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RC Snowmobile Idea?

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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
After seeing many shots of people coasting their sleds down backcounty faces , a little idea flew into my head.  Why not implement an RC system so this could be done regularly and safely? 

Of course, this could be only used in certain areas, because losing sight of the sled would make things tricky.  However, in some cases, this could make things a little more fun when you take away the poor guy that has to take the snowmobile down.

Keep in mind that I am from the East Coast, and I have never skied BC or ridden a snowmobile, haha.
Feb 27 2012 2:02PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
on paper that seems like a good idea, but its just not practical, you need some weight on the sled, i mean you could try it but there is no way that is practical
Feb 27 2012 2:15PM
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whaagwan
Posts: 122 - Karma: 10
yeah cool idea bro. do it. you won't.
Feb 27 2012 2:28PM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
I'm an east coaster as well and have always wondered how pros do this... no way the just though it down the hill and hope for the best.

Also you'd need a strong rc cuz length could be a problem
Feb 27 2012 2:36PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
I have no intention of doing this.  I just wanted to stir up some conversation.
Feb 27 2012 2:37PM
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
thats essentially all there is to it
Feb 27 2012 3:05PM
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Simmo
Posts: 512 - Karma: 28
You chose your spot carefully and then do exactly that!

Somewhere with no trees or rocks and a big flat or slight uphill to catch the sled at the bottom
Feb 27 2012 3:08PM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
this. backcountry is sketchy all the way around. but more fun than any other facet of skiing
Feb 27 2012 3:16PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
So people really do this, haha.  I have seen it in videos but I haven't seen anyone talk about it before. 

I bet Grant from Mythbusters could set a sled up in one afternoon.
Feb 27 2012 3:40PM
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Merrill
Posts: 253 - Karma: 71
I don't think it would do much good because a lot of what makes you turn is weight distribution.
Feb 27 2012 3:58PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Come to think of it, if this was put into practice, I'm sure a bunch of people would end up rolling their machines on the way down.  It kinda takes the risky situation of an expensive piece of equipment going down a hill unmanned and makes it more common. 
Feb 27 2012 4:08PM
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B_K
Posts: 723 - Karma: 1,293
Or u could but a HUD( heads up display) inside your goggles with a feed to a camera on the front of the sled.... They already have stuff like this I think but not with what I'm talking about
Feb 27 2012 4:12PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
I know exactly what you mean.  That is a pretty good idea.  RC controls, a camera for the blind spots, and I'd put a good old-fashioned failsafe on there to prevent runaways if the signal is lost. 

Ohh, and try this on for size.  Wireless transmitter pack that you can put in your backpack, giving enough power to hold a good signal at long distances.  Then, have a smartphone app that uses bluetooth to connect to the transmitter.  Two joysticks, and a live camera feed on the screen and you're set to send the sled on it's merry way down the hill.
Feb 27 2012 4:56PM
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