ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

What equipment is used today? Is there a cheap, light weight timing equipment that every slalomer can have in his skatebag and bring to all sessions?

I have one like that, but it is old and I'd like to see other skaters have access to the same equipment. If you slalom alone or without much competition it won't force you to improve as much as if you could time all runs and try to improve yourself.

<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/wire.jpg>

<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/wire1.jpg>

WesE, Actually the new Trakmate Timers can easily fit in a backpack. Note pic: 1000' of high quality flexible wire in a backpack. This plug and play system is all you need to throw a race. It can easily be set up for single GS or for any type of duel race. If the race has 40+ racers, no problem, you can qualify racers in both lanes. And the entire system fits in your backpack. Please send me an email if you would like more details.

Tway

Tway, what about the start and finish sensors? What comes with it?

What does the connectors behind the clock look like? Which type is it? Standard in any way?

What is the price of the clock alone?
Does it run on batteries? Which ones?
Can you indicate a web address if there is any?

<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/tm.jpg>
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/tm1.jpg>
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/tm3.jpg>

Supports Single or Dual racers
1/1000 of second accuracy
50 hours of use on one 9 volt battery.
One Year Warranty on parts and labor
Compatible with normally On or OFF switches
Supports start button, Tape switches, infrared beams
View times for last 20 races.

Jani, The timers are manufactured in Canada and I assemble and distribute them worldwide. Because of all the various options, each timer is made to order. The timer alone is $200. and can be assemble independently. The plugs on the back of the unit are RJ6 (standard headset plugs for US telephones). The tapeswitches are plugged into a standard type outlet. There are many different ways to do this but I have found this to work best and is simple to hook-up. You can run the system with 2 tapeswitches at the finish line and start both clocks with a simple push button switch or you can use 4 tape switches to start/stop each lane independently. You can also wire an audio remote start switch or a Christmas tree light switch. I have not personally tried the latter two options but they are defiantly an option. Please let me know if you have any further questions. I am building a website for the timers this week. I will post the address soon.

Regards,

Tway

Looks good. Your pictures are very informative. This is what I was looking for. Actually it was mostly to encourage others to use a timing equipment even when they practice.

My equipment uses contacts for mono loudspeakers (if that is the right description) so they are very fine. Your power outlet switches looks a bit heavy (but compared to the actual weight of the cable that probably doesn't add much).

I couldn't figure out what the Turner drinking bottle is for, I'm probably overlooking the obvious here. Refreshing yourself after a good run?

I'm impressed by the fact that the clock holds the 20 latest runs. That's excellent!

Have you thought about putting an output on the device to allow it to be connected to a PC or big-size display? That would not be for the primary purpose of my request (which was to find a cheap timer for everybody to use) but rather as a capable racing timer.

For those who have not yet tried the pressure sensitive stripes I can highly recommend them vs light beams or other more high-tech equipment. Especially for practice. Like that you don't have expensive equipment at both ends of the course. At the far end you just have the stripe fit onto the ground. Nothing that can break when an angry bikerider or grandma walking the dog passes by.

The Turner drinking bottle is just a makeshift start button. Light weight and durable. As for the outlet, it's made of hard plastic and is very lightweight. The wire is surprising light as well. It's flexible and each wire is individually braided. (very strong)

Some day we hope the system will run through a PC and will automatically bracket racers.

Also some day we hope to offer a system that will record false starts. Say if you cross a tape switch before the starter pushes his button (Turner milk bottle), a false start will be displayed on the screen. For now I believe we offer the best system for the money.

I have been buying my tape stripes from http://www.tapeswitch.com. They offer just about everything imaginable,

Cheers,

Tway-
Nice simple system! Nice that it can be configured in several different ways as well. Way to go!!! I need to order one of them soon for the Seattle crew and the Cascade Slalom Association.
Later
G-

This system is used very often in the Washington, DC area by Brian Parsons to run races. Brian’s system is also used in weekly practice. It almost never fails. There is currently a talk about buying another one of these systems for our regular practice sessions because when Brian can’t make it everybody seems bored after a couple of runs. It’s not the same without Brian and his wonderful timer.

Tway- don't kill me for this one. I would like to see a timing system set up that runs off a PDA. And of course your existing timing system could interface with a PDA or laptop.

As for Displays Alex Scott has made a large 6 foot tall digital display where each numeral is 6 feet tall. It is inexpensive and runs off common flourscent tubes. It could also run off of the light tubes used for 12 volt car applications (glow cars) which are commonly seen crusing strips in California. Such a large scale diplay can be mounted on stackable boards which could be assembled to be used as both a bracketing board and a timing display board for the spectators.

Jani you did a lot of programming for small hand helds -On the Newton Message pad forum

http://newted.dyndns.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000065.html

I put forth a question (member name slalom)and there is a 4 inch digit display program timer for the Newton already written as well as a timing program. The Newton 2100 can also be configured as a web server so after a race full results could be posted just by logging on to the web.

Hopefully there is a PDA currently produced that could serve this function. The Newtons are cheap and readily available on EBAY worldwide- of course they will only get cheaper. They also support aduio output and input and could be used to bracket racers and have an infrared port and a serial port which can be adapted for bar code scanning allowing you to sell timing passes to recreational racers to help fund slalom courses (IE get the guy who sets up the course a few bucks to toss a party at the end of the day or pay for his gasoline costs)

I like the large displays with neon bulbs. Timing and getting the numbers message out quickly is the key to our sport becoming exciting. Brigg Sherman made a very usable scoreboard out of metal, light bulbs and black paint.

Just bought a timing system from Tway. Can't wait to get it set up and running. Thanks tway - nice job!
Gareth

Hi all.
We at EttSexEtt Skateboards (www.ettsexett.com) have built our own timing system for our races. And it works perfectly.
We use one starting gate like the ones used in slalom skiing and a photocell for the goal.

The system is powered by a 12volt battery.

The timer program is written by us in C++ and the timing equipment is hooked up to any laptop with the program installed.

The program then has the list of every racer and displays information abot them and their latest race and the current standings.

Since a laptom is kinda small and the other racers often want to know the standings and their latest times we have hooked up the system with a display.

This display can be of two types. At smaller events we use another laptop faced to the queue of riders. Displaying current racers time and when he passes the goal line his current position in the standings will flash.

At larger events we can hook it up to a larger display from Alge timing systems. This display is of the same type that is used on larger stadions at track and field events.

Here is a pic of how the interface on the laptop looks like.

<img src="http://www.ettsexett.com/bilder/timer.gif">

We used to use a small wireless system with 3 walkietalkies. One conected to the photocell in the goal. One at the starting gate and one connected to a small display.
This system worked fine but it was to much work writing down the times by hand and calculating the standings.
Now however its is fully automated and the operator only needs to pick the right rider and then (when the rider passed the goal) save the time.

/Månster


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Måns Haegert on 2002-09-11 05:44 ]</font>

I realy want to get a timing system, but i cant afford a 250$ one, i know that i saw the diagrams for making one.

tway, besides the timer, i have to get the wires and the tapeswitches too?

thanx

i love this site


UPDATE:
thanx for the email tway, i would buy it, but still its a lot of cash to spend for me in here (240000 bolivares would be the local price and my paycheck ots 518000 bs) so i am trying to bu it with along with some friends.

how much cost the tapeswitches?

thanx again

leo
_________________
love to ride, ride to live, live to love

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Leonardo Ojeda on 2002-09-17 11:48 ]</font>

Hi Michael,

Thanks for registering and posting a note.

Yes, I have seen your instructions and even contemplated building your timing system. I run cones by myself most of the time and I want something inexpensive. But inexpensive usually comes with a cost. In your case the cost is time in building. I have to build and maintain it myself. This is not an option for me, I want simple, inexpensive and trouble free in a timing system.

I like misuer Tway's system. It may be a bit overkill for my needs but I think it is a good choice, one I am considering.

Michael, if your system could be purchased as a package, I would certainly consider it too.

Are there plans for your timing system to be sold in completed form?

Better yet, why don't you make a "NEW TOPIC" and post the information there?

Thanks a lot, have a great day.

On 2002-09-21 19:09, MichaelStride wrote:
My ideas for a cheap timing system are on http://www.slalomskate.com and http://www.turnerdownhill.com
The system can be adapted to run with hard wires, or remote garage door openers. Also you can source IR gates, or tapeswitches. Basically its all adapted from relays and capacitors and a cheap stop watch. OK its not fancy, and it really just works for one rider at a time, but I'd really love someone to refine the concept. When it works it works really well. I dont take it out much because I end up having to look after it. I'd rather skate!

Tway,
Please contact me with prices of a 4 tape switch system complete wires included. Also what type of batteries needed (so can be used where no elec is avail)
Thanks, Brady

Brady, I will contact you shortly. Here are a few highlights of the system:

Supports Single or Dual racers
1/1000 of second accuracy
50 hours of use on one <b>9 volt battery</b>
One Year Warranty on parts and labor
Compatible with normally On or OFF switches
Supports start button, Tape switches, infrared beams
View times for last 20 races.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: William Tway on 2002-09-25 15:10 ]</font>

Here's some links to websites that sell timing equipment that I've found.

http://www.mmdevices.fi
http://www.peg-go.com/
http://www.worldcupsupply.com
http://www.browertiming.com
http://www.tagheuertiming.narod.ru (a special one for Vlad)
http://farmtek-fti.com/index.htm
http://www.amb.nl/
http://www.reliableracing.com

Hey programers. Is there any way to easily rig timing input into a Palm's serial port? I know little about the palm pilot other than nearly everyone (but me) has one. My search found quite a few free / shareware timing programs available.
http://palmcom.tripod.com/pages/categories/clocks.htm
It would seem if Tway's timing strips could be pluged in to give the timing input, with a little tweeking of one of these programs we'd have a system most could set up easily and inexpensively.

Does anyone know where FCR got their tone generator for the starting ramps?

Anyone know where I could get anything close to it?

Chris, The new Trakmate systems will have an option for a tone start, very similar to the FCR tones. On this new version, if a racer crosses the start tapeswitch before the final "go" tone, he will be DQ'd and penalized accordingly. It will be designed to work with a standard boom-box or any kind of speaker output device. Hope this helps.

They should be available in 6 weeks or so.

Tway

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: William Tway on 2003-02-10 13:55 ]</font>

Wow, Tway!

You have a potential customer in me. I'm most interested in a system with tone start and handling of false starts - now I know where to look for one!

Publish all the specs etc (as you've done before) and I'll buy one!

Hi Tway,

So I have to replace my 7-month old timer with a new one or will there be some way to upgrade it? I was hoping to find an external tone generator that I could use as a switch to both trigger the opening of the ramp gates and signal the current trakmate to start both lanes. With the new trakmate, how would you synchronize opening the gates?

Chris, I can't say for certain that it's possible to rig your system with a magnetic gate/tone starter but you might be able to find a switch that will accomplish what you are trying to do. I will search the web later today and see if I can find anything. I know your system can run a christmas-tree type start but you still have the possibility of NOT catching a false start.

Our new system is going to be as simple as possible, no magnetic gates, just a tone to start the racers and a tapeswitch to catch any false starts. This will be excellent for starting ramps w/o gates or old fashion grass roots push starts.

Unfortunately your current system can not be upgraded.

What would they call the device that makes the beeping tones? I've been trying to hunt something down on the web, but can't seem to find anything. I just want something to generate the tones and create a signal on the last tone. Are these used in anything besides ski racing?

Has anybody ever tried building, or know someone who has built, this system which was submitted by Michael Stride? How did it work?

<a href=http://www.3dm-sport.com/timingsystem.html> Michael Stride's homebrew slalom timing system</a>

I don't think they worked very well. Those guys(Clingfilm etc) ended up buying a Twac mate. TK

i have built the Infra Red gates from Mike Strides system, but have built them into a wired system rather than using the "garage door" remotes...the only thing that lets them down is the reliability of my soldering!

if they could have been constructed by someone who was a bit of a wizz with a soldering iron, the overall principle was faily sound

please look at: http://www.octanesport.com/timer1.htm

for the newest version of my gargae dorr remote lash up. The system now uses a Soccer training device (thanks Gav!) that incorporates the expensive bits from the first system into one slick unit. Brilliant!