Take a Seat: Built to Rip

Weight:

30-35 lbs.

Price:

$2,500-$3,600

A monoski breaks down into four main components, says Jeff Goodman of Radventures, Inc., maker of Yetti brand monoskis. There’s the

seating system (1)

, which consists primarily of a fiberglass seat, which may be reinforced with Kevlar or carbon fiber to improve its strength-to-weight ratio. Next comes the

frame (2)

, constructed of chromoly steel or aluminum. “Much like a bicycle frame,” says Goodman. A

suspension system (3)

cushions the ride, and typically uses a stock motorcycle shock absorber, though pricey suspensions may feature customized shocks. Finally, there’s the

binding system (4)

, really a high-end conventional race binding, modified to prevent release, which accommodates a boot-shaped adapter. As for the ski, Goodman says just about any traditional ski will work, but “stiffer boards are better.”

JANUARY 2005