April 16, 1968 S. R. POPPEN 3,378,274 

SURF-TYPF SNOW SKI 

Filed March lit, 1966 

3/ -F TG. 8 INVENTOR 

SHERMAN R. POPPEN 

T22-26- 25, ATTORNEY.5 

 
United States Patent Office 3,378,274 

Patented Apr. 16, 1968 

3,378,274 SURF-TYPE SNOW SKI 

Sherman R. Poppen, Muskegon, Mich., assignor to Bruns wick Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of 

Delaware 

Filed Mar. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 535,136 6 Claims. (C. 280-18) 

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 

A snow coasting device for use as a mono-ski with 

both feet of the skier thereon disposed fore and aft and 

unbound, in the form of an elongate board or the like 

generally flat transversely having a width greater than 

the normal ski of a pair of skis and a length less than 

the length of the normal ski of a pair of skis, there being 

an intermediate portion, an upwardly curved front end 

portion and an upturned rear end portion, with anti-skid 

foot rest means approximately midway the length of the 

board and the rear end thereof, a lanyard attached to the 

front end of the ski, laterally spaced grooves or ridges on 

the bottom of the ski, a durable waterproof plastic cover 

on the bottom of the ski and metal protection at the edges. 

mannesom 

The present invention relates to a snow ski, and more 

particularly to a surf-type snow ski which is adapted to 

support both feet of a skier and to be easily maneuvered 

thereby without foot bindings, thereby providing a new 

snow sport which incorporates features of certain Summer pastimes, namely surfboarding, skateboarding, and slalom 

water skiing. 

The prodigious entertainment and athletic recreation provided by the sport of surfing is well known. In this sport : 

the athlete stands on an elongate, usually wooden, board, 

and is borne shoreward on the crest of a breaking wave. 

The central interest involves the surfers' efforts to remain 

upright. Tricks, stunts, or maneuvers may be executed 

by the more skilled while remaining balanced on the gyrat 

ing surfboard. - 

Another well known sport, recently popular among physically agile youngsters, is that of the skate board, which is a short narrow platform Supported by roller skate 

wheels. The skater's feet are placed in a fore and aft align 

ment on the skate board; and the "skater' attempts to 

remain balanced on the board while it coasts along a flat 

surface, usually an ordinary sidewalk. This roller sport resembles surfing on dry land, and the skater may execute 

special tricks or maneuvers for an intensified interest and 

thrill. 

Still another sport which enjoys extremely widespread popularity is that of water skiing with both feet on a 

single, so-called slalom, ski. The athletic challenge en 

joyed in this sport is well known and is accomplished by the use of a finned slalom ski having foot holders in fore 

and aft arrangement, as exemplified by the disclosure in 

U.S. Letters Patent 2,971,207 to Eicholtz. 

The above described sports of Surfing, slalom water 

skiing, and skateboarding are summer activities, two being definite water sports and the other being restricted to a 

smooth dry land surface. 

The present invention provides a new winter sport, com 

bining popular features of seashore surfing, skate board 

ing, and slalom water skiing into a new winter sport. A 

specially configured single ski is provided which accom 

modates both feet of the skier in fore and aft juxtaposi tion. The configuration and proportions of the ski struc 

ture are such that the user may, with a modest amount 

of skill or practice, balance himself for a downhill run 

with his feet braced fore and aft, without bindings, and 

() 

20 

3 is 

40 

60 

70 

2 

execute sudden changes of direction or other maneuvers during the run. Although single or mono-type snow skis 

have been previously used, the fore and aft, unbound ar 

rangement of the skier's feet introduces the skate board 

Surfboard-slalom ski sensations to snow skiing, and dis tinguishes the present invention over the mono-ski revealed 

in U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,154,312 to Marchand (which is believed to represent the most pertinent prior art). An 

additional structural distinction over that art is a slight curl at the back of the new ski, upon which the skier may push to pivot the front portion of the ski off the ground (as is done in skateboarding) to execute sudden, exhilarat 

ing sidewise maneuvers. A balancing lanyard is provided in the present invention, to somewhat offset the lack of 

foot bindings or boot holders by holding the user to the 

board. 

Accordingly it is the object of this invention to provide 

a snow ski structure with which may be practiced a new winter sport. 

It is accordingly another object of the present invention 

to provide a snow ski structure which will afford a valu 

able source of amusement, novel entertainment, and vig 

orous outdoor exercise in the form of a new winter sport. It is a further object of this invention to teach a ski 

like structure upon which a winter sports enthusiast can 

coast downhill, balancing himself with feet braced fore 

and aft, and steer the ski through turns and slaloms, with 

out the use of foot bindings. 

In the drawings: - 

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ski of the present invention, showing the stabilizing grooves at the rear of 

the ski, and a balancing lanyard attached to the front 

of the ski. 

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the snow ski of the 

present invention, showing increased width and relative 

shortness as contrasted to ordinary snow skis, and show 

ing a pair of anti-skid foot treads aligned on the ski in 

fore and aft, rather than side by side, relation. 

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view taken at III-III of 

FIGURE 2, and shows the profile of longitudinal stability 

grooves for control of the ski on snow. 

FIGURE 4 is a cross section view showing an alterna 

tive to FIGURE 3, this embodiment utilizing a greater number of longitudinal stability grooves. 

FiGURE 5 is a cross section view showing an alterna 

tive to that of FIGURE 3, this embodiment having the stability grooves replaced by stability ridges. 

FIGURE 6 is a cross section view showing an alterna 

tive to FIGURE 3, this embodiment having a combina tion of grooves and ridges for stability. 

FIGURE 7 is a cross section view showing an alterna 

tive to that of FIGURE 3, this embodiment having a resin or plastic layer on the bottom of the ski, and the 

sides thereof covered by protective metal edgings. 

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of the ski of the 

present invention in operation, showing a skier balanced 

thereon, grasping the tether. In phantom line is displayed 

an alternate position which the skier achieves by leaning back on the rear curl of the ski to uplift the front por tion and allow lateral pivoting for steerage and maneuver 

1ng. 

The ski 11, as seen in perspective in FIGURE 1, has a configuration similar to an ordinary snow ski, but the 

proportions are seen in FIGURE 2 to resemble those of 

a water ski. Although single skis, (mono-skis) have been previously known, the present invention brings to snow 

skiing the fore and aft (rather than side by side) relation 

of the skier's feet, as employed in slalom water skiing. The width of the ski is somewhat wider than a con 

ventional snow ski to give a broad base and prevent tip ping. This is important because a skier's feet give little 

lateral stability when situated in fore and aft alignment. 
3,378,274 

3. 

Two anti-skid foot treads 13 are bonded to the upper surface of the ski, the skier's boots are situated on these 

treads, and the feet of the skier are manipulated to con 

trol the ski. The treads prevent slipping of the ski boots. 

The feet of the skier have no bindings, and therefore con 

trol forces must be downward or else transmitted to the 

ski through lateral friction at the upper surface thereof. 

These sidewise frictional forces cannot be delivered ex 

cept through a rough surface such as the treads 13. The 

treads 3 also act to prevent the user's feet from slipping. 

It should be realized that a single long tread could be 

used to the same effect as the pair of separate treads 3 

shown. 

The bottom of the ski is grooved in the longitudinal direction as seen in FIGURE 3. The grooves 15 are filled 

with snow under the weight of a skier and the "tongue' of snow in the groove gives a laterally stabilizing, track 

ing effect. Such grooves are commonly used in ordinary 

snow skis. In FIGURE 4 is seen a greater number of 

grooves 15, to achieve a stronger "grip' on the Snow to re 

sist side slipping and yawing of the skis. In FIGURE 5 

it is appreciated that, as an alternative to grooves 15, longi tudinal ridges 17 may be used for sidewise directional 

guidance and stability. Finally FIGURE 6 demonstrates 

an embodiment of the invention wherein is used a conn 

bination of grooves 5 with ridges 17. It should be under 

stood that the particular grooves and ridges shown here 

are merely exemplary of tested configurations, and that 

other obvious modifications are within the scope of this 

invention. 

A more elegant embodiment is depicted in FIGURE 7 

which shows a plastic or resin layer 19 bonded to the 

bottom surface of the ski 1, to give a smooth, durable, waterproof covering which conforms to the shape of the 

ridges 17 and/or grooves 15, and resists gouging better 

than the wood which it covers. Also shown are metal 

edges 21 running the length of the skis to insulate the sides 

and corners thereof from bumps and gouges, and to en 

hance the general apperance of the ski. 

In operation the ski is controlled by a rider with feet 

24, positioned on the ski 11 for a downhill run, as seen 

in FIGURE 8. The rider may grip the lanyard 25 in his 

hand 23 as an aid to remaining erect and to facilitate 

maneuvering of the ski. The lanyard 25 is attached through 

a hole (not shown) in the tip 27 of the ski 11. The rider desiring the ultimate challenge to his physical co-ordina 

tion may discard the lanyard 25, and rely solely upon his 

feet to control the ski and avoid tumbling off into the 

snow. Of course falling off is part of the game, and 

generates much amusement for the skier, as well as en 

tertaining the onlookers. 

A central element of this sport is the manner of con 

trol of the ski, which differs markedly from ordinary ski 

ing. The control is exercised more in the nature of skate boarding. On a skate board a downward pressure from 

the rear foot of the skater pivots the forward part of the 

skate off the ground, the pivot point being the rear wheels. 

With the front wheels off the ground the board may then 

be rotated on the rear wheels to change the direction of 

travel, i.e., to execute a turn. 

The ski of the present invention is so constructed that 

it may be turned in much the same fashion as the skate 

board: an upwardly curled portion 29 is provided at the 

rear end of the ski. By shifting his weight rearward the 

skier relieves the weight on his forward foot while his 

rear foot applies an increased force to the curl 29. This 

tends to pivot the ski upward into the alternate position 

shown in phantom line. The ski is then turned by the feet 

to a new direction of travel. The turning is easily ac 

complished by rotating the ski about the point of contact 

at 31, the uplifted ski encountering minimal resisting fric 

tion from ground contact. Turning is accomplished more 

easily when the shifting of weight is accompanied by simultaneously pulling up or lifting the ski with the 

lanyard 25. 

5 

0 

15 

20 

30 

3 5 

40 

5 5 

60 

4. 

The entire maneuver is performed with a smooth, con 

tinuous, swoop, that puts a certain grace and pleasure into the motions involved. Practicing these feats augments the smoothness of performance, and tricks of increasing difficulty may be performed. The necessary athletic skill 

and movements have a character distinct from ordinary 

Snow skiing, due to the absence of foot bindings for at 

taching the ski to the feet. The lack of bindings intensifies 

the challenge to stay upright, and provides a novel exhila 

ration in the execution of turns, jumps, and maneuvers. 

In addition the skier may invent any number of acrobatics 

of his own, according to his skill and imagination. Having thus described an operative, preferred embodi 

ment of my invention, modifications, changes, and im 

provements will be apparent to those skilled in the art 

upon reading this description, and such modifications, changes, and improvements are intended to be included 

herein limited only by the scope of the hereinafter ap pended claims. 

I claim: 

1. A surf-type snow ski comprising: a single snow ski 

somewhat shorter and wider than a conventional snow 

ski, and having the rearward end thereof curved mildly upward; an anti-skid tread means on the upper surface of 

said ski, of sufficient extent to accommodate both feet of 

a skier in fore and aft juxtaposition thereon; a lanyard fixed at one end to the forward tip of said ski, to be manu 

ally held at the other end by said skier as an aid to balanc. 

ing and maneuvering on said ski; the lower surface of the ski having a plurality of longitudinal grooves along sub 

stantially the entire length thereof for a directionally sta 

bilizing influence upon the ski as it travels on snow; the 

lower surface of said ski being covered by a conforming layer of waterproof durable resin; and the sides and cor 

ners of said ski being protected by metal edges. 

2. A Snow coasting device for use as a mono-ski with 

both feet of a skier thereon disposed fore and aft and 

unbound comprising an elongate board or the like gen erally flat transversely having a width to accommodate a 

skier's boot transversely thereon, and a length approxi mately six times the width, said board having an inter mediate portion extending a major part of the length of 

the board, a relatively short upturned front end portion and a relatively short upturned rear end portion, anti-skid 

foot rest means on the upper surface of the board approxi mately midway the length thereof for the leading foot of 

the skier, anti-skid footrest means on the upper surface of 

the board near the rear end thereof for the trailing foot 

Of the skier, the rear footrest means being located relative 

to the upturned rear end portion such that the skier's 

weight may be shifted to the rear end portion to elevate the 

front end of the ski and turn the front end of the ski left 

or right about the bottom surface of the ski at the bend 

in the ski at the rear end of the intermediate portion. 3. A device as in claim 2, including a lanyard attached 

to the front end of the ski and adapted to be gripped by the skier to stabilize the skier and assist in elevating the 

front end of the ski to turn. 

4. A device as defined in claim 2 including a plurality of laterally spaced relief portions on the bottom of the 

board extending a major portion of the length thereof to 

assist in straight tracking. 5. A device as defined in claim 2 including a cover of durable waterproof plastic bonded on the bottom of the 

board. 

6. A device as defined in claim 2 including a metal 

Strip attached to the board at each lateral edge thereof protecting all the corners of the board and the side edges thereof. 

References Cited 

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

2,694,580 1 1/1954 Head ------------ 280-11.13 

3,056,148 10/1962 Abbott et al. ---------- 9-310 

(Other references on following page) 
3,332,697 

1,644,623 

2,071,220 

2,181,391 

3,154,312 

3,378,274 

S 6 

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 

7/1967 Hagen -------------- 280-12 373,494 3/1907 France. 

10/1927 Ahn -------------- 280-11.13 

2/1937 Schneibs ---------- 280-11.13 LEO FRAGLIA, Primary Examiner. 

11/1939 Burgeson et al. -------- 280-18 5 MILTON L. SMITH, Examiner. 10/1964 Marchand--------- 280-11.3