A ski having a core that includes a left lateral edge, a right lateral edge, and at least one central inner core positioned between the two lateral edges. The core also includes a plurality of left wings arranged between at least one central inner core and the left lateral edge, each left wing forming an angle between 5° and 85° or between 95° and 175° with the longitudinal axis X, and a plurality of right wings arranged between at least one central inner core and the right lateral edge, each right wing forming an angle between 5° and 85° or between 95° and 175° with the longitudinal axis X.

Snowboards are constructed by initial manufacture of a base sub-assembly including fewer than all layers of the snowboard, e.g., a base layer, edges, and a stabilizing layer. These layers are permanently bonded together into a unitary base sub-assembly. The running (bottom) surface is then finished to provide a desired surface consistency by eliminating undesired irregularities from the manufacturing process, e.g., using a conventional base grinding machine. Subsequently, the base sub-assembly and remaining snowboard layers (e.g., top sheet and a core sandwiched between reinforcing layers) are permanently bonded together into a unitary final snowboard assembly, which may then be worked to form a finished snowboard. Snowboards may be either flat or non-flat in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. Accordingly, the method may be used to produce snowboards having a desired sanded/ground base surface having a desired surface consistency, even for snowboards that are non-flat in the transverse direction.

Snowboards are constructed by initial manufacture of a base sub-assembly including fewer than all layers of the snowboard, e.g., a base layer, edges, and a stabilizing layer. These layers are permanently bonded together into a unitary base sub-assembly. The running (bottom) surface is then finished to provide a desired surface consistency by eliminating undesired irregularities from the manufacturing process, e.g., using a conventional base grinding machine. Subsequently, the base sub-assembly and remaining snowboard layers (e.g., top sheet and a core sandwiched between reinforcing layers) are permanently bonded together into a unitary final snowboard assembly, which may then be worked to form a finished snowboard. Snowboards may be either flat or non-flat in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. Accordingly, the method may be used to produce snowboards having a desired sanded/ground base surface having a desired surface consistency, even for snowboards that are non-flat in the transverse direction.

Snowboards and splitboards having a contact length less than or equal to 65% of the length of the snowboard or a contact length equal to or less than half the length of the snowboard are disclosed. In some embodiments, a peak of a cambered section is aligned with a horizontal midline of the snowboard. In other embodiments, a peak of a cambered section is aft of a horizontal midline of the snowboard. Optional features of the snowboards and splitboards include bi-lobed tips, bi-lobed tails, touring tails and/or dual recurved tails.

A personal self-propelled vehicle for travelling on snow using ski comprises a closed-loop flexible ribbon configured to envelope the ski over its length so as to pass under at least a portion of a sliding surface, two rollers and configured for installation on longitudinally opposite ends of the ski and to interact with the ribbon. The roller is a driving roller and is engaged with a motor comprising a control means and with the ribbon to transfer force for translational movement thereof. The roller is a guiding roller. The ribbon canvas has multiple via openings divided by webs and substantially constitutes a lattice. Dimensions and positions of the openings and parameters of the webs between them are selected so the sliding surface of the ski abuts on snow through the openings during motion of the vehicle, while the webs sink in snow under load of the vehicle bearing the user and provide repulsion from snow packed by the ski, thus assuring the ski sliding in longitudinal direction.

A personal self-propelled vehicle for travelling on snow using ski comprises a closed-loop flexible ribbon configured to envelope the ski over its length so as to pass under at least a portion of a sliding surface, two rollers and configured for installation on longitudinally opposite ends of the ski and to interact with the ribbon. The roller is a driving roller and is engaged with a motor comprising a control means and with the ribbon to transfer force for translational movement thereof. The roller is a guiding roller. The ribbon canvas has multiple via openings divided by webs and substantially constitutes a lattice. Dimensions and positions of the openings and parameters of the webs between them are selected so the sliding surface of the ski abuts on snow through the openings during motion of the vehicle, while the webs sink in snow under load of the vehicle bearing the user and provide repulsion from snow packed by the ski, thus assuring the ski sliding in longitudinal direction.

A climbing aid for a ski has a plane base element which is connected on the inner side to a fastener to be detachably fastened to a running surface of the ski and which is connected on the outer side to backwards-slipping prevention elements acting contrary to a direction of travel. A flexible plastic support material forms the base element, and the backwards-slipping prevention elements are integrally formed with the plastic support material. In lateral regions, the base element has backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings positioned obliquely to the direction of travel and, in the central region, has backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The push-off wings of the backwards-slipping prevention elements of a first type are of lesser length and/or of lesser height than the push-off wings of the backwards-slipping prevention elements of a second type.

A climbing aid for a ski has a plane base element which is connected on the inner side to a fastener to be detachably fastened to a running surface of the ski and which is connected on the outer side to backwards-slipping prevention elements acting contrary to a direction of travel. A flexible plastic support material forms the base element, and the backwards-slipping prevention elements are integrally formed with the plastic support material. In lateral regions, the base element has backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings positioned obliquely to the direction of travel and, in the central region, has backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The push-off wings of the backwards-slipping prevention elements of a first type are of lesser length and/or of lesser height than the push-off wings of the backwards-slipping prevention elements of a second type.

Embodiments are directed to a support apparatus. The support apparatus might comprise a body configured to support an entity. The body might comprise a material that has a physical property. The support apparatus might further comprise a coupler system configured to couple electric current from a power source to the material. The material is arranged such that coupling an electric current to the material changes the physical property of the material. Embodiments are further directed to a method. The method might comprise forming one or more cavities in a support apparatus. The method might further comprise providing one or more couplers in electrical contact with each of the one or more channels. The method further comprises filling each of the one or more cavities with a fluid that has electrically changeable rigidity. Finally, the method might comprise connecting a power source to each of the one or more couplers.

Embodiments are directed to a support apparatus. The support apparatus might comprise a body configured to support an entity. The body might comprise a material that has a physical property. The support apparatus might further comprise a coupler system configured to couple electric current from a power source to the material. The material is arranged such that coupling an electric current to the material changes the physical property of the material. Embodiments are further directed to a method. The method might comprise forming one or more cavities in a support apparatus. The method might further comprise providing one or more couplers in electrical contact with each of the one or more channels. The method further comprises filling each of the one or more cavities with a fluid that has electrically changeable rigidity. Finally, the method might comprise connecting a power source to each of the one or more couplers.