Mo-Ski-Tow

Mo-Ski-Tow

GILLES MALLET

A NEW TWIST on motorcycling promises to bring both riders and skiers closer together. The French, who invented it, call it “Mo-Ski-Tow,” a rather foul pun more worthy of an American billboard than a place in the French language.

Nonetheless, it is jolly good fun, and, incidentally, a good way for a dirt rider to keep in shape during the winter months. These photographs were taken at the French resort of Lans-en-Vercors, where members of the Moto-Club Dauphinois got together with local promoters and prepared a well-packed circuit for the new sport. Taking part were American motocrossman Bryan Kenney and his friend Stephane Mihelj.

The bikes were equipped with a tow harness similar to that used in water skiing. Mihelj, a well-known regional bike specialist, devised a set of steel, bolt-on cleats to give the tires proper traction in the snow. Then they added the skiers, and prayed.

It was quite a success. Beginning skiers could get the hang of parallel skiing, which amounts to the same thing as crossing a bike up in a slide, at moderate speeds. The better skiers could enjoy the benefit of wild, poweron slalom rides and jumping over ramps at speeds up to 55 mph.

To any skier who has ridden dirt, or vice versa, the similarities between the two sports are obvious. Now the two sports are wed, and an enterprising motorcyclist could make out just fine, for the price of cleats and a tow rope-a small investment for a corner on the snow bunny market.