Get the big picture
Drones are now widely available, accessible, affordable, and often ideal for capturing action sports videos from a bird’s-eye view. However, deploying a drone in 30 knots of wind or higher over open sea comes with risks, and requires a drone operator willing to shoot footage of you from the beach in uncomfortable weather conditions.
But what does fly well with an actioncam in stormy kitesurfing conditions?
The company Tracer Mounts had a smart yet simple idea: the same kite. If you can mount a forward facing camera on it while keeping the kite itself out of view, you can use it perfectly to capture stable and professional footage. Chase your watersports friends with your kite to shoot stunning aerial videos and photos of them, all while actively participating in the action yourself.
Tracer had created a working prototype from off-the-shelf materials and approached us with the request to develop this concept into an injection molded mass-produced product. They also wanted an additional universal mounting point for a ‘selfie mode,’ allowing you to optionally film yourself from a bird’s-eye view, creating a multifunctional mount.
Thanks to the smart orientation of the reinforcement ribs, the SkyMount is formed in a single mold with only 2 sliders. This design keeps the mold investments relatively low and avoids assembly costs, keeping the overall project startup costs low. For the material, a high-quality UV-stabilized PC/ABS was chosen, a material capable of withstanding the impact expected during serious kitesurfing. The embossed logo and contrasting texturing provide a finish of the same high quality.
With three mounting points and the option to use multiple cameras simultaneously, there is always a way to capture all the action from your desired POV.
The SkyMount securely fits around the leading edge of any kite thanks to the AnyKite system. This adjustable EPDM padding not only ensures a stable and gentle mounting, but also protects both the kite and the SkyMount in case of impact on water or the beach.
As a bonus, it turns out to be a multisport talent: with the rise of wingsurfing, we tested the SkyMount on a wing, resulting in the Wing Edition package. The Tracer SkyMount, get the big picture!
