There are headphones you can use while riding the slopes, and there are even snowboarding helmets with built in speakers. But how about taking a snowboard and combining it with a 1980’s era boombox? That’s what the gang from Every Third Thursday did. Introducing the Boombox from Signal Snowboard:
While most of the electronics are much smaller than those from the 1980s, the result is a board that can be still be ridden. Now that’s a new way to bring music to your ride.
How was the run you might be asked at the bottom of the slope? Now you can tell how it was, while using your Nokia N8 to offer the details. Last week Nokia and Burton Snowboards announced a new partnership that will create a new way to visualize snowboarding with the Nokia x Burton: Push Snowboarding.
With sensors on the rider and snowboarder to detect a snowboard’s orientation, downward pressure exerted by the rider, as well as heart rate and Galvanic skin response – factors used in lie detector technology – riders can get post run data, which is sent to a Nokia N8 mobile phone. While GPS technology can further clock a rider’s speed down the Galvanic skin response actually monitors biofeedback that can detect elevated emotions, such as fearing for one’s life. So anyone who says, “It was nothing” will have to mean it. Let’s see if this technology pushes riders to new extremes.
Knowing weather conditions for shooting is a lot more important than simply putting on another layer or wearing an extra pair of socks. This is because the truth is that weather plays a significant role on how a shot fired from a gun will travel. Now Horus Vision, a company that develops technology to improve rifle accuracy at extended ranges, has teamed up with Kestrel Weather Meters to introduce the Horus Kestrel.
While the name might not seem innovative, the technology actually is – as this is the first device to incorporate weather (atmospherics) data into ballistics solutions in real-time. The integrated Kestrel 4500NV unit features five customizable targets, an extensive gun list and Horus’ proprietary truing technology. This was developed in part as a response to the military’s mission to obtain consolidated gear to minimize redundancy and bulk, and the result is integrated into the four-ounce pocked sized Kestrel Weather Tracker.
The Horus Kestrel is available in Olive Drab and Desert Tan, and is IP67 and MIL-STD-810G Rugged, which means it can stand up to conditions that most sport shooters won’t ever face. It is powered by two AAA batteries, and thus requires no chargers, plugs or external power source.
The Horus Kestrel will be available later this year (MSRP $739).
In case you didn’t get the memo – we obviously were late to the game – this week is National Safety Awareness Week (January 15 – 23) on the ski slopes around the country. This includes knowing and following the code:
Skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in many ways. At ski areas you may see people using alpine, snowboard, telemark, cross country and other specialized ski equipment, such as that used by disabled or other skiers. Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Observe the code listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.
Be safety conscious and
KNOW THE CODE. IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Continue reading Research: Snowboarding Safer Thank Skiing
Another week another trade show. There is no rest for the weary in January, and after hitting the Consumer Electronics Show and the Detroit Auto Show, we’re back to “Sin City” to check out the latest offerings and most innovative products that will be available this year for hunters, sport shooters and firearms enthusiasts
This is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports and hunting industries. Last year’s show in Orlando saw nearly 60,000 in total attendance with more than 1,600 exhibitors and nearly 700,000 square feet of exhibit space – and this year the National Shooting Sports Foundation expects an even bigger show with nearly 2,000 members of the media in attendance.
With the recent news of snow being present in 49 of the 50 states, you may have gotten the urge to get outside and float through the white stuff. If you enjoy spending your days on the slopes riding in fresh powder, then Ride Snowboards may have the board for you.
The Slackcountry UL snowboard is specifically designed to float above deep snow using a high rocker or front tip called the HighRize rocker. This increased rocker height design helps keep the front of the board from diving into the snow and makes it much easy to float on top. The Slackcountry UL board has a ‘Twinish’ shape which means that it can also be ridden rear tip forward or switch foot. Ride also increased the rocker height of the rear tip, but the rear rocker rise is not as much as the front.
Another unique feature of the Slackcountry UL is the traditional plastic top sheet has been replaced by hemp. The all new Hemp Brain Topless Technology uses the renewable resource, hemp, to create a top sheet which is reported to be lighter and stronger than a similar plastic top sheet. Not only is the rider suppose to have an improved product over plastic, they can feel warm and fuzzy on the inside knowing that they are ridding a product that is better for the environment. Continue reading Not a Slouch Through Powder
If you’re going to take it off road, do so in style and do it while still being eco-friendly we say. That’s sort of the idea behind the Ranger EV, the first ever electric, off-road capable utility vehicle from Polaris. The Ranger EV rolled into Las Vegas for the Showstoppers press event during last week’s Consumer Electronics Show and it certainly turned heads.
The Ranger EV features the longest battery pack in the industry, and thus offers the longest range of any electric midsize vehicle. It is powered by an exclusive 48-volt, AC induction motor, and can cruise with a top speed of 25 mph. It has a range of 50 miles and comes with a 500 pound cargo box, plus can tow up to 1,250 pounds, while offering a 1,000 total payload capacity. In other words, this green machine – which isn’t actually the color green – is up for the off-road and so much more.
One trade show is in the rear view mirror – a fitting statement as we’ll be reporting this week from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Last week was about gadgets, gear and small devices from the Consumer Electronics Show, and this week we turn our attention to auto technology with a fitness angle.
Years ago I heard someone say, “if they can put a man on the moon, you’d think they could make boots with built-in warmers.” Well, man did indeed walk on the moon back when Richard Nixon was President and when VHS wasn’t even yet a rich man’s toy. Now in the era of Blu-ray movies we finally have boots with a power source.
The Columbia Bugathermo Techlight Boots are ready for the showshoe trail or just ready to tackle an average American winter. These boots built on Columbia’s BugaBoots, which use a Omni-Heat membrane to reflect body heat back at your cold toes, and the new Bugathermo model feature a built-in heating system. These boots, which made their debut last season – and were not surprising a huge hit – now feature a waterproof Nubuck and split suede leather upper, along with a three-temperature heating system. On low setting the boots can provide extra warmth for eight hours, or three full hours when you need to turn up the heat to maximum
The boots are ready for mountain trekking or even Arctic exploration according to Columbia as these can provide underfoot insulation that is rated to -25 degrees F/-32 degrees C. With these boots you should never get cold feet again!
This year Blue Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania became the first of its kind in the region to use radio frequency identification (RFID) cards as an alternative to traditional lift tickets. Instead of the traditional paper lift ticket that can dangle from your parka, the Blue Passport card slips in your pocket, and you simply walk through a turnstile, rather than needing to be scanned by an attendant.
Users are advised not to keep old tickets with new ones, not to put cell phones in the same pocket and to be sure to remove season passes (as well as any pass for that matter) prior to washing or drying the parka. Other than that, you can buy the ticket once and even recharge it for another day online, which can even save users a few bucks. The creators were so excited about this technology, they even made a video for it!
So you’re looking to capture some footage during your snowboard runs down the slope or bike ride through the city, but performing these activities while holding a camera is difficult, if not impossible. The folks at Contour have developed hands-free camcorders to help you achieve just that, in high definition. Their ContourGPS Camera adds location tracking as well as speed and altitude info. And just announced today at CES, they’re adding Bluetooth support that lets you turn your iPhone or Android-based smartphone into a wireless viewfinder (current owners also benefit, as all ContourGPS models has always had Bluetooth support; it’s now being activated through a firmware upgrade). It also lets you control the camera settings and view recorded footage on the smartphone, and Contour is working on other applications that can take advantage of the Bluetooth feature. The ContourGPS sells for $350, and the apps for iPhone and Android are coming soon. See below for the full release.
Contour Turns Your Mobile Phone into a Live Viewfinder for its ContourGPS Camera
January 5, 2011 (Seattle, Wash.) – Contour, a market leader in hands-free video cameras, is announcing a new feature for its award winning ContourGPS model: Bluetooth. Already the first hands-free video camera to capture speed and location in real-time, Contour is unveiling a built-in Bluetooth chip in the ContourGPS along with a mobile app that together enable your phone to become a live viewfinder. Now you can see what your camera sees while configuring your settings, all from the most remote locations. Applications are currently being developed for the Android and iOS platforms. Contour will be demonstrating this new functionality at the Consumer Electronics Show.
“We’re excited about turning a phone into a live screen for the ContourGPS and delivering the single feature nearly all of our customers have been asking for,” says Marc Barros, Contour’s CEO. “ContourGPS was already the first hands-free camera to introduce real-time GPS, bringing a whole new level of video storytelling to our customers around the world. But with the enabling of Bluetooth, ContourGPS becomes the only hands-free video camera with a wireless viewfinder.”
Hands-free is one of the fastest growing video camera categories, but it’s often limited in its application by the lack of a screen. By unlocking Bluetooth, ContourGPS opens itself to connectivity with audio, remote control, and mobile accessories. Most importantly, it enables a mobile app to turn your phone into a live viewfinder.
The ContourGPS camera brings together three of the hottest trends: location, mobile, and video. It goes beyond being just a camera – it’s an all-in-one platform that offers innovative software in conjunction with a vibrant online community. Customers can record, post, and share their video adventures while tracking their path, speed, and elevation on a map – all at the same time. A rugged video camera made specifically for the estimated 100 million outdoor enthusiasts around the world; ContourGPS makes it easy to capture video from within the action and share it online in seconds.
There are plenty of gloves out there to keep your hands nice and toasty whilst you ski, snowboard, skate or partake in other winter wonderland activities. But try taking a photo… not so easy is it? The solution offered typically just involves removing the glove.
But the POW Pho-Tog Gloves were designed with input from action sports photographers, and feature a convertible finger as well as pocket on the backhand. This allows the thumb and point fingers to go “fingerless” for easy camera access. The gloves feature hook and loop cuff closures for easy adjustment as well, and are made of softshell and neoprene, with a Clarino Synthetic leather palm, so they’re keep you warm up to 32 degrees.
And while designed for using a camera, these will be good for using a portable music player, making phone calls or just anything else that would require you to take off your gloves. We like that a lot.
Walking through really cold wet snow means wet cold boots. It is the kind that could practically bring you to tears. There isn’t much that you can do about that, except maybe warm up the boots in the car in the car. DryGuy offers a line of boots/shoe warmer and dryers including one model that offers AC/DC power (Model – DG00301). These won’t exactly dry your eyes, but better still they can warm up your boots, and do so from the car! These use a ram-air ventilation system so that air can be forced through the shoes to remove wetness or warm up cold boots in a short amount of time.
DryGuy also has a line of regular boot drivers as well, so no need to throw the boots in front of a heater anymore. You can call the DryGuys instead.