Ski~Mojo: a second lease on ski-life?

Last week, a French friend of mine from Vail, Colorado has been contacted by the new French distributor that is now trying to market an exoskeleton contraption called Ski~Mojo in America, and asked me for my opinion on the product. 

Since I had come across a few exoskeleton devices that have come and gone, I didn’t have much to say, except do some research about it. Ski~Mojo is an exoskeleton meant to make skiing less tiring and help with sore or painful legs, contributing (allegedly) to more time spent on the slope with less fatigue. The principle behind Ski~Mojo is based on a powerful adjustable spring supporting one third of the body's weight, a claim that is to my knowledge not really substantiated. 

According to that assertion, the Ski~Mojo is said to increase skiing pleasure. This of course is the opinion of those who are promoting the device. It was developed by Owen Eastwood, a British engineer who began skiing at age 55 but found that his legs were not up to the task. 

The solution, in development for 11 years and launched in 2007 consisted of a strap around the skier’s butt, connected to spring-loaded arms running down to the knee, which in turn were linked by composite rods to the back of the boots. Loaded by the weight of the body, the springs are holding the skier in a knees-bent position, and after bending down, the skier springs back to an upright position, with less effort and far faster than usual, ready for the next turn. 

The marketers claim that the powerful adjustable spring supports one third of the skier's weight. By compressing the springs during the flexion phase, it restores energy and increases muscle power during extension. They also claim that the suspension effect of the springs reduces shock and pressure on the knees by 40%. It’s also said to relieve hips and back. 

Their sales pitch goes by saying that bending the knees requires an imperceptible additional expenditure of energy (probably due to gravity). This additional work of the hamstrings, estimated at 10%, combined with a contraction of the quadriceps reduced by 30%, protects the cruciate ligaments, delays and limits the production of lactic acid (this is what the company, not a qualified orthopedic doctor says). 

Same story about reducing the risks of accidents linked to fatigue as well as aches. The contraption can be set up as one dresses up in a couple of minutes and is sleek enough to be worn under the ski pants, unless the skier prefers to flaunt the device. The Ski~Mojo promoters claim that, on average, four out of five people who try the device adopt it. 

Obviously the exoskeleton device is aimed at ski pros as well as recreational users who want to ski longer, with less strain, also skiers with weak knees or quadriceps and of course, elderly people like me, looking to limit falls (???) and fatigue. In France, there are supposedly thousand of users, including many instructors and other professionals. 

Units yearly sales are in the three thousand range through 320 European retailers, with a total 20,000 users. The company is currently looking into expending in America and I’d love to try it, to verify if it delivers as much as the promotion suggests. Their target price is just below $1,000 but it might be available for rent, for those like me that are reasonably skeptical, especially in view of all the company’s unsubstantiated claims and figures. 

I’ll let you know when and if I can rent a Ski~Mojo to ski with!