Kaya Williams/The Aspen Times
There’s something about the muscle memory of riding a snowbike that makes the sport especially beginner-friendly, according to Mike Sparkman.
“For us, it’s been easy, it’s fun, it’s inclusive and retentive,” Sparkman said Monday after a warm-up slalom run at the National Standard Racing (NASTAR) national championships at Snowmass.
In other words, it’s a lot like riding a bike. Their gear includes two super-short skis with bindings for either ski or snowboard boots, plus a sit-down rig in which the “wheels” are two more short skis.
The “easy, fun, inclusive, retentive” tagline is almost a catchphrase for Sparkman, who competes at national championships this week with his wife, Donna Abner-Sparkman, and two other snowbikers, Anne Fields and Chris Marriott. Fields and the Sparkmans are based in Durango; Marriott hails from Dillon.
Longest running skibike festival returns to Purgatory Resort
Durango, Colorado Currently Fri
Durango the ‘epicenter’ of sport’s revival
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 8:43 PM Updated: Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 1:47 PM Skibikers show off their skills on the frontside of Purgatory Resort. The 18th annual Ski Bike Festival will return to Purgatory this weekend. Courtesy of Purgatory Resort The skibiking community will gather this weekend at Purgatory resort for its annual festival. Courtesy of Purgatory Resort
Longest running skibike festival returns to Purgatory Resort Skibikers show off their skills on the frontside of Purgatory Resort. The 18th annual Ski Bike Festival will return to Purgatory this weekend.