Freestyling in virtual reality
Even at the best of times, the Alps are a fair trek away. And now, in the middle of summer, the ski hills seem farther away than ever. But then, whoever said you had to go all the way to the mountains to get some skiing in? With the help of these amazing virtual reality goggles, you can bring the ski resort into your living room! From expensive, top-quality virtual reality goggles to simple and affordable headsets that sync with your smartphone, skiing has never been so accessible. Here’s an overview of some of the VR skiing options currently on the market. Wearing actual skis and boots is optional!
You’re probably already familiar with the concept of virtual reality, basically goggles with a panoramic image that instantly transports you into another world. When you move within the virtual environment, the environment responds as if you were really there – it’s like television, but on steroids. Whoever thought of using virtual reality to simulate a ski resort is an absolute genius. As soon as you put the goggles on, you’re surrounded by snow, your skis pointing down the hill and ready to go! Dodge obstacles by moving your body as if you were really skiing, and hold a controller in each hand to simulate ski poles. It might not be the real thing, but it’s the next-best thing! Watch this guy get really excited about it:
The
Google Cardboard
is just what it sounds like: the budget version of the high-quality VR goggles from Oculus and Samsung. The Cardboard has the added advantage of being small, and it can sync with your smartphone. You can download apps from the App Store such as free games and videos that simulate skiing in different settings. In the following video, you see a user snowboarding in virtual France by moving their head, trying to master jumps while racing against the clock.
Now that you’ve mastered the basics, how about tackling some more advanced terrain? This is your chance to try the notorious
Streif downhill, the highlight of the annual Hahnenkamm races in
Kitzbühel. With a
gradient
of up to 85%, pro skiers regularly reach speeds of 140km/h and fly as far as 80 metres before touching their skis to the ground again. If you want to live the experience without necessarily putting your life in danger, this 360° simulation allows you to do just that. That’s what you call an adrenaline rush!
The boundary between the real and the virtual is becoming increasingly blurred. RideOn augmented reality goggles seamlessly blend your actual surroundings with virtual add-ons: suggesting routes, allowing you to contact your friends hands-free, etc. They’re working on developing games so that you can follow your favourite pro skier down the hill, or navigate a fantasy slalom track. We can only imagine the repercussions if people start swerving to avoid imaginary objects while surrounded by other skiers on a real piste...
Skiing with augmented reality goggles © RideOn
Freestyling in virtual reality
Even at the best of times, the Alps are a fair trek away. And now, in the middle of summer, the ski hills seem farther away than ever. But then, whoever said you had to go all the way to the mountains to get some skiing in? With the help of these amazing virtual reality goggles, you can bring the ski resort into your living room! From expensive, top-quality virtual reality goggles to simple and affordable headsets that sync with your smartphone, skiing has never been so accessible. Here’s an overview of some of the VR skiing options currently on the market. Wearing actual skis and boots is optional!
You’re probably already familiar with the concept of virtual reality, basically goggles with a panoramic image that instantly transports you into another world. When you move within the virtual environment, the environment responds as if you were really there – it’s like television, but on steroids. Whoever thought of using virtual reality to simulate a ski resort is an absolute genius. As soon as you put the goggles on, you’re surrounded by snow, your skis pointing down the hill and ready to go! Dodge obstacles by moving your body as if you were really skiing, and hold a controller in each hand to simulate ski poles. It might not be the real thing, but it’s the next-best thing! Watch this guy get really excited about it:
The
Google Cardboard
is just what it sounds like: the budget version of the high-quality VR goggles from Oculus and Samsung. The Cardboard has the added advantage of being small, and it can sync with your smartphone. You can download apps from the App Store such as free games and videos that simulate skiing in different settings. In the following video, you see a user snowboarding in virtual France by moving their head, trying to master jumps while racing against the clock.
Now that you’ve mastered the basics, how about tackling some more advanced terrain? This is your chance to try the notorious
Streif downhill, the highlight of the annual Hahnenkamm races in
Kitzbühel. With a
gradient
of up to 85%, pro skiers regularly reach speeds of 140km/h and fly as far as 80 metres before touching their skis to the ground again. If you want to live the experience without necessarily putting your life in danger, this 360° simulation allows you to do just that. That’s what you call an adrenaline rush!
The boundary between the real and the virtual is becoming increasingly blurred. RideOn augmented reality goggles seamlessly blend your actual surroundings with virtual add-ons: suggesting routes, allowing you to contact your friends hands-free, etc. They’re working on developing games so that you can follow your favourite pro skier down the hill, or navigate a fantasy slalom track. We can only imagine the repercussions if people start swerving to avoid imaginary objects while surrounded by other skiers on a real piste...
Skiing with augmented reality goggles © RideOn
The possibilities for virtual reality and skiing are endless. First-time skiers who want to know what they’re getting themselves into without having to suffer the cold and the actual danger of hurtling down a gently nursery slope can try the sport out in their living rooms first. Intermediate skiers can use virtual reality to practise the body movements they need to make perfect curves. Expedia Norway has partnered with Rauland to create a virtual rendition of the ski resort in an attempt to lure holidaymakers north of the Alps. And just last winter, the national US ski team was using virtual reality software by SkyTech sports to get a feel for the Korean slopes in anticipation of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. When the slopes turn brown and ski resorts start closing, will virtual reality replace real skiing?
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
