Future Shock

Inspired by the Olympic quest for excellence, the author offers new ideas for sports and equipment

SKIING ROBO-CAM
THE CAMERA, GUIDED BY TINY SENSORS SEWN INTO THE SKIER'S SUIT, FOLLOWS HIS/HER EVERY MOVE. WITH THE ADDITION OF WHEELS, UNIT MAY BE ADAPTED FOR USE IN SUMMER GAMES AS WELL

NOSE-ALL
A SCHNOZZ-MOUNTED TV LETS THE ATHLETE SEE HIS PERFORMANCE AS IT OCCURS—AND MAKE CORRECTIONS. ALSO PULLS IN GAME SHOWS TO EASE THE BOREDOM OF TRAINING

THE SKI VAULT
IN THIS COMBO-SPORT, THE ANTICLIMACTIC END OF A DOWNHILL RUN IS TRANSFORMED INTO A MOMENT OF HIGH EXCITEMENT. SKIS ARE POPPED OFF TO AVOID SNAGGING ON THE BAR

CHAISE LUGE
TALK ABOUT LAID-BACK, THIS PIECE OF BODY-FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT IS A MUST FOR THE LEISURE LUGER. AND ARMCHAIR OLYMPIANS CAN RECLINE ON IT IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS AND FEEL—WHOOSH!—AS IF THEY'RE PART OF THE ACTION ON TV

MINIATURE HOCKEY
THE PLAYER MUST SHOOT THE PUCK THROUGH OR AROUND MECHANIZED OBSTACLES, ADDING A NOTE OF WHIMSY TO ALL THE OTHER VAGARIES OF HOCKEY. AS A BONUS, AFTER THE OLYMPICS THESE LAYOUTS CAN BE READILY INSTALLED ALONG THE "STRIP" AT DOWN-AT-THE-HEELS RESORTS

MOB SLED
A GRAND FINALE EVENT IN WHICH EACH COUNTRY'S DELEGATION GOES SLEDDING EN MASSE. TO DEMONSTRATE SPIRIT—AND THE DOPPLER EFFECT—TO THE CROWD, THE ATHLETES SING THEIR ANTHEM AS THEY GO BY

HEAD SKATING
THE PRECISION AND POISE OF FIGURE SKATING HAS BEEN, UNTIL NOW, A FEAT OF THE FEET. IN THIS VARIATION, SKATERS ALSO USE THEIR HEADS, FLIPPING ONTO BLADED HELMETS IN DAZZLING DISPLAYS OF CRANIAL CHOREOGRAPHY

SKI-MIKE
WITH THIS DEVICE A SKIER MAY CARRY ON AN INTERVIEW WHILE IN COMPETITION, LETTING THE LISTENER SHARE THE INTENSITY OF THE ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE. POLE INCLUDES PROFANITY-JAMMING MECHANISM

JACK BOOTS
LEVER-OPERATED SCISSOR JACKS ALLOW SHORT SPECTATORS TO ASCEND TO A HIGHER STATION—JUST AS IF THEY WERE ON DADDY'S SHOULDERS. ALSO GOOD FOR FINDING LOST AUTOMOBILES, CHILDREN, FRIENDS, ETC.

TROT SKIS
THESE GADGETS MAKE POSSIBLE THE INCLUSION OF EQUESTRIAN EVENTS WITH A DISTINCTLY SOVIET FLAVOR IN THE WINTER GAMES. TROTSKATES HAVE, THUS FAR, BEEN LESS SUCCESSFUL

TEN ILLUSTRATIONS

CHARLES WALLER

TWO ILLUSTRATIONS