Proposal


Project
During the course of this winter (2010-2011) I will be volunteering with ski patrol at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in the Poconos. My shifts will be on Saturday nights from about 2:30 until closing (usually 10:00). My colleagues will include fellow patrollers, as well as staff of the mountain. Actual patrolling entails skiing around the mountain ensuring safety of all patrons, and caring to those who need medical attention. I want to learn more ways to keep skiers and snowboarders safe while on the mountain. I also wish to improve my own skiing skills by spending time observing and listening to pro and experienced instructors. Various materials are needed to keep my patrolling running smoothly. Proper equipment like identification, uniforms, medical equipment and skiing equipment are needed.
Research
I want to research ski technology and the latest advancements in the world of skiing. New technologies are coming out every day it seems, as we live in a time of engineers who think outside the box. I have skied almost all of my life, and have loved all of it. Skiing has now turned into my passion, and as each Winter comes around I get anxious to go back out onto the slopes. Last year, I devoted a lot of time to train for ski patrol, and I passed the test with flying colors. This year will be my first official year with ski patrol and I will also be more knowledgeable about skiing in general. Any skier will benefit from my research because they will be educated from my research of shaped skis. For my list of sources, please refer to my "Annotated Bibliography" page.
Essential Question: How has the development of the shaped skis revolutionized skiing and the competitive skiing world?