Ski simulator

Intended use

Simulators are primarily used for endurance and technique training, which can take place off-season, indoors or outside the snow belt. The level of fidelity ranges from home exercise equipment (simulating the classic Nordic cross-country stride or the slalom side to side motion) to immersive virtual reality systems in Olympic training centers. Indoor installations permit training to be done in any season.

Balance, control and strength are learned by practice and actively doing training drills and lessons on the ski simulators.

Other analogues feature artificial surfaces or roller equipment.

Endless slope

An endless slope is a sloped treadmill that allows skiers and snowboarders to refine form and strengthen muscles. Practicing on this treadmill that simulates snow allows carving, edging, pressuring, steering, and balance on skis or a snowboard, allowing the rider to experience the same muscle workout as on the mountain while developing the skills needed to gracefully move on snow. Revolving carpet ski simulators and indoor ski slope carpets have been widely installed since the early 1960s. They can be used for introductory training or to improve skills for expert skiers, especially outside the ski season.

An alpine skiing simulator is a conveyor having an inclined surface with a moving multi-layer carpet, made out of a composite material. The band’s movement is directed upwards of the inclined surface towards the skier. Using a remote control, an instructor can set up different skiing conditions. For safety reasons the simulator has a smooth start and a smooth stop of the carpet and emergency stop sensors.

To ensure good slipping performance the upper working layer of the carpet is moistened with water, sending a signal from a remote control. In addition to that, if the slipping performance needs to be increased, it is possible to treat the working layer of the carpet with a special concentrate.

References

References

1. (March 2013). "Comparative Evaluation of Two Skiing Simulators as Functional Training Devices for Recreational Skiers". Journal of Sports Science & Medicine.
2. (1994). "Great pretenders".
3. (20 February 2018). "How VR helped injured skier Laurenne Ross realize her Olympic dream". NBC News.
4. (2019). "Visualizing Expert Motion for Guidance in a VR Ski Simulator".
5. (12 February 2018). "6 Exercise Machines Olympians Use to Train That You've Never Seen Before". SELF.
6. (June 1982). "The analysis of slalom-ski type movement using a ski-simulator apparatus". Human Movement Science.
7. (March 1975). "Validation of a Ski Simulator". Research Quarterly. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
8. (15 January 1962). "Scorecard".
9. (1999). "First-Ever Ski Shows".