These traditional Nordic skis have a "double-cambered" construction with a "wax pocket" to hold sticky wax under the foot for grip going uphill.

And instead of the traditional ski's bowed tip and flat tail, the skiboard bends up at both ends.

Many skiers wore form-fitting Day-Glo outfits and the new micro skis, which are nearly 20 inches shorter than traditional skis.

Called the Revolution, the skis are 147 centimeters long, down from the 190 to 210 centimeters of traditional cross-country skis.

"The average Suburban pulling into our parking lot probably has traditional skis, a snowboard and maybe twin-tip skis on the top, too," Mr. McCarthy said.

It is the big, deeply grooved turns of snowboards that set them apart from traditional skis.

Due to this, it was historically used for building ships (i.e. drekars, traditional skis, ...)

On slopes across the country, skiers with style are stepping into a new kind of ski that, unlike traditional skis, has an extra wide tip and tail.

They are a bit more difficult to master: Knees must be bent and weight must be kept well back, the latter instruction contrary to everything you learn on traditional skis.

Monoskiing is still practiced by a reasonably large enthusiast community, especially in powder, where the wider waist of the monoski, compared to traditional skis, provides greater flotation.