Growth of Ski Biking at Lift-Assisted Ski Areas

By Rob Shaul with AI Assistance

• Popularity and Growth: Ski biking, which involves using a bicycle-like device with skis instead of wheels on ski slopes, has seen a notable increase in popularity. This growth is driven by several factors:
  • Ease of Learning: Many find ski biking easier to learn than traditional skiing or snowboarding due to the familiar bike-like control, which can be particularly appealing to beginners or those returning to snow sports after an injury.
  • Accessibility: The sport’s rise aligns with broader trends in winter sports towards inclusivity and offering alternatives for people of various skill levels or with different physical capabilities.
  • Marketing and Community: Social media and dedicated communities have played significant roles in promoting ski biking, showcasing its fun and unique aspects. Manufacturers like SkiByk have also contributed to this growth by offering affordable and well-designed ski bikes.
• Quantitative Data on Growth: Exact numbers on the growth rate are not specified in the immediate sources, but anecdotal evidence from ski areas, user forums, and sales of ski bikes indicate an upward trend. For instance, with more than 150 ski resorts in North America now allowing ski bikes, the sport’s acceptance and thus its growth are evident.

 

 

• North America: Over 150 ski resorts across North America now permit ski biking, which is a significant increase from previous years. Notable among these include:
  • Vail Resorts: Allows ski bikes at all their properties, including Vail, Park City, Northstar, Heavenly, and others.
  • Other Major Resorts: Resorts like Breckenridge, Steamboat, and Winter Park in Colorado; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; and many smaller and regional ski areas have also opened their slopes to ski bikes.
• Specific Policies:
  • Tethering and Loading: Most resorts require ski bikes to be tethered to the rider during lift rides for safety. There’s also a common practice of securing the bike on the lift in a specific manner, often by either holding it or using the lift’s restraint bar.
  • Variety of Terrain: While some areas might restrict ski bikes to certain terrains, many allow them on all slopes, from beginner to expert, recognizing the versatility of ski bikes.
• Cultural Shift: There’s a cultural shift in ski areas towards recognizing ski biking as a legitimate sport. This is partly due to advocacy from groups like the American Ski Bike Association, which works to expand access and acceptance of ski biking at ski resorts.
• Equipment: The availability of better-designed ski bikes from manufacturers like SkiByk and Tngnt has helped in promoting the sport. These companies focus on creating equipment that’s both functional for skiing and compliant with resort policies.
• Challenges: Despite growth, ski biking still faces challenges such as not all resorts allowing them due to safety concerns or traditionalist views on what constitutes skiing or snowboarding. However, the trend is clearly towards more acceptance and integration into the broader snow sports culture.