Latest posts for the topic "Ski distances on holiday"

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:37:51 GMT

Are there any devices in the market which can be used when skiing that will give you accurate figures for how many km/m have been skied.
Although the website mentioned on the forum a while back gives approx distances depending on which lifts you use, it would be good if there was some sort of pedometer for skiing.

Any techies out there care to invent one?

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:45:05 GMT

smirnoff_skier wrote:Are there any devices in the market which can be used when skiing that will give you accurate figures for how many km/m have been skied.
Although the website mentioned on the forum a while back gives approx distances depending on which lifts you use, it would be good if there was some sort of pedometer for skiing.

Any techies out there care to invent one?

C'mon, it's the 21st century. Of course they exist :D lol - Infact, my friend has one! Not only does it record how far you've ski'd, but the speed too (his max is 55 MPH so far :P)
Here you are:
http://www.skinetuk.com/skilog/skilog.htm

Take a look :D

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:59:32 GMT

baillie353 wrote:C'mon, it's the 21st century. Of course they exist :D lol - Infact, my friend has one! Not only does it record how far you've ski'd, but the speed too (his max is 55 MPH so far :P)
Here you are:
http://www.skinetuk.com/skilog/skilog.htm

Take a look :D

That does look pretty good, possibly a bit over the top with the million different recordings, and also very expensive. Good bit of kit though.

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:34:04 GMT

try this as you can afford to drink on Eccy road
http://www.satski.com/

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:10:38 GMT

Oh Eccy Road (dreams), its only a pipe dream until I have finished this dissertation; I have only left the house 3 times this week (twice for a sandwich and once to Tesco)!

I don't think I could afford the handheld devices but the downloadable mobile phone software is pretty tempting.

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:14:17 GMT

baillie353 wrote:

smirnoff_skier wrote:Are there any devices in the market which can be used when skiing that will give you accurate figures for how many km/m have been skied.
Although the website mentioned on the forum a while back gives approx distances depending on which lifts you use, it would be good if there was some sort of pedometer for skiing.

Any techies out there care to invent one?

C'mon, it's the 21st century. Of course they exist :D lol - Infact, my friend has one! Not only does it record how far you've ski'd, but the speed too (his max is 55 MPH so far :P)
Here you are:
http://www.skinetuk.com/skilog/skilog.htm

Take a look :D

The trouble is they're not very accurate, the GPS receivers in them are terrible.

If it tells you've been doing 55 mph I'd throw it away :D That's not likely, to give you idea of speeds, last week was the FIS Lauberhorn race which is pretty quick, the course record is held by the Kristian Ghedina in 1997 with an average speed of 66 mph (106.33 km/h). Defago won this year with his highest gun speeds around 105 kph or 62 mph.

If you're friend is Didier Defago though then 55mph is probably correct :D

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:15:54 GMT

Whats your top speed, Ise?

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:26:15 GMT

the top speed is about 140km is it not ise?

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:29:57 GMT

swskier wrote:the top speed is about 140km is it not ise?

Who do you think you are, Didier Defago???????

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:31:23 GMT

swskier wrote:the top speed is about 140km is it not ise?

generally for FIS racers? that sounds about right if you're on that sort of course, the Lauberhorn may not be the fastest FIS course but it's way, way quicker than we're going to manage on a piste. It was just a good illustration of the point that 55 mph is a bit unbelievable.

Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:43:54 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

swskier wrote:the top speed is about 140km is it not ise?

Who do you think you are, Didier Defago???????

Nope not at all didnt say i was! Just got a bit confused by Ise saying defago's top speed was 105km's thats all!
Found out today a history teacher out our school owns an apartment in wengen! I asked if they rented it out she said, i did try and blag it for free she wasn't impressed! :P

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:01:00 GMT

Think I mentioned this before, however did a bit of self timing on an easy red (straight down) of known length 960m on the Feldberg last time I was there. From a standing start to stop and hit the button was 1 min 25 (AFAICR) seconds which is averaging 11.3 m/s.

So 41km/h average from a standing start (slooooooow) to standstill (much faster). With a basic bit of algebraic deduction taking into account my style of riding (which is a little unique) I figure my top speed to be between 65-75kmh on an easy run I know well.

So in ye olde world, taking 75kph tops, that is about 47mph.

I am not sure I would want to go much faster to be honest, and for me the speed is the thing that I enjoy the most.

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:28:21 GMT

I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:41:10 GMT

micric wrote:I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!

The big thing to remember is top speed versus average speed. I reckon I may realistically hit 45-47mph, but it is only gonna be for a very short period of time, there is no way I could consistantly board at that speed for any distance.

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:03:19 GMT

tino_11 wrote:

micric wrote:I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!

The big thing to remember is top speed versus average speed. I reckon I may realistically hit 45-47mph, but it is only gonna be for a very short period of time, there is no way I could consistantly board at that speed for any distance.

if you hit that speed you were going faster than the speed reached by FIS snowboard GS racers. So, sorry, but no :D

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:06:18 GMT

micric wrote:I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!

87mph? Not even close :lol:

Your small GPS isn't that accurate, what happens is that the speed is calculated between two points, both of which it got wrong :lol: I use a variety of GPS devices and it's common, it tells me on foot I'm hitting 70 or 80 mph sometimes, I'm pretty fast but not that fast :D

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:19:50 GMT

ise wrote:

tino_11 wrote:

micric wrote:I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!

The big thing to remember is top speed versus average speed. I reckon I may realistically hit 45-47mph, but it is only gonna be for a very short period of time, there is no way I could consistantly board at that speed for any distance.

if you hit that speed you were going faster than the speed reached by FIS snowboard GS racers. So, sorry, but no :D

Straight line speed, good conditions, empty slope, no turning etc. I am not convinced that it isnt quite feasible.

However, moving along swiftly, how can the average Joe accurately gauge his/her top speed?

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:22:39 GMT

tino_11 wrote:However, moving along swiftly, how can the average Joe accurately gauge his/her top speed?

A long rope with knots in?!

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:25:07 GMT

Les Arcs,flying k.pay yer euro and off you go!

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:25:08 GMT

smirnoff_skier wrote:

tino_11 wrote:However, moving along swiftly, how can the average Joe accurately gauge his/her top speed?

A long rope with knots in?!

ooooh, could cause unwanted chaffing!!

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:25:50 GMT

micric wrote:Les Arcs,flying k.pay yer euro and off you go!

Average speed or top speed?

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:29:03 GMT

Elapsed time and terminal velocity up on a digi board and I think you can get a print out as well

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:31:53 GMT

tino_11 wrote:

Straight line speed, good conditions, empty slope, no turning etc. I am not convinced that it isnt quite feasible.

However, moving along swiftly, how can the average Joe accurately gauge his/her top speed?

I know it's not possible :lol:

If you want to measure your speed you'll need a speed gun, some places do have them. SUVA went out with a speed gun and measured people, I think the fastest they got was 60 kph, that was measuring a lot of skiers, so that's around 37 mph which seems reasonable. You'd expect a top of 40 mph which would be pretty dumb on an open piste. That's skiers though who are going to be moving much quicker than a boarder at full whack.

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:24:45 GMT

Back to the original topic, sorry

Wouldn't a GPS meant for hiking be suitable?

They show the distance walked between points, walked/skied?

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:59:09 GMT

ise wrote:

micric wrote:I'm with you on that one tino,we tried a watch style GPS,the joggers watch an several friends managed 45/50mph,some other mad bloke managed 87mph on a pair of Atomic Excellent IIs and took the beer honours that night,now ise tells us we're dreaming,that's depressing!

87mph? Not even close :lol:

Your small GPS isn't that accurate, what happens is that the speed is calculated between two points, both of which it got wrong :lol: I use a variety of GPS devices and it's common, it tells me on foot I'm hitting 70 or 80 mph sometimes, I'm pretty fast but not that fast :D

Maybe so! But i'd certainly use it to gloat about speeds i've managed :P It's a good idea, if the 55 mph was true, then fair play to him.. It was him and his brother decided to go straight, ski tips pointing down and just go... They both recorded their speeds and he managed 55 mph. Not sure what his brother's said it had reached!

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:23:16 GMT

When doing the Three Valleys tour last year, the GPS I had was frequently (and consistently) recording speeds of 85km/h. A few readings of 100+ km/h had me laughing, but I'm fairly sure a speed of 85km/h isn't unrealistic. The GPS is a fairly good one, didn't throw up more than a handful of false speeds when on a car journey of 7000km. Given that it was a good 60km/h slower than the fastest slalom speeds recorded (and bearing in mind that wind resistance increases with velocity squared!) I'd say it's far from impossible for us mortals.

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:09:15 GMT

Gooseh wrote:When doing the Three Valleys tour last year, the GPS I had was frequently (and consistently) recording speeds of 85km/h. A few readings of 100+ km/h had me laughing, but I'm fairly sure a speed of 85km/h isn't unrealistic. The GPS is a fairly good one, didn't throw up more than a handful of false speeds when on a car journey of 7000km. Given that it was a good 60km/h slower than the fastest slalom speeds recorded (and bearing in mind that wind resistance increases with velocity squared!) I'd say it's far from impossible for us mortals.

There's a difference between using it in the car and on the mountain, the GPS falls back to a 2D fix in the mountains a lot as you're in the shadow of the nearby peaks and can't pick up the satellites nearer the horizon. The infrequency of points over distance travelled in the car would tend to increase accuracy as well, or decrease inaccuracy. A 100m error on the GPS makes a big deal at 20kph and could double the measured distance betwen two points in 30 seconds, moving at 100 kph on the motorway the same error makes little real difference. Sorry to spoil the fun but this is just how GPS works in the mountains and it is something I know more than a little about :D

85kph isn't 60 kph shorter than slalom speeds surely? that would be 145 kph which would be fast for a GS or a Downhill. I think the Hahnenkamm would be around the fastest downhill and that tops out around 150 kph but this is professional ski racers in cat suits.

Around 60kph is the maximum recorded around various stations in Switzerland when SUVA went around with a speed gun, I can't see any reason to assume that was under measured in some way. It also makes sense, it's just what you would expect in terms of speed.

Re:Ski distances on holiday

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:49:56 GMT

mark203 wrote:Back to the original topic, sorry

Wouldn't a GPS meant for hiking be suitable?

They show the distance walked between points, walked/skied?

No :D although they are more accurate than the receivers in, for example, phones, cameras or these "pod" type devices mentioned. As I just mentioned in the mountains you've a problem that a GPS tends to "see" a reduced number of satellites which reduces the accuracy of that fix. The advantage of a fuller GPS unit is that it will tell you just inaccurate it is, the maths is complicated but reliable so it can know that.

Garmin have recently upgraded their range to include to higher sensitivity devices, these models are prefixed by "H". With or without that feature you can fix the data yourself, they all link to a computer and display the track, by eye you can see that points that aren't accurate. Or you can work out what speed is reasonable and just remove those points, and then, by magic, you see the crazy points disappearing from the map. I have a tool that does that automatically and it's odd that something like that isn't widely available or that devices don't have it built in.

Again, like I'd already mentioned, part of the problem is short gaps between points, that means even small errors in the fix will give crazy results. Even walking I get speeds in excess of 100 kph while I know anything over 10 kph is stupid. Walking with a GPS you find the real gap between points is between 10 or 20 m, an error could be anything up to 50m so you could can see how inaccurate that would be.

If we're talking pure navigation then GPS is often a fiddle and an altimeter is much more reliable and useful.