About Zipline Braking Solutions
Who We Are
Zipline Braking Solutions designs and builds fail-safe, friction-braking trolleys that put stopping—not speed—at the center of safety. Founded by engineering expert and industry veteran Michael Troy Richardson, our company has focused on one problem since day one: eliminating high-speed platform impacts by making deceleration smooth, predictable, and independent of rider skill.
What We Solve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5-1_16YKvk
Traditional 2-wheel pulleys can’t handle momentum and accelerate zipliners over 150 pounds too fast, and create more avoidable impact events (6-7 per 100,000 in 2016).
Our new Park City Mountain trolleys convert excess speed into controlled friction braking—removing timing errors, rider variability, and guesswork from the most critical moment of every ride.
The Innovation
- Fail-Safe Architecture: Dual, independent friction brakes provide redundant stopping power.
- Wide Rider Range: Consistent performance for approximately 35–300 lb.
- Passive by Design: No rider hand braking, or guides needed to reset catch blocks required.
- Serviceable Components: Replaceable wear parts simplify maintenance and inspections.
Proven Record (2002—Today)
Deployed in the field since 2002 and patented in 2003, our braking trolleys—now including the RST-24V and RST-V25—have maintained a decades-long accident-free record when installed, maintained, and operated per specification. The design was first implemented at Park City Mountain Resort and has been refined continuously through additional U.S. patents.
Standards & Compliance
Our engineering aligns with leading industry standards (ASTM/ACCT) for performance, inspection, documentation, and hardware traceability. We participate in standards development to support consistent safety practices across the aerial adventure industry.
Results That Matter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UHrjW9tMI8
- Risk Reduction: Smooth, repeatable stops—no rider braking required.
- Operational Simplicity: Faster training, shorter stopping distances, cleaner platforms.
- Economics: Typical deployments achieve strong financial performance, with a cost-benefit ratio ≈ 8:1 and ROI often within six months, driven by fewer incidents, lower training overhead, and serviceable parts.
Leadership & Expertise
Founder Michael Troy Richardson is an engineering expert, Technical Writer, product designer, builder, and expert witness with 35+ years in the aerial adventure industry and 200+ accident investigations. His firsthand field experience informs every product decision, from materials and tolerances to inspection procedures and rider experience.
Who We Serve
- Parks & Operators seeking consistent braking and simpler training
- Inspectors & Insurers focused on risk mitigation and documentation
- Attorneys & Municipalities requiring clear standards of care and technical clarity
Our Commitment
Every design choice serves one goal: controlled, predictable stopping. We stand behind our products with responsive support, training resources, and parts availability to keep courses operating safely and efficiently for the long run.