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AWARDS
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Invention of the Year of the ORF science show "MODERN TIMES" |
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Dietmar Eybl Innovation
Award for safety on mountains |
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Eduard
Wallnöfer-Prize for research projects
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Voted No. 1 of the world's
biggest sports expo in Munich / in the "Sports Hardware" category of the ISPO
BrandNew-NewBrands Award |
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Young Entrepreneurs Award
for the province of Tyrol, Austria, for the development of a live-saving
system |
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Skimagazin Award
2nd best allover product of ISPO in Munich |
Das Skimagazin, extracts of an
article appeared originally in German: (...)”
the AVALANCHE BALL system is a step into the
right direction towards more safety in snowsports (...) This new safety device
is as brilliant as it is simple, an excellent example for the outflow of synergy
between professional mountain rescuers and ingenious inventors.”
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The
Times
Hands down
winner of the best snow sports product of the year is the
revolutionary new Avalanche Ball. (The Times GB)
A SNOW BALL WHICH SAVES
LIVES
"Hands down winner of the best snow sports product of the year is
the
revolutionary new Avalanche Ball . You won’t find it in the shops before
December. But the Avalanche Ball is the one item of gear I most strongly
recommend every off piste skier to acquire this winter.
Avalanche anxiety has increased exponentially as skiers and boarders venture
farther away from groomed pistes in search of untracked powder snow. Even
the Royals now routinely ski off piste, as do hundreds of thousands of
British intermediate snow users, something insurers acknowledge by now
including off piste cover as standard with most holiday policies.
Until now the only hope of immediate rescue from friends on the spot has
been radio devices called transceivers. Latest generation models like the
DTS Tracker [£220] are easier to operate. But all transceivers are
complicated, expensive and require extensive training.
Two weeks ago in Saas Fee I witnessed a demonstration of the Avalanche Ball.
Its simplicity is astounding. The 20 litre ball itself is compressed into a
bag the size of a hardback book. This bag, weighing less than one kilogram,
attaches to a skier’s rucksack.
In an emergency you pull a release cord. The bright red Avalanche Ball
inflates, by means of internal springs, and a six metre cord is released.
Studies show that at least four metres of cord remains on the surface when a
skier is buried. Rescuers on site simply follow the cord from the ball to
where it disappears under the snow, and start digging.
You can repack the Avalanche Ball and reuse it repeatedly. Your rescuers
need no training and no equipment, other than a shovel. I hope I’ll never
need to pull the cord. But I’ll be taking this red ball with me on every off
piste descent this winter, just in case."
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German Sports
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Avalanche ball -
Innovation Award for the
Product of the Future 2007/08, conferred by SPORTS e.V. |
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Comments IKAR/ USA:
Colorado Avalanche Information Center |
Dale Atkins: US
representative to the Avalanche Commission for IKAR ans also the committee
chairman for the Search and Rescue Committee for the American Association of
Avalanche Professionals.
"I have been following from a far the development of the avalanche ball for
several seasons. I first heard of it at the IKAR meeting a couple of years
ago. I must complement you on such a novel, simple and affordable idea. Well
done!" |
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Snowleopard |
()"...the lightweight
Avalanche Ball is state-of-the-art safety science. If an avalanche strikes,
yank the shoulder-strap-mounted ripcord to deploy a bright red floating
beacon ball (which stays attached to a comfortable, low-profile
climbing-style belt), a constant visual clue that shortens recovery times.
The Avalanche Ball is a highly effective safety measure, statistically
shortening recovery times. During independent test scenarios performed in Davos, Switzerland, Avalanche Ball test victims were consistently found well
under the 15-minute time limit—the red line for live recoveries. Make no
mistakes, the Avalanche Ball is not intended to replace or diminish the
importance of wearing and practicing with transceivers. A combination of
safety tools, education, transceiver practice and a visual beacon defines
the ultimate precaution for out-of-bounds rippers or inbounds off-piste
explorers." |
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Snow & Rock |
One of the fastest systems
available to locate buried avalanche victims. The 'Ball' can be attached to
any backpack, it's logical and simple to use. If you are hit by an avalanche
pull the ripcord, this launches the 'Ball' outwards and to the rear. The
'Ball' stays attached via a long rope fixed to large waist belt, even if the
backpack is ripped of your back you will be still attached to the 'Ball'. " |