Thursday, December 6, 2012

The £1,800 carbon fibre sled that can reach 40mph - but is light enough to be carried on your back

By Mark Prigg

|

Forget the dustbin lid or plastic bag for sliding on the snow this winter, a new carbon fibre sled can reach terrifying speeds of 40mph - but is light enough to be carried back up the hill on your back.

It can even convert into a backpack so it's easy to carry.

However, the Snolo does come with one snag - it costs over £1,800.

Scroll down for video

The Stealth-x is built from carbon fibre and can reach staggering speeds in excess of 65KM/H. It has taken the company over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics of the model.

The Stealth-x is built from carbon fibre and can reach staggering speeds in excess of 40mp/h. It has taken the company over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics of the model.

With snow bombarding parts of the UK this week, a new sled set to go on sale from New Zealand based company Snolo Sleds could hold the key to getting around during the winter blizzards.

With snow bombarding parts of the UK this week, a new sled set to go on sale from New Zealand based company Snolo Sleds could hold the key to getting around during the winter blizzards.

The new sled, set to go on sale from New Zealand based company Snolo Sleds is designed to be used on both hard-packed and soft powdered snow and is a far cry from either the typical dust bin lid or wooden sled.

The Stealth-X comprises of three main parts, the mono shell which is the area you sit in, the single front ski with foot pegs, and the front arm which connects the two.

An extra feature also allows this model to simply pull apart in one action, and be worn as a back pack which makes it ideal for back country exploring.

The Stealth-X is built from carbon fibre and can reach staggering speeds in excess of 65km/h or 40 mph.

It's taken the company over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics of the model.

The creator of Snolo Sleds and the Stealth-X, Sean Boyd said: 'I'm not an avid skier or snow boarder but I like to go fast.

It has taken the Kiwi company over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics of the model.

It has taken the Kiwi company over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics of the model.

The sled can be converted into a backpack for easy transport, then ridden down the hill at high speed. It is able to corner easily.

'I wanted to create a sled that I didn't need two days of lessons to operate, but when I got into it, I would feel like I was driving a race car, I had steerability, and I went fast.

'Whenever we had it out product testing in New Zealand, we would get people wanting to know all about it, and the general question was where they could buy one.

'When you hear that every day, you know you have a successful product.

The sled is steered using the rider's feet, and its makers claim it is hugely maneuverable

The sled is steered using the rider's feet, and its makers claim it is hugely maneuverable

To turn, riders simply lean and the sled's runners cause them to change direction

To turn, riders simply lean and the sled's runners cause them to change direction

The firm behind the sled has spent over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics

The firm behind the sled has spent over six years of researching and testing to perfect the shape and dynamics

'Sledding is starting to move off the gentle slopes and out of our back yards, and into the snow slopes and Alps.'

In October 2012, the Stealth-X took out the silver medal for the concept/experimental section in the New Best awards - New Zealand's' version of the 'Oscars' of New Zealand industrial design.

The first production run of Snolo's Stealth-X can be ordered for purchase from 7 December 2012.

The sled is made of three main structures, which can be taken apart to form a backpack

The sled is made of three main structures, which can be taken apart to form a backpack

 

Donna Gubbay Ashley Greene

No comments:

Post a Comment