Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting and measuring
performance characteristics and metrics of participants and vehicles.
These performance characteristics and metrics include, but not are
limited to, airtime, g-force, spin, rotation, drop distance,
acceleration, and video and still images. These vehicles include, but are
not limited to a snowboard, ski, skateboard, wakeboard, motorcycle,
bicycle, ice skates and rollerblades. In one implementation, a camera
provides near real-time images and video footage of a participant's
actions on a vehicle which can be correlated with performance metrics.
The camera may be located on the participant, the participant's vehicle
or other equipment, or from some other observation point. The images
recorded by the camera can be downloaded to a recording or other storage
device to produce memorabilia (e.g., a CD ROM, or video cassette). If
desired, the images can be sent in real-time through an event system and
network (e.g., using a radio or other transmitter) to television, the
Internet, and to other locations for producing the memorabilia or for
providing images to television display devices, such as those located in
a ski lodge for entertainment purposes or in a coach's or personal
trainer's office for training purposes.