Snowbiking Is This Year's Winter Sport

It has been waiting in the background, slowly growing in popularity and support

, and now it is ready to be unveiled on the world properly. Snowbiking is basically the sport of travelling down a snowy piste on a modified bike. The idea was conceived over 50 years ago, but people found that using a conventional bike was ineffective and rather dangerous. Over the years many snowboard and ski enthusiasts have been working on newer designer in the hope of discovering something that worked. Sadly, many of the earlier models were bulky and difficult to steer, and it has only been in the last few seasons that a snowbike has been developed that really works.

A Canadian firm currently offers the best bike on the market and they have announced the first snowbike world championship will take place next year. Rather than being built for tricks or jumps, snowbikes are normally purpose built for control and carving ability. This will be reflected in the world championship events that will be based around slalom and speed competitions. Most of the snowbikes on the market have adopted a shape and design like a snowmobile. They are lower to the ground than normal bikes and have a blade at the front of the bike attached to the steering column. This enables the rider to turn relatively sharply, but instead of having an engine at the back propelling the device, it of course relies on gravity to build up momentum.

Snowbike manufactures admit that snowbiking is not the easiest of sports to master, but that it is well worth putting in the hours to master. Apparently learning how to snowbike shares similarities with learning to ride a normal bike. Although a very different movement and balance is needed, once you learn the skills, it will be something you never forgot. You can get the snowbikes in a variety of sizes, including smaller bikes for children. They also come with some additionally safety features including padded framing and stabilisers.

Although many confident skiers and snowboarders will be keen to try out the snowbikes on the steeper and more difficult runs, it is advised that everyone should have a go on learner slopes first. Snowbikes are much harder to stop than snowboards or skis, and if you haven't mastered the technique you will not only be risking your own safety, but you may be endangering the safety of other winter sports enthusiasts.

In fact there have been a number of ski resorts in America who have banned snowbiking from their slopes until they have done their own safety tests. Most resorts however are allowing snowbikers, but recommending that people take care when using them and when around other people using them. Whatever resorts think of the bikes, with a reported 30,000 snowbikers worldwide, this one seems like a trend that is going to stick (or slide as the case may be).

by: Duncan Pierce

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