Tag Archive for: Againer

Dave Zangrilli

Againer Exoskeleton Supports Legs, Relieves Muscle Fatigue

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SeniorsSkiing.com’s Reviewer Tried Againer Exoskeleton On His Second Day On Snow. Find Out How It Worked For Him.

I am a 75-year old, advanced intermediate skier with 10 years experience as a PSIA instructor in the East and mild osteoarthritis in my left knee.  I currently ski at Alta; that’s where I recently tested the Againer Exoskeleton.

Againer Exoskeleton attaches to thigh and boot, using a gas piston as a shock absorber.

The Againer consists of a hinged plastic frame which runs from the upper thigh to the lower calf and is held in place by two straps.  The key to the Againer system is a gas cylinder attached at the top to the upper section of the frame and at the bottom to a bracket on the rear of the ski boot.  When the gas cylinder is engaged, it works like a shock absorber when flexing the knees and provides upward lift at the end of each turn. 

The Againer helped me ski one of my favorite runs at Alta, Devil’s Elbow, a long intermediate run with a fairly gentle lower half.  On my run, I made as many short radius turns as I could—probably 50 or 60 in a row—in the lower half .  When I stopped, my legs were not tired, as they often are at the end of this drill, especially considering that this was only my second day on snow this season.

I can also see two advantages of wearing the Againer in case of a fall, which can be especially damaging to senior skiers.  First, the Againer would prevent any lateral movement in the knee, reducing chances of ligament damage.  Second, when I fall in powder, I often find one of my knees (usually my weaker left one) flexed underneath me.  The Againer system would eliminate that problem and, of course, protect against the opposite occurrence, hyperextension.

The Againer was easy to use, thanks mainly to a well-illustrated and detailed instruction manual.  I attached the brackets to my ski boots in about five minutes and put on the frames in another five to 10 minutes.  The repetition of daily use would, I’m sure, reduce the time needed to get into the frames, and the brackets would stay on the boots all season.

For more information about the Againer Exoskeleton, check out the website at againer-ski.com.

[Editor Note: Below is a product demo video from Againer Ski.]

Jon Weisberg

Againer Helps You Ski Stronger and Longer

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How many of you remember the days when you got to the mountain early, skied all day, and quit when the lot was empty? I didn’t fully appreciate it then and look back on those times with nostalgia. Youth is wasted on the young.

But what if we could be out there a bit longer and ski a bit stronger? There’s a device that helps do just that.

It’s called the Againer, and for more than a decade, European skiers have used it to reduce pressure on their knees and backs and to increase their leg muscle performance. Now, for the first time, the Againer is available in the U.S. and Canada via a unique demo/purchase program. More on that later.

Againer attaches easily to boots and legs and employs a shock absorbing system that provides an overall boost to the skiing experience.

An Expert’s Point of View

I won’t be able to try it until January when I’m back on the hill. But I have a copy of a letter about the Againer written by Mark Spieler, a ski pro for 45 years, a PSIA Alpine Examiner, and Ski School Director of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, a nonprofit adaptive ski school in Mammoth Lakes, California. 

He characterizes the Againer as “…a device to help people save energy while skiing” and states that before trying it he was skeptical. Spieler explains that he tested it “through hard, fast and dynanic skiing.” He was “impressed by the constant lifting action at the top of the femurs…”

“The gas powered strut placed on the outside of each leg consistently helps the skier move up and forward through the turn initiation. The lift the Againer provides is surprisingly powerful! I found the product to be quite comfortable and easy to use on the hill. The switch to disengage the gas strut when riding the chair is simple and effective.

“I am convinced that over the course of hundreds of turns a day, the energy savings the Againer can provide a skier will make a significant difference in a skier’s ability to conserve energy and help the skier with better technique, as well! “

Spieler goes on to say that the Againer is “perfectly suited to assist any skier who has any type of fatigue challenges while skiing,” whether due to advancing age or because of a disability.

According to Murray Jacobson, Againer’s U.S. Sales Manager, the Againer’s performance is most noticeable during turns and when skiing powder.

How To Demo and Buy

Jacobsen sells the units directly to skiers and to adaptive skiing programs. He makes the units available on a 2-week demo basis for $250. If the user wants to buy, the demo fee is applied to the $1300 purchase price. He is available by phone to explain set up and usage and to answer questions. The Againer carries a two-year warranty.

To reach him, call 909-557-3000 or email againerus@gmail.com. To visit the Againer website, click on the Againer ad on the SeniorsSkiing.com Home Page. Yes,  this is an advertiser, and YES, this device looks and sounds like it will help a lot of our readers.

Reviews of Againer will be forthcoming as the season progresses and as I and others experience it. 

I don’t expect to be making turns continuously for seven hours, but I do look forward to adding some octane to my aging tank.