The document proposes an invention to improve the skiing experience for skiers on flat slopes by allowing them to be propelled without pushing on poles. The invention consists of miniature caterpillar tracks that can be clipped onto skis and powered by small electric motors via Bluetooth remote control to gently push the skier back down the slope while enjoying the scenery. The inventor has researched existing technologies that could be adapted and believes a prototype of the assisted skiing device could be developed and marketed to ski resorts in countries where skiing is popular.

1. Instituto Empresa

2. • If you could invent something, what would it be and why?

3. • I am a very practical person and I often have ideas of inventions I would like to
create to solve problems I come across. Sometimes I feel frustrated as some
quick research shows me someone has already invented a solution which may
not be exactly mine but which is good enough to solve the problem.
• Still, I have been thinking recently about how to improve the skiing experience of
ski lovers when they find themselves on a flat ski slope with no other solution
than pushing on their poles to get moving; it can be quite boring, or very tiring if
it is at the end of a long day of skiing and one is in a hurry to get back home,
sometimes this kind of activities can make you frustrated or exhausted.

5. • As you know, holidays are the best way to relax, get away from stress and
take care of ourselves. It also allows you to spend time with friends, family,
or maybe simply by yourself if one wants to evade from noise, cars, pollution
and others.

6. • In Winter, some countries in the world change drastically and have totally
different landscapes. In France but also in Canada, mountains offer to a
large public of tourists the opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding in
beautiful spaces.

8. • Winter holidays are also about atmosphere. Snowball battles, clean air, and
sometimes amazing encounters are a big part of the experience.

9. • Of course I am not especially fond of extreme skiing, which is a little
frightening

10. • But I love skiing and I am pretty good at it. It’s even better when you have fun
racing with a friend.

11. • But what I find terrible is having to push on my poles on a flat slope with a
long road back home…

12. • I even thought at times of abandoning my skis and walk back home. Less
than ideal….

13. • So I looked for options. How do people do it? You may have friendly pals, or
use more traditional techniques.

14. • But suddenly I found an existing Canadian device which, enhanced with the
possibilities of modern Bluetooth communication and miniature electric
motors could do the job.

15. • So what is the idea?
• To develop miniature caterpillar tracks, propelled by small electric engines,
which you could simply clip on your skis. They would be foldable, so that
when you don’t need to use them you fold them up and they don’t prevent
you from skiing normally, but if needed you fold them down and lock them in
that position. It would be fully compatible with using ski lift when folded up.
Then, when needed, your Bluetooth activated remote control allows you to
start the engine, control your speed and you can nicely enjoy the landscape
while being gently pushed back home. One might use two for snowboards
without any problem.
• Of course it still requires a little bit of development, but I have found some
initial drawings and searched for existing parts which might be easily
adapted and used.

17. • So I am quite confident I could lead the development a proper prototype.
• My idea would be then to have it built in Spain, where large ski resorts exist
and provide a natural market, but as well to export it to countries like France
or Japan where people ski and love innovation and robots.