more stable at speed but not much support with those low ankle high, thin, boots. From reading some of the posts, it sounds like the Coyote is busy creating in his work shop. Great to hear more stories about what did and didn't work.

[Hogieman22]

I work at midwest and the short skis with snowboard bindings there have whats called a climbing skin permanently attached to the bottom of the ski. the climbing skin basically grabs the snow when stepping. basically the skis are snow shoes that glide. they will not work for kiting unless you want to go really slow. the binding is not like a snowboard binding because it has a free heel. it would be near impossible to kite in a set of these. but as far as short skis go I think that a stiff set of 150's is a good ski to kite in.
-Dennis