Alarm clock app wakes up skiers early if there’s fresh snowfall

Outdoor sportswear brand Helly Hansen has created First Tracks, an app for extreme sports enthusiasts that wakes them up earlier if it's snowed during the night.

The weather can often have a big impact on whether alarm clocks are effective at getting us out of bed — if it’s raining outside maybe it would be better to hit the snooze button. While in the past we’ve seen UNIQLO launch its Wake Up app, which prompts users with musical alerts tailored to the weather, now outdoor sportswear brand Helly Hansen has created First Tracks, an app for extreme sports enthusiasts that wakes them up earlier if it’s snowed during the night.

Available for free from both the App Store and Google Play, the app uses skiers’ and snowboarders’ location to determine the weather in their local area. When they set their alarm, users select a time they’d want to awake if there’s fresh snow in the morning, as well as a time to wake if it doesn’t snow. If weather reports state that it has snowed during the night, users are woken up early so they can get out and be the first to enjoy untouched powder. Users can also share the time and location of their ‘first tracks’, along with a picture. Every week, the best submissions are rewarded with Helly Hansen gear.

The app not only functions as a practical piece of kit for those in snowy locations, but could also help them make the most of their trip to the mountains. Are there other ways alarm clocks can be made smarter for specific situations?