What Are Skiblades? All You Need to Know About Short Skis

Skiblades are a rising branch of winter sports industry. What exactly are skiblades and why are they becoming more and more popular among skiers all over the globe? We will discover that and much more in this article. 

What are Skiblades? 

Skiblades, also called snowblades, skiboards, and in Europe even BigFoot, are essentially short skis.

Skiblades length starts at 65 cm and they be can as long as 120 cm. Even though skiblades are often thought a freestyle gear only, time and time again they have proved that they are definitely universal skis. 

What makes skiblades unique? 

• variety of lengths that not based on your height but simply on what you like
• variety of bindings for both ski and snowboard boots
• all mountain, all terrain friendly skis
• suitable for skiers of all levels 

History of Skiblades

In the mid-1970s, Kneissl revolutionized winter sports with the introduction of the Big Foot, an innovative short ski design that not only made skiing more accessible by reducing the ski length but also featured a distinctive design of printed toes.

In the 1980s, Atomic introduced Figl Skiboards, lightweight short skis aimed at European mountain climbers, allowing them to descend easily after their climbs. 

So, are skiblades still a thing? 

Definitely! Nowadays, skiblades are not seen as a solely freestyle equipment but as skis that bring benefits to skiers of all levels.  Skiblades by Snowfeet* carry on this legacy of short and light skis with modern materials and new innovative improvements. 

What are skiblades used for? 

Skiblades are perfect for carving, freestyle skiing, showing off tricks in snowparks, skiskating and much more.

Skiblades work just like skis but they offer much more opportunities. Based on what length you choose (more about that below), skiblades give you everything from skating on snow to amazing carving experience. 

How long are skiblades? 

Skiblades lengths range from 65 to 120 cm. When choosing the right length, always consider what you expect from your skiing experience and what style do you prefer. 

Opt for shorter skiblades (65 cm) if:

• you're a skater or hockey player wanting to try skiskating, which blends skiing and skating on snow
• you're after more freedom and versatility for performing tricks
• you prefer making quick, sharp turns
• you're choosing the first pair of skis for a child
• you want to navigate moguls easily

Consider longer skiblades (99 or 120 cm) if:

• you love carving
• you enjoy high-speed skiing
• you favor skiing in powder snow
• you're learning to ski and need beginner-friendly skis

Benefits of Skiblades

You don't need to be a mountaineer to appreciate the perks of skiblades. In fact, all ski levels and fans of all winter sports will find skiblades giving them a great winter thrill.

 1. Short length = effortless ride 

Thanks to their length, skiblades are very easy to turn and stop. Compared to longer and clunkier skis, they are easy to manoeuvre among other skiers and moguls. Plus, they will give the sense of precise control over your ride. 

2. Variety of bindings

Depending on the length you will choose, skiblades give you 3 options of bindings: shorter skiboards (65 and 99 cm long) come with simple ski and snowboard bindings. So if you hate them, you can say goodbye to the uncomfortable ski boots and enjoy the ride with snowboard bindings.

3. Short learning curve

Skiblades are super-easy to learn. That's why they make the perfect first skis for

beginners of all age. Skiblades allow to progress faster than regular long skis, so you will feel motivated by how fast you can actually ski on your own. From there, skiblades will help you immensely to improve your technique. 

4. Adjustable bindings

All bindings on Snowfeet Skiblades are adjustable so that's just a little bonus whether you want to share your pair with your partner or you perhaps buy skiblades as the first skis for your child. 

5. Easy to transport

Last but not least: skiblades are light and easy to carry around. So the struggle with heavy and long skis and how to get them to the slopes is over. 

Overall, when compared to long skis, skiblades bring mainly benefits to anyone who skis to enjoy themselves. Despite their variability and multiple cons, skiblades are still sometimes considered a free-style funky gear or a even a relict of the 90's. So many of you asked: 

Do people still snowblade?

Yes, people still snowblade and snowblading becomes increasingly more and more popular. 

 Skiblading is on the rise for a few simple reasons:

• skiers are coming to the mountain to have fun, therefore they opt for light and easy equipment that does not weight them down
• skiblades are perfect first skis for beginners 
• elderly skiers choose skiblades as well, since skiblades offer a knee-friendly way to ski plus it gives elderly skiers sense of control over their ride
• skiblades offer more than one bindings option, so you can choose comfortable snowboard boots, or bring you snowboard as an alternative to your skiblades with you on the slope
• skiblades are easier to control, so the skiing is less tiring and you can enjoy longer days on the slopes

Are snowblades fun? 

Is snow white? Skiblades are the biggest fun you can possibly experience on the slopes. 

When you skip the fact that you will barely notice you are wearing skis, skiblades are the most playful skis out there. Because of their short length skiblades give you the agility to try new tricks, spins and jumps. Plus, you can experiment with new terrain, too. Short skis will allow you to access terrain you would not dare to try on long skis, and ski playfully accross moguls.

So yes, snowblades are fun. Back to you, Mammoth people:


Did we hook you up on snowblades? Let's finish for today with tips on where to buy the best skiblades. 

Where to buy skiblades? 

The best place to buy skiblades in the universe is skiblades.com

Snowfeet focuses on short skis since 2018 and since then, we developed the best models with innovative bindings. We focus on bringing fun back to slopes combined with top quality and timeless designs. 

This was a brief article to give you a notion on what are skiblades. Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments bellow, and we will see you on the slopes!