With an increasing number of people in China participating in ice and snow sports, a high-tech ice and snow equipment laboratory in northeast China has been integrating technology into sports training and equipment by making customized gear to empower athletes.
The lab, located in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, has accumulated data for over 10 years and conducted hundreds of experiments to develop state-of-the-art gear.
"I feel that the elasticity of this snowboard is really good. I can change edges smoothly, which allows me to ski faster," said Liu Huasen, a 12-old snowboarder who assisted the lab in a field test.
The snowboard, developed by Northeast Normal University, is specifically designed for teenagers and costs only a third of other reputable brands.
"Our lab has accumulated data for over 10 years and conducted hundreds of experiments to produce this snowboard. Its turning radius, strength, and toughness are all developed and crafted in line with the growth patterns of teenagers," said Liu Junyi, director of the winter sports lab of Northeast Normal University.
Further customization was conducted in the lab, where Liu diagnosed the snowboarder with flat feet and valgus feet conditions. These conditions, which may lead to fatigue and injury, can be alleviated through trainings. The lab's solution involves creating 3D-printed ski insoles based on precise foot measurements.
"We conduct a structural scan of the athlete's feet, build a model of the sole, and adjust it according to different events and requirements," Liu said.
The snowboarder expressed his satisfaction with the customized insoles, saying, "I think this insole fits my feet very well. I feel more stable when skiing and can change edges even faster."
In addition to producing tailored gear, the lab collects extensive movement data to evaluate athletic performance and competitive status.
Over the past decade, it has collected data from more than 3,000 competitions and over 1,000 athletes and analyzed the data through AI algorithms to enhance athletes' performance.
High-tech lab develops customized ski gears to empower athletes
