If a听snowshoe and a backcountry ski had a baby,听you鈥檇 get something like听the , which was听released last month听at ISPO 2016,听Europe鈥檚听ski trade show.听
Like a snowshoe,听this thing's听principally meant for going uphill. But it eschews听metal teeth in favor of a听smaller version of a听climbing skin that you鈥檇 attach to backcountry听skis. At the top of the hill, just听unclip听the rigid platform holding the skin, flip it over,听and reattach it to the base of the blade to reveal a smooth surface with metal edges (unlike touring skis where you take the skins off).听听Adjustable bindings work with either winter hikers or ski boots.听听
When you鈥檙e on hard snow,听the base and metal edges ski a lot like snowblades (those incredibly dorky,听miniature twin-tip skis for rent at your听local hill). But when you鈥檙e in deep snow, the Crossblades sink听to their听wider, upper platform, turning them into听powder boards for a little better float. You鈥檇听flounder in waist-deep fluff, but they might be fun in听six inches or less of fresh.
If Shane McConkey were still alive I鈥檓 sure he鈥檇 have fun with Crossblades, as听his alter ego,听,听was a big fan of snowblades. But beyond McConkey, I鈥檓 left wondering who the audience will be.
Anyone who wants to enjoy backcountry skiing is going to use regular backcountry skis with skins. And anyone who wants to snowshoe probably doesn鈥檛 care about sliding down after their climb. They might听prefer not to.听
And then there鈥檚 the absurdly high price. The version that works with ski boots cost $560 and weighs a little over eight pounds. The winter hiker version costs $600 and weighs 9.5 pounds.听That鈥檚 considerably more than you鈥檇 pay for a nice pair of snowshoes, and inline with what you鈥檇 pay for an entry-level backcountry touring set-up.
We鈥檙e trying to get a pair to test and will let you know our thoughts听when we do. We鈥檇 love to be surprised by their versatility, but expect that they鈥檒l just sit in the closet until the closing day party at our resort when we don a mullet wig,听white ski pants, and knee pads, grab a bottle of Jack Daniels, and strap them to our feet to bring on听the second coming of Saucer Boy.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QnVzS5V1sbs
听
听