Ian MacDonald proposes a musical snowboard ramp prototype that generates music as snowboarders pass over it. The prototype consists of a linear array of tubular sections that produce different notes when struck by a protruding striker attached to snowboards. MacDonald envisions creating melodies as snowboarders trigger different note sections down the ramp. The prototype demonstrates the concept but requires further engineering for structural integrity and safety before deployment at snowboard parks.

1. Musical Snowboard Ramp
Prototype for Snowboard Parks
Ian MacDonald
ECUAD Student Number 26207
Directed Study Fall 2014.

2. Now used in Snowboard Parks
This is a snowboarder rail seen on most mountains these days. Snowboarders and skiers like to do all sorts of tricks on the mountain
and there are numerous variations of the kind of rail - but you get it. My idea is for the snowboarder to generate energy as he
passes over the rail and create resonance and therefore music. Quite sure this has not been done before. I think the best way to do
this is by the boarder to be on top of a tubular structure and his board hits a form of lever that then hits the tube.

3. Here's a typical tubular xylophone - now if we turned all the tubes 90
degrees into one long linear tube with our selected musical notes
interspersed - the way we want them - we could create a melody as long
as we have a form of striking the tube
The boarder hits an exposed piece sticking out of top edge of the tube. Through the tube's inner lever action, an arm
would then hit the inside of the tube to make a note. Each section would be a different length - hence a different note. It
would be easy to create a melody. Each note section would have a standard method of attaching to the next one down the
line so you could create any melody you wanted They could be made in large quantities to get some economies of scale.
This linear tubular xylophone could be adapted to other areas: bicycling, walking, running, people in wheelchairs or walking
their dog

4. I found some pipe and when I banged on different ones - guess what - there was a discernible note to the different ones
depending on pipe dia.( up to 48 inch) length and wall thickness. Now if only I had perfect pitch. But I downloaded some apps
that can assist. I got a few of these heavy monsters and played around.

5. Metal stock and setup at Emily Carr University metal shop

6. Other components
Striker. This prototype shape
made out of plywood to
determine best shape.
Finally made out of plastic.
Drill rod steel cut to form
striker.

7. Striker
Striker assembly Top or striker protruding out of tube top

8. Working at ECUAD metal shop

9. Musical tubes got tagged

10. Musical Snowboard Ramp

11. Musical Snowboard Ramp– now off to
the snowboard park for demos!

12. Conclusion – Proof of Concept ONLY
• This is a prototype – and nothing else other than a prototype.
• It has not been engineered for structural integrity.
• It has not been designed to be safe – so far. The A-frame structure was necessary for prototype
construction as this piece could not be permanently anchored anywhere at school. The best system would
be to have the vertical holding posts placed in concrete as such:
I also suggest the musical tubes be rounded
at top for better safety
Now off to the slopes for demos and further prototyping!
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Ian MacDonald ECUAD Student 26207 macdonald.ian@gmail.com 604-897-9353