Go pros and drones

This is a love/hate post.    While the number of Gopro kids videotaping every turn and stripping powder off the trails to tape "freshies" makes me shake my head ruefully,  now and again it is nice to have quality video tape of my kids or myself.    I  plan to get a GP Black Hero 3 this year.    In additon to personal use, I will share some tape with parents of the kids I teach.  My cell phone video is good, but H3 video is really good.

Next comes drones with Gopro cameras.      They are really cool.  Like Go Pros, as the price comes down and the technology improves, these things may become common place enough to make them nuisances.  

I am sure Gore and other ski areas will ban them at some point, if not already.    Kids will be kids and we will see them regardless.    I am also sure that some crazy youtube videos will be posted akin to Waren Miller films. Even the pros will begin using these as quality improves and they find creative ways to use them.   Drone Vs Helo at 1/1000th the cost.  

Admit it, wouldn't it would be cool to get some footage of our favorite run akin to watching our favorite skier on race day filmed from a helo.  Envision clicking in at the top of Whiteface and doing the super G course, filmed from 150'- vertical, chasing you down the hill.  Birds eye view of you dropping into a steep powder bowl.   Busting Superstar in spring top to bottom.  Popping a 45 foot gap.     Maybe even ripping through Barkeater?      


Coming to a ski area near you.    


http://plexidrone.com

This particular drone has lasers with object avoidence from 7 meters. Add a quality camera and it could follow you into all but the thickest trees.   For those not familiar, this drone actually follows you via a  GPS watch or phone held on your person.    

Condor beat you to this a long time ago:

http://forum.nyskiblog.com/Condor-s-aerial-photo-video-thread-tp4040494.html

I don't think enough people will have them that it will ever become a problem. There's already a lot of blowback starting to form about Gapers with GoPros. Most people don't do anything cool at all while they're skiing. And once you've seen one guy ski trees or do a straight air off a jump, you've seen pretty much everyone do that.

Also, I'm not really sure how useful it would be as a teaching tool. Definitely good to watch the videos, but nobody wants to stare at your phone every lift ride. It might work with an iPad, but who wants to carry that skiing? I guess you could show kids the video later in the lodge, but setting that up is a nightmare and cuts into Après time. Might possibly be good for a season long program, but editing all of that footage together is a lot of work.

I have to believe we've reached the point of maximum douchebag with GoPros (and this is coming from someone who has them and uses them). Unless you're Candide Thovex, Eric Hjorleifson or a couple of other random GoPro minor celebrities, you're mostly shooting for yourself.

Go Pros stock has been getting hammered lately on Wall Street over potential liability for kids getting hurt doing stupid people tricks with their gear on.  They are going to have to change the way they promote the product it would look like.

It would have been a good buy back when the ipo happened

IMO GoPro video is no fun to watch, unless the skier stops and does some panning of other skiers. Even then it's pretty unappealing to me.

Also IMO drones have potential to shoot some quality footage.

Gore sponsored a drone vid last season, although I think it was shot before the hill was open to the public:

http://forum.nyskiblog.com/Gore-Sunrise-Park-Shoot-tp4024590.html

I don't think they should be allowed on the hill during regular hours.  If one conks someone in the head they'd probably lawyer up.

mattchuck2 wrote

Most people don't do anything cool at all while they're skiing. And once you've seen one guy ski trees or do a straight air off a jump, you've seen pretty much everyone do that.

Yep, GoPros and the footy they produce are played.  That's old news.   How about pictures of mountain bikes leaning up against trees or a pair of skis on some random deck or in someone's backyard?  We seem to get plenty of that here and on similar sites like AlpineBone.  And yet it never fails:  Every time, 2 or 3 people will post encouraging words like "Nice TR!" or "Way to get after it!".  And they're always the people who post similar dreck so you know they're just looking for a reach around.  So the cycle is self-perpetuating by design.  It's not that the things that they're doing aren't worthwhile -  but they're not worth sharing.  Ditto people skiing groomers.  I don't want to try and define what a good TR is but it seems to me it's like pornography - I know it when I see it.  You should all take a pledge to only post interesting TRs.  And at this point, about 15 years into this "ski forum thing", nobody should have to explain to you what that means.  

Noah John wrote

...I don't want to try and define what a good TR is but it seems to me it's like pornography - I know it when I see it.  You should all take a pledge to only post interesting TRs.  And at this point, about 15 years into this "ski forum thing", nobody should have to explain to you what that means.

I am sure that I am not the only one that looks forward to reading your shining example, oh wise one.

I don't post TRs, good or bad, so that's not going to happen.  But those of you do shouldn't need an example.  That was sort of my point.

Look SBR, TRs are your thing - not mine.  I'd think you'd want to make them interesting for the reader.  Unless it was never really about the reader after all .....

 
Been flying my drone around Gore for 3 years

That's a sweet shot. The lodge is a rare building that almost looks better from above.

Can you do panos with the drone?

Also do you know if Gore has any rules about drones during the ski day?

Harvey wrote

Also do you know if Gore has any rules about drones during the ski day?

If they don't, as soon as someone is struck by one or buzzed closely by one they will. It's inevitable.

Look closely at that photo. Isn't there an employee smoking the gunja ? OH! OH!  Isn't that Harv just skiing outta da woods ?

I want a drone fighter.  you know something that I can send up in the air and shoot down the drones.  and it would have H-triple2daDMax SoPro 5 to document my kills!

there aren't any "rules" really when it comes to flying multirotors, and in a lot of ways that's the issue. everything right now is common sense based, which a significant amount of people seem to lack (ie. flying in densely populated areas, over private property, highways/roads,....ect).

will they become a problem, yes and no. yes in the sense that they get incredibly bad rap for the 1% of idiots out there that buy them and think they are pilots on day one. also the term drone is a horrible way to describe them. yes it is an unmanned aerial vehicle, but lets face it, they are toys. its a hobby. it isn't the missile launching, camera spying, drones that the military fly from 1000miles away. mine gets a solid 1500ft of range and weighs about 5lbs fully loaded. granted that would suck to hit someone and its my greatest fear, but big difference.

I think they will be looked upon better when people see some of the amazing things that can be done with them. ive had numerous people approach me when im flying and think is incredibly cool. a few people have even seen news storys about them that are meant to show them in a negative light, see mine, and realize they are the exact opposite.

as for go pros. I think they are amazing for what they are, I use mine quite a bit, not nearly as much as a use to, but more often than any other camera....oh wait, I don't have any other cameras

Agree Go Pros are old news and I absolutely hate seeing the kids videotaping 100% of their boring runs.   But hey, power to them if it makes them feel good.  I laugh inwardly.  I only get upset when boarders scrape up the powder to only show face shots for their camera shot.  Over and over.

My post was more about the "self-following" drone that I linked.    No need for controls.    Send it up 20 feet and it will follow your GPS enabled watch or your cell phone whereever you go.   I'd like to send it up 80-100 feet and do the things I posted.    


As for video for teaching:   Kids generally dont get it as a learning tool.   Unless they argue their hands are up and you show them video where their hands are never infront of their bodies.    They are just looking how cool/uncool they look.    Most adults could care less too.    It is an awesome teaching tool for those who use it for what its worth.   I would be getting it for the sole purpose of "dropboxing" my students skiing...and giving the link to the parents who post on FB or send to the grandparents.      THEY LOVE IT, sometimes tip too.    Most of my parents don't ski.     We are in an urban area where parents drop kids off and/or had kids later in life.    The kids also love sharing their links.   GoPro will offer 1000x better video than my phone.    

Posters are right in that there are no rules yet for drones of this type.   FAA is taking evidence now and promises to have them in 2016.   Lawers say it is illegal to use them commercially.   My company has recently filed an appeal to the FAA to experiement.    

I:)skiing wrote

Posters are right in that there are no rules yet for drones of this type.   FAA is taking evidence now and promises to have them in 2016.   Lawers say it is illegal to use them commercially.   My company has recently filed an appeal to the FAA to experiement.

Id be interested to know how your company makes out. right now ive just been using my quad with a gopro for mostly fun flying, but in the next couple weeks I have a new platform coming for more professional work.

Condor wrote

Lawers say it is illegal to use them commercially.

What is the reason?

Harvey wrote

Condor wrote

Lawers say it is illegal to use them commercially.

What is the reason?

Because they can fly over x height, (may be 400 feet) they have to abide by FAA rules.    For anything commercial with the FAA, you need approval from the FAA.    I understand there is nothing written for non-commercial use.    Guess the gov't never considered it.     This is what I know, which is not a lot.  However my buddy has done extensive reserach trying to get a business off the ground---as it were.   I don't think anyone from the gov't is watching for small business/commercial use, (say a wedding photographer) but big targets can pay big fines and make for good side show news to show the goverment is at work.  

Perhaps someone here with an ultralight could respond to that.....do you need to get FAA approval to fly out of your yard?      But if you have a commercial balloon business...you may?    

Clarity...

From USA Today


The Federal Aviation Administration considers it illegal to fly drones for commercial purposes, including real estate photography. A judge earlier this year struck down the FAA's ban on commercial drone flights. However, real estate agents could still face a $10,000 fine from the FAA, which appealed the ruling.

  Say what you about go pros, I  have had one since 2009, never seen one helmet mounted before my own. Yeah I am a proud gaper, but the footage I got of my small kids to save to show relatives and non skiing wife has been priceless
   Now that everyone wears one its kinda like Carharts , kinda ruined it. Kids and I will not ever strap I ton again.
     Back in 2010 did a trip report with it at Plattie  to win lift tickets, should  have won, but judges thought otherwise.

there are a couple loop holes for the system as well. haha. there was a post somewhere on an rc forum a couple years ago that had one company in a little trouble, but were able to get around it by calling it a tool. i doubt that would fly now, but it worked then.

i think the BIGGEST reason the FAA is pushing out fines isnt because of safety, but the profits of commercial/private pilots for aerial photo/video are dropping like a rock. a $6000 multirotor rig can do everything a full scale plan can for a fraction of the cost both in equipment and hourly rate. i think to get full scale heli photos its a few hundred bucks for 5 photos and you cant be lower than x amount of feet.

also the auto follow drones i think technology wise are VERY cool. i do agree though that they will be banned very quickly. i just hope when they are banned in public places like ski resorts they dont take away the RC versions as well. ive only flown around gore and killington a couple times and have gotten some pretty cool pictures and videos from it. if i have to ask permission that would be fine to, but it would suck for an all out ban on them.

HEY LOOK ! Is that Snowballs out there on Sandy Bay a tokin and a pokin ?



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