Development of the parallel slalom start : A project aimed at promoting parallel slalom

This report presents a product development project carried out during the spring of 2025 as a degree project for the Bachelor of Science in Innovation Engineering and Design at Karlstad University. The project was conducted by students Elliot Larstorp and Rex Jacobs, with Monica Jakobsson as supervisor and Leo De Vin as examiner. The project comprises 22,5 hp per student. The project was conducted in collaboration with the consulting company Invencon AB and was part of the company’s internal development initiatives. The aim of the project was to promote and increase interest in parallel slalom by developing a starting gate tailored to small ski resorts and local ski clubs. Increased interest in the sport is expected to have a positive impact on the community and contribute to children’s and young people’s physical activity and mental well-being through time spent in nature. The work followed a traditional product development process consisting of six phases: project planning, pre-study, requirements specification, concept generation, concept selection, and construction. The result is presented in the form of a basic prototype, CAD models, and rendered images. The outcome of the project is a starting gate that is simple and adaptable for the user, making it suitable for a wide target group. The solution consists of five integrated subsystems. The concept selection focused on ensuring that the start gate is safe to use, easy to operate, maintenance-free, and able to withstand harsh outdoor environments. This means that the final design fulfills the goals and purpose of the project. By pulling up a handle, pressing the start button, and getting ready, anyone can use the device to start a parallel slalom run.