Snowfeet Miniski Skates by Zbynek Suba is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Bronze A' Design Award in Sporting Goods, Fitness and Recreation Equipment Design Competition Category.
BronzeSporting Goods· 2020
Snowfeet Miniski Skates
by Zbynek Suba
Client: Snowfeet
Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Sporting Goods Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #71116The Design
About Snowfeet Miniski Skates
Snowfeet are very short skis that are worn with ordinary winter boots. Each ski is only slightly longer than a winter boot, so riding downhill combines skiing and skating. The shape is based on a study of the natural position of the human foot in motion. The front radius follows classic ski geometry, so the tip does not sink into the snow. Steel edges and guide rails on the base improve control and direction, and the shaped heel is used to slow down or stop. Snowfeet are light and small enough to fit into a bag, and narrow forest paths can be reached.
The Recognition
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Snowfeet Miniski Skates is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Snowfeet Miniski Skates is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Snowfeet Miniski Skates splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Interviews
Design Interview
What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
The idea behind Snowfeet design is to create a new revolutionary winter sport. To make it really light and portable so you do not need any additional equipment as people need nowadays with snowboards or skis. Also to make it very minimalistic and at the same time functional for multiply purposes such as downhill skiing, snowpark, hiking trails, or cross country skiing.
What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
The main focus was to move winter sports evolution further and come up with the new innovative sport that will bring fun and joy to people and also make their winter holidays and skiing easier.
What are your future plans for this award winning design?
Of course, I would like to still improve it and bring it to perfection.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Snowfeet are very short skis, a little longer than winter boots. Downhill skiing using Snowfeet is a combination of skiing and skating. Basically, it´s a new winter sport that could be also called snowskates. It can be used both on the slopes and off piste. The main benefit for customers is the fun they experience using Snowfeet.
Advantages:
You can access places like narrow forest paths, where you wouldn’t get with skis.
Very small and light-fits to bag.
You do not need any special boots. - Dimensions & Packaging
- 390mm x 130mm x 40mm
- Tags
- sports, speed, miniski, black, sharp, light, comfortable, innovation
- Production Technology
- High durable plastic material: PA6 plus 30 percent glass fibers.
Screw, nut, and washer are black zinc chromate plating, the material is metal.
Snowfeet is - Design Challenge
- The hardest challenge was to design Snowfeet so it is manageable, safe, stoppable and cool. It took our team, led by Zbynek, for over a year of constant testing and designing.
- Research
- The overall design of the ski was based on a study of the natural position of the human foot in motion.
Given these assumptions, Snowfeet is designed to be safe and can only be used with ordinary winter boots. The front radius is inspired by classic winter ski so it cannot be buried in snow.
The steel edges at the bottom serve for better ski control and easy skid stop. Guide rails on the base for better driving direction. The side appearance is inspired by classic racing cars such as the Mustang.
The heel of the Snowfeet with a bevel from the top and sharp bumps from the bottom can be used to slow down driving or stopping.
Internal non-slip surface, which is designed for both classic and Snowboard boots, is decorated with a deer image that adds grandeur to the whole ski. - Inspiration
- Two enthusiastic athletes are thrilled with the idea of short skis and they decided to create a new booming worldwide winter sport, Snowfeet, the shortest ski ever. Thanks to the promising beginning this project will be the starting point to the business world and will help make our dream, to us to set up a huge company with a creative family atmosphere come true. Now our team is made up of seven people and everyone is working to make Snowfeet as successful as Snowboard a few years ago.
- Project Duration
- The project started in January 2017 in the Czech Republic. Now, the second model is on its way. In 2019 it was exhibited in Munich ISPO trade and won finalist price.
- Operation Flow
- The biggest advantage over skiing is a more relaxed and fun ride.
You can access places like narrow forest paths, where you wouldn’t get with skis or snowboard.
Very light and small, so it fits into any bag and you can take it with you anywhere.
Beautiful design combined with a practical use for skiing pleasure.
One size fits all, You do not need any special boots. You can wear your regular winter boots. - Patents
- Copy protected.
Trademark Snowfeet 2019. - Team Members
- CEO: Zbynek Suba
CO founder: Michael Podesva
sales: Vendula Vasutova
Marketing, video editing: Josef Kratochvil,
Michal Wiergon
Logistic: Milada Subova
Video editing, customer service Martin Podesva
3D modeling: Daniel Kovac - Image Credits
- The video could not be uploaded, it was sent to your email from hello@snowfeetstore.com to SUPPORT@adesignaward.com
Camera: Radek Suba, Josef Kratochvil, Michael Podesva, Zbynek Suba
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