What ever happened to just skiing?

It is amazing how much growth and diversity has come from the snowsports industry in my short lifetime. While snowboarding seems to be the popular trend right now, there are numerus ways slide down a hill and new ways to do it seem to be invented each year. Skis, snowboards, big feet, twin tips, snowbikes, snow skates, and nordic skis are some of the options. It is also important to note the progress and technology that is being created for existing methods which increase performance and 'ridability'. The desire for a gliding, snowboarding type feel has also led to the invention of the Freeboard, which allows snowboarders to carve and stop just as if they were on snow. I cannot wait to see what new contraptions will be made in the years to come.

Freebord - Off-Season Wakeboard / Wakeskate Training
http://www.stokecity.ca/freebord.shtml

SNOWBIKES AND NEW TRAINING CONCEPTS TO HELP BEGINNERS
http://www.skiwinterpark.com/media/2198.html

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Pressbox/5658/

MEG LUKENS NOONAN, who lives in New Hampshire, writesfrequently about skiing. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/travel/14skitrends.html?ex=1101388069&ei=1&en=cf4bbb5f42eaa75d