Forest Skis in the House!
March 05, 2010

I've long wanted to try out the Forest Ski concept. I've reported on it here before.

I finally ran into my first pair that I've ever seen for sale and snapped 'em up.

They're usually 240-280cm but these are only 210's. Still, they're definitely weird! They're very wide, at 2.75", and have a long, soft, narrow tip to float on the top of the snow.

I tried them on the weak crust in *our* forest but they're almost as lame as any other ski -- they break through, just not as much. I look forward to trying them in real snow sometime.

They're designed for springtime slush in Finland, I guess. They also make rubber kneeboots to go with them. That's how they roll over there. The boots have 75mm beaks. What's more, the Forest Ski is part of a weird springtime in Finland bear hunting tradition. They go out with white outfit, dog, forest skis and shotgun...

I just want skis that float like snowshoes and glide like skis in deep snow. Possible? Still to be determined!

It's the first pair I've EVER seen or heard about being here in the USA! Jarvinen Lapponia. Too bad they weren't the whoppers!

If you ever hear of some true Long Boards for sale, lemme know! In the meantime, these seem kinda cool... will keep trying em...

Forest skis somewhat doing their flotation thing...

I'm in the yard trying out the Forest Skis on the thin crust -- they still broke thru. The yard is bad these days for skiing. The open areas like golf courses are great, however. (And the packed-trails are dandy after 2pm...)