Hillstrike's Snowtrike Is Utter Perfection and Unchanged for Years: Grab Some Air

Folks, back in 2011, the world would first catch a whiff of a new machine barreling down ski and snowboard slopes. It's called the Hillstrike Snowtrike, and over the past decade, this machine has gone virtually unchanged; It's perfect. But what the hell is it?

Well, I want you to imagine that you own a bicycle. Now, take the wheels off, split the rear in two, and add three skis to the bottom of it all. Oh, and you can eliminate the drivetrain, brakes, and all that other junk bicycles typically carry around.

Once you've done all that, you'll basically be looking at the Hillstrike, but things aren't so simple, so let's dive a tad deeper into this winter fun machine and see if it has a place in our hearts and garage.

Now, what we're looking at starts off with nothing more than an aluminum frame, ensuring this thing is as light as possible. Still, once everything is in place, the 2023 Hillstrike REV will still weigh a solid 43 kg (95 lbs). Gotcha! That's the shipping weight if you happen to spend €2,500 ($2,740 at current exchange rates) on one of these babies. In reality, you'll only be lugging around a 14.5 kg (32 lbs) machine while out on the slopes.

With that aluminum, the REV is then built around a framework of tubes similar to those found on just about any bicycle on the market, with one major difference being the way the rear is shaped and what happens to it. Remember, the idea here was to try and take cycling and adapt it to snow-capped mountains.

While the front of the REV includes what is essentially an MTB suspension fork, the rear is built around Ackermann steering functionality. Why Ackermann steering dynamics on the rear of the REV? Simply because this is how you'll be steering throughout most of your downhill experience.

To do so, all you have to do is lean to one side or the other of the REV and let the skis do the rest; those edges will dig into the snow and modify your direction exactly as you would on a pair of skis or snowboard. All the while, you're in a seated position. The front ski seems to be there for a bit of extra control and finesse while sliding around. And no, there are no brakes either; skis for the win!

If you're curious to see what can be done with one of these puppies, be sure to check out the video below. Oh, and it doesn't matter that this is the same video from seven years ago; this thing is perfect and has gone virtually unchanged since it first appeared. Actually, I urge you to check out that video; it'll make the rest of this article much easier to understand.

Why did I ask you to watch that video? Well, in it, we can see the full extent to which a Hillstrike can be ridden. We can see riders sliding around like on any other pair of skis or a snowboard, but we can also see the folks putting out their Red Bull moves.

From hopping onto a flat box to rainbow boxes and even massive airtime-inducing jumps, if you've got the experience and often pull a trick or two on two wheels, three skis don't seem to be any problem whatsoever. Basically, suppose you know how to backflip, superman it, or a plethora of other aerial tricks. In that case, the Hillstrike is waiting for you to send it!

This is also where that front suspension fork comes in. Without it, catching airtime and then slamming into the ground is bound to be chaotic, sometimes even life-threatening. While older units are seen sporting RockShox forks, the REV is equipped with an X-Fusion RC32 Boost. These babies can offer up to 130 mm (5 in) of travel.

Speaking of forks, upon seeing this feature, I couldn't help but be reminded of yet another machine that I've covered and one built around a similar idea. I'm talking about Envo and its modular Flex platform. That product, however, differs from the Hillstrike in the fact that it's an EV, relying on batteries and a motor to get you moving. The winter variation even has a sled track on the rear.

Finally, I do need to point out that the Hillstrike is a vehicle that has been tested over and over again, and if you think that you'll find yourself lugging 32 lbs up that hill you just road down on, you're mistaken; this winter fun machine has been designed to be suitable for ski lifts. Didn't you watch the video?

What does all this mean for people like you and me? Well, it means a new way to enjoy winter fun and one that may keep cyclists like you and me in touch with the outside world during periods when I'd generally hibernate. Then again, we can look at the Snowtrike as an entirely different machine altogether, able to create a bit of a subculture, don't you think?