These Electric Skis Let You Zoom Through the Snow at 20 MPH

What if a ski and a snowmobile had a baby? That’s the promise of the Vipera, a funky, fun-looking toy from the Boston-based company Frigid Dynamics, which has made battery-powered skis that can zip uphill unassisted.

In a new video, some alpha testers take their Viperas for a spin in New Zealand, cruising through low-angle terrain. Tap or click the video below to see the electric skis in action.

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The Vipera is as sci-fi as it looks. 

The skis include rear-mounted treads, swappable batteries, and a remote control affixed to a ski pole. All the components can be removed, leaving behind a normal-looking ski, albeit with a shorter-than-usual tail. 

The Vipera can travel about 10 miles on a single charge, depending on the conditions, and move as fast as 20 miles per hour. In a comment below the alpha testing video, Frigid Dynamics said the battery-powered skis can climb 20%-plus inclines on groomed or hardpack trails, but can become stuck on gentler terrain in deeper snow. 

“Relatively flat, long trails (like this one) are where the e-skis are the most fun and you can maintain that 17-20 mph (26-32 kmph) speed!” the company wrote.

For now, the Vipera doesn’t come cheap, costing $3,299. Beyond the general public, Frigid Dynamics appears to hope that the technology catches on among ski patrollers, park rangers, and the military. A page on its website offers a contact email for organizations from those groups.

“Designed with precision and stealth in mind, the Vipera offers a tactical edge in winter warfare and reconnaissance,” reads a blurb from that page. “Silent electric propulsion, rapid deployment capabilities, impressive modularity, and rugged reliability make it ideal for extreme cold operations where speed and mobility are mission critical.”

Most Vipera users, however, will most likely tool around on snowmobile trails, as opposed to sneaking behind enemy lines. 

Frigid Dynamics isn’t the only company selling battery-powered skis. The E-Skimo is more like an e-bike, with a track system that kicks in while the user is touring uphill. The product, its creators say, can help you skin up the mountain 80% faster. Then, on the downhill, all of the E-Skimo’s parts can be removed and stowed in a backpack. 

Will either form of electric skis catch on? Hard to say. But the success of e-bikes might provide clues. Plus, many skiers, despite what they might say, aren’t afraid of using tools that make getting uphill easier—chairlifts and snowmobiles are popular for a reason.

Related: Regular Skiers Shine Alongside Top-Level Pros in MSP’s ‘After the Snowfall’