The pod has two seats and a sliding floor. The two wires are better than what a ski lift-style gondola might offer, the designers says, because it's more stable in high winds and allows the support towers to be spaced further apart.

Still, while nice to look at, that open-face design will take a bit of convincing on the part of the passengers, we think. [The Design Blog]

Dubbed the "Lamborghini of snowboards" by Cheetah, this $1,900 board is heavy on the hype until we can get resident rider and Editorial Director Brian Lam to test it out (*cough* winter reader meet-up *cough*).

If Cheetah is to be believed, the F-117 will do everything short of take off and do an Immelman Turn, thanks to a huge honkin' hole that runs down the center of the board. Says Cheetah, "the main purpose of the opening is to reduce the amount of surface which comes in contact with snow. Smaller surface means less drag, which translates into more gliding speed."

Then there are the supports, which would no doubt do Christopher Nolan proud with their nod to Batman's Tumbler. However, unlike the Tumbler, one thing this board cannot conquer is heavy powder, which the makers say one should avoid if you want to buy. A heli-skiing and boarding piece of gear this is certainly not.

The board is limited edition and available for preorder now. Shipping is expected to begin sometime this month [Cheetah Ultra Sports via Engadget]

[Blam: Not sure I buy this design. "Less surface area for more glide" is a principle that doesn't make sense for me on all conditions. I bet that thing will do alright on a groomer but will sink on powder. I like the fact that weight is placed directly on edges, for focused turning power, but depending on the rest of the geometry this board could be very twitchy. And while some makers are focusing on reducing the distance between a boarder's boots and the ground, this design clearly raises you. It might have the same type of instability you'd get from stilts, albeit to a lesser degree. Regardless, a lower center of gravity is your friend in this sport! But I'd have to test it to find out more.]

Insurance not included, nor offered, we imagine. [Design Blog via Trendhunter]

Mammut's Pulse Barryvox Avalanche Transceiver looks like an invaluable gadget for skiers and climbers everywhere. It acts as a signal beacon in the event of you being caught in an avalanche, enabling the rescue team to locate you and dig you out quickly. They will be able to check on your health, as the PDA-sized gadget contains an accelerometer that can check on your breathing and radio the results to your rescuers.

The Pulse Barryvox also has a search status to help you find people caught up in an avalanche. Its simple LCD screen, visible from all angles and in direct sunlight, can pinpoint the missing person's exact whereabouts, telling you how far they are from you and in which direction. Just don't buy it and then leave it in the room of your skiing lodge. – Ad Dugdale

Product Page [Mammut via Oh!Gizmo]