Are Short Skis Due For a Comeback on Colorado Ski Mountains?

The ski industry is undoubtedly one of the biggest tourism draws and moneymakers in Colorado. The state is home to world-class ski resorts such as Vail, Aspen, and Breckenridge, as well as smaller ski areas that are more wallet-friendly.

Skiing has been a big part of Colorado for many years, and over time, other means of enjoying the slopes, like snowboarding, snowshoeing, and even ski biking, have garnered popularity.

However, one alternative form of skiing that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s appears to have nearly dropped off of the face of the earth and, according to some, is due for a comeback.

Are Short Skis Due for a Comeback on Colorado Ski Mountains?

If you happened to have regularly hit the slopes in Colorado in the final decades of the 20th century, you may remember what were commonly known as Figls at the time.

Get our free mobile app

Much like Kleenex or Xerox, these types of skis were typically referred to by the product name given to them by the wildly popular brand Atomic, while they're technically known by a number of common names, including short skis, snowblades, skiblades, and skiboards.

It's been said that these short skis were first popularized by mountain climbers as a means to leisurely return to the bottom of the mountain after reaching the summit. However, they became much more popular in the '80s and '90s, likely due to the hype associated with inline skating at the time.

Like Rollerblades, Figls are still around, and some skiers and snowboarders predict that they're just about due for a comeback.