To Fall or NOT to Fall

Aaron Coret’s dream of becoming a pro snowboarder vanished in an instant four years ago when a snowboarding accident left him a quadraplegic. The University of B.C. engineering student has invented a safety device that allows other snowboarders to do so without suffering the same consequences he faced in 2005. It is aptly called the "Landing Pad."

“This was kind of like my dream toy,” says Coret. “Unfortunately, I don’t get to hit it, but other people do, so they can basically be really innovative with the tricks they try and have a really safe environment to do it in. And that’s what people see in it: It’s complete safety and freedom to progress.”

The Landing Pad is 27 metres long and resembles an inflatable water slide. It’s designed to rest on the landing and serves as a cushion for snowboarders when they fall. The pad allows boarders to continue riding downhill if they land on their feet — a feature that sets the Landing Pad apart from other safety cushions on the market. This is made possible by two independent air chambers built into the inflatable pad, explains Coret.

“We really want to set a new standard for safety and freestyle snowboarding,” said the fourth-year student. Coret and friend Stephen Slen have formed a small start-up, Katal Innovations, to develop and market the Landing Pad, which is pending a patent. The Landing Pad made its debut May 1 at Lake Louise Ski Resort in Alberta.

Coret, 24, admits it was tough to give up his original dream of becoming a pro boarder. “I can’t even put it into words. It’s a big, big mental battle to give up something you never thought you could. But now, I’m just as passionate about what I’m doing as I was about snowboarding. And I have no hard feelings anymore. Just excited to see what happens,” he said.

The Landing Pad may be attractive to some resorts and their insurers but the whole progression of snowboarding has been built on kids pushing the limits. Doing tricks that no one else has attempted, soaring over 100 foot gaps, without a handicap. Travis Rice is amazing because he is able to do things on a snowboard that none of us can do. I appreciate the idea of the Landing Pad but I think that learning to fall hard is part of the sport. It separates the Pros form the Joe's. It does look fun though.....