Max Berman/Imagination for industry

Max Berman studied industrial design at Newcastle and then worked in special effects for a production company in London. The idea of the Snowster originated seven years ago when he couldn’t afford a snowboard. He skateboards and snowboards and decided to make an ad hoc model with a broken road sign. Through Glasgow Opportunities, he met Bruce Wood, who helped him scrape enough money together for a prototype. Made from a single plastic mould, it is a cross between a sledge and a snowboard. It is designed for ‘ungroomed’ snow and can be used wearing normal shoes. Unlike snowboards, which can cost from £500 to £800 for a complete package, Snowster will have a low retail cost (about £30). The idea is to have it manufactured by a toy company and sold in easy access places such as petrol stations, toy shops and catalogue shops. The current prototype is for adults but it could be used by children. Snowster has the backing of Glasgow 1999, Glasgow Opportunities and the Prince’s Trust Scotland.