Ski training apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method to facilitate training for skiing, skating, roller-blading and the like, where an experienced person may assist or direct a novice. The apparatus includes a stiff, curvilinear hoop or similar shape with a handle section and an adjacent padded frontal section. In one of several methods, one person is positioned within the apparatus and the apparatus is placed against that person's torso, and another person is able to grasp the apparatus and to control or lead the first person.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention is directed to an apparatus and method for one person to guide another in a recreational sport and more particularly to a training device and method used between an experienced skier and a novice skier in order to control the novice skier and thereby facilitate the novice skier's development of confidence, skill and self-control. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY [0002] Numerous devices are known to attach an experienced skier to a novice skier in training. Most notable, relative to the present invention, are those devices that are specifically designed to hold the novice skier back while allowing downhill motion to acclimate the novice or child to the sensation of solo skiing—without the inherent hazard of loosing control due to their lack of skill in using the ski edges for turning and stopping. While the current methods and devices are well suited for limiting the rate of decent, they are inadequate for sustaining or encouraging the skier's postur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,795 to Clark teaches a pair of reins attached to the waist of a child where an experienced skier simply acts as an anchor to hold back on the skier to limit the rate of decent of the novice skier. Similarly the Buchheister patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,040 and subsequent divisional U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,921, disclose reins connected to a halter in order to join the skiers. The prior art appears to be suited for the specific purpose of controlling the downhill velocity of a novice skier. However, these devices are restricted in their ability to provide vertical stability and balance to the novice. Additionally, the prior art fails to provide an actual rigid or stiff connection between the two skiers which is considered necessary for both safety and training purposes (e.g., providing tactile feedback to the trainer relative to the novice's leaning, turning, posture, etc). Consequently, the present invention provides for a stiff member that links the skiers together in order to assert the necessary advantage to control the novice skier. In particular, the described method and apparatus enable the novice to be held or encouraged to maintain an upright position, to lean while turning and, therefore, not to fall onto the slope or other snow-covered surface.

[0007] An objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus to facilitate teaching a novice or neophyte skier proper balance and technique. The apparatus and method described herein facilitate teaching by incorporating a stiff apparatus to provide a link between two skiers (or two skaters, roller-bladers, etc.).

Problems solved by technology

While the current methods and devices are well suited for limiting the rate of decent, they are inadequate for sustaining or encouraging the skier's posture in an upright and balanced position.

Furthermore, the various devices do not enable an experienced person to provide supportive and directive forces to the torso of the novice.

Accordingly, the current apparatus and methods, for the most part, fail to eliminate or significantly reduce the potential for the novice to fall.

However, these devices are restricted in their ability to provide vertical stability and balance to the novice.

Additionally, the prior art fails to provide an actual rigid or stiff connection between the two skiers which is considered necessary for both safety and training purposes (e.g., providing tactile feedback to the trainer relative to the novice's leaning, turning, posture, etc).

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