Introduction to Grass Skiing

Рет қаралды 101,851

5 жыл бұрын

If you haven't heard of grass skiing, by the end of this video you will have all the information you need to get started.
In the video, I mention a former world champion and manufacturer of grass skis. Visit his website for more information and to buy grass skis: www.grasski.net
I will be posting a follow-up grass skiing video after this one, so subscribe if you want to see more.
The main focus of this channel is to help you guys become Damn Skilled at skiing, so if you need any info on getting out to the slopes, gear or technique let me know.

Пікірлер: 131

@rockymtnsteeze1815 3 жыл бұрын

I thought grass skiing was when you Blaze one on chair lift.

@jamesknight9042 4 жыл бұрын

This actually looks so fun, I think I’m gonna have to try it

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

@jamesknight thanks for the comment. It's so fun, you should give it ago.

@themilkrun3964 5 жыл бұрын

Love the commitment to skiing even when there is no snow! Looking forward to seeing how you get on

@Alexskiing 5 жыл бұрын

If you are ever in the UK, let me know and you can have a go. See what you think!

@themilkrun3964 5 жыл бұрын

Might take you up on that the next time I’m back home in London

@Planetaryjones 2 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing is the offer to still have a go open ?

@georgec1621 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Alex I started grass skiing at Bryce Mountain around 1975-76 and raced in the US and Canada through the early 80's. I remember there was a British racer named Nigel who came over for the National Championships in 1978 or 1979. I still have a pair too!

@simonorr594 3 жыл бұрын

They also work pretty well on soft snow - and go REALLY quick. I skied a NASTAR course on them and a few black runs last season. Freaks people out too!

@saritafercho 3 жыл бұрын

I taught grass skiing in the 1980s at an activity centre in Somerset, England, it was bonkers and so much fun!

@pingu255 3 жыл бұрын

This looks absolutely epic, I must do this

@vermontnewyorker 3 ай бұрын

Wow! GS has come a long way since I tried it in the 1970s. Thanks for posting.

@ToddB987 2 жыл бұрын

Looks awesome!! I’m glad you pointed out the stopping and control right away. That’s what I was most curious about. It’s not like you slide like on snow. I think the learning curve would be fairly easy as long as you have experience in Alpine skiing.

@urbanrunoff 4 жыл бұрын

great video!. I tried grass skis in the 80's, looks like these are much improved. I , wonder how they go on dirt not much grass here in South California.

@NeonLuvBar 2 жыл бұрын

There was a grass ski centre in the Lake District (near Ambleside) 45 years ago. From what I remember, the skis haven't changed much at all.

@Pillock25 3 жыл бұрын

I remember trying this at a school camp in the 80's, it was a lot of fun, unfortunately most of my memories revolve around sitting and laying down.

@Luke-pn4fz 5 жыл бұрын

Great video it looks like a blast - just wondering how the skis handle bumps and small rocks if you happen to run over any?

@Alexskiing 5 жыл бұрын

Hey thanks for the comment! Bumps are not a problem as the tracks are pretty absorbant, small stones would be ok but rocks would be a problem as they could damage the skis. You'd have to find a slope which is more or less cleared of rocks and stones in order to grass ski.

@ianmacdonald5682 4 жыл бұрын

I was very big into Grass Skiing in the 1970's (I'm was a snow skier as well) but when I got married in 1977 and started a family it wasn't easy to keep actively attending so the ski's were put away. 43 years later during lockdown and clearing out the Garage (As you do) I came across them and the British Grass Ski Club's instruction book. I guess a basic quality compared to today but still in working order. For interest our group was based in the Portsmouth/Hampshire area and our main meetings were at a place called Butser Hill in the Queen Elizabeth Country Park just south Of Petersfield. We held some pretty high class competitions including at one time a Europa Championships. But Grass skiing was in it's infancy back then and I wasn't sure it was still a going sport, so thank you for the video and I'm pleased to see it's still possible to grass ski. We did go up to London on occasions and ski on Hampstead Heath also along the South Downs near Brighton. I don't suppose there is anything going on there now?

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Ian thanks for getting in touch. It looks like there is not much grass skiing going on but fear not, I have had a few people contact me about meeting up so recommendations on where to go are super helpful. Did you walk up buster hill each time? I am trying to find somewhere in the UK with a lift preferably. It has come on loads in the Czech Republic and other countries but its a forgotten sport here unfortunately.

@ianmacdonald5682 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Alex Thanks for replying, it's all a long time ago. Butser Hill has wide open spaces but we tended to use the same runs every time. As a small club we did have a lift, it was a continuous wire loop around pulleys with the motor at the top? It was quite long, each skier carried a metal glogger/gripper which they lined up the wire to run through and by leaning back it gripped the wire and off you went. It did take a bit of getting used to. I don't know who owned it or the make. It was obviously portable and stowed in the back of a van and could be taken anywhere. There are a couple of films from the early 70's on KZfaq (Grass skiing Buster Hill-Perterfield) but they do show the bigger events. The Ski Club of Great Britain ran them and it was not always that busy week in, week out. One film on something called AP Archives briefly shows the lift in use. I can't help much more with locations, as you have said it seems to be a forgotten sport in the UK. I live in the north of Scotland now and I've skied at Cairngorms, I don't have snow skis or ski boots any more. I still have the grass skis but it looks like they are staying on the shelf as a memory of a distant past. Let me know how you get on, always interested in the skiing side of life.

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Ian, that's really really helpful. From your information I think I have found the name of the lift, Britonlift ski tow. I am going to try find an old one or build my own! I didn't even think about a portable rope tow before. I will check out Buster Hill, after looking at the videos it looks like a good spot not to far from London.

@vshjaar 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Ian you might remember the Beck family? And perhaps you knew my dad Harry King and my mum Jackie from your days grass skiing in the 1970s they were also importers of the Italian Rolka Grasskis, we ran the Bristol Grasski Club right up until the late 90s and I instructed and competed on Grass til I was 19 but the bottom fell out of it because of cheap snow holidays and I suspect from zero investment by any national sports bodies. Such a shame as grasskiing would have produced far more and far better British skiers and we’d have more alpine stars too. Plenty of hills just lack of infrastructure. Martin & Graham Bell grew up racing on grass too. In fact Martin used my skis after he bust his set on a practice run at a race meet at Butser Hill. Lots of memories from those completion weekends and such a shame it never got as big as in Europe.

@vshjaar 3 жыл бұрын

Alex Wrigglesworth if you want any more information or history on it give me a shout. Would be nice to see it make a comeback.

@andreweaton1128 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Alex, I used to race and teach grass skiing back in the late 80's attending junior european and a world champs. I really would love to see it revived and miss the fun we used to have. All the best...

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Andrew thanks for your message! Lots of people have contacted me since making this video. I am currently on the look out for one of the Britonlift portable ski tow lifts. Covid put pad to my plans but I will be definitely be getting a lift together and organising a get together of Grass skiers past and present. Even if its only a once a year thing I feel some sports need to be revived!

@andreweaton1128 3 жыл бұрын

That would be awesome. I used to be a part of the South Yorkshire Grass Ski Club and we had a proper set of races at Rother Valley Country Park, Buster Hill in Petersfield and at a hill in Gwent. We used to have a lift although it would be ancient now if it still exists... If I can help please let me know as I would love to be involved. I’ll try and dig out some old photos to share. My email address is aje19720@gmail.com Cheers Andy

@gfowns5322 4 жыл бұрын

Come to Edinburgh. We used to do Grass Ski on Rolka. Happy to compare. We have ski lift 1x drag 1 x Chair 365 days.

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Geoff I read that there used to be a track there. Next summer I need to find a hill to use and maybe build a little lift. Can you still access the side of the hill they use for grass skiing?

@brianmckay5589 4 жыл бұрын

I think you've done well giving an introduction to grass skiing. Goodonya mate!

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! :)

@pixelperfekt22 3 жыл бұрын

Is this Brian McKay from NorCal who used to ski on these in the 70's??

@richieremo1 4 ай бұрын

Omg this opens uk every hill mountain in the uk !!!!! It s the answer to all my frustration that builds up when i cant fly to real snow resorts ..has any one set up a club yet in surrey or london etc??? We should get on it if not 100%

@Eagle_1985 2 ай бұрын

Yes, please do more grass skiing :)

@CaptainZavec 2 ай бұрын

Just came across this while doing research into offroad roller skiing, having now been a few years curious if you kept up with it! It looks super cool, though I'd wonder how practical it is if you're not near somewhere with a chairlift.

@cvdavis 2 жыл бұрын

It’s be interesting to try.

@hawkjohnson9089 5 жыл бұрын

Very interesting

@buoyanProjects 3 жыл бұрын

My experience from mountainboarding is it hurts a hell of a lot more when you stack it

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

H E W that's very true!

@RAHvdK Ай бұрын

Hey mate. When to stop just make a baseball homecoming slide? This looks ❤

@soolenia9844 4 жыл бұрын

So now we got freebords for snowboards, and grassskis for skis??? This needs to be seen by more people.

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Solenia, thats funny. Hopefully it will be seen by more people soon. I have had a fair bit of interest in joining me in the UK.

@josephbates8117 5 жыл бұрын

So, I'm a total beginner, but I live in the southern US and rarely have any way to get to the slopes. Would these be a good way to improve my technique locally while I can't get to the slopes so I can better make use of my limited time there?

@Alexskiing 5 жыл бұрын

So there's a couple of things here - you'll be doing a lot of walking up a slope if there isn't a ski lift for you to use, and depending on your ability they are not the easiest things to pick up without instruction. You'll need a bit of perseverance and I probably wouldn't recommend if you are a beginner. But if you can overcome these things, it would be brilliant for your technique. Thanks for your comment!

@seaskiguy 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Alex. I actually have a bit of experience grass skiing. I first grass skied at Bryce Mountain in Virginia in the U.S. I don't believe they are still offering this, so I don't think it is available anywhere in the U.S. at this point. I managed a small ski area outside of Denver called Araphahoe East, and somehow we hosted the National Grass Skiing Championships. This must have been in 1981 or 1982. I remember we had several hundred people (at least) show up which I wasn't expecting. It was televised on an evening special interest program, but I can't find any clips. I think one of the challenges is that most ski area slopes, at least in the West, are pretty rocky. Is this still popular in the UK and Europe? John

@Alexskiing 2 жыл бұрын

Hi It's not popular in the UK but I am scouting out locations at the moment and looking at getting a lift so watch this space lol

@Brian_Moser1118 3 жыл бұрын

you try this in the summer in california the friction with the dry grass would cause wildfires lol

@wojtekbehnke9407 Жыл бұрын

Hi Alex, how did you get on with the grass skis? Are they worth the investment? I have a farm where I could use them but I’d ideally like to try them out.

@Diesel249 4 жыл бұрын

I've been doing this on and off since 2013. I live in London too, like you say, not a lot of great terrain here... Did you buy your skis from Martin? I took mine to snowdonia last summer, was pretty rad

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Piers that's really cool. Yes I did get them from Martin, really nice guy. It's certainly not easy to find a slope in the UK. I am going to try get a lift working on a hill this year and if I do, you're more than welcome to join.

@Diesel249 4 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing He is! Really helpful. Offered for me to go over there and do some training, which, I regret not taking him up on. That sounds great, keep me posted! That could make for a cool video too...

@Hokiebird428 Жыл бұрын

How does the cost of gass skis compare to the cost of average quality alpine skis?

@BenedictsCraft 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome idea, skied around the world for 30 years and a few weeks a year isn’t enough!! How fast can they go?? Broke 123km/h at Alpe D’Huez on snow, why isn’t summer grass skiing a thing?

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

They will go really fast but It's the stopping you have to worry about! :)

@BenedictsCraft 4 жыл бұрын

Alex Wrigglesworth Alex Wrigglesworth just moved to Sierra Nevada Spain to set up a hostel/lodge, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for smooth areas. A bit rocky here, but I’ve got a few ideas.

@bonnaud_dowell 3 жыл бұрын

The fact they’re so short (even for slalom skiing) must make a difference ?

@f2e385 4 жыл бұрын

what's that overlay for the speed

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Kelvin Wang it's inbuilt into the GoPro hero 7 black.

@ramilladeaventura 2 жыл бұрын

Where did you find an instructor to get an introduction to the sport?

@Alexskiing 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, I found Martin at Grassski.net

@thetomcoe 4 жыл бұрын

Say there's a nice flat runoff, would these skis (or other grass skis more suited to the terrain) hold up on the grass equivalent of Europe's steepest black runs? If not could you give an estimate of what they would be capable of? And do you know how they handle jumps? Great video, subscribed :)

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Tom Coe you would be in lot of trouble if you went on the steepest black runs in Europe. The initiation of the turns takes longer. You need a runoff to slow down which makes it much harder to find the perfect slope. I don't see why you would't be able to jump on them. I will post an updated video this summer. Thanks for the sub :)

@thetomcoe 4 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing Thanks for the reply, looking forward to more videos!

@joshtonkin7684 4 жыл бұрын

Skiing tutorial videos +tips please!!!!

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Josh thanks for the comment. That's the plan next winter!

@michaelcripwell1724 Жыл бұрын

Looks great fun, at 60 plus I have just taken up skiing this could be an other hobby.

@aaaahhhhh8143 5 жыл бұрын

Are the lengths like normal skis or do you need smaller?

@Alexskiing 5 жыл бұрын

Hi, Ross Whatley they are much smaller similar to snow blades.

@esconis5304 2 жыл бұрын

Can u get snowboards like these? I wanna have a go but dont want to have to go to the alps especially when I might be atrocious lol

@Alexskiing 2 жыл бұрын

Not that I know of but the skis are fun

@ARFEvans 5 жыл бұрын

Have you found anywhere in the UK to go grass skiing yet?

@Alexskiing 5 жыл бұрын

No but I am in London which isn't great for locations. I will go on a proper hunt for a more permanent location soon.

@HugDeeznueces 4 ай бұрын

I am looking to buy a pair so I can do it in the USA.

@thebunnisher109 3 жыл бұрын

Great now get a bump ski version!

@bitsmart... 3 жыл бұрын

how to brake with grasskis does it wor the same way as in snowskis?

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

You don't, you find uphill.

@lillipuziana74 3 жыл бұрын

great

@sneakyvee 4 жыл бұрын

how fast can you go on these?

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi @Sneaky V how fast can I go? Not very fast without the ability to stop until you get to the bottom of the slope. I didn't have the confidence or ability yet to go over 30 miles an hour, but the pros race these skis super-G so much faster.

@cjtathome 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Alex , have you done much of this since lockdown ?

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

That would be a flat no Unfortnalty but I am happy to inform you that there will be more grass skiing videos in 2021

@cjtathome 3 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing , if there is no skiing this season I’m buying a pair

@adrianpanda3453 4 жыл бұрын

plase come to Poland!

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

I have been to Zakopane and loved it!

@MASSDECEPTIONTV 4 жыл бұрын

does this exist in a grassboard format?

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jakub Checinksi not that I know of.

@pitur5492 2 жыл бұрын

are you sure there is no way to hockey stop ?? i think its much more hard on grass but not impossible

@Alexskiing 2 жыл бұрын

Pitur there might be but if its possible its way way abouve my level

@NeonLuvBar 2 жыл бұрын

Not unless you enjoy breaking your ankle.

@lillipuziana74 3 жыл бұрын

where is that it buy?

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

Grassski.net

@davidsuzukiispolpot 4 жыл бұрын

We have some empty soccer fields due to cancellation of sports because of the CCP-coronavirus. I wonder if anyone has tried combining grass-skiing with traction kiting. The ice on the lakes is melting but the water is too cold for kite-surfing still.

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jack check this out: www.grasski.net/en/grasski-kite-en

@jackfedersail90 4 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing cool! It looks like I might need more area than a soccer field.

@taliskadzejs3642 14 күн бұрын

I'm surprised that you were measuring your speed in Miles per hour outside of the USA and not using Kilometers Per Hour.

@martinlamm7319 3 жыл бұрын

Where do you buy grass skis?

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

Grassski.net

@guyditchfield5888 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Alex, great video. I'm an avid grass skier here in N Wales. I bought a few sets of Rollka skis from eBay a few years back. The skis you have look really good. I will have to contact Martyn about them. Another person to possibly make contact with is Andrew Briggs at www.grass-sledge.co.uk I met him at a trade show and he told me his dad built the first ever grass skis and as they went out of fashion he used the same running gear on his sledges which they still produce. As a member of Snowsports Cymru I approached SSC about the possibility of starting a Grass Skiing division, however, they weren't that keen as no one else had show any interest. Maybe we can change all that. All the best, Guy

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Guy thanks for the comment. Wow an avid grass skier in the UK!! I was hoping to find a good place to go grass skiing. Do you know the spot? I have had a few people contact me enough to hopefully get a meet up going. If you know a good place to ski that might be a start. I hope those sledges aren't going to be the snow days of the future lol.

@guyditchfield5888 4 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing Hi Alex, As Ian mentioned on a previous comment Butser Hill was the place to Grass Ski, I used to live on the IOW and if we ever drove to London we used to see people on there. I don't know of anything lift serviced in the UK. Walking back up a hill in your ski boots and carrying the grass skis is good exercise though!! Skikes are very popular nowadays but still not the same feeling as grass skis.

@mackysobrevega1780 4 жыл бұрын

whats next? sking on carpet?

@Mr_Spliffy Жыл бұрын

When u fall backwards. You know you know :)

@willshawyer7280 4 жыл бұрын

So they are like long rollerblades.

@Alexskiing 4 жыл бұрын

@Aforawesome the concept is similar but the technique you use is ski technique. Loads of fun, you should give it a go.

@willshawyer7280 4 жыл бұрын

Damn Skilled I would but we have no hills or grass in aus!

@beetlejuice2725 3 жыл бұрын

Where can you buy these?

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

Grass ski.net it's based in the Czech Republic but they ship anywhere! Have fun

@beetlejuice2725 3 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing Thank you! I wasn't sure I'd get a reply let alone that quick :)

@andrewharris169 3 жыл бұрын

Well done for this Alex. I started grass skiing about 40 years ago and I still have the Rolka skis I bought then. I tried introducing it to the USA in 1980 something but got distracted. I still ski in parks around south London but I must try Primrose Hill. If you do get anything set up with a drag lift or if you just want some company one day. let me know. Here's a video of me on the South Downs - great slopes for grass skiing! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bbGeqtCg3tiufnk.html

@Alexskiing 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Andrew. Love the video I had a look the other day. I have had over 20 people contact me about a meeting up so I definitely will get something organised. In regards to a tow I am still looking for one and when covid lifts I hope to buy a portable tow. My main concern at the moment is in our suing culture me operating a dodgy tow lift for people grass skiiing how to not get sued as you now its not the safest endeavour. All the best and Happy New Year!

@roadproandy 3 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing I wouldn't worry about the lift Alex. Walking back up the slope is part of the fun! If you could find a lift, you could get people to sign a waiver that they accept responsibility. I'd be happy to do that but, then, I'm old and us oldies don't bother with that kind of nonsense. BTW, where were you in that video? I can't work it out. 🤔 Wherever you were, if you want some company, keep me in mind. Andy

@Poksutin Жыл бұрын

100 skiers for 1 hour and the hole hill would be muddy as hell

@philip.as0077 3 жыл бұрын

My moms uncle does this lmao

@Fabsi87 5 жыл бұрын

To bad you cant make any money by beeing good at this sport even if you are ah multi world champion The only way to make any cash is by building and selling those skies.

@Alexskiing 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment - did you enjoy the video?

@Fabsi87 5 жыл бұрын

@@Alexskiing yeah its ok