Tag: Skating

BULT in Camera

BULTThere is a serious debate whether a rugged camera should be mounted to a cycling and skating helmet. Some content that this could actually cause injury as the object could affect the way a wearer’s head hits the ground. C-Preme saw this concern and has addressed it with the fittingly named BULT, which offers a built-in 1,280×720 resolution video camera that can shoot at 30 frames per second with a 120-degree angle lens. It can even snap 5MP still photos.

The “Videohead Technology” is reportedly CPSC and ASTM certified and will be released later this year.

BULT Digital Helmets Official Website

Sporthocker Spins Balance on a Spool

While skateboards aren’t going anywhere, there are so many alternatives coming out these days it’s hard to keep up with them. We just saw a video from Sporthocker, a spool-like device that you can balance on and do tricks, and have a seat to sit on when you’re done with the action. Continue reading Sporthocker Spins Balance on a Spool

Endless Winter Coming To End, Time for Endless Ice

This winter will end; at least we think it will. Spring actually sprung last week at least officially, and much of the country should see warmer weather this week. Thats good news, unless you happen to play hockey. While there are always indoor rinks and arenas, there is another option, namely Endless Ice.

This company has many products to keep players on the ice year round, including advanced training systems and even home based models. This also a real bonus for teams such as the El Paso Rhinos, who used the system to train for the Western State Hockey League Championship series, where the weather isn’t always agreeable for hockey – and rarely outdoors. The system works much like a treadmill, but with a synthetic surface that replaces traditional ice. In addition to just skating in place, a computer analyzes the player’s form and technique and provides feedback to help optimize performance on real ice.

Endless Ice is currently used throughout the United States, in the Czech Republic and Germany, and even throughout Canada, where winter is even more endless than in parts of America. But the technology is there so players can get in the skate training even if they can’t hit the ice.

Endless Ice Official Website

Thanksgiving is Not Just for Feasting with the Family

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, followed by the holiday season and finishing off with New Year’s and the proverbial resolution to shed the pounds that you might have put on during the past few months or years. Why not start the season off right and begin Thanksgiving Day with more than just the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and finishing in a ‘turkey coma’? You might be surprised by the number of activities that occur on the Thanksgiving morning. Here is a list of some activities around the country:

28th Fifth Third Turkey Trot (Detroit, MI): This foot race has an event for most fitness levels – 1 mile run, 5K run, 10K run and 5K walk. What makes this Detroit event fun for the entire family is the costume contest with prizes for Best Centipede, Best Running Floats, Best Dogs and more! This event starts at 7am and ends with the Thanksgiving Day parade. Continue reading Thanksgiving is Not Just for Feasting with the Family

Big in Japan: The Robo Skateboard

The Segway is really just a grown-up version of those annoying kiddie scooters – a fad that we keep hoping will finally run out of steam. So we’re skeptical about the still very much in development robotic skateboard that is currently being tested in Japan. Why do the Japanese need a robotic skateboard would be the first question to ask, as the island nation is rather crowded to say the least!

But that doesn’t seem to stop the designers at the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo from working on a very high-tech board. The Robo-Skateboard prototype according to online reports weights about 15kg, is about 30cm wide and 60cm long and about 25cm thick. It works much like a regular skateboard, where you stand on it and lean to make turns. Your shifting body weight will thus let you steer, but lean forward and you’ll get to pick up some speed. Put your weight directly on your feet and you’ll be flying like Tony Hawk – almost anyway, as this board can hit speeds of 10kph.

Continue reading Big in Japan: The Robo Skateboard

What Dartfish Means for Figure Skating

With the Olympic Games just weeks away we know there will be some controversy over how a judge missed something in a figure skating performance. Whilst the same thing happens with gymnastics and diving in the summer games, it is always figure skating where a judge just didn’t see something that potentially could mean the difference on who gets the gold.

This is why the Dartfish technology is worth mentioning. This computer video program can be used to analyze figure skating jumps and spins, helping judges make those extra special decisions. But more importantly this technology’s “SimulCam” and “StroMotion” features offer the advantage of giving skaters and couches the ability to compare performances in a frame-by-frame way that was never previously possible.

The SimulCam offers the ability to compare two different athletes, but over the same terrain, while the StroMotion offers a peek at precise movement, technique, execution and tactics over the same space and time. So instead of going to the tape, judges and fans can now go to the fish!

For motion information: Dartfish Web site