Skiing and snowboarding are but two of the many forms of fun available at America’s mountain resorts. In addition to the familiar equipment needed for these popular snow-sliding sports, a breathtaking array of adrenaline-producing winter and summer toys has debuted on the slopes in recent years, according to SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the national, not-for-profit, member-owned trade association that represents snow and winter sports outdoor companies. That array includes: snowbikes, which look much like bicycles with seats and handlebars but have runners instead of wheels and no pedals; mountain scooters, which combine aspects of snowboarding, mountain biking and skateboarding; and mountainboards, which have gained worldwide recognition through the annual summertime Gravity Games.

Sleds are making a comeback. For 2003-04, there will be all shapes and sizes. One of the fancier models looks like a tractor (MPH’s Snow Blazer) and has a steering wheel and lever action brakes for control down hills. Another new trend for alternative sliding is snowdecks. For 2003-04, Burton introduces a new and innovative model, the Approach (under $100), which is a lightweight one-piece design with a wide riding surface.

Consumer safety is a high priority for manufacturers of these winter alternative and warm-weather products. All of the companies’ designers have focused on braking systems and mechanical control, and all stress that they are providing safe riding systems. Most of these companies have been testing their products for years, and many have introduced their products through pilot programs with mountain resorts.

As with all speed sports, safety accessories are strongly recommended for riders. Those products include helmets, kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards and gloves. Some companies also sell safety accessories. While some of the summer toys are better suited to terrain parks, single-track biking trails or specially designed terrain, others can be used on any of the slopes a ski resort offers.

Here is a roundup of products from the major lines:

Burton, a snowboarding innovator, is helping to define the category of “snowdeck.” Riding a snowdeck, which is a board without bindings, is a cross of sorts between skateboarding and snowboarding.

This year, Burton introduces a new and innovative model, the Approach. Unlike Burton’s previous model, the Link, which was priced at $200, the Approach is offered for under $100. Its lightweight one-piece design and wide riding surface offer boarders speed and stability during tricks, whether on the hill or in a terrain park. The board is designed to allow riders of all ages to turn and steer accurately.

The EMSCO Group markets fun sleds with fun names. Dune Moons ($9.99) were the most recent addition to the line prior to this year. These aerodynamic “flying” discs, available in 14 inch (“Mother Hover”) and 18-inch (“Mega Mother Hover”) sizes, feature high-quality resin construction. Their large size and heft make them steady in windy conditions, and their unique tie-dye design ensures that no two discs are alike. This year, EMSCO is unveiling six new sleds.

With its Snowcycles and Ktube, K2 offers winter sports enthusiasts two great alternative ways to play on the mountain. “K2 is committed to helping more people experience the sensation of sliding on snow,” says Tim Petrick, the company’s vice president and general manager. “It's all about the elemental joy of gliding down snow-covered mountains, and we believe our ‘Gravity Tools’ are a great way to introduce people to the experience.”

“These products offer the rider the opportunity to make controlled descents by making turns down the slope,” Petrick says. “K2 Gravity Tools are true ‘directional control’ devices that put the participant in the driver’s seat. Like skiing or snowboarding, there are basic skills you need to learn, yet riding these products is very intuitive for most people.” The learning curve is straight up and down.

The Snowcycle, invented by Luke von Maldeghem, is a modern version of the original “Ski Bob,” which dates back to the 1850’s. K2 says it’s the first snow bike to use modern materials (a high-grade 7005-series aluminum) and shaped skis, providing superior control and easier turning and carving. K2 engineers utilized suspension technology from K2 mountain bikes, providing a smoother, more comfortable ride in variable terrain.

The Snowcycle is available in Adult and Junior X-one models (both $850). The SMX Snowcycle ($875) is designed for use in halfpipes and terrain parks as well as for freestyle. This year, K2 has made the Adult Snowcycle and SMX Snowcycle better than ever, giving both bikes a new anodized finish, adding tubing cladding to strategic areas of the frame to prevent chipping, and adding new carving skis to both bikes with matching graphics.

The Ktube ($275), which was introduced last year, is a steerable inner tube with a performance-fitted bucket seat and independent left and right steering levers. The Ktube gives the user the ability to steer and reduce speed instantly, and it automatically deploys its brakes if the user is separated from the Ktube. Its durable nylon cover features high-resolution graphics and a standard tow strap.

All MBS Mountainboards, which look like snowboards, come with eight-to-nine-inch off-road tires that are said to offer high-performance rides on virtually any kind of terrain, including roads, grassy slopes, single-track bike trails and terrain parks. Models also feature suspension systems and the company’s proprietary V brake, which is particularly helpful for first-time mountainboarders.

The company’s Comp line ($189-$499) of boards has been updated for 2003-04, with new suspension, bindings, wheels, tread and deck graphics. MBS’s Ambush line, primarily entry- to intermediate-level boards priced for the recreational rider, returns, with the Ambush Kids’ board ($99-$119) designed for riders under 130 lbs., and the Ambush Warrior ($199-$239), which comes standard with a dual-hub breaking system, for riders 100-plus lbs. And MBS continues to offer its Jeep-branded mountainboards ($119-$299). The line’s offerings cover beginners to advanced riders, and kids to adults. Select models have state-of-the-art breaking system options.

Mountainboarding has been growing steadily and is quickly becoming accepted as a viable alternative sport. In 2000, mountainboarding was highlighted during the Summer Gravity Games. Members of the U.S. Olympic Snowboarding Team have trained with mountainboards during the off-season since 1996. Over the last four years, more than 100,000 juniors have ridden mountainboards at various camps, according to the company.

MPH Associates, Inc. offers the extensive Eurosled line, which consists of more than 20 sled and winter toy models ranging in price from $7 to $170 retail. New this year is the Snow Blazer ($170), which resembles a tractor and features stainless-steel runners, a steering wheel and lever-action brakes to give an adult or a child solid control on the hill. The Swiss Bob ($24), which has been the staple item in the line for about 10 years, continues to grow in popularity. An après-ski toy priced to be an attractive impulse item for winter sporting goods stores, the Swiss Bob had sold out for 2002-03 by October, the company reports. Another popular product, the Scoofi Scooter Skis ($40), allows riders to use their scooter in the winter. The skis easily attach to Razor, Piranha and similar scooter models and operate with existing brakes.

Sevylor makes all manner of devices for sliding on snow, from snow tubes to ski bobs to toboggans. According to the company, all winter products ($10.99 to $105) are made with cold-weather-resistant PVC and can be inflated and deflated outdoors. Handles are constructed to accommodate ski gloves, and many models come with a repair kit. Snow tubes for kids, teens and adults, featuring a pear-shaped design, offer high-back support, more buoyancy up front and a special inflatable bubble seat.

The Sno Tubee II is a tube built for two, with plastic runners and a pull rope, while the Tempest, the snow version of the company’s popular waterskiing Jet Bob, is also designed for two people. The Tundra II (94 inches long) and Tundra III (114 inches long) are updated versions of primitive wooden toboggans. Both Tundras have beautiful graphics and are covered with polyester, with a polyester-reinforced bottom, rugged snow fins on the bottom and a pull rope.