By Roy Wallack Gear- LA Times

Health

Gear: Aerobic machines target specific sports

By Roy Wallack Gear- LA Times

November 21, 2011

All aerobic fitness machines help you elevate your heart rate and work up a good sweat. But the cardio contraptions reviewed here are designed to do that and more, offering great general fitness benefits while helping you to take your specific sport to a new level. If you ski, cycle, row or run, these products are designed to develop the specific muscles, coordination, skills, endurance and protection that'll allow you to raise your game.

Set for the slopes

SkiXtreme: A simple, minimalist ski simulator designed by Ohio contractor and ski enthusiast John Scimone that is made of two pivoting foot platforms connected to a frame through several resistance springs. You balance by holding tall, upright handles as you sway from side to side at your own pace. It has no electronic or hydraulic components.

Likes: In seconds, my quads were on fire, just as they are on my first ski run of the season. An enjoyable and challenging workout that effectively replicates the lateral muscle action of skiing, SkiXtreme is easy to master — just hop on, grab the bars and sway your hips. It took me about 15 minutes to get enough self-control to let go of the handles and rely on my core for balance. A good all-round workout machine, its lateral motion makes it particularly effective for multi-directional athletes who play tennis, hockey, soccer and basketball. It arrived fully assembled (just put the poles in) and is compact (36-by-27-inch footprint), with foot platforms that are 16 inches off the ground. It has three levels of resistance (using two, four or six springs) and is offered with an optional snowboard attachment that requires tightening four bolts. It works as well as the Skiers Edge ski trainer, which costs $3,995 and takes up three times the floor space.

Dislikes: None.

Price: $599 ($899 with snowboard attachment). (650) SKI-HARD; http://www.skixtremeworkout.com

SITZMARK February 2011

SITZMARK February 2011

Ready or not winter is here. And are you in ski shape? If not sharpen your skills and strengthen those legs and core with The SkiXtreme TM Workout Machine. The Skixtreme TM is a intense piece of fitness equipment uniquely designed to work ALL the key muscles in your legs, buttocks and core, as if you were downhill skiing out west. This simple but effective Ski Workout Machine has applications in all sports offering a serious workout for the core and lower body, working those lateral muscles. It is good for Soccer, Basketball, Football, Tennis, Hockey and Mountain Biking. I have to tell you I have never seen a machine like this and I have never felt the results so quickly.
The inventor and avid skier John Scimone figured out a way to stay in shape during the off-season and a way to increase his endurance and strength while developing ski-specific muscles and motion. Scimone say’s, if you have ever skied out west then you know what leg burn and skiers fatque is. I would point to its effectiveness; it only takes a few minutes on The SkiXtreme TM to FEEL THE BURN. Most people claim that 5 minutes on The SkiXtreme TM is like 35 min on anything else! It’s Holding the ski support poles ensures a stationary upper body and go online @ www.skixtremeworkout.com directs all the effort of moving to your hips, quadriceps, and buttocks, Let go of the ski poles and it gets tougher! Now you’re working that core to keep your body centered and balanced, and then your quads aren’t the only muscles that come into play. The SkiXtreme comes with elevation blocks that tilt the machine forward at a slight angle to mimic a downhill position, then you will also be using the stabilizers in your calves and ankles. The SkiXtreme can be as EASY or Intense as you want to make it, work it hard or work it EASY and you will still feel the results quick! Whether you want to get in shape or be a stronger skier, The SkiXtremeTM workout machine is for you! Did I mention that it is made in Ohio! You can om or call us at 650-SKI-HARD

OHIO SPORTS & FITNESS

OHIO SPORTS & FITNESS

Ski Xtreme Workout Machine: Product Review

Written by Melissa Decker

Developed by avid skier John Scimone to prevent muscle fatigue, Ski Xtreme Workout Machine gives you an intense workout that is so versatile it can improve anyone’s fitness level.

At first impression, this product can be a bit deceiving, making the assumption it’s for skiers only. With an open mind, however you won’t regret giving this exercise machine a test drive.

The workout machine boasts a simplistic and convenient design compared to many bulky exercise machines at local gyms and at home. Made in the United States, this product boasts a square frame, elevated foot pedals to mimic skis and two poles for grip.

Depending on your level of fitness, you may begin “feeling the burn” from this workout within 30 seconds of starting. As a runner, I felt it after about a minute. It was quite a unique feeling. With primarily lateral movements, it works muscles that you never use while running.

Not only does this machine help with lateral muscles, it provides you with the ability to focus on your core, oblique, leg, ankle and foot muscles based on the variety of movements you can do on the machine. Furthermore, anyone suffering from injury, joint problems, etc. can benefit from the low impact of this machine.

I would love to incorporate this machine into my fitness routine, although not everyday. I also felt that with my short stature, it was a bit awkward stepping up onto the machine, although it is very easy to adjust to the design once you get moving. All in all, the Ski Xtreme Workout Machine stays true to its purpose as a versatile and simple, yet challenging, low-impact way of strengthening your body.

For more information check out Ski Xtreme’s website at www.skixtremeworkout.com

New Ski Xtreme machine enables ski-specific workout, without the snow

New Ski Xtreme machine enables ski-specific workout, without the snow

Published: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 5:00 AM Updated: Monday, October 18, 2010, 1:50 PM

Zachary Lewis, The Plain Dealer

Like it or not, snow is on the way. If you ski, now is the time to begin sharpening your skills and strengthening those legs. To those ends, consider Ski Xtreme, a new piece of fitness equipment uniquely designed to buttress users for the rigors of downhill skiing, especially the back and forth of moguls.

Yet non skiers also have reason to take note. For Ski Xtreme has applications beyond the slopes, offering serious exercise for the core and lower body. In my book, Ski Xtreme gets points immediately for creativity and individuality. I'm always looking for different styles of movement, and this device's lateral pattern breaks just about every mold. Especially my forward-moving habit of running.

It also doesn't hurt that Ski Xtreme is both designed and built locally, by Middlefield-area inventor John Scimone. The product went to market just this fall, at skixtremeworkout.com.

An avid skier who disappears every weekend during the winter, Scimone sought a way to stay in shape during the off-season, a way to increase his endurance while developing ski-specific muscles and motions.

There's always weight training, of course, and cardiovascular exercise, but those are far cries from whizzing through deep powder down obstacle-covered mountains, where the threat of slamming into trees is real.

What Scimone came up with is simple but intense, like the sport itself: two platforms suspended by springs from a frame with tall, upright handles. Hop on, grab the bars, and sway side to side. Vary the resistance by adjusting tension in the coils or adding or subtracting springs. Go as far, fast, or slow as you wish.

It's a vision of minimalist design. Just a few metal bars, some welding, and a handful of springs. No electronic or hydraulic components. For that reason, some may balk at the price tag: $699. In his defense, Scimone points to the machine's presumed durability.

I would point to its effectiveness. In my experience, all it takes is a few minutes on the Ski Xtreme to feel the burn. For most people, 30 minutes would be more than sufficient.

Holding the handlebars ensures a stationary upper-body and directs all the effort of moving to your hips and quadriceps. Let go, however, and it gets even tougher. Now you're also using your core to support yourself and keep from falling off.

Then again, a slip or two is probably inevitable. Unless you've just stepped off the mountain, acclimating to Ski Xtreme takes a couple of minutes. Hence the machine's sole accessory, wraparound handles.

And your quads aren't the only leg-muscles that come into play. Because the entire machine is tilted forward at a slight angle, to mimic a downhill position, you're also using stabilizers in your calves and ankles.
The exercise is completely nonimpact. Still, like me, you may feel a bit of heat in your knees, a result of holding a partial squat for minutes at a time.

Not surprisingly, Scimone has big plans for Ski Xtreme. He envisions mass-production and marketing across the country.

There's a chance he'll get there. I've seen a lot of fitness equipment, but nothing quite like this. I don't even ski, and I'd be glad to add it to my arsenal.

Stretching Out, Zachary Lewis