Problems with skiing?

For an engineering class I have to design a product that "improves the quality of life in the upper valley(of new hampshire)". Our first project idea was a pedometer that could be linked to the television, so children cannot watch tv without having their recommended dose of exercise for the day. Seemed great, but its a bitch to do(logic boards, IRDA optics, real messy) and it doesnt look like we have a potential costumer base.

So I thought I'd pose the question to you all and see what ideas you guys had. What are your problems with skiing? I'm more looking for a problem than a potential product. (example: problem getting small children on chair lifts, have to resort to using snowmobile and trailer, or problem making a backcountry binding(NAXO, freeride) that is strong enough to use inbounds regularly)


Thanks
Zack

ahhh Engs 21....a little late to be coming up with an idea, eh?

just pick something and start working on it. document your decision making process and you'll get an A.

If you get that small children on chairlift thing solved, patent it. Bet a lot of ski areas would be calling you. Boy, have I seen some bad things happen.

Possibly the comfort of Ski boots??

How about a breathalyzer attachment for a snowmobile that keeps it from starting if you blow over the legal limit? That'd save several hick lives per year.

Well mildbill it is a little late...but we still have our original problem to fall back on. You going to the TGR showing friday?

sadly i'm no longer in hanover.

is the TGR show tomorrow or a week from tomorrow.

because if it's a week from tomorrow i'll be there and i'll be absurdly drunk. (well, i suppose it wouldn't go so well with the bonfire and all...)

Just reopen WhaleBack and put TVs on the chair lift.
Offer round trip tickets for the fat kids.

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Originally posted by mildbill.
i'll be there and i'll be absurdly drunk. (well, i suppose it wouldn't go so well with the bonfire and all...)

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I don't know, nothing puts out a bonfire like vomit.

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Originally posted by Benny Profane
If you get that small children on chairlift thing solved, patent it. Bet a lot of ski areas would be calling you. Boy, have I seen some bad things happen.

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Seems like a good idea. Have an optical sensor to detect an "underheight" rider which triggers a device that lifts them to the proper height to board the chair.

Getting the sensor to detect the person could be tricky. Also the person has to be standing in the right location--wouldn't want to lift one leg and not the other! Getting the thing to solve more problems than it creates might be the challenge.

1) Solar powered climbing device.
2) I've got no problems with skiing, I have problems with NOT skiing.
3) Better altitude and wind resistant lighters.
4) Kill the idiots who are distributing Kneissl and Raichle.
5) Bring back Dynamic.
6) Powder fluffer.

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Originally posted by Buster Highmen
6) Powder fluffer.

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or, better yet, a power fluffer

It doesn't have anything to do with skiing, but for Northern New Hampshire a laser-activated moose howitzer for your car would be a good thing. Vaporize those bad boys before you run into them.

I've got a big problem with skiing that you guys should be able to solve.

PROBLEM
I don't get to ski enough because I have to spend 40 hours/week sitting in my office pretending to work.

SOLUTION
Write some software that will browse the web for me while responding to occasional emails. Then I can go skiing while your software does my "work"

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Originally posted by iceman
It doesn't have anything to do with skiing, but for Northern New Hampshire a laser-activated moose howitzer for your car would be a good thing. Vaporize those bad boys before you run into them.

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Who are the Dartmouth boys going to date if you do that?

you'd be surprised what a wild turkey can do buster.

In the supermarket or catch yourself? All the fun is in the chase they say.

one thunk with the minivan on the way up 91, they're dazed for a while but by the time we get them back home, ready to go and a-lookin for a-lovin.

Put lie detectors on the "customer service rep" that does the morning snow report. Have to just laugh at the Friday weather/snow report.

Hydrophobic membrane for boot soles so snow never sticks to 'em when you're trying to step into your binding?

rescue sledge with built in suspension/ski like a sit-ski for more control and comfort for the patient

smart chip built into lift pass that logs your vertical and displays it on internet

instead of something involving skiing, what about developing a chairlift that has the option of the seat turning sideways for boarders, so they can sit sideways while being on a chair with skiers... some sort of seat that slides out and turns...just a thought

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PROBLEM
I don't get to ski enough because I have to spend 40 hours/week sitting in my office pretending to work.

SOLUTION
Write some software that will browse the web for me while responding to occasional emails. Then I can go skiing while your software does my "work"

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I'm with AntiSoCalSkier on this one.

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Originally posted by bad_roo
smart chip built into lift pass that logs your vertical and displays it on internet

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I think many areas record your info for traffic flow and days used. It would be cool if you could look it up on the net. I always start the season with intentions of recording my days but it quickly dies. Days skied info via the area scanner downloaded to the Internet for map/log viewing would be cool. Earning turn days are easier to remember but the lift days quickly blur.

Keystone introduced a program last year that tracked your vertical much like you mentioned.



SLOPETRACKER GPS
Have you ever wondered how many vertical feet you skied? SlopeTracker is for you! A tracking device you wear on the slopes will download a color map of the ski area which will include total runs, vertical footage, distance, top speed, time skiing/riding and resting, calories burned and difficulty rating.

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Originally posted by Buster Highmen
3) Better altitude and wind resistant lighters.

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The no snow on the boot sole idea is cool. So is bad_roo's sled idea.

IndyGS: I've had quite a few talks with the SlopeTracker inventor... its pretty cool... only prob is the expense of using it. It does a lot more than your vertical like you said... but for just vertical, you merely need to know the order in which you went up each chair and a simple excell equation will solve it for you.

Nike AGC ascent compass watch and most suuntos will give you accumulated altitude for the day thats your vertical if your reset it when first start up the first chair and then check it at the end of the day before dirving home. Don't buy the Nike watch... you only get to use it 11 months of the year because the proprietary battery and they take their sweet fucking time to change it.

magnetic system between the ski and boot (built-in; high powered strong shit),
no more "bindings." (patent pending)

that, or a way keep a free A-star in my yard with unlimited gas.

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Originally posted by Ted Stryker
magnetic system between the ski and boot (built-in; high powered strong shit),
no more "bindings." (patent pending)

that, or a way keep a free A-star in my yard with unlimited gas.

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A lot of magnets dont like impacts... snow in the way would make it a hard project as would the skies potentially pushing each other apart or pulling htemselves toward each other... how would you step out of hte binding? find someting athat superconducts below 32F any maybe you would have a winter only optoin... interesting thought! just my drunken take on it

NASA!

NAVA!

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Originally posted by bad_roo
Hydrophobic membrane for boot soles so snow never sticks to 'em when you're trying to step into your binding?

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wouldn't that make walking around on snow these in ski boots very, very delicate?

Try to design a device that can transport skiers uphill that is more efficient than a chairlift- something that can handle more skier per hour, but use less power. And surface lifts don't count- it has to be Gaper-accessesible

What about this...if you ski on a lot of ice like i do in jersey, then make edges that slightly heat the snow so the edges grip the ice, something electricly charged that you can turn on and off so it they act as normal edges in normal snow