Pursuit T6002 Skate Rollerski

Review

Tue, Oct  3, 2006 - By Mike Muha

I had the opportunity to try out a pair of Pursuit T6002 Skate rollerskis from RollerskiShop.com in September. What intrigued me was the low price advertised on their web site. Could these be a value pair of rollerskis for someone who can't afford one of the big names skis?

The Facts

The Pursuit T6002 has a nice subdued look with a frame that looks somewhat similar to a Ski Skett Shark. The wheelbase of the T6002 is 600 mm and the ski comes with 100 x 24 mm rubber wheels with a cut aluminum core.

The shop recommends a weight limit of 185 pounds on the Pursuit line of rollerskis.

My Criteria

Let's review what I look for in a rollerski. I like a skate rollerski that's stable, predictable, rolls over most bumps, twigs and a little sand without much trouble, and have long lasting wheels. I also like a rollerski that snowplows (tarmac-plows?) well - you never know when you need to slow down on a hill or a congested area of the trail. Finally, I'm a big fan of fenders because I'll ski on wet pavement and in the rain.

Slow?

On my maiden voyage, the first thing I noticed about the T6002 was their speed: These were slow! I struggled to keep up with my colleagues riding on Marwes, Ski Sketts, and Pro-Skis. In fact I ended up skiing on my own and doing an interval session up a hill. Normally, I can V2 the whole hill, but this night's session was lots of V1 because of the slow speed.

By the end of the session, however, the skis started feeling faster. I was able to climb a long hill to my car with no real problem. I went out again a couple days later for another V2 interval session, this time up a long gradual hill, and had one of the best interval sessions of my life! The skis did not bog down and did not feel too slow. I V2'd the entire session.

Lesson: These wheels are really slow the first outing. After wearing in a couple hours, they do get faster.

Another lesson I've learned over the years: it's much easier to go from slower rollerskis than from faster rollerskis to snow - slower rollerskis are closer to snow speed. Although fast rollerskis can be confidence building, I've always been surprised by how hard it was (and how slow it was) to get on snow early in the ski season.

Stability and Predictability

These skis were totally predictable and stable. Good thing, since my first outing was on a course with steeper, longer hills! I always felt totally in control of the skis, knew exactly where they were going, and could simply forget about them.

Light on the feet - especially compared to V2 Aero 125's and 150's, the T6002's felt like I was on snow. Especially important, the swing weight of the T6002's was far less than the Aeros.

Downhills

I had no problem tucking downhills and feeling in control. Cornering was great. Snowplowing was no problem, either. (To snowplow, you need a wide stance, wider than on snow skis).

Rubber wheel with cut aluminum core

Rough pavements and rocks

The skis rolled right over the small bumps, sticks and sand that tend to gather on paved bike paths and roads. These skis are not designed for really rough roads or dirt roads.

Wet Pavement

I did go across a couple wet areas on a bike path. I did not notice any slipping. I would not want to skate over wet paint lines, however.

The model I tested did not have fenders, but skate fenders are an available option. I recommend getting the fenders - if you've every experienced wheel spray up the back of your leg - where it runs down into your boots - you'll appreciate the fenders!

Wheel Durability

I did not ski these long enough to test wheel durability. RollerskiShop.com claims the rubber wheel last longer than the faster but less durable Polyurethane wheel on their T6001 model.

Bottom Line

RollerskiShop.com offers two frames lengths (530 and 600 mm) and two wheel speeds (medium and slow). The shorter frame (not tested) should be easier for the beginner because the ski will be more maneuverable. The longer frame will feel more like snow skis. The medium-speed polyurethane wheels might also be easier for the beginner.

The model I tested, the Pursuit T6002 had a snow-like feel and were exceptionally controllable. I very much enjoyed skiing on them.