Much of the technology developed during the last few years has focused on tracking your runs:

 

EpicMix - A system at mountains owned by Vail Resorts. It tracks your vertical feet through a combination of RFID sensors at each lift and your pass.

Sherpa - Developed by Copper as an on-mountain guide using audio through a headphone, which is unique and keeps your hands warm because you do not need to touch your phone. Run tracking was included during the second half of the 2014-2015 season.

Trace - A small "puck" that you attach to skis or a surfboard so it can track your runs as well as air time.

Snowcru - An app for finding friends on the mountain as well as tracking your runs.

 

I like the "quantified self" technology. I track every foot of my biking, trail running, and hiking. I also keep a manual spreadsheet that tracks each time I ski and a few notes about the day.

But when it comes to skiing, somehow I feel like there is more to the experience than vertical feet skied or finding your top speed. There is the sensation of a turn, the thrill of powder hitting your face, and the enjoyment of exploring new terrain with friends.

How does technology help us to capture these emotions and experiences? And, aside from "capturing experiences", is there anything else technology can help us accomplish in the world of skiing and snowboarding? 

In other words, what's next? Or said another way, what do you wish technology could do for you?

I would provide my own thoughts, but I don't have a good answer. So let's crowdsource this with a great discussion in the comments below. Maybe we'll come up with a great idea that will come to fruition!

 

JOEL GRATZ