Function

The perfect companion for those snowboarders who participate in off-piste activities, if ever a friend were to get stuck in an avalanche situation the Avapole can be used to rescue a victim efficiently. This tool has the potential to save lives. The Avapole doubles up as a snowboard pole for those unexpected times when you encounter flat terrain when travelling in the backcountry. The Avapole can be adapted to match users preferences with interchanging and rotating handles, which allows the *chop and sweep* technique to be achieved effectively. The slogans that will be used in connection with this product are: - Fewer Deaths - More Accessibility - Higher Confidence

Inspiration

Avalanches are destructive and they count for hundreds of lives lost each year; most being tourists on snow sport trips. The fact that 90% of avalanches are triggered by human activity shows that people are not safe in danger areas. With 80% of these people being tourists it is clear that not enough is being done to reduce injury, especially as the snow sport industry is becoming ever more popular. With more people seeking adventure and prepared to take risks there is more reason for an increase in technology or equipment to try to protect lives without stopping people doing what they enjoy. People are not going to change their behaviours so the industry needs to adapt to find better solutions in enabling more people to stay alive when subjected to a life-threatening situation. With time being invaluable in all avalanche scenarios, people need to have a way to utilize the equipment they have to provide the best opportunity for survival.

Development

To develop the concept further I considered features of other products that could be utilised. Modelling different parts and features and comparing them provided an insight into what was going to be most effective. Tactile grips provide non-slip usage and can be fabricated to small sizes, which gives less inconvenience when transporting the product. To adjust the products height, clamps were installed. Taking into consideration that time is a key factor in avoiding fatalities in avalanche rescue, the systems need to be easy to operate and fast acting. Having an extendable component that was strong enough to take the required loads will also be a key factor. The pole needed to penetrate snow so as to propel the snowboarder. Drawing different options that were most appropriate for the use intended meant that a critical analysis could be undertaken to find out how the user will interact with the product and how the ideas could be more beneficial than what is currently on the market.