Introduction.

Over the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people taking to the winter slopes of Austria, Switzerland and France. Many have tried the traditional winter sport, and spent their first couple seasons of skiing in a ski school, but by far the biggest increase in interest has been towards the snowboard. It's popularity seems to go from strength to strength.

Skibiking on the other hand, has stayed pretty much in the background. We feel the probable cause is under-exposure, and we hope, through this site to try and remedy the situation.

Skibikes have been around for many years, albeit under a different name, "ski-bobs" to be precise. The name may have changed, but the sport has continued with little change. Modern technology and materials have however allowed considerable improvements to the design and production of Skibikes in general. Their versatility and adaptability is exceptional, allowing riders a variety of speed ranges, from 2 to over 100 mph, and are quite able to cope with all types of snow conditions, from deep powder to sheet ice.

So how, and where did it all start, and why has the sport not gained the popularity of skiing or snowboarding? All very good questions, and ones that are not easy to answer. The origins of the sport are debatable, some will say America, and others will say Europe. We feel its true origins lie firmly in Austria, Salzburg to be precise, more detailed information can be found in the section (About).

Their original use is also open to debate. We heard a theory many years ago which sounded logical to us, but is as yet unsubstantiated. It is thought that after the end of a day's skiing and the lifts were turned off, the lift attendant at the top station was required to ski down under the lifts and check that no person or persons were still on the lift, and doomed to certain death in the freezing overnight air. Considering the long day's toil, and the rather uncertain terrain under lifts, then add to that the poor light conditions that usually apply at that time of day, a less energetic and safer way than skiing would be more appropriate. Over the years we have seen many skibikes parked at the back of ski lift huts, and occasionally seen lift attendants skibike down the side of the lift at the end of the day.

We hope you enjoy our Website. We will continue to improve and update both the format and content, but this site will always be 'under construction'. If you have any comments queries, or suggestions please contact us, our contact address can be found below.

Happy Skibiking.

Gail & Mervyn Charlton

mail@skibikers.co.uk

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About Skibiking:

The name skibike is a relatively new term for what traditionally used to be called a "Ski-Bob".
If you have ever watched, the Beatles film "Help", you may well know the answer to the above question, as the film has a short sequence, where John, Paul, George and Ringo can be seen riding early examples of skibikes.

The skibike can best be described as a bicycle with the wheels removed and short skis added in their place. It's height is approximately 24" (60 cm) and its length, depending on the type of skis fitted, can be up to 7 feet (213 cm). The weight of a skibike varies considerably and is dependant on its intended purpose, a light weight touring model would weight around 15 lbs (7 kg), a racing model can weight up to 40 lbs (20 kg). Most skibikes have some form of suspension system, usually in the form of light weight shock absorbers. Brenter Snowbikes have their own unique and (patented) suspension system.

The name Snowbike is unique to the manufacturer Brenter and is patented by them, the general look and ride of a Brenter bike however is very similar to skibikes manufactured by other companies.

Small skis, called foot-skis, with an approximate length of 22" (55 cm) are clipped to the feet, using standard ski boots and bindings, (but they can be adapted for use with snowboard boots). These foot-skis provide additional stability when riding, and aid turning.

When the sport was in its infancy, there was a tendency by some to ride without foot-skis, and use their feet for turning and speed control. This method is can be hazardous, and can cause damage to the pistes. All resorts that we know of within Europe forbid this practice.

History.

The Guinness Book of Records, state that the first record of the skibike dates back to, 1891, when a gentleman by the name of: J. C. Stevenson of Hartford, Connecticut, USA, invented what he called a "bicycle with ski runners", and patented the device on the 19th April 1892, patent number (47334). We are not aware that the invention ever went in to production though.

We feel the true roots of the skibike, lay much closer to home, Salzburg in Austria to be precise, where a gentleman by the name of: Englebert Brenter, invented what he called the "Sit-Ski" back in 1949. His descendants the Brenter brothers, Erich and Willie, continue to produce some of the finest Snowbikes to be purchased to date.

Versatility.

Skibikes can be ridden on all types of terrain, and in most weather conditions, they can be transported on most of the current lift systems to be found in ski resorts. We have found it possible to skibike with ease in conditions that have proved to be difficult for both skiers and snowboarders.

There are resorts where the use of skibikes is restricted or forbidden. These restrictions are usually applied by the resort management, and it is not an indication of the resorts unsuitability for skibikes.

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About us.

Hi all,

I first became involved in skibiking in the mid 70's when it was a relatively new sport in the UK. I was fortunate really because my younger brother Brett had been an instructor in the sport for quite a few years prior to that, and had the reputation of being probably one of the best skibikers in the UK; when it came to style and technique there were few who could match him, I learned a lot from him (many thanks Brett).

My parents Don & Joan, were for many years active members of the SAGB and my father was for a period one of their chief instructors.

I went on to get my SAGB instructor's licence, and at that time, the new Swiss Gold Proficiency Medal.

I used to ride a skibike that was designed by and custom made for Tony Marsh, a well known figure on the World Cup skibike circuit (Europe) in those days, but I now ride a lighter Brenter Downhill.

My dreams for the future are: to buy an apartment in Hinterglemm and spend the season out there!

Regards.

Mervyn Charlton.

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Hello everybody,

My first experience of winter sports and ski-bobbing as it was known then was back in 1983 in Saalbach/Hinterglemm Austria, I hated every minute of it and could not get out of the resort quick enough.

I reluctantly returned to the sport in 1987 after much persuasion from my new partner Mervyn. He taught me the correct procedures and all the little tricks he had picked up over the years, and gave me the confidence to carry on where others had failed in the past.

I have gone on to be a competent skibiker on all types of piste and in all weather conditions, and have had the pleasure of instructing many a beginner since then. My most recent pupil was 'Brian the Boarders' girl friend Sharon, I had her skibiking down red runs within two days of her first lesson, which by pure coincidence happened to be in the resort of Saalbach/Hinterglemm Austria (March 2002.)

I ride a Brenter Downhill Snowbike and love every minute of my annual excursion to the winter slopes of Europe, and look forward to trying the slopes of America and Canada in the not too distant future.

Happy Skibiking.

Gail Charlton.

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Where can I ride a skibike...?

The type of terrain to be found in all ski resorts, is quite suitable for skibiking. It is fair to say that if you can ski or snowboard on a particular piste, then a skibike will perform equally well.

There are restrictions on the use of skibikes in some resorts, this is not due to the types of piste to be found in a particular area, it is more a political issue and is dictated by the hierarchy within the individual resorts. Some resorts welcome skibikers and have no restrictions, others forbid the use of skibikes, or limit their use to certain lifts or pistes. As with all new or unusual sports (snowboarding) etc., it can take time for it to gain popularity or acceptance.

America may well insist that the skibike originated there, and this may be the case but the US resorts that allow unrestricted skibike use appears to be rather limited at the moment.

We always check with the resort's tourist office before booking. It is unlikely that your local travel agent will have detailed, or up to date information on skibike use in a particular resort.

How much do they cost...?

Skibike hire is the best option for a first outing. We hope to provide a detailed list of suppliers of hire equipment, in the near future.

A good mountain bike (ATB) can be expensive, and the same goes for skibikes. It has to be born in mind the amount of stress that can be placed on the machine, even when negotiating sedate runs at slow speeds, you will have heard the old saying, "you only get what you pay for".

Who can skibike...?

Pretty much anybody really. My daughter started at the age of 10 years on a home made Bike, (courtesy of yours truly), and there was Baron Von Holliweg (Mops to his friends), who skibiked with an artificial leg. A gentleman by the name of Sir Henry Wooga, regularly takes parties of partially disabled army personnel to the alpine pistes, and has been featured on national TV in the UK.

If you can ride a bicycle, you are well on the way to being a skibiker.

How fit do I have to be...?

All physical sports require a degree of fitness, but if you can make it to your local pub 500 metres down the road in one go, or regularly walk the dog with no adverse side effects, then skibiking should not cause any problems.

Most winter sports enthusiasts do however, embark on some form of fitness regime, a few weeks prior to their departure, it is up to the individual to decide the level or intensity.

What clothing do I need...?

No special clothing, other than normal ski attire is needed, most items can be hired from reputable ski shops, and offer decent discounts if you choose to purchase the clothing on your return. Gloves, hats & goggles cannot usually be hired so you will need to purchase them in your local ski shop, or in the resort. We recommend you purchase these items in the resort because there is usually a larger selection to choose from.

Where can I get skibike instruction...?

Due to the lack of snow clad mountains within the UK, we are unable to give any firm advice on where to obtain suitable instruction. Most of the dry ski slopes dotted around the country welcome skibikes, but they do not usually have any equipment for hire.

There is no substitute for the real thing, (snow that is,) and we firmly recommend you to take your first venture through one of the skibike clubs, or go on one of the Brenter courses. We hear they are very good.

Do all resorts allow skibiking...?

Sadly the answer to that question is no. Resorts fall in to 3 categories:

(1) Resorts that allow unrestricted use of all lifts and pistes.

(2) Resorts that allow restricted use of skibikes on some of their lifts or pistes.

(3) Resorts that forbid skibike use completely.

Before booking our holiday, we always check with the village tourist office as to what lifts and runs can be used. Keep in mind that some resorts allow you to skibike on the pistes, but do not allow the use of the lifts. Fine if you are prepared to spend 4 or 5 hours carrying your skibike 2000 metres up the mountain, only to spend 30 minutes skibiking back down, this is not our idea of a good time, so check carefully.

Why is skibiking restricted in some resorts...?

A very good question, and one which is not easy to answer.

The resorts that either restrict, or forbid the use of skibikes, will usually quote either the unsuitability of their lift/piste system, or the dangers involved with skibike use.

In the 20 years or so, that we have been skibiking, we have encountered very few lifts or pistes that we could not negotiate with both safety to ourselves, and others. The ones we have come across on occasion, have proved to be intimidating to skiers as well as snowboarders, and tend to be little used by most parties.

Where can I buy equipment...?

In the past:

Brenter (Austria), Keeda (Germany), Porche (Germany), Hari and Jafca (England), all produced skibikes in some form or other. To our knowledge there are only 2 surviving European manufacturers.

Brenter GMBH, Arnsdorferstrabe 19-23, A-5110 Oberndorf, Austria.

Tel: 0043 (0)6272/7777-0 Fax: 0043 (0)6272/7777-22

Flachsmann, CH-8038 Zurich, Butzenstrasse 54/56, Switzerland.

Tel: 01/481/7877 Fax: 01/483/0039

K2 have now started producing skibikes, we do not have an address for them but their web site can be found in our Links Page.

Stalmach skibikes can also be found in our Links Page.

All companies, we believe, can arrange delivery of your equipment to a UK address, or to your chosen ski resort, prior to your departure.

Brenter Snowbikes (Austria) have Snowbikes for hire, and run very good instruction courses, their web site can be found in Links.

Is skibiking dangerous...?

As with all physical sports, there is always an element of risk, but the risk is far less than is the case with skiing and snowboarding. This is due to the low centre of gravity on a skibike, and it's 4 points of contact. Generally injuries are usually of the minor bruise variety.

Transporting a skibike...?

By air is the most common way to get your bike to the alpine slopes. Most tour operators are happy to transport your equipment for you, though some will charge a small fee due to that little bit of extra weight involved, when compared to a pair of skis, some will also insist on a protective bag of some kind, this is for safety reasons, we use light weight canvas bags.

By car is also very popular, this method is dependant on the distance to your chosen resort though. Driving to your resort gives you the advantage of having transport to go exploring your chosen region, should the occasional day of bad weather make skibiking less appealing.

Skibikes can be transported on roof racks, bike racks, and when broken down into their component parts, transported in the boot of your car. A small spanner and screw driver are usually all the tools that are required.

When is the best time to go skibiking...?

The European ski season has been a bit unpredictable in recent years due no doubt to global warming but is usually from mid November to late April, this can vary though, and is usually dependant on the altitude of your chosen resort, and the snow conditions that prevail at the time. February is a popular month, when both sun and snow are usually at their best, this is high season and holiday costs go up accordingly. We prefer the last 1 or 2 weeks prior to high season, the costs are substantially lower, but the conditions are usually very similar to high season.

There are a number ski resorts with glaciers, while it can prove rather costly, these resorts offer glacier skiing well into August and beyond. We have not personally indulged in summer glacier skiing, but we are advised that up to lunchtime the skiing can be superb, thereafter the snow tends to get rather wet and sticky.