Just in case your iPod-equipped
helmet, head-mounted
camera and Bluetooth-enabled
parka weren't enough to distract you from actually paying attention to your fear when looking down the mile-long slope ahead, how's about fiddling with the Satski rather than focusing on that pizza wedge? This handhald unit gives skiers, snowboarders and everyone else out there trying to make it down in one piece the ability to record position, altitude, speed and distance while on the mountain. Additionally, you'll find options that enable you to avoid black runs, plot a course, listen to MP3s and play a few games while riding the lift. Heck, there's even links to emergency contacts in case that halfpipe trip goes terribly wrong, and the built-in software lets users export data to Google Earth for future bragging purposes. Reportedly, this intriguing device will be priced at an almost unfathomable £1,500 ($3,087), but those strapped for cash can supposedly rent it for around £28 ($58) per day at participating resorts. Of course, it remains to be seen how well the touch panel responds to those ginormous gloves we all love to wear.
UPDATE: Seems that US-based snow bunnies can get this same type of functionality on their current Garmin / Magellan GPS -- and for a
lot less cash, too.
[Via
ShinyShiny]
GPS, 
posted October 30th 2007 4:22PM
For that price, it better include a GPS uplink and phone so you can get help if you need it.
What would make it cost so much, though?
I can imagine the scene : Woops sorry i counldn't see you , i was looking at my gps map.
But what about the price? Sheesh i'd rather hire an instructor.
At that price, it's just another solution looking for a problem.
My old Garmin GPSMAP 60CS does all that - Play MP3 for 1/6th the price. What BS...
Hello? It's like, totally targeted towards me, the average uninformed snowboardin' consumer bro! Gnarly.
I just got my T-Mobile Vario III last week that has the in-built GPS unit. Thankfully it uses AGPS as well so it picks up a signal normally within 4-5 seconds!
I had been looking around for GPS apps to use and settled on the free google maps app http://www.google.com/gmm
I did also stumble across SportsDo though. It is a Windows Mobile app that uses GPS to track your performance (much like a Polar GPS watch). The obvious advantage being that you only need the one phone which you can also play your music through. It seemed a bit pricey to me at £50 plus £50 for a years subscription (so you can upload your stats to the website). But you can download maps for Ski resorts that will plug into the program and if you have friends using the same program you can just text them your position to arrange a meetup. Also does some fun stuff like speed tracking and will give you regular announcements of your speed. Only downside is that it I don't think it gives you voice directions on the ski runs otherwise it would be damn near perfect (oh, and for a ski map they should do the 3 Valleys region as one pack, most people will buy an all valleys pass).
Still too pricey for me to consider (especially as I am not going skiing this year), but is a damn sight cheaper than the one listed in the article (and arguably has more features).
Staski , unlike any Garmen, sports do or other , is real time viewing on a Piste map!Further you can plot your route and can ask it to avoid black and red runs, ask it to find the nearest Rest spot , nearest lift. provide you with instant visual displays and statistics again on a piste map not topographical map!! Guys its way ahead of anything on the Market!
Again , this is way ahead of any other item on the Market, try to see where you are on a piste with a Garmen! This unit allows you to find routes from A to B avoiding runs you dont like and all in real time off a Piste map! it will find the rnearest rest spot , the best Aprez Ski pub ! And you can get instant replays which include all the stats etc. Expensive maybe but its way ahead of anything else on the market and far more fun!