Ski Helmet Cams Boost Coverage

An innovative mini camera mounted on the helmets of winter-sport athletes has produced impressive sports coverage.
Camera Corps live RF Helmets have allowed fans to watch snowboarding and ski-cross from the perspective of the competitor.
Live video from the driver's viewpoint has long been extremely popular in motor-racing. But with recent technological advancements it has become possible for the same kind of footage, perhaps more ambitiously, in the likes of snowboarding and ski-cross competitions.
Camera Corps claim that new advancements will allow them to do the same with individual contestants at almost any sports event.
The RF Helmet Cam was used for this kind of footage in February during snowboarding and ski-cross events held in Canada.
Eight fully operational live camera systems were made available during the event, feeding live video from the contestant's point of view.
"Using high-quality miniature cameras mounted directly on the contestants' helmets, we were able to deliver the actual visual experience of participating in snowboarding and ski-cross," explained Camera Corps' Technical Director Jim Daniels.
The company has already achieved a reputation for its ability to acquire exciting and unusual television in exceptionally challenging environments but they have described this as a "world first".
Mr Daniels said: "The equipment required is now so light and compact that it can be worn with no adverse effect on sporting performance."
Each camera measured just 7 cm long by 1.9 cm diameter with a total height of 7 cm including aerial.
The Camera and transmitter were powered by a 295 gramme rechargeable battery belt which had the capacity for 90 minutes footage.
Camera Corps' founder and Managing Director Laurie Frost said: "We introduced bobsleigh cameras several years ago, three of which were in use during this latest series of events.
"The technology has now advanced to the point where we can, in principle, deliver live video from individual contestants at almost any sports event."
(LB/BMcC)