Why can't we have a ski pole and ice pick combined for the everyday skier, without losing the performance of either tool? This question was the starting point of a personal project I worked on. There are currently only two products on the market that provide the user dual function, and neither reduce into a significantly compacted footprint. I knew there was potential, I just needed to figure out how to get there. This project allowed me to take a more engineered approach to design. I was confined by certain requirements such as weight, strength, ergonomics, and materials in how my design would and could function. The final product turned out to be the Flyt self arresting ski pole. It contains a compacted footprint for skiing and a secure ice pick for ascents. You now have the ability to manage better without compromising money and weight.

Using foam to make models allowed me to see how the progression of ergonomics pushed the shape of the handle to be more than just aesthetically pleasing.

I had to be very conscious about the engineering of the handle. Not only was this handle supposed to hold up in cold weather, but also had to assist in the support of a human's weight. There was a lot of time spent looking into the best fastening points of the handle before choosing the final setup.