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!
We know K2 as the second highest mountain in the world, and the second deadliest to climb. But K2, the maker of skis and ski related gear, is really second to no one. For this season the company has taken its Rocker technology that was developed for powder skis to hard snow with the K2 Rictor, a true speed terrain ski.
These high performance skis aren’t meant for the bunny slopes or those who stick to them. This high performance expert level ski is build however, for any condition you might encounter. The Rictor offers the All-Terrain Rocker technology with mountain versatility. The skis feature unique Metal Laminate Hybritech construction with a progressive sidecut to allow users to perform well in soft powder or hard icy conditions.
From the early reviews, we hear these skis will rock the mountain.
Ski helmets are finally catching on, but like cycling helmets it is only slowly gaining momentum. No doubt many people feel that the white stuff is fluffy and soft and thus not so bad in a fall. The truth is that hard packed snow can be deadly, as can rocks, trees and other obstacles. All this makes a “brain bucket” all the more important to wear.
However, common sense – as in using what’s inside the helmet – can be a key to staying safe. This week The Wall Street Journal noted that shorter skis and helmets have reduced ski injuries, but added that the average number of people who die on the slopes in America has remained about the same. The other disturbing fact is those who are more likely to die are intermediate or advanced skiers, who are often wearing a helmet. Read the rest of this entry »
Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center began a mobile program that allows skiers to pay for room, refreshments and services, plus find out about deals in the Breckenridge, Colorado ski resort. Register for the service with a text to “BEAVERRUN” (466-622), and you’ll find out about deals on the slopes, and be entered to win a two-night stay plus two one-day lift tickets at the resort. As with other loyalty programs, participating skiers will earn perks in the resort and in the town. You can also use the program, provided by Mocapay, to send mobile-to-mobile gifting , pay for hotels and restaurant services. This offers the convenience of using one device, your phone, to pay in addition to staying in contact with friends and having access to online information if you’re phone is Web-enabled without having to bring a wallet with bills and plastic on the slopes with you. Don’t you have enough to worry about with your skis and other equipment?
Oakley, the maker of premium eyewear, has announced that World Class skier Lindsey Vonn has chosen Oakley goggles and sunglasses for the upcoming season. Oakley High Definition Optics (HDO) features a collection of optical technologies engineered to meet the demands of athletes such as Vonn. These include impact protection as well as 100 UV filtering on and off the hill, while Oakley also offers a full spectrum of lens tints to allow athletes to precisely match with environmental conditions.
“I am thrilled to be with a brand so passionate about optics and protection,” said Lindsey Vonn. “Oakley meets all my needs with a range of lens tints, and so much more. Medals are decided by hundredths of a second, so I need assurance that my vision is perfect every time I compete, no matter what the conditions. That’s why Oakley was the obvious choice, and I wouldn’t think of entering a competition with anything less.”
Lindsey Vonn will take advantage of the Oakley advantage in the World Cup competition and beyond.
If The Terminator ever got on a snowboard he’d likely have useful information, such as speed and temperature, right in the front of his eyes – or visual optical system or whatever it was supposed to be. The rest of us have traditionally had to look down at a device to get all that data. When roaring down a mountain looking down isn’t a good idea, so you either have to stop what you’re doing or hope for the best. But Zeal Optics will change everything beginning this Sunday, October 10, with the release of the world’s first GPS enable goggle, the Transcend GPS – which could truly transcend the way you track your activity. Read the rest of this entry »
Rudy Project Noyz sunglasses are a pick for 2010 Olympic athletes.
As the Olympics gear up athletes are at the ready. Eyewear and helmet manufacturer Rudy Project outfitted many competitors in Turin in 2006, and will outfit many more in Vancouver 2010. While goggles and helmets will be in order for certain sports, the Noyz Fluo will cover many eyes. The Fluo version of the Noyz sunglasses have a technicolored-look, though the Noyz model is available in many bold colors. The lenses have ImpactX sun technology, which allows for a lighter lens, adds impact resistance, and doesn’t stress crack or craze. For sight, the lenses have favorable optical properties with a lower light refraction index, internal stress, and chromatic dispersion than comparable polycarbonate lenses. This brings a lower surface reflection and higher definition and sharper images.
The Rudy Project was just named the exclusive eyewear and helmet supplier for the USRowing, a three-year partnership including support of the U.S. National Team in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In Turin, Rudy Project gear was on athletes who won 45 medals (18 gold, 13 silver, and 14 bronze). This winter Olympics athletes from Germany, Finland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Italy plan to wear eyewear from this Rudy Project.
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.
