A portable rope tow assembly is used to transport people, typically skiing or snowboarding, along snow covered ground and usually up hill. The assembly is extremely lightweight, portable and rapid to deploy. It uses a variable frequency drive to control an electric drive motor, and enables convenient variable speed and reverse direction operation.

A portable tow system includes a drive system for removable mounting to a first anchor point, a flywheel system for removable mounting to a second anchor point distal from the first anchor point, and a tow strap for connecting a drive wheel of the drive system to a flywheel of the flywheel system. One or more persons or objects can be removably attached or connected to the tow strap. The drive system includes a motor for causing the drive wheel to rotate, which rotation causes the tow strap to rotate, such that the person(s) or object(s) connected thereto may be pulled from the first anchor point to the second anchor point or vice versa.

A portable rope tow assembly is used to transport people, typically skiing or snowboarding, along snow covered ground and usually up hill. The assembly is extremely lightweight, portable and rapid to deploy. It uses a variable frequency drive to control an electric drive motor, and enables convenient variable speed and reverse direction operation.

The invention utilizes a ski lift for wind power generation outside of the ski season. The carriers on the ski lift are replaced by wind catching structures that pull the haul rope either uphill or downhill, depending on the prevailing wind. The haul rope rotates the electrical drive motor of the ski lift, causing it to generate electrical energy.

The invention relates to a winch system intended, in particular, for water sports, comprising at least one frame, at least one motor, a brake system, and a main tension cable wound around two spools, each spool being actuated by a motor such that when one of the spools unwinds the main cable, the other spool winds up the cable such as to maintain both the unwinding speed and the tension required for the main cable.

A portable tow system includes a drive system for removable mounting to a first anchor point, a flywheel system for removable mounting to a second anchor point distal from the first anchor point, and a tow strap for connecting a drive wheel of the drive system to a flywheel of the flywheel system. One or more persons or objects can be removably attached or connected to the tow strap. The drive system includes a motor for causing the drive wheel to rotate, which rotation causes the tow strap to rotate, such that the person(s) or object(s) connected thereto may be pulled from the first anchor point to the second anchor point or vice versa.

The invention utilizes a ski lift for wind power generation outside of the ski season. The carriers on the ski lift are replaced by wind catching structures that pull the haul rope either uphill or downhill, depending on the prevailing wind. The haul rope rotates the electrical drive motor of the ski lift, causing it to generate electrical energy.

The invention relates to a winch system intended, in particular, for water sports, comprising at least one frame, at least one motor, a brake system, and a main tension cable wound around two spools, each spool being actuated by a motor such that when one of the spools unwinds the main cable, the other spool winds up the cable such as to maintain both the unwinding speed and the tension required for the main cable.

A tow winch powered by a DC motor and a rechargeable battery. A tow rope is wound by the winch spool, the tow rope having a tow handle with one or more wireless throttle control members to start, stop and adjust the speed and acceleration of the retrieval operation. A marker device is incorporated into or attached to the tow rope and a sensor switch is provided on the base, whereby when the marker device is detected by the sensor switch the winch is disengaged. The base and operational components are sized and structured such that straps may be connected to the base and the tow winch carried like a backpack.

A portable line ascending device to enable users to ascend an incline on sliding or rolling sporting by travelling up an anchored line with the line ascending device. The device includes a mount, a plurality of sheaves connected to the mount, a motor driving the plurality of sheaves, and a power supply to supply electricity to the motor. The plurality of sheaves are configured to enable a line to be wound around at least a portion of each sheave of the plurality of sheaves and operable to engage the line to pull the line through the plurality of sheaves such that the line ascending device travels along the line.