Rickard Kirby

Richard Kirby, the inventor of the vLink racing computer will speak about the vLink racing computer and its use as a race training tool the 24th of April at 7:30 PM at the theatre at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

The vLink racing computer is a unique new performance measurement tool that provides ski racers with immediate, highly accurate audio feedback during training.

The vLink racing computer precisely measures the lateral and forward movement of the racer’s skis using a state of the art optical navigation engine which takes 6500 images per second of the snow and converts those images, real time, into displacement. While skiing, racers can opt to hear immediate feedback indicating rate and direction of lateral displacement (slip) or acceleration/deceleration. Racers use the vLink racing computer feedback to perfect their carving technique and to identify the fastest line through a gate.

The vLink racing computer is used by the US and French ski federations as both a training tool and as a research tool. The vLink was recently endorsed and designated as an Official Supplier by the US Ski Team.

“The information we are gaining from the vLink is something we have been waiting on for years. The ability to measure ski speed, among other components, at a given point while skiing provides a window into the subtleties of our sport. This is truly revolutionary and will potentially provide us with knowledge to advance the teaching of our sport.” - Jesse Hunt, US Ski Team Alpine Director

vLink participates in The Ski for Gold program