How To: The Basics

This video covers the basics of using the Zoa PL1 portable backcountry rope tow system, such as anchoring the rope, ascending the rope using the PL1, and cleaning up at the end of the day.

[@pauldalpozzo]

I created designs for this over 20 years ago in college. Cool to see it actually being built. The only trepidation I have and the main reason I didn’t do it is because people will inevitably get bored, tired, or their battery will run out and we will end up with lots of rope tat all over the backcountry. Hopefully you guys get ahead of that problem.

[@zoaengineering]

We're fortunate that batteries and electric motors have improved a lot in the last 20 years. Over all the time we've spent testing the PL1 we've never gotten bored of the ride down. We've tried to design this system so that it is easy to clean up at the end of the day and we encourage all of our customers to leave no trace in the backcountry.

[@jo3ywils0n39]

Always imagined making something like this - I thought something like this could easily disrupt the ski industry if priced accordingly. Love to see this coming from a Canadian company too.

[@Lifearchives17]

You Should consider marketing these to slackliners As well. Highlines are set up using sometimes thousands of meters of paracord 🤙

[@SuperMorlord]

There's a word for that. Kilometers 😜

[@Lifearchives17]

@SuperMorlord generally we talk in meteres with Highlines so I appoligize for my c0nfosing slang. A brilliant observation on your part nonetheless though 👏

[@JollyLamaCom]

This is perfect for the lake effect snow regions of the Great Lakes. We hit a lot of dunes and mature hardwood forests where this would work really well I'll bet.

[@russbritt4100]

Bummed I missed the kickstarter but hopefully they will be available soon

[@ryanjoe66]

Super cool concept, never would have thought something like this could exist. A few Qs- 1. could you tie off to a tree or well seated rock as opposed to using the snow picket? 2. What type of battery does the PL1 run off? Would it possible to charge using some type of solar panel whilst out and about? 3. How much does the PL1 weigh?

[@zoaengineering]

Thanks for the kind words! 1. Yes. We've done this plenty of times and we find that the webbing lanyard we supply with our snow picket does a great job of both protecting the tree's bark and the paracord from damage when anchoring to a tree. 2. The PL1 uses a 43.2 V, 360 Wh Lithium Ion Battery. It's probably not practical to charge using a portable solar panel. 3.The PL1 weighs 10.5lbs (4.8kg) If you want to know more you can visit the about page of our website here: zoaengineering.myshopify.com/pages/about

[@velotill]

a genasun mppt solar charge controller (used with solar powered ebikes on the Suntrip) or cheaper alternatives and foldable panels should do the trick, maybe make the battery swappable. Only thing I'd look at is keeping the temperature of the battery warm enough (maybe a simple usb heat pad) as charging in the cold is a nono. Grin tech from Vancouver has great basic tutorials on KZbin on how to approach solar to ebike batteries.

[@DrJones916]

I live in South Lake Tahoe and do a good amount of backcountry. Only flaw is the weight......10 pounds is alot of weight going up a mountain and navigating terrain.

[@joeporter4920]

Add on drone to bring it to the base instead of slamming on it in your pack

[@johndegelau7643]

Idea for 2nd Gen: Add single pulleys to each static end, motor stays fixed at downhill end, add a remote control to the motor. That way, the user would never have to ascend or descend their desired area with the PL1 on their body. Only caveat to this style is that it might also require a simple tensioning system in addition to the anchors. But it would definitely be worth it for the possibility of setting up a true rope tow anywhere!

[@pex3]

wow I remember this concept back in 2019!

[@sooperman05]

This isn't How to basic!

[@MartianMoon]

You should explain what product the video is about in the video title

[@SBecktacular]

Nice, sunny, not snowing-looks pretty warm- Try all this while it’s snowing, In deep snow, with wind and you’ve got a recipe for every cuss word you’ve ever heard 😅

[@zoaengineering]

We recommend you check out our instagram page, where we have more footage of the device in action. We've tested the device in variety of conditions, including the kind of heavy deep snow you can expect in the coastal mountains of BC. Shooting a how to video in the wind and snow would have been a little less enjoyable.

[@hanktrill3885]

now someone needs to take a 2 stroke motor and make it go 50mph uphill

[@nachomushr8597]

HI! Thanks for this guys! What autonomy does it have on a 35 degree slope?

[@bree__]

Very cool! Why no shroud over the pulleys? Tremendous pinch point and garment grabber.

[@zoaengineering]

With the current design, anything caught between the rope and one of the pulleys is immediately ejected after passing through that single pulley. Our concern is that a shroud could introduce a new static pinch point and prevent any loose garment or material from being ejected, instead getting sucked in.

[@mediawithak]

My hands are frozen just watching this

[@Spance-er]

Id love to see this designed for a stationary, classic tow system. As in, winch anchored at the bottom, anchor at the top with a pulley (full loop system). That way you're not dealing with cord. Also, a way to detach and swap for an extra battery because lets be honest, this is getting you 4 laps MAX. Also, also, a way to plug in for continuous power, say for, a home setup.

[@sarahmccausland5886]

Can two people ascend at the same time using the same rope?

[@zoaengineering]

You should only use one device on a rope at a time. The PL1 was not designed to carry two people at once, and will be more efficient if only carrying one rider. The good news is that it doesn't take long to ascend 1000ft of rope. Also, at the time of this reply, if you buy two PL1s through our Buddy Package you can save $300 CAD. ;)

[@Optimizer66]

Hey guys, this product looks amazing but I have one question. Is this motor powerful enough for steep slopes and deep powder. I have a spot but too deep to even bootpack. Must skin

[@zoaengineering]

Yes, the PL1 works on steep slopes and deep powder, but please keep in mind that the PL1 is not a climbing device and does not use climbing rope. You should not use it on slopes where a sudden rope or device failure could be dangerous. The PL1 stalls at 190lbf which means that it can theoretically lift most skiers up any slope. For the most efficient use of the battery and the most vertical per charge, we recommend slopes between 10-20 degrees (most of our testing locations are closer to 25 degrees and we still get great results). You can find footage of us using the PL1 in a wide variety of conditions on our Instagram.

[@miljanduric1400]

Excellent job.Where and How we can bye PL1.Regards from Serbia. I have some family in Montreal.And what is the price ?

[@zoaengineering]

Thanks! Please visit our website and online store: www.zoaeng.com

[@grizzkid795]

Looks like you have to ski back down carrying the device while wearing a harness. How long is the rope and how many trips can a 150 lb person make up it on a 15- 20 degree slope?

[@zoaengineering]

The device is designed to fit in your backpack on your ride down, and the harness is optional but strongly recommended. The rope we supply with the PL1 Complete Package, is 1000ft of 550 paracord. A skier weighing 160lb including gear can expect to get about 3450ft of vertical with a single charge of the battery, which is about 12 laps up a 15 degree slope. Keep in mind that these are rough estimates and that there are a lot of factors that will impact the duration of the battery, including wind, snow conditions and how recently you waxed your skis.

[@TonyKorologos]

the music is in stereo and the voice over is in the left channel, distorted. LOL

[@zoaengineering]

Sorry! I'm a total newbie when it comes to video editing. hopefully the next video will be better.

[@brycekpalmer]

I can't imagine you would get a long battery life out of it. Depending on the terrain and skier weight i would think maybe a handful of ascents. I know how much drain it is on a scooter going uphill

[@veganpotterthevegan]

About 3500 lousy vertical feet

[@zoaengineering]

check out our website for a chart listing the expected vertical you can get with a charge of the battery, depending on your weight.

[@brycekpalmer]

@@veganpotterthevegan So I guess the use case is probably more where you see someone setup a backcountry jump and then you can use this to hit it over and over. Not really for a full day of skiing.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@@brycekpalmer for sure, this would be one or two runs at most for me. I'd rather not carry it at all and skin up. But it would be fun if I were doing mini "park" laps. Brighton is open for this now. I can see this working for those folks as they can hit the bong on the way up😅 That's assuming I'd want to carry enough cord for +3000' feet😅 I'd love to know how much stretch would be in 7000' of paracord

[@counterfit5]

​@@veganpottertheveganso bigger than anything in the east? 😅

[@Bogdan_Ch]

Can you link two ropes ? One line of 1000ft is decent but not ideal .

[@zoaengineering]

We often anchor more than one length of rope when skiing with friends!

[@henrymackay6724]

Doesn’t seem very snowboarding friendly if you have to clip into a harness are there any solutions to this? Seems like a good backyard toy or taking laps on a booter but I can see it’s practicality decrease a lot as soon as you venture into big terrain

[@user-qu2pv2wp3o]

then again, who still snowboards ?

[@TheAznsin12]

I mean you can still ascend while in split mode on your split board and then combine it when going downhill.

[@henrymackay6724]

@@user-qu2pv2wp3o ok boomer

[@mattdurette497]

Sounds cool. But I can imagine people will pull out these anchors in popular touring locations.

[@zoaengineering]

It's possible. We can't control what people do, but we strongly encourage all our customers to respect other skiers and snowboarders and to be conscience of where they set up their rope. We've made it easy to clean up at the end of the day and we are hopeful that our customers won't leave their rope on the mountain when they leave.

[@MtJochem]

Why would you EVER pull out an anchor if you are not 100% sure it's abandoned? That seems unlikely to me.

[@mattbrown3699]

Gona be sad to see these things taking over popular BC zones. I know a lot of folks will pull the stakes used for heli skiing, I imagine they will pull these too. @@zoaengineering

[@timlong1462]

@@MtJochemmaybe I read that differently. I read that more as "stretch out" and thought of invisible clotheslines stretching across popular areas. Not sure what they meant though. If so, I'd agree and it's a scary prospect

[@CaptainBullfrog]

Just walk.

[@ryanmast8589]

What personal rope tow crazy

[@willatwood1841]

🎉

[@TylerBrooks-lf9pv]

Just went in marketplace and I found 3 portable rope tows you don’t need a back pack for that add up to this insane price. Takes exactly the same amount of time to set up but use gas and are a little heavier. But you could just buy one and a cheap snowmobile, not have to have a pack to carry the handle. And you get a fucking snowmobile for the same price.

[@zoaengineering]

Our prices are dictated by our costs as a small Canadian company making a niche product. I think you are confused about the use of our product. As far as we know there are no products currently on the market like ours. The major advantage of the PL1 is it's portability. It uses a lightweight rope and can fit in your backpack, allowing you to take it wherever you like. When using the PL1 the rope is loose at the bottom and only anchored at the top. It can be set up and cleaned in up a few minutes. A "portable" rope tow like those made by TowPro, can't be taken into the backcountry with your touring skis and costs significantly more when new. We think TowPro makes very cool products but they are extremely different from ours. The idea that it can set up as quickly as the PL1 is also ridiculous. I don't think that even Tow Pro would make that claim. The last time we checked, you can't buy a new snowmobile for $2000 CAD either. Not that we like to compare our product to snowmobiles (each serves a different purpose and can be complimentary to each other). The major advantage of the PL1 rope tow system is that it is small enough to be truly portable and quick to set up and clean up without the use of any tools. Good luck carrying a gas powered tow rope with 1000+ feet of rope into the backcountry, setting it up and taking down it down in the same day. Would be curious to see a link to these less expensive alternatives.

[@flipngrip]

This for sale?

[@zoaengineering]

It sure is! Check out our shop: www.zoaeng.com

[@_ShaDynasty]

How hard can i send using the PL1? ... Enough runway for a backside double quark or will that get me pitted, and just mainly stick to getting short and buttery sends ?

[@Foga001]

Cooool!

[@MichaelKudlatheInterested]

How are you ensuring that someone isn't right near your anchor and potentially in harm's way when the line is loaded and the anchor potentially fails? You've basically built an emergency snow anchor and then you're using it as an unprotected ascension device. This is will encourage people to tie the rope to trees. Which obviously we don't want.

[@samlamont6081]

I think your left leg loop is twisted. Tail of the strap should be coming out laterally rather than between the legs.

[@nordicweiss]

Faster to just put on skins and climb. Messing around hauling rope, digging anchor, etc…..

[@zoaengineering]

The PL1 will significantly increase your total vertical for a day in the backcountry. For all but the most elite ski mountaineering types, the PL1 will be much quicker at getting you up a slope, and you won't have to expel as much energy doing so. You only need to anchor the rope once in order to ski multiple laps, and 1000ft of 550 paracord only weighs about 5lbs. the total extra weight you would be carrying with the PL1 and the rope is a little under 15lb, which we feel is worth it for the extra downhill vertical it provides

[@Spance-er]

​@@zoaengineeringgenuinely asking. How many laps in powder condition cold though (18 degrees and less?) I'm guessing not many..

[@zoaengineering]

@@Spance-er Powder conditions increase the load but not as much as you might expect. After your first lap you can follow your previous tracks and the difference in load is irrelevant. If you want to know how many laps you can expect I recommend visiting the about page of our website (www.zoaeng.com/pages/about). There you will find our expected vertical chart, which is a conservative estimate of how much vertical you can expect on a single charge of the battery based on your weight with ski gear. The battery is rated for -40C (-40F) and cold temperature has never been a problem for us when testing in the mountains of British Columbia.

[@Spance-er]

@@zoaengineering thank you for the kind response! Really cool idea/product you guys have. Any change a future model might have a detachable battery?

[@zoaengineering]

@@Spance-er The battery is detachable. :) Some of our customers buy a spare battery to increase the amount of vertical they can get in a day.

[@andrew8445]

How to do the basics. Basics of what? Just the basics.

[@SingedAndZoeGaming]

The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race

[@brendonpardington2936]

No one I know who enjoys the backcountry would use this- it’s just antithetical, not to mention pointless. And so it’s for people who don’t want to work that hard, yet they’re in the backcountry? Maybe it’ll find a niche in the sledding crew, the rich sledding crew.

[@MtJochem]

Or for the kids at the local village hill that doesn't often get snow, kids that want to create a little park to practice jumps on, a guide that wants to do some practice laps with his clients, all without having to go to expensive resorts. I can imagine plenty of niches that would be interested, because this way you don't need a resort and you can be way more opportunistic in areas that don't have snow certainty.

[@henrymackay6724]

@MahaloMaxyea I was gonna say that’s the one occasion that I would ever be caught with one

[@calebplumleephotography]

There are tons of people who will use this... not that I agree with that. People who can't hike far take horses into wilderness areas, and if they can get away with it, fools take their dirt bikes and atvs and side by sides and snowmobiles to incredibly remote places. They will def use this

[@elprofessore5929]

Ok, i dont see that this is useful for backcountry skiing in any way. Lot of equpiment and your accessable terrain with that is very limited. More Its even high risk. Imagine many people all over the place use this and there are several tense lines; you barely see them as a skiier and ski into them. Thats why hiking up ski slopes is so dangerouse when snow groomers are operating on a rope.

[@zoaengineering]

Regarding your safety concerns, the PL1 uses a highly visible neon coloured 550 paracord rope, which is only anchored at the top and loose at the bottom. We instruct our customers to clearly mark their anchor points and consider other skiers when setting up. We have skied into the rope while it's in use during testing, and while it could potentially cause a rope burn, generally the rope will bend and the skier will not be hurt. A single human being on a slope putting tension on a rope is not even remotely the same as a multi ton snowcat putting tension on a steel cable. As for it's usefulness in the backcountry, we believe that the weight of carrying the PL1, a harness, a snow picket and the paracord rope (roughly 15lbs) is worth the additional laps that the PL1 can provide. There is plenty of terrain that is accessible with the PL1. While we recommend slopes that are between 10--20 degrees for the most efficient use of the battery, the PL1 is not limited to those slopes and we regularly test on steeper terrain. It's also possible to set up more than one rope to create more complex routes if you are trying to avoid obstacles on the way up. If you can skin up without taking off your skis, you can probably use the PL1 as well.