Although the sport is internationally known as “Skibob”, this is a German word that can be translated into English as “Skibike”. The SAGB has decided to retain "Skibob" in their title for continuity but the British Racing Team has been using “Skibike” in its title since 1993 and will continue to do so. To confuse matters further the Swiss changed their name at the same time to Swiss Snowbike and their main sponsor, Mike Flachsmann who makes most of the racing equipment, changed the name of his products to Snowbikes. If that is not complicated enough you will find that “Snowbike®” has for several years been trademarked by the Austrian firm Brenter who make lightweight Snowbikes® for the expanding leisure market.

history of ski bike
Ski Bikes of one sort or another can be traced back to the 1892 but it was not until 1954 that the first skibob race was held at Obertauern in Austria and in 1961 the Federation Internationale de Skibob (FISB) was formed to promote and control the sport. The first World Skibob Championships was held in 1963 and the UK became affiliated to the FISB on the formation of the Skibob Association of GB (SAGB) in 1967. Since then skibobbing has been developed as an international sport with the same range of Championships as for alpine skiers and over similar courses. Speeds in excess of 100 mph have been recorded (at the time of writing the world Skibob speed record is held by Romuald Bonvin from Switzerland who achieved 184.9 kph at Les Arcs in March 2000)

history of ski bikeThe birth of the modern sport of skibiking is generally linked to Englebert Brenter who patented the “sitski” in March 1949. The big difference was the use of skis instead of metal or wooden runners thus introducing the skid/sliding turn which made it possible to get off the ice tracks and go anywhere a skier could go; including powder snow. The stability of the Sitski was much better than its predecessors because Brenter was also the first to add separate foot skis. Now you could go everywhere the others could; even up hill on the drag lifts! Harmony and equality with skiers and snowboarders is still important to the growth and acceptance of our sport today.

The Ski Bob Association of Great Britain (SAGB) is the controlling authority for skibiking in the UK. A British National Ski Bike week is sometimes organised by the SAGB at an alpine resort and every year they hold a British National Skibike Championships. The SAGB and the Services run novice courses and arrange race training to potential racers. The SAGB promotes a British National Skibike Racing Team that competes at the World Skibob Championships and encourages individuals to compete in the FISB World Cup and FISB – A series of races.

Historical Perspective

There have been many types of skibike like devices going back over more than a century. Some historical information and a fact sheet have been added at the end of this edition so that the instructor can reply to questions consistently and accurately.

The birth of the modern sport of skibiking is generally linked to Englebert Brenter who patented the “sitski” in March 1949. The big difference was the use of skis instead of metal or wooden runners thus introducing the skid/sliding turn which made it possible to get off the ice tracks and go anywhere a skier could go; including powder snow. The stability of the Sitski was much better than its predecessors because Brenter was also the first to add separate foot skis. Now you could go everywhere the others could; even up hill on the drag lifts! Harmony and equality with skiers and snowboarders is still important to the growth and acceptance of our sport today.

Braking with metal claws on the back of the footskis was an early source of friction with skiers. The claws dug grooves in the piste until everyone realised that trying to slowdown in this way with just your heels did not work very well compared to the new techniques being developed. These were to control speed like a skier by simply sliding the back ski. Many of the people who are anti our sport remember it from these early days before the claws were removed and they need to be shown how we have changed.

As Skibiking expands so too there will be many new varieties of machine and riding techniques. Already we have skibikers who prefer to ride without footskis ( often called “footpeggers”). There are quick fitting BMX conversions, wide ski Snowscoots (with and without a seat) and other fun things that you just stand on. There are some things like the Skifox that have no front ski; some have 3 skis while others even have motors and tracks, etc. None are stranger than the rocket powered skibike patented in 1950. For the moment the FISB controls our sport and defines a Skibike/Skibob with two skis, handlebars, a saddle and footskis. Some these devices and riding methods will last longer than others and some may become accepted and mainstream. As Instructors and leaders we must be tolerant, open minded and encourage common sense and good safe practice to achieve our aim of teaching the world to have fun skibiking whilst discouraging bad practice and ignorance that will interfere with the free practice of our sport.

Those who wish to take up the sport seriously will find that it takes as much skill, nerve, fitness and judgement as skiing does. Details of novice, intermediate and expert and SAGB Instructor Standards and Courses can be obtained through the Skibob Association of Great Britain (SAGB) website ( www.skibikeassociation.org) and also for Sponsorship and Racing information concerning the British National Skibike Racing Team and the British National Championships. For further information on International Racing at the European and World Championships and also the World Cup Events visit the FISB website www.skibob.org.