June 05, 2011 – Pole power is crucial to ski racing and skiers have been developing ways to train indoors for decades. Remember Marty Hall’s roller board or the exergenie? Now SkiFast based out of Florida has developed an indoor trainer with input from some of Norway’s top XC skiers that replicates both single and double pole motion. Two cables, attached to a large standing “T”, connect ski pole grips to the working mechanism that drives a variable air-resistance fly-wheel.

The set up is completely computerized so that you can dial in the workout you want. SkiFast USA has partnered up with ANT+ Data transfer system and your pace, distance, speed, watts, calories, heart rate, time, KCal, and frequency are all monitored and can be displayed on the on-board console.

According their web site “… the on-board console allows the efficiency of an athlete’s performance to be monitored. His or her technique can then be adjusted or modified accordingly in order to develop the athlete’s most efficient technique. The athlete’s weight adjusted data feedback from the on-board console ensures that the athlete’s performance is comparative to both their past performances and/or the data from the performances of others.

“The SkiFast Ergometer is calibrated each time the athlete uses it, to ensure that location specific data [taking into consideration humidity, altitude, temperature and airflow] is also processed within the data algorithm and used to produce accurate data feedback.”

The functions on the on-board console can be extended to include other software options – SkiRace express and eMonitorPro2. SkiRace express presents a real-time racecourse format and allows you to train individually or with live partners while eMonitorPro2 offers more in-depth analytical data options with graphic or numeric formats, including individual parameters to display/analyze or overlay and compare info. Both upgrades can be purchased separately. For the integration of heart rate info an ANT+ compatible HR Transmitter needs to be purchased.

Just stand on the machine’s platform and imagine a ski race. Double pole off the start then switch to single sticking as you stride up a long gentle incline then switch back to double pole as you reach the top and continue down the trail.

Ski the course of your dreams. It’s possible with this new ergonomic machine and a bit of imagination. Just watch out for tucking on the downhills. $850 USD. SkiFast has offices in the US, UK, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Belgium, China and Belarus – visit their web site HERE.