Alpine ski racer Sofia Tysoe, of Portugal, is one such person.
She has been based in Wanaka for winter training as a masters-ranked (over 40) alpine skier at Treble Cone.
Yesterday, she left many Wanaka motorists doing a double take as they drove the resort's roads, while she cruised the streets on a pair of roller skis.
I'd recommend it to anyone," an out-of-breath Mrs Tysoe said, after she was stopped by the Otago Daily Times.
The sport of roller skiing is an officially-sanctioned FIS discipline, recognised by the international skiing body for its summer training possibilities, with organised World Cup events.
Mrs Tysoe said roller skiing was the ultimate" way to keep fit and had many of the aerobic and anaerobic benefits of crosscountry (nordic) skiing.
Her roller skis were designed with "the same fittings and equipment as nordic skis; just with wheels".
The sport allowed her to maintain fitness, "despite a bad back", for her alpine racing, and also kept up her cross-country skiing skills, she said.
