Over the years the concept of “folding” has been applied to numerous outdoor activity products – notably folding bicycles. So why not folding skis? This is the idea behind MTN Approach, which has developed the first (that we know of anyway) folding skis.
And here is the twist, these skis aren’t really meant for skiers but for snowboarders and as such aren’t really for the downhill aspect of the sport. It would be easy to see the company create a product that was meant to be used for hikers and others to climb up on foot and descend on the folding skis. But MTN Approach is taking another approach entirely. These skis, equipped with special skins, are designed to meant to help skiers climb a mountain and glide over short downhill sections. We first previewed the skis last summer, and now its seems these are finally making their winter debut.
This idea was reportedly born in the 1990s when former pro snowboarder Cory Smith found that traditional skis were too short to be effective in the powder that snowboarders love, and yet too long to put on the back. So hence the idea to create skis that could fold up. Here the skis with the Skins can be used to climb, while a board can be worn on the back. Reach the top, fold up the board and snowboard down.
MTN Approach Official Website
[Via Gizmag: Folding skis help snowboarders hike into the backcountry]