After fits and starts, Premier Snowskate calls the ball

When does a board sport cross the line and go from backyard bombing to prime time?... When industry giants like Burton and Soloman decide they want to get in on the fun and you find snowskaters competing in the Winter X Games. That means that you're more than just on the mapˇ­ you've got a keeper in the freesport - boardsport market and Premier Snowskate got it started.

Early snowskate roots go back as far as the Great Depression. But the first commercially successful product didn't arrive until the Snurfer.was marketed around 1965. Unfortunately, it never escaped the perception of being a "toy" and lost out to snowboarding's appeal to adults.

As snowboarding continued to grow in popularity through the 80's and 90's the snowskate niche began to creep its way back onto the scene. Then in 1998, Andy Wolf started Premier Snowskate.

Today's Snowskates are kinda like a cross between a snowboard without bindings and a skateboard without trucks. There are two types of boards. The dual deck boards have a riding deck and a second deck that contacts the snow. Premier Snowkates are the single deck type. The base of the board has grooves for better control over the board.

As with most boardsports from balance boards to skateboards and snowboards, the best models are made with Mother Nature's gift to manˇ­ wood. The Premier Snowskate pro models use an 8 ply wood deck with a p-tex base. The wood models are faster and give you that pop that you can only get with wood. The plastic and fiberglass models sacrifice performance, but come in at a cheaper price.

So how does a certified snowskate "greenie" like me dig up the details about modern day snowskating? I do what every person in my shoes does. I get my grubby paws on a snowkating heretic and pick their brains for all the info. That lead me to one of the "Grand Poobah's of active snwskaters, "Smagical" Phil Smage. I got to cyber-yak with Phil about the sport, the athletes and where it's all going. Hang out for a minute and check out what he said.

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Find out more about Premier Snowskate's full line of boards. For over six years now, Premier Snowskates has continually pushed the limits to deliver the best snowskates to the market. This year is no exception. We have two pro riders, Max Hilty and Isaac Hebert, showcasing their first pro models. Our pro and team boards are made up of eight-ply wood for strength, durability, and pop. To further satisfy our riders' needs, each wood board is complete with a waxable p-tex base. Click on the Hilty Snowskate to the left and find out more.

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Vew-Do - "What motivated you to start snowskating?"

Phil - "I first noticed snowskating at a local snowboard competition; some shop had a few that people were messing around on. I thought it was pretty much the most fun looking device I'd ever seen, so I went to my local shop, Torque Center, and picked up a neon green N-G3 Premier."

Vew-Do - "How long have you been at it and what competitions or awards have you won?"

Phil - "I have been snowskating pretty hard since 2003. I've done two contests: Winter X Games '05, and RYE Airfield '05. I got lucky enough to win both, but X Games is definitely something I'll never forget."

Vew-Do - "Do ya do any other board sports?...Skateboarding? Snowboarding? Skiing? Play guitar?

Phil - "You bet. I race motocross in the summer and also compete in trials throughout the summer. I travel around the US doing whatever nationals that don't conflict with other events. I also unicycle and ride/race pitbikes when the snow is gone. During the winter, whenever I am not filming or snowskating, I snowboard as much as possible, and do a few contests each winter."

Vew-Do - "What gets you out there time and time again? Like, is it the adrenaline rush of nailing a trick or stunt? The chicks? Or do you get stoked at trying to push the limits of your ability?"

Phil - "It's kinda like a combination of each. The thing that keeps me motivated to go out and film/snowskate, regardless of the temperature or snow conditions, is the sense of accomplishment you get when land something new. There is no better feeling than trying a trick until you are exhausted, ready to pass out... then you finally land it.

You get the exact shot you were looking for, and for the rest of that day, nothing else really matters. You don't worry about how much you screwed up on your exam or how mad your girlfriend is at you for taking her to the wrong place to shop, you enjoy the accomplishment and are perfectly content just watching it over and over."

Vew-Do - When you train, what methods or equipment do you use? Any particular off-slope training? Weightlifting? Running? Balance Boards? "

Phil - "I try to snowboard and skateboard as much as possible when I can't snowskate. That's because they are the closest things to it. Unfortunately in the summer I am not able to skate much, with racing all the time. Indoors I spend a lot of time on the Vew-Do balance board, sometimes even while watching TV or playing video games.

Vew-Do - What would you say is the most important physical aspect of the sport? Strength? Agility? Balance? Endurance?

Phil - "I'd say the most important physical aspects would be agility and balance. Just like in skateboarding and snowboarding you have to react fast and smooth, and also stay balanced the entire time."

Vew-Do - "What's the baddest/sickest thing you ever did on a snowskate?

Phil - Probably the best trick I've done so far was the kickflip backside 5050 down a local nine-stair handrail. It's not the most difficult thing in the world to do, but the way I popped it, caught it, and locked inˇ­ I wouldn't change a thing about it."

Vew-Do - "Does it have its own cult lifestyle or following? Sort of like Harley riders. Do snowskaters make any kinda musical or fashion statements?"

Phil - "I don't know if those are quite the words for it, but kind of. Right now, snowskating has a pretty tight community. Most of the best snowskaters know each other and converse often. This will most likely change over time as the sport gets bigger, but for now, it's great.

Probably the most popular clothing available for snowskating is Ambition, www.ambitionsnowskate.com . They make great stuff and most snowskaters have taken a liking to their clothes. Plus, the owner, Alex Blais is a great guy who does a lot for the sport, as well as snowskates himself. As far as music goes, each rider has different tastes, and no one really holds it against anyone."

Vew-Do - "What's your favorite spot to snowsakte?"

Phil - "Definitely, my favorite spot is my backyard. You can never get kicked out or have the cops called on you, you can make any obstacle you want, and there's a 24-hour restaurant in my kitchen!"

Vew-Do - "Gimme snapshot of where you think the sport is going in the next 5 years? And where do you want to be when it gets there?"

Phil - "The next five years are going to be the snowskating's most important. With the rate of progression going right now, that will be about the time it takes for the sport to get fully recognized. Five years from now I think snowskating will be one of the main competitions at the X Games, as well as having way more competitions throughout the world.

The ridership will increase at least two or three times what it is now, with people doing 20+ stair handrails and tricking into, and out of big rails. Snowskate parks will be common ground at most resorts. I will hopefully be right there with it, throwing myself down stair after stair. Some things may come along that make it so I can't snowskate as much as I would like, but until then, I'll be pushing it as hard as I can, giving everything I have to the sport that has given so much to me."

With year over year sales of Snowskates continuing to rise, more and more resorts adding snowskating parks and a natural appeal to action or freestyle sport enthusiasts from skateboarders to snowboarders, I think snowskating's got the goods for a hungry market.

By: Rick Contrata

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YES, I now know balance and agility training is important for improving my snowskating. I want to find out more about about Vew-Do Balance Boards, the Snowskate balance trainer. Show me where I can get the ultimate balance trainer... The Vew-Do "indy" Balance Board pictured above. “'Vew-Do Balance Boards are a great addition to our training and rehab programs while adding fun, challenge and excitement to our workouts.' - Jim Ramsey, Head Athletic Trainer, New York Rangers.

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