thumb|Snowskating combine elements of snowboarding and skateboarding to create a new experience which is most closely described as skateboarding on snow.
thumb|Snowskate (Snowdeck) – "Burton Junkyard"A snowskate is a snow sliding device which can be described as a hybrid of a snowboard, and a skateboard. Unlike a snowboard which uses bindings to secure the board to a riders feet, a snowskate is typically bindingless. The lack of bindings allows the rider to perform more skateboard-like flip tricks on the snow as opposed to what can be done on a traditional snowboard. Although the bindingless nature of the snowskate allows for the aforementioned skateboard-like tricks, snowskates can also be ridden in a style similar to traditional snowboarding, but with the added challenge and freedom of riding and carving bindingless. There are many types of snowskates depending on the brand and styling of riding, but the most common are single deck and bi-level snowskates.
Single deck snowskate
Single deck snowskates are usually made out of laminated wood with a plastic bottom or are made of solid plastic, There are grooves cut into the bottom of the board, usually 7 or 5. Single decks are preferred for riding in snowskate parks and urban terrain but can also be ridden down hills, however, they are rarely permitted on ski resorts. Snowskates of this kind are most suitable for winter skateboarding tricks.
Single deck snowskates first appeared on the market in 1998, manufactured by Premier Snowskates and marketed by Andy Wolf, former member of the Nitro snowboarding team. Today the primary manufacturers are: Ambition Snowskates, Hovland Snowskates, LY Snow and Krown Skateboards.
Snowskate parks became numerous when the first single deck snowskates were being sold in stores. Word of mouth quickly spread about the single deck snowskate, leading to the popularity of snowskate parks around United States.
The snowskate park moved snowskating from an urban underground winter sport to a mainstream winter sport. With the introduction of the snowboard, many resorts have removed their snowskate parks, and snowskating has moved back to its underground winter sport roots.
Bi-level snowskate
thumb|A bi-level snowskate
A bi-level snowskate, also called a bideck, or snowdeck, is a snowskate that has a skateboard top-deck which the rider stands on, connected through a set of "trucks" to a ski sub-deck, which is in contact with the snow. While few, if any, mountain ski resorts permit single deck snowskate riders on ski lifts, riders of bi-level snowskates which feature a leash to prevent runaway and a metal edged sub-deck are permitted on ski lifts in many mountain resorts such as Vail in Colorado. With no bindings and no special boots needed, a snowskate can be the most affordable way to shred your local hill or mountain.
Bi-level snowskates were reportedly invented by a Stevens Pass (Washington) local named Steve Frink. He came up with the idea of a skateboard with skis in 1994 while burning his skateboard in a skateboarders' ritual. In the year 2001, after many prototypes, he completed a final and finished product which he marketed under the brand "Bi-Deck Snowskates". Around the same time, snowboard manufacturer Burton Snowboards released the "Snowdeck". Burton has since stopped making snowskates.
The World Championships of Snowskating was held on April 20, 2024 at Solheisen in Hemsedal, Norway with 40 competitors representing 8 countries: Norway, Sweden, Germany, Lichtenstein, El Salvador, USA, Canada, and South Africa.
Bi-level snowskates differ depending on the style of riding with longer sub-decks favored for speed and carving and shorter sub-decks favored for tricks and stunts. Some current bi-level snowskate manufacturers are Hovland, Draw Snowskates, Parole Boards, Squampton Snowskates (eco-friendly, made with hemp), Harfang, Ralston, Pioneer, Fuse, florilda powderskate, 0910, Minus-7, Landyachtz, Chiller, LibTech and Boyd Hill. A complete list can be found at ItsASnowskate.Com
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+North American ski resorts which permit bi-level snowskates
(with metal edge sub-deck and leash to prevent runaway) - Note: list is not complete - more info at ItsASnowskate.Com’s Resort Access List/Map and Guidebook
!Resort Name
!Location
!Policy
|-
|Telluride
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Crested Butte
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Copper Mountain
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Winter Park
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Vail
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Breckenridge
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Steamboat
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Aspen Snowmass
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Beavercreek
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Keystone
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Granby Ranch
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Eldora
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Arapahoe Basin
|Colorado
|Permitted
|-
|Timberline
|Oregon
|Permitted
|-
|Mt Bachelor
|Oregon
|Permitted
|-
|Hoodoo
|Oregon
|Permitted, snowskate rentals also available
|-
|Park City
|Utah
|Permitted
|-
|Brian Head
|Utah
|Permitted
|-
|Snow Basin
|Utah
|Permitted
|-
|Mission Ridge
|Washington
|Permitted
|-
|Mt Baker
|Washington
|Permitted but limited certain lifts,
requires foot strap for lift loading/unloading
|-
|Stevens Pass
|Washington
|Permitted
|-
|Summit at Snoqualmie
|Washington
|Permitted
|-
|Mt Spokane
|Washington
|Permitted
|-
|White Pass
|Washington
|Permitted
|-
|Bogus Basin
|Idaho
|Permitted
|-
|Silver Mountain Resort
|Idaho
|Permitted
|-
|Sun Valley Resort
|Idaho
|Permitted
|-
|Schweitzer
|Idaho
|Permitted
|-
|Brundage
|Idaho
|Permitted
|-
|Tamarack
|Idaho
|Permitted
|-
|Angel Fire
|New Mexico
|Permitted but limited to certain lifts
|-
|Mountain High
|California
|Permitted
|-
|Sierra at Tahoe
|California
|Permitted
|-
|China Peak
|California
|Permitted
|-
|Kirkwood
|California
|Permitted
|-
|Northstar
|California
|Permitted
|-
|Donner Ski Ranch
|California
|Permitted
|-
|Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort
|California
|Permitted but limited to certain lifts
|-
|Big Ski
|Montana
|Permitted
|-
|Whitefish
|Montana
|Permitted
|-
|Great Divide
|Montana
|Permitted
|-
|Blacktail
|Montana
|Permitted
|-
|Chester Bowl
|Minnesota
|Permitted, snowskate rentals also available
|-
|Crotched Mountain
|New Hampshire
|Permitted but limited to certain lifts
|-
|Mt Sunapee
|New Hampshire
|Permitted
|-
|Okemo
|Vermont
|Permitted
|-
|Mt Snow
|Vermont
|Permitted but limited to certain lifts
|-
|Hunter Mountain
|New York
|Permitted but limited to certain lifts
|-
|Seven Springs
|Pennsylvania
|Permitted
|-
|Whitetail Resort
|Pennsylvania
|Permitted
|-
|Liberty Mt Resort
|Pennsylvania
|Permitted
|-
|Roundtop Mt
|Pennsylvania
|Permitted
|}
Less Common Snowskates
4x4 snowskate
The least common snowskate, 4x4 snowskates, provide the most skateboard like feel. They have four small skis, each replacing a wheel, and are generally very similar to average skateboards.
Powderskate
Powderskates are the most surf-like snowskate. They are usually longer and have a larger surface area to keep the rider afloat as it is used in deep powder.