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Skiers will soon be able to practise on an indoor simulator which has a
fast-moving belt of synthetic piste, rather like a gym treadmill, but 2 metres
square. The belt moves along at up to 14 kilometres per hour and can tilt by as
much as 30° to simulate more challenging slopes. A trip-switch in a safety
harness stops the piste if you fall, and laser beams around the perimeter sense
if you stray too close to the edge. Inventor Jon Showan of Canterbury, Kent,
came up with the device because he “wanted to learn snowboarding during the
summer”. He…