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A method modifies friction between an object and ice or snow. The method utilizes a heating element to apply a pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice or snow; the first pulse is sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of ice at the interface. Water forming the interf

A method modifies friction between an object and ice or snow. The method utilizes a heating element to apply a pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice or snow; the first pulse is sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of ice at the interface. Water forming the interfacial layer refreezes to form a bond between the object and the ice or snow. The steps of the method may be repeated to form a second bond between the object and the ice or snow.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method of modifying friction between an object and ice/snow, comprising the steps of: utilizing a heating element to apply a first pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice/snow, the first pulse being sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of i

What is claimed is: 1. A method of modifying friction between an object and ice/snow, comprising the steps of: utilizing a heating element to apply a first pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice/snow, the first pulse being sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of ice/snow adjacent the object; and refreezing water forming the interfacial layer to form a first bond between the object and the ice/snow. 2. A method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of utilizing a heating element to apply a second pulse of thermal energy, after the step of refreezing, to re-melt at least part of the interfacial layer and refreezing the re-melted interfacial layer to form a second bond between the object and the ice/snow. 3. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a tire, the heating element comprising a hot cylinder, the step of utilizing comprising pressing the hot cylinder against the tire. 4. A method of claim 3, further comprising electrically heating the hot cylinder. 5. A method of claim 3, the step of refreezing comprising pressing a cold cylinder against the tire. 6. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a tire of a car, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing air conditioning of the car to cool the tire. 7. A method of claim 1, the heating element comprising a metal heater, the step of utilizing comprising applying pulse power to the metal heater in thermal communication with the interface. 8. A method of claim 1, the heating element being formed of a material with low heat capacity. 9. A method of claim 1, further comprising the step of discharging a capacitor to the heating element. 10. A method of claim 9, further comprising the step of charging the capacitor with a power supply. 11. A method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing a switch to charge and respectively discharge the capacitor. 12. A method of claim 1, the step of utilizing comprising coupling a hot plate through one or more holes to a slider base adjacent the ice/snow. 13. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a ski, the step of utilizing comprising applying electrical pulse power to the heating element coupled with a base of the ski. 14. A method of claim 13, further comprising activating braking action of the ski by one of a manual switch, a ski motion switch, an accelerometer, a pressure-activated switch, and a motion sensor. 15. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a snowboard, the step of utilizing comprising applying pulsed electrical energy to one or more heating elements in the base of the snowboard. 16. A method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a portable battery as a source of energy for the step of utilizing. 17. A method of claim 1, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a pulse action lamp to heat the object. 18. A method of claim 17, the object comprising a rotating tire, light from the lamp temporarily heating respective zones of the tire which melt the layer, rotation of the tire refreezing the layer. 19. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a tire, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a metal brush against the tire. 20. A method of claim 1, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a photoflash lamp illuminating through the object to the layer. 21. A method of claim 3, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a ear exhaust to heat the hot cylinder. 22. A method of claim 1, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing a car air conditioner. 23. A method of claim 1, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing a Peltier element.