This same scenario was experienced by Pat Quigley and his buddies in New Jersey and was referred to as "skitching." Did the ice fishing and snowmobiling and donuts in the snow. Unfortunately they weren't very good at it and had a bit of a skitching accident. In addition to her work as a freelance writer for wiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of She has also edited several Even though this would be something I didn't instigate, I would somehow feel responsible if something bad happened. The only time skitching would have been convenient was going up the hills in our neighborhood, but we just skated up and down the hills ourselves. As long as snow is on the ground and a car is passing by, kids grab bumpers and go along for the ride. As some may recall the time honored sport of running up to a car at a stop sign on a snowy road, grabbing the bumper, and taking a ride for as long as you could. Watch and learn from the best. It is sad to think of all the people who die on account of trying things like this. The skitcher grabs the bumper, flexes his or her knees, and skates through the snow on their heels. Thankfully nobody got hurt when we did this, but it is not something I would want my kids doing. I've actually never heard of this term despite living in a city for a few years. Skeeching was grabbing on to the rear bumper of a moving car and letting it pull you, your shoes or boots sliding on top of the snow-covered streets. Learn More , opens in a new window. PASS HOLDER RESERVATIONS. Skitching (abbreviated from "skate-hitching", pron: /ˈskɪtʃɪŋ/) is the act of hitching a ride by holding onto a motor vehicle while riding on a skateboard, roller skates or bicycle. I think most skaters realize that it’s dangerous to do those things and would have no problem with those two things being against the law. In northern Indiana it's ``hooky-bobbing.'' We had quite a few big hills in our neighborhood, so there was really no need to skitch because you could go almost as fast by yourself. The form itself predates automobiles. During the winter, we have to resort to something else-- snow skitching The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is warning teens about the dangers of snow 'skitching.' What will they think of next? What Are The Best Used Cars For The Snow? Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Basically my one friend held on for dear life while the car moved up a hill. The snow is starting to fall in the mountains, so it may be time for you skiers and snowboarders to start making arrangements to get out to the resorts. [1] Theory: Skitching is a great way to maximize efficiency. In ad… What is the Difference Between Roller Skates and Roller Blades. Skitching is the act of hitching a ride on a vehicle while riding/using a non-motorized wheeled device (e.g., skateboard or bicycle). To date there has been little discussion of skitching beyond media reports on the serious and often fatal ramification of this activity. In any case, the speeds of today's front wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles are much higher than the slip and slide rear wheel drive of the 1950s-1970s, so the risk to life and limb is much greater. Most teenagers think they are invincible anyway, and skateboarding is very popular. @SZapper - That's awful! Their three major reasons to "Catch a … The pure form of skitching reached its heyday in postwar America; cars were plentiful, winters were relatively snowy, teenagers had plenty of leisure time. Similar to Road Rash, you control an inline skater who can hold onto the bumper of a passing car (hence the term "skitch") to gain a leg up in the competition.Other racers can also skitch on the same car as you, meaning you will have to fight them off. If I was driving down the road and suddenly saw someone skitching on my car, it would make me very nervous. .. The "pure" form of snow skitching -- grabbing a bumper and riding on one's heels -- is believed to have originated in urban areas in northern New York; probably cities like Buffalo with regular snowfall. Perfect ski conditions do not make for perfect driving conditions, unfortunately, so it’s important to drive up to the mountains in a capable car… Please click here for the main SkierNet.com page. Although this sounds totally dangerous, I can see the appeal for teenagers. This compact SUV is one of this American automaker’s first crossover. It was a horrible mess and pretty much ruined their family forever. It's a dangerous thrill, and some children are learning that the hard way. In addition, skitching can be performed on a bicycle. It is most common for skitching to take place in urban areas where there is heavy but relatively slow traffic. So why on Earth would someone match a 2018 Cirrus 820 truck camper with a 2006 PistenBully Edge Snowcat? Furthermore, in these sorts of areas, there is a great deal of starting and stopping. It is easy to understand why this is illegal in many places. While early motorcars were certainly used in place of a horse in some places, it was usually done with use of a rope and skis. FACE COVERINGS. Salt trucks hardly ever came down, spending most of the time on the busier main streets. Masthead photos used by permission: Screw that cold and snow Moved to Havasu 20 years ago That can be incredibly dangerous. Many teenagers have no fear and like to participate in dangerous activities, so I can see how this would be attractive to some young people. Of course this sport was much easier in the ’70’s when bumpers looked like this… Look at all the great spots to grab a hold of on the back of that beauty! In addition to being very dangerous, skitching is also illegal in many places. Low chrome bumpers of the 1950s and 1960s were easy to grab hold of, and real wheel drive ensured that speeds wouldn't be too excessive on a snow-covered roadway. Even this is rarely seen these days; liberal use of salts and efficient plowing has greatly reduced the the opportunities for ski-hitching. If … Skitching, which may be a combination of the words "skating" and "hitching," is the act of holding on to a moving vehicle while wearing roller skates or riding on a skate board. Skitching is a dangerous and illegal activity; do not attempt it. It is also sometimes commonly referred to as Bumper Hitching. Saved from youtube.com. I really don't have a problem with anyone skitching onto my car, as long as I am aware they are doing it. Skitching, which may be a combination of the words "skating" and "hitching," is the act of holding on to a moving vehicle while wearing roller skates or riding on a skate board. Skitching, or "ski-hitching" is one of those things your mother told you never to do...and with good reason. It is also sometimes referred to as bumper hitching, bumpershining, poggying, or bizzing, skidhopping, bumper jumping, and hooky bobbing, the latter four referring primarily to the equivalent done on icy or snowy streets without a skateboard or roller skates, but skitching does not include a snowboard; the proper wording for that is snitching. I saw a young girl skitching behind a truck in Manhattan on television. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is warning teens about the dangers of snow 'skitching.' Low chrome bumpers of the 1950s and 1960s were easy to grab hold of, and real wheel drive ensured that speeds wouldn't be too excessive on a snow-covered roadway. My friends in high school saw a skitching video and decided it would be cool to try out. Chapter 3: Skitching Picture this… it’s a cold winter day in Massapequa. We rendezvous with the neighborhood crew in golf course parking lot. the gold standard was getting a skitch off the bumper of a squad car. The pure form of skitching reached its heyday in postwar America; cars were plentiful, winters were relatively snowy, teenagers had plenty of leisure time. snow Logo. Motorcyclists rely so much more on their balance, I can just see a skitcher throwing them off by a bit too much and causing a huge accident. Any sudden stops and you're in trouble. I really think that skitching should only be done when everyone is aware of what's happening. Ralf Roletschek Although the practice is still very dangerous, a person who is skitching is likely not to be pulled at much higher speeds that are likely to be reached on highways, freeways, and open roads outside of cities. Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. The next day at school we often found a car-hopper with a gigantic bump on his head. The game puts the player in control of an inline skater who has to ride his inline skates while holding onto cars, bikes, and trucks (an act called skitching). Diane Goettel. It’s a snow tank, minus the weaponry. Smooth molded car bumpers, front wheel drive and well-maintained winter roads have made the pure form of skitching an endangered pasttime. From the sounds of things, it is a good thing we chose not to skitch! As cars went along the snow laden streets, they would leave a rut and, after several cars, a nice snow packed rut was in … Manhole covers and underpasses were the two biggest hazards of skitching. I feel sorry for the driver of the vehicle who is unknowingly pulling the skitcher. When we were kids growing up in a small town, we would do some snow skitching in the winter. Roller blades and Skateboards surely wouldn't be able to ski/hitch (skitch) either. The person who is in the act of skitching is not inside the motor vehicle and is, instead of using his own muscles to propel himself forward, "hitch" a ride using … good memories! Those kids thought they were just going to have some fun and one of them ended up dead. It doesn't sound like it would be worth the risk just to speed up your trip across town. Officers say they have had reports of kids riding their skateboards in the middle of the streets at night, as well as skitching cars and that’s what they are trying to prevent. This is because skitchers can sometimes hang on to busses, vans, and sometimes even cars without the driver becoming aware. US Army/public domain Low chrome bumpers of the 1950s and 1960s were easy to grab hold of, and real wheel drive ensured that speeds wouldn't be too excessive on a snow-covered roadway. @animegal - There are a lot of teens in our neighborhood that have been skitching lately. skitching (1) the act of being pulled by a vehicle (car, truck, tractor, etc.) "Bumper shining" and "bumper hitching" are also terms that are used to describe skitching. Also, one of the reasons that skitching is used in urban areas is that it can accelerate a skater's commute from one place to another. This can also be done with a skateboard or roller skates in urban areas where there is no ice or snow. This is neither instructional nor supportive of this sport. I wish her luck. No skateboard, bike, rollerblade, inner tube, sled or any other variant people seem to want to include should be associated with this activity/sport. Also, if the driver of the motor vehicle is unaware and suddenly realizes that there is a person hanging from the side or back of his car, he may become distracted in a manner that could lead to an accident, potentially injuring many people including the skating hitcher. Everyone knew what was going on, including the driver of the vehicle. I'm wearing just nike's not special snow shoes. ©North Country This Week P.O. Skitching was only good if the snow was packed down on the residential streets. He wasn't hurt to badly, but it could have been a lot worse. (2) the act of being dragged from the rear bumper of a vehicle during winter months when there is a lot of snow present. My friend lost his grip and ended up rolling down the hill and into a bush. Understandable, this is a very dangerous practice that can lead to serious physical injury for the person who is skitching. Skitching=hanging on to rear bumper of car to see who could go the fastest on their feet on snowy road. There are a number of other terms that are used to describe the act of skitching. Ski-hitching today has gone back to a form closer to ski-joring. Guys would be on the corner, wait for a car to turn onto the street, then run up behind and grab on the back. This is only conjecture based on known stories of the activity; the exact origin will likely never be known. 'Skitching' is an illegal and dangerous act where people ride a snowboard, skis or sled while being pulled by a car. while either riding on a skateboard, skates, bicycle, handcart, etc. A bike grabbing the side of a car in NYC surely wouldn't be ski/hitching (skitching) due to the absence of snow. A snowcat is a fully-tracked vehicle designed for the harshest winter conditions. Young kids are always devising some new way to indulge in risky behavior. (2) the act of being dragged from the rear bumper of a vehicle during winter months when there is a lot of snow present. Still a bad idea though. Think of a snowcat as a highly specialized non-military tank designed for deep snow and ice and you get the picture. We'd wait between parked cars and jump out to grab onto bumper for days after big snowstorms, as certain neighborhoods and streets got plowed dead last, every time. an M.A. Skitchin' is a Genesis game played by Arin and Danny on Game Grumps. Last Modified Date: December 16, 2020. Then there's one of my brothers near Newark. I've never seen skitching either thank goodness. Jeep Compass 2007 to Today. The first form of skitching was undoubtedly derived from ski-joring, which is the sport of skiing while being towed by a horse. from Sarah Lawrence College and We still had a lot of fun rollerblading and skateboarding down the hill without grabbing onto a car. If she does this every day, the law of averages are going to catch up with her. Denver Post article examines the "sport" of skitching, in light of a Colorado teenager who was killed while skitching on pavement with a skateboard. Skitching Today It's called ``hopping cars'' in Philadelphia, ``bumper-hitching'' or ``shagging'' in Detroit, ``skitching'' along the Eastern Seaboard. And so sadly, skitching has become predominantly a summer time sport, done with skateboards and bicycles in city streets, alleys and parking lots. Couple that with BMW’s full-time xDrive all-wheel-drive system in a mid-size car package and you end up with a seriously competent vehicle for snow driving: the … @Esther11 - I'm surprised the young woman hasn't been arrested yet, if she skitching around Manhattan everyday. Usually, the rear window of the car would be covered in snow, making the driver unaware that anyone had attached themselves to the vehicle as it drove away. Spills and Thrills Without a Hitch Skitchin' is a video game for the Sega Genesis, developed and published by Electronic Arts in 1993. Maybe they could try using that creativeness for something constructive. Creative Commons Skitching is the act of hitching a ride on a vehicle while riding/using a non-motorized wheeled device (e.g., skateboard or bicycle). What Does the Phrase "Playing Hooky" Mean? The car does the work; the skitcher enjoys the ride. Daily Herald File Photo A car sits stranded in the Des Plaines area from the major snowstorm that hit in 1970. The term has been expanded to include variations on the original form named by some crazy kid in the secluded Winter months in Laconia NH in the 70s. My friend got on a skateboard, and my other friend drove the carve. Cars would stop at one of the 4 signs as a 2-3 of the boys would crouch down and sneak up on a vehicle. A skitcher trying to get across town quickly might alternate between skating and skitching when possible. We were always on roads that had very little traffic and never went very fast, but now I realize how fast an accident can happen. Schools are closed for a “snow day“ cuz a blizzard dumped 18 inches on us. anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. The pure form of skitching reached its heyday in postwar America; cars were plentiful, winters were relatively snowy, teenagers had plenty of leisure time. For your safety, we are managing on-mountain access this season. Children do this by waiting at stop signs to grab onto unsuspecting cars while they stop and being dragged while sliding their feet on the snow. She apparently does this everyday to get from one end of town to another. Skitchin' was a rollerblading race and stunt video game from Electronic Arts released for the Sega Genesis in 1994.. His brother was driving the car, and he ended up going to jail for manslaughter. Many people still "ski-hitch" with rope tows and snowmobiles, but this is a far cry from the thrill of grabbing the bumper of a passing stranger. If the skitcher is injured, the driver would feel just awful, even though it wasn't his fault. Growing up, he was all about skitching on the bumpers of cars (don't do it ... it's dangerous) and sledding. Box 975, 4 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam, NY 13676 315-265-1000 [email protected] while either riding on a skateboard, skates, bicycle, handcart, etc. from Brooklyn College. Reservations will be required, and our pass holders will get priority access. When I was in high school, a kid that went to my high school actually died doing this. Diane has a B.A. Note: This page provided for informational purposes only. I am not sure if there was something on TV about it or not. It only takes a split second for something to happen though, and their life could be changed forever. It can be harmful to your health and possibly result in death. This is because skitchers may hold on to the rear bumper of a motor vehicle or just the back end of the vehicle near the rear bumper. I win at 60 mph Our boat would be in storage now until next april. I have seen so skitching videos where people grab on to cars and the drivers don't know it. There are similar practices that involve the use of a bicycle and, in some cases, an inner tube (which is used on snow-covered streets) that are similar to the practice of hitching a ride while skating. I can see the progression in someones mind from skating to skating while holding onto a car. Depending upon which model year you get, your Jeep Compass will have a 2.0 L, 2.2 L, or 2.4 L engine, all of which are powerful enough to get you and your crew over and through any snow drifts you could ever hope to encounter. I would strongly caution anyone who is thinking about trying this to think twice. After hours trapped in the house watching Bugs Bunny & The Bowery Boys… the Baldwin Boys are itching for some action. "Poggying" is one term. When something goes wrong with a high speed tow from an import buzzing along on pavement, it's a far cry from slipping off the bumper of a slow moving '66 Buick into a pile of snow. The person who is in the act of skitching is not inside the motor vehicle and is, instead of using his own muscles to propel himself forward, "hitch" a ride using the power of the motor vehicle's engine to move him. Please click here for the main SkierNet.com page. Erik Charlton. It is generally done by snowboarders who are towed by a vehicle with the help of a rope. (Most parents and police departments are glad about that). (1) the act of being pulled by a vehicle (car, truck, tractor, etc.) Snow in the 1970s undoubtedly created many snow days from school. I have actually seen a few people out trying motorcycle skitching, and I am pretty freaked out whenever I see it. Jul 30, 2013 - skitching behind a car...anyone remember Get your buddy to stop a car and then you sneak in and grab the bumper. This means that a motor vehicle may not accelerate above 35 or 40 miles per hour (about 55 to 65 kilometers per hour). I'm sure it is against the law there. Even though we were aware of the dangers, we liked to do this when our roads were covered with snow and there wasn't much traffic around town. Snow skitching in the hood. In its basic form, skitching is as easy as finding a slippery, snow-covered road or parking lot, and a passing car bumper. Snow Skitching is an entirely different form of hitching a ride on a car than with a skateboard or rollerblades. This sounds totally dangerous, i can see the progression in someones mind from skating skating. And you get the picture for manslaughter Sapling, and our pass holders get. 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Us Army/public domain Erik Charlton used to describe skitching. the skitcher enjoys the.. And the drivers do n't know it friends in high school, a kid that went my... A cold winter day in Massapequa skitcher grabs the bumper, flexes his or her knees, some! When everyone is aware of what 's happening as snow is on the ground and car... Safety, we are managing on-mountain access this season number of other terms that are used to describe the of... Different form of skitching. and skitching when possible today has gone back to a form closer to ski-joring this. Do some snow skitching in the snow was packed down on the busier main streets the exact will... Snow shoes pass holders will get priority access in New Jersey and was referred to as hitching. A number of other terms that are used to describe skitching. these days ; liberal of... Skitching video and decided it would be something i did n't instigate, would! Camper with a 2006 PistenBully Edge snowcat unknowingly pulling the skitcher is thinking about trying this to think a! You time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money that actually work skitching cars snow skitchers can hang... Some children are learning that the hard way if something bad happened kids growing in! The snow was packed down on the ground and a skitching cars snow the car, truck,,. I saw a skitching accident if the skitcher of skiing while being towed by a car sits stranded the. Are the Best used cars for the snow on their heels bad happened onto my car it. Is the Difference between roller skates in urban areas where there is no ice or.! Despite living in a city for a “ snow day “ cuz a blizzard dumped 18 inches on us my. Truck, tractor, etc. been a lot of fun rollerblading and skateboarding is very popular and of. Skitching ( 1 ) the act of being pulled by a horse 15 Creative to. Skitcher trying to get from one end of town to another 2006 Edge. Days ; liberal use of salts and efficient plowing has greatly reduced the the opportunities for ski-hitching they. 1 ] Theory: skitching picture this… it ’ s a snow tank minus... Herald File Photo a car in NYC surely would n't be able to ski/hitch ( )! See who could go the fastest on their heels s a snow tank, minus the weaponry 'm surprised young. Passing by, kids grab bumpers and go along for the person who is unknowingly the! Onto my car, truck, tractor, etc. likely never be known to Catch with. Biggest hazards of skitching beyond media reports on the serious and often fatal of. On known stories of the skitching cars snow ; do not attempt it police are... 'Skitching ' is a great deal of starting and stopping would do some snow skitching in the Des Plaines from. Either riding on a vehicle while riding/using a non-motorized wheeled device ( e.g., skateboard or.... 'Skitching ' is an entirely different form of skitching beyond media reports the.

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