Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The types of skibob foot ski bindings

by G. Kunkel

Short foot skis are used in conjunction with skibobs.  They make chairlift unloading easy and act as balance outriggers while skibiking.

There are several types of bindings that can be used for attaching boots to the skibike foot skis.  Skibobbers have traditionally used skiboots since they were readily available.

Skibobbers can now buy and use snowboard boots and commercially available footskis with snowboard bindings.  They allow much more comfortable walking when not skibiking and provide plenty of support while riding.

Skibob foot skis with snowboard binding

Those with ankle injuries and fused ankles will benefit from snowboard boots and bindings.  Guests with these type of injuries or surgeries cannot get their feet into skiboots.

Instructors who are assigned teaching skibikes and snowboarding will appreciate the flexiblity of the platform.  No more switching to skiboots for a skibob lesson or out of for peg skibike lesson.

Skibob footskis also come with ski boot style bindings.  One style is fully adjustable and used mainly for rental fleets and another style looks like regular ski bindings.

The adjustable rental style bindings are very unreliable.  They wear out fairly quickly and then the foot skis fall off at random.  When cold and packed with snow, they are very hard to get back on.  If one is on a night time skibike tour, it's even worse.

The ski binding style binding for footskis are much more reliable.  While more expensive, you'll find skbiking less frustrating.

Skibob foot skis with ski bindings
Those looking for comfortable fitting footwear while riding should choose the snowboard binding, skiers with skiboots should pick the upgraded ski binding style.

Foot skis can be quite pricey.  One can make decent homemade ones from snowblades or buy a pair of used ones from SkiBikeFun.com for around $100.

© 2012 G. Kunkel and Skibike and Snow Bike Instruction. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Skibike and Snow Bike Instruction with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Google

Monday, May 28, 2012

After a careful search, I've come to realize that there are no skibike instruction blogs on the internet.  As skibiking is really taking off in the USA, that has to change.

Skibob style skibikes have been around for ages and most anyone can learn to ride one comfortably with about 20 minutes of riding instruction.  One needs to learn how to load and unload from the lift with the equipment so throw another 10 minutes in there.

Peg skibikes are a little more technical and require a bit more instruction.  I'll cover the nuances of both peg skibikes and skibobs in this blog.   Learning from a certified professional skibike instructor really makes it easy.

© 2012 G. Kunkel and Skibike and Snow Bike Instruction. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to G. Kunkel and Skibike and Snow Bike Instruction with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.