Winter sports equipment innovations

The specifics of winter sports are based onthe athlete’s ability to move on snow and ice, therefore, achieving superior results is impossible without the use of innovations in equipment. Every year, engineers are surprised by the technological improvement of skis, skates, snowboards, snowshoes and sledges, and in some cases, inventions give an impetus to the emergence of new sports or save from fatal injuries.

Spine protection

Skis and snowboards are getting better, the speed of athletes is increasing, and the risk of injury is growing. Statisticsshows that injuries causeduncontrolled rotation of joints and spine occur five times more often than from blows. The startup Adamsfour creates a passive system for protecting against spinal injuries, which is especially important for active winter sports. 

The system provides natural andcontrolled movements, but prevents turning beyond a certain range. If spinal rotation enters a critical range, the X-straps begin to compress and, using a special reverse mechanism located at the waist, the rotational energy is redirected and absorbed to protect the athlete from potential injury. 

Passive protection moves with a sleeve withlow coefficient of friction and high strength, providing easy adjustment in any conditions. Layered nylon fibers evenly distribute the force around the tread, while a rubber coating is added for maximum grip and elasticity. Special coating zones have been added to eliminate friction around buckles and gaskets.

Skull protection

An effective safety helmet must not onlymeet standard requirements, but also exceed them. The SevenTwenty helmet, with its patented hexagonal elastomer core, far exceeds standard requirements. 

In the test of the first prototype, depreciation was50% better than the average value in the helmet market. The required prototype with a honeycomb structure generally exceeds 100%. Unlike conventional polystyrene helmets, this value remained constant even after the eleventh repetition of the test.

Ski sensors

In the near future, “smart skis” canbecome popular on snow slopes. Using built-in sensors, sliding dynamics are easily read and provide valuable information for biathletes, skiers, slalomists and their coaches. One of the manufacturers of “smart skis” became the Slovenian manufacturer Elan. Analogues are produced by Snowcookie and GetCarv.

Snowcookie Kit Assumes Three Sensors, Twoof which are mounted on skis with Velcro. The third is not attached to the slalomist’s body, but the data is transmitted to the smartphone. Artificial Intelligence Snowcookie controls the most important riding parameters that can be viewed after a training session. AI can detect errors in torso, excessive rotation of the shoulders during a turn or movement of the hips when entering a turn.

Heavy duty snow goggles

People with visual problems very often refusefrom winter sports due to various inconveniences associated with glasses, but one of the best projects of Prowinter Startup Village 2019 can solve their problem. SnowVision startup for $ 280 offers to buy special optical glasses for protection from snow and too bright sun shining.

The structure of the glasses is designed in such a way thatprevent fogging. Thanks to photochromic lenses, vision is corrected to the maximum achievable acuity, changing the degree of darkness depending on the intensity of sunlight. Ski goggles are customized to any order for the widest possible range of clients: from -8.00 (myopia) to + 8.00 (farsightedness). 

Snowshoes for climbers

Professional climbers speak well ofSnowfoot snowshoes, the technology of which was recognized back in 2015 during the ISPO Gold Award. Snowshoes feature a lattice-patterned outsole that clips onto the boot and provides lightweight traction and stability. 

Snowfoot consists of high impact nylonconstruction and thermoplastic elastomer. The three-dimensional structure of the sole provides optimal mobility in loose snow, and eight stainless steel spikes allow you to hold firmly both on ice and on hard snow. Achievements in sports mountaineering are very dependent on the athlete's equipment, which often has to be changed. Snowfoot weighs only 1 kg, so it’s great for packing in a climber’s bag.

Skis without sticks

During perestroika Kalugaputmash already producedmini-skiing, but then it was not possible to develop success. A new attempt to popularize compact skis was already made in the Czech startup Snowfeet, the device of which entered the market in 2018.

Ski poles are not required for Snowfeet, soThe technique of movement on shortened skis is similar to the movements of speed skaters. The body is made of durable fiberglass reinforced plastic. Due to the combination of two materials, mini-skis also weigh little. The sole is equipped with metal ski edges that act as brakes. Stopping is carried out due to the heel part of the sole. Adjustable straps allow you to put the device on any shoe size from 37 to 47. 

Snowfeet team states that their adaptationshould create a new winter sport, but not everyone admires skates. One of the main disadvantages is poor adhesion to ice, which can lead to unintentional falls. The cost of one pair of Snowfeet in the official online store is $ 149.

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