triton Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 I have been kiting for 18months & sking 40years any one tried blades? is it a low wind option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 I've had some fun kiting with blades on snow covered lake ice in various wind conditions. However I prefer slightly longer skis. It's fun with short skis, but snow blades are a bit too short for my taste. I recently wrote this in another thread: ---------- I have a pair of Rossignol Free Trek Venture which are snowblades for touring. You can free the heel for walking with skins, and then lock the heel for downhill or kiting. I even have ski crampons for them. I sometimes bring these skis with a pair of telescopic poles when travelling to mountainous places that may or may not have snow. If there is snow, it is great to use these with my walking boots that are ready for step-in crampons and therefore fit the bindings. For kiting I use alpine touring ski boots with these skis. They work very good on snow-covered lakes and other flat areas. I have never been kiting with them in the mountains, but I guess it would be quite difficult unless perfect conditions, e.g. soft but not very deep snow. In hard-packed snow in the mountain backcountry I prefer larger skis; these small skis are tiring for the legs in hard-packed backcountry conditions. As Boc points out they sink in soft snow. It is fun to ski downhill with them in soft snow if it is steep. If it is not very steep, you sink too much in deep soft snow. In those conditions I use them in walking mode and walk down the mountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LichRich Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 I tried snowblades with the kite on a snow covered lake out in Sweden in a few years ago and found I couldn't get enough edge to stop being pulled sideways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 And when only ice (no snow) on the lakes, I have had good fun using long straight alpine skis with super-well sharpened edges. Works if not too hard wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luffy m Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 Vindman! You own a pair of snow blades?? I'm surprised! You don't have a flourescent pink all-in-one ski outfit aswell do you? only kidding... luffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 He he. Still missing the outfit though. The snowblade I own is a miniature alpine touring ski with randonne binding. It is a modern incarnation of the good old firngleiter. Here you can see the ski: http://www.killinoutdoor.co.uk/FreeVentureSki.htm I don't know how long normal snowblades are, but this one is 99 cm, has some carving profile and they are quite wide compared to normal snowblades. The binding has three positions. When it is in the back position, the heel is locked down for downhill skiing. When you slide it to the middle position, the heel is free and this position is good for walking on the flats. Then you can slide the binding to a forward position with the heel free. In this position it feels a bit like walking with snowshoes. The forward position is good for walking in deep snow and straight uphill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 Here are some pictures from my first season of kiting. At this day I used the Rossignol short skis, while my kiting buddy used regular alpine touring skis. http://www.marklund.biz/pic/kite/freetrekventure1.jpg http://www.marklund.biz/pic/kite/freetrekventure2.jpg The kite is a year 2001 Flysurfer, not very good compared to today's kites. Still it worked quite okay on the lake with the short skis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triton Posted November 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 as i thought edging would be an issue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Yes, it is an issue in certain wind and snow conditions. Hard wind in combination with hard/icy snow is not good. But why not try it out? That's what I do, I like to try whatever material I have, just for fun. Alpine skis, nordic skis, short skis, long skis, ice hockey skates, touring skates, boards, ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushmore Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 Snow blades are for the French and the Gay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 Aha, didn't know that, I though it was used by Austrians (since the 1930's) Here in Sweden short skis was traditionally seen as only a toy for kids, not as a toy for adults. For example, being towed on "mini-skidor" by snow-mobiles was popular when I was a kid in the 1970's in the north of Sweden. That was quite crazy but we had great fun! (quite gay actually!) When I go kiting with the short skis in the north of Sweden, people get nostalgic when they see me. It reminds them of the fun they had when they were kids, being towed by the snowmobiles. Otherwise I don't see too many people when I use them, since I usually use them with ski crampons and skins, traversing some mountains in southern Europe (like Spain, Scotland and other southern places). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 I googled on "mini-skidor" and I found out that they are mentioned in a Swedish book called "Nostalgiboken", i.e. "The Nostalgia Book". I found an article in the largest Swedish newspaper about the book. Have a look at the pictures in the article: Orange Volvos, orange skateboards and orange mini skis. The Swedish 1970's in a nutshell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne1599968726 Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 Snow blades are for the French and the Gay... My ex has a pair... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabman Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 ...traversing some mountains in southern Europe (like Spain, Scotland and other southern places). Now - exactly HOW far North are you??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeAir Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 I have use the MiniMax of Salomon (1m long) to travers the Mnt.Blanc from Italy to French... I think they are funny but not so safe and elegant. Nothing of bad. With kite I have use them once, can be nice for freestyle but not for long rides... depending on the snow type and wind speed, they can have some problem of confort and can be hard to go upwind. they are just funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Now - exactly HOW far North are you??? Now I live down south (about the same latitude as Orkney ) but I grew up in Sweden's northernmost county, far away from where I live now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilo Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 dont bother with blades, no edge, no grip, shitty balance. stick to skis, twin tips are the way forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-j Posted November 18, 2009 Report Share Posted November 18, 2009 dont ever ride blades unless you are unsure of your sexuality.. end of topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luffy m Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Anne: out of interest is your ex French or Gay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Why this abnormal interest in male homosexual persons? Is it because the stereotypical British accent is so unmanly and considered gay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabman Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Why this abnormal interest in male homosexual persons? Those are normally statements made for 2 reasons: 1: The poster is not really 100% sure abouth their own sexuality 2: The poster is a helpless victim of the fashion industry. If the industry dictates that it's twintips - then twintips it is! The kind of person who must ride this season's kite and wear this season's colour. Otherwise countless sleepless nigts will ensue (remember they already have their sexuality to worry about:p). The kind of person who can spot a bandwagon from miles away, and can clear the mile in one single bound in order to jump on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Crabman, I see you you live in Aviemore. I used to live in Scotland. I remember that many over there considered men from south of the border to be posh (to describe it politely, and to not express more homophobia in this forum). It's like in the county where I grew up in norternmost Sweden. There they have an expression, "knapsu", which in local Finnish dialect means "girlie", or "womanish". Men's role is built upon one thing: To not be Knapsu. Here are some examples of what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Manly: Bear hunting and illegal moose hunting. Ok: Legal moose hunting. Probably knapsu: Deer hunting. Manly: Dynamite or rifle fishing. Ok: Ice fishing. Knapsu: Fly fishing. Manly: Moonshine. Ok: Beer (barely okay). Knapsu: Anything else. A good single malt would probably be considered knapsu, I mean, storing good moonshine for years in a barrel to loose alcohol strength, that would sound quite knapsu to a true northerner. All things regarding kite would probably be regarded knapsu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabman Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 I'm just imagining this huge Swedish/Finnish guy fcuked on moonshine, carrying home a bear and a salmon, both of which have had their heads blown clean off. :D UGH! lol edit: We don't have bear or moose over here and flyfishing is as popular as ever, accompanied with a wee dram - it's not looking good, is it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luffy m Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Haha, Vindman, that is genius! I think what you are describing also applies to the french alps (Savoie) although swap bear for wild boar and moonshine for Genepi. The products differ but the sentiments are the same. I was only even acknowledged by some of the locals in our village once I'd made my first batch of Genepi. For the others, please don't think that I have inferred that snowblading or indeed any other form of sport is inferring homosexuality. I am more in agreement with Crabman with regards to blading being a fashion trend rather than a discipline in its own right. Although to be fair, there is nothing wrong with homosexuality either....... oh dear, i seem to be tying myself in knots here and dont want to offend anyone can I just go on record and say that i love everybody and think everyone is great! now where's my kite.... i'm off to get dragged around a beach again this weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindman Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 When USA bought Alaska from the Russians, there was this Texan that was disappointed that he no longer lived in the largest and most manly state. He decided to move to Alaska. First evening in the local bar in his new home, making conversation, the bartender asks him why he decided to come to Alaska. The Texan replied, "I just want to know what it is like to really live the Alaskan experience." Bartender says, "Well, if you want a crash course on what it is like to be an Alaskan you need to do three things in the same day; drink a quart of moonshine, tackle a grizzly bear and make love to an Alaskan woman". Texan says, "I'm game." He downs an entire quart of moonshine, pays the bartender for it and says, "I'll be back." About 2 hours later, the Texan stumbles back into the bar. He's beat up, bleeding from several places, cloths all muddy and torn. He leans up against the bar, catching his breath says, "Ok, where can I find a woman to tackle?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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