Every year I do the same thing: I study up on the latest and greatest, and then go buy a new pair of skis clad with shiny bindings and the best in boots.
Each year I find mixed results with my technological wonders. The titanium in my newest skis really help me to blast through any type of snow with race-car like response, but regardless of ergo-nomic design, my feet still hurt in the world’s finest boots. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade in my shaped skis and stiff boots for vintage straight skis and glowing yellow rear entry boots. So what will it take to make all my turns precise and powerful? How can I take my stunning groomed run poise and technical mastery to a higher level and put it in place of those occasional profanities that escape my mouth on difficult terrain? I’m always wondering what the next innovation will be that takes my skiing to the next level.
Well, I’ve found it. What is it? Is it a miracle wax? A new pair of sunglasses that make you look so cool that no one cares how you ski? Nope. It’s the Skier’s Edge ski simulator. Yeah, those guys with the ads in every ski magazine. Every year I’ve seen them demonstrating at ski shows asking me to come check it out. Don’t they know I’m an expert on groomed runs who doesn’t need some wonder fitness machine?
The Ultimate Test
After seeing some rather incredible statements in their marketing campaign, I was starting to really wonder if this ski machine could be the real deal after all. I figured that I would be able to give it a run for its money. When I was done I could always go back to looking for a NASA created mix of carbon fiber and kevlar, which would make my skis bullet proof in case I ever ski through a James Bond movie. Well, 007 will have to wait, because the Skier’s Edge Big Mountain machine has taken my skiing to the next level when no amount of titanium was going to do it for me.
What I’m going to tell you next will be shocking… my skiing had areas which needed improvement. I know, it’s hard to hear that your skiing is less than perfect. Maybe people had been yelling it at me and I just didn’t hear them. Whatever the case, my skiing is now making some great improvements thanks to the Skier’s Edge. I rip, anywhere and everywhere. I’m carving turns like I’m on rails, even on the more demanding areas of the mountain. My upper body is quiet, and my legs extend and retract in smooth rhythm, just like when I’m using the Skier’s Edge machine. With my smooth technique on the slopes, and a little smooth talking, I’ll be leaving with 007’s lady.
New Technology That Works
One of the great things about my new discovery is that it has LOTS of new technical gadgets. Recently the Skier’s Edge machines have been enhanced with some electronic techno-geek accessories that everyone can appreciate. First is the LifeBeat fitness computer, which makes me a bonafied workout champ. The LifeBeat tracks my number of turns, rate of turns, percentage of travel used, time, and calories. This thing has so many great features, it might as well forecast the weather and tell your fortune. My favorite feature is the Goal Achiever function, which allows me to set easily attainable goals. For instance, I set a seven minute goal. Once I am rockin’ and rollin,’ I want to stay on longer than seven minutes. So I do, and the LifeBeat continues to record all my progress even after I’ve achieved my initial goal.
There’s also the Gate Keeper attachment which puts miniature ‘gates’ at each end of the machine. These gates are connected to a digital display that record a turn each time you hit the gate, along with tracking your elapsed time. After my workouts I feel just like Alberto Tomba, without the cool Italian accent.
I think that it’s safe to say that the Skier’s Edge is a product that has "come of age." My new boots still hurt my feet, but thanks to the Skier’s Edge those boots are ripping the greatest turns I’ve ever made in my life.
