Apparatus, system, and method for controlling movement of a user on snow

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling movement of a user on snow. The apparatus includes a support member and a snow interface. The support member is elongated in a lengthwise direction. The snow interface is coupleable to the support member. The snow interface has a gliding surface positioned opposite a propulsion surface. A substantially smooth gliding portion of the gliding surface is continuous and uninterrupted along a radius of the snow interface from a position adjacent a coupling between the support member and the snow interface to a position adjacent an aperture disposed through the snow interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling movement of a user on snow, the apparatus comprising:
 a support member elongated in a lengthwise direction; and   a snow interface coupleable to the support member, the snow interface having a gliding surface disposed opposite a propulsion surface, wherein a substantially smooth gliding portion of the gliding surface is continuous and uninterrupted along a radius of the snow interface from a position adjacent a coupling between the support member and the snow interface to a position adjacent an aperture disposed through the snow interface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling element configured to adjustably couple the support member to the snow interface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling element comprises a support member receiving orifice coupled to the snow interface and wherein the support member is slideably received within the support member receiving orifice. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the support member comprises a first support sleeve and a second support sleeve, the first support sleeve slideably receivable within the support member receiving orifice, the second support sleeve slideably receivable within the first support sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is repositionable from a storage position to a use position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein, in the storage position, the support member is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of at least one of the gliding surface and the propulsion surface of the snow interface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein, in the storage position, the support member extends through the aperture disposed through the snow interface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a first support shaft and a second support shaft, wherein, in an uncoupled position, the first support shaft and the second support shaft are independent and are uncoupled from the snow interface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, in a coupled position, the first support shaft is positioned adjacent the second support shaft and wherein the first support shaft and the second support shaft are coupled to the snow interface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, in a storage position, the first support shaft and the second support shaft extend through the aperture disposed through the snow interface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least two snow supporting platforms, each snow supporting platform having a surface area substantially larger than a cross-sectional area of at least one of the first support shaft and the second support shaft, each of the snow supporting platforms removably coupleable to one of the first support shaft and the second support shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one snow supporting platform, the at least one snow supporting platform having a surface area substantially larger than a cross-sectional area of the support member, wherein the at least one snow supporting platform is removably coupleable to the support member. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for controlling movement of a user on snow, the apparatus comprising:
 a support member elongated in a lengthwise direction;   a snow interface coupled to the support member, the snow interface having a gliding surface disposed opposite a propulsion surface, wherein a substantially smooth gliding portion of the gliding surface is continuous and uninterrupted along a radius of the gliding surface; and   a coupling element that couples the support member to the snow interface, wherein the support member is repositionable from a storage position to a use position.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling element comprises a support member receiving orifice coupled to the snow interface and wherein the support member is slideably received within the support member receiving orifice. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein, in the storage position, the support member extends adjacent to at least a portion of at least one of the gliding surface and the propulsion surface of the snow interface. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein, in the storage position, the support member extends through the aperture disposed through the snow interface. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for controlling movement of a user on snow, the apparatus comprising:
 a support member elongated in a lengthwise direction, the support member comprising a first support shaft and a second support shaft, wherein, in an uncoupled position, the first support shaft and the second support shaft are independent and are uncoupled from the snow interface; and   a snow interface coupled to the support member, the snow interface having a gliding surface disposed opposite a propulsion surface, wherein a substantially smooth gliding portion of the gliding surface is continuous and uninterrupted along a radius of the snow interface from a position adjacent a coupling between the support member and the snow interface to a position adjacent an aperture disposed through the snow interface.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, in a coupled position, the first support shaft is positioned adjacent the second support shaft and wherein the first support shaft and the second support shaft are coupled to the snow interface. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, in a storage position, the first support shaft and the second support shaft are extend through the aperture disposed through the snow interface. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising at least two snow supporting platforms, each snow supporting platform having a surface area substantially larger than a cross-sectional area of at least one of the first support shaft and the second support shaft, each of the snow supporting platforms removably coupleable to one of the first support shaft and the second support shaft.