Bikeboard Arrives at Lake Tahoe
Posted on April 11, 2008
Another way to enjoy snow sports that began in Europe four years ago was introduced to the Lake Tahoe area Saturday at Diamond Peak Ski Resort. A product from Switzerland, the bikeboard has been converting skiers and snowboarders one by one.
It’s a combination of skiing, snowboarding and bicycling, and works best when the rider wears boots with lots of traction, operators said.
“You go straight down the mountain like you’re on skis but you can carve like you’re on a snowboard,” said Carolin Gey, president of Bikeboard North America, which allowed skiers and snowboarders to try bikeboards for free Saturday.
“Ninety percent really like them,” Gey said. “There are some people who don’t get the hang of it but I hear a lot of interesting words about how cool it is.”
A bikeboarding race is scheduled at 11 a.m. today at Diamond Peak, 1210 Ski Way. One race is for children 6 to 13, and the other is for those 14 and older. When the races aren’t going on, anyone ages 6 and older with a lift ticket can take the bikeboards on the slopes for test runs.
Incline Village residents Skyler Rebholz and Ashley Ford said they found the bikeboard easier than snowboarding.
“It’s different,” said Rebholz, 18. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s easier than I thought it would be. You don’t steer with it. It’s more like leaning.”
“They looked like fun,” said Ford, 18. “They were definitely a lot of fun.”
Gey said the bikeboards were first introduced in the U.S. in January 2007, and its makers are looking for American riders.
Orem, Utah, resident Clint Green said he became a sponsored rider three months ago when he enjoyed it more than snowboarding.
“They’re fun in the powder, on the ground and in the terrain park,” said Green, 26. “They’re pretty universal on the slopes.”
Stephanie Homola of Incline Village said using the bikeboard will help her become a better skier.
“I like how you have to do edges because it’ll help you ski too because you need your edges when you ski,” said Homola, 9, a student at Incline Elementary School.
Gey said not all resorts allow bikeboards but that could change as the sport becomes more popular. Diamond Peak and Donner Ski Ranch are the only Lake Tahoe resorts that presently permit them, she said.
After winter, the bikeboard can be converted into several things, such as a scooter, she said.
Article by: Carla Roccapriore - Reno Gazette-Journal
Photo by: Patrick Cummings - Reno Gazette-Journal
» Filed Under Skiing & Snowboarding, Sports Tags: Tags:Bikeboard
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