Technology used in Winter Sports

In modern times, augmented reality ski masks that integrate Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth features to monitor performance on the snow, ski goggles with integrated GPS mapping and route recording capabilities which show real-time speed and altitude exist. These devices are changing and advancing the athlete's training experience, their performance as well as the way the fans interact with the sporting product. 

AI and Simulation technology 

Technology such as Baidu’s AI and three-dimensional (3D) simulation technology (3D+AI ), captures and analyses athletes’ motions creating a computer-simulated 3D model for skiers. 

“3D+AI” is also revolutionising how TV and online viewers watch high-speed snow sports like freestyle skiing in an immersive and intuitive manner. 

It is also emerging as an essential training aid to pinpoint parameters that impact performance, helping skiers prepare training routines by recreating a 3D model of each skier in action and even fusing different models into one picture, allowing different athletes’ performances to be compared side-by-side. 

It is also possible to overlay the original video replay and simulate 3D models with additional information such as data showing speed, flying height, landing distance, and rotation angles. 

Through a 3D scene walkthrough, online viewers can watch the jumping platform via multiple perspectives  which also allows for the coaches to evaluate performances and distinguish incorrect movements effectively.

Ski Simulator

Ski Simulators immerse the athlete into a virtual experience of a  ski course. The athlete can wear their own personal equipment and get into the simulator which has prerecorded courses set up on it . They can select which course they are training for and go through its simulation as the machine mimics the course through movement and vibrations while the athlete moves around freely on a platform while following the course on a screen. This helps the athlete to get real time practice without having to be on the mountain and is especially helpful in the rehabilitation process of injured athletes.This equipment also reduces injury risk and allows off season training when snow may not be available. 

Oversized Treadmills

Oversized treadmills are multipurpose treadmills used by a lot of athletes especially taking part in skiing events as they can ski and practice  on these treadmills without having to schlep to a mountain. Treadmills such as the HP cosmos Saturn 450/300 rs can even be used for the roller ski testing. With a massive dimension of  4. 5 m by 3 m. It has a variety of testing equipment that works along with it such as a lactate test meter and inbuilt force plates.

Altitude tents

Developed by Shaun Wallace, a British Olympic cyclist, an altitude tent is a sealed tent used to simulate a higher altitude with reduced oxygen. It consists of a portable tent that fits over a normal bed and is fed by a hypoxic generator which continuously supplies air with an oxygen content of approximately 15% to simulate an altitude of 2500 m allowing athletes to gain the benefits of hypoxic training methods such as an increase in haemoglobin content by artificially stimulating a high altitude environment .

Wearables

Wearable technology has been making waves in the sports industry over the last decade especially due to the ability to monitor the athlete in real time using a non intrusive method.

A few unique wearables have been created for athletes participating in winter sports such as the hydro bot jacket that helps expel sweat  by the use of electro osmosis technology which removes  the sweat from your body and expels it from the jacket at the touch of a button. 

Carv - a small device that turns your ski boot into a smart ski coach. The device records your movements and foot pressure while skiing and guides you with feedback based on the data it collects. 

Another important set of wearable technologies are wearable advanced GPS technologies being used in sports such as Cross country skiing where it is used to track the athletes' direction, assist in timing and recording training session speeds. It makes it easier for athletes to test and improve their performance while training and is also used in emergency situations to track the whereabouts of the athlete, often being the difference between life and death in cases such as an avalanche.

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