Track your ski speed and terrain with the SlopeTracker
By Leigh Reagan
At the end of a ski day, we've all heard the guy bragging about getting the sickest lines and best face shots. Now there is a way to flex your muscles and increase your bragging rights by proving your ability among the self proclaimed ski-ripping heroes.
The SlopeTracker, using Global Positioning System technology, gives skiers and snowboarders the ability to track their total vertical feet, maximum speed, total runs, miles traveled, calories burned, average grade of runs, and much more.
The armband device, which is smaller than a cell phone, is unique in that it tracks speed, the steepness of the terrain, and rest time between runs. According to Ken Rivera, President of Sports Stats Inc., the SlopeTracker reinvigorates storytelling at the end of a ski day, because snowriders can actually show what they skied and how fast they skied it. Snowriders simply wear the lightweight GPS unit for the day and then walk away with a poster size, full color map of their ski day. It is similar to the Telluride Ski Resort trail map, but it illustrates only the runs and terrain skied or snowboarded in sequential order. One side of the map is a graphic illustration of the ski mountain in 3-D and the other side gives daily statistics, as well as a skill and difficulty score.
A difficulty score is determined by number of runs skied and the amount of rest time in between. Jay Casper, inventor and CEO, came up with the idea of the SlopeTracker during his days as a naval aviator in the first Gulf War. An avid skier, Casper realized that he could apply the GPS technology that he was using as a pilot, to develop a self-diagnostic tool when skiing. Casper and Rivera have been hitting the slopes together for the past 25years. They teamed up to market the SlopeTracker to four ski resorts in Colorado, one in Utah, and this year they are opening two offices in Norway. This is their first season in Telluride.
"We've been able to provide resorts with a comprehensive marketing and support plan the helps them make the most of the SlopeTracker," Casper said.
Rivera is especially excited about introducing the SlopeTracker to Telluride.
"People have been really enthusiastic. We've had people visiting from Germany and the U.K. use the SlopeTracker. A guy from New York City took six copies of his map home to show his friends. Even Captain Jack liked it," Rivera said.
Telluride ski instructors are also using the SlopeTracker to show parents where they took their children skiing for the day.
"It's great for all ages and ski abilities. Locals can see how much vertical they skied in a year and tourists can keep track of calories expended and vertical feet skied during their week vacation," said Rivera. "It not only challenges you against your friends, but it challenges yourself. It pushes you and makes you drive a little harder."
In conjunction with the SlopeTracker, the Telluride Ski Resort is offering the Continental One Pass Program. For every 100 vertical feet recorded on the SlopeTracker, skiers will receive one Continental Pass Mile free. Customers must purchase a package of five nights lodging and a four day lift ticket and must be 18 years or older to be eligible. Guests will receive the GPS tracker free during their week vacation. Maryhelyn Kirwan, Communications Director for Telski, said the SlopeTracker is a great product, whether you are a novice or expert, local or tourist, or individual skier or ski school student.
"It's fabulous to be able to offer such an innovative and unique product to guests. Everyone's really excited about it," said Kirwan.
"Once people realize that this service is offered to them, they love it and they can't get enough," Rivera concurred.
The SlopeTracker distribution office is located directly across from the ski resort ticket booth. Before hitting the slopes, SlopeTracker customers need to fill out a short form and pick up their SlopeTracker for the day. At the end of the ski day, skiers and snowboarders return the tracking device for their poster-quality, frame-ready printout. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to download at the distribution office. It is possible to pre-reserve a SlopeTracker through Telluride Reservations.
For more information go to www.slopetracker.com or call 800-778-8581.
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