Is it your life’s dream to be a skiing cyborg? Have we got the product for you. Photo: Roam
There’s a scene in the original Star Wars trilogy that doesn’t seem too far off these days. After the revelation that (spoiler alert!) Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father and Darth slices off Luke’s hand, Luke gets a new robotic hand that operates exactly like his old human one. Point is, fears about the inevitable clash between man and machine fail to consider that perhaps, one day, machine will integrate itself with man and vice versa. Except, “one day” has already come.
San Francisco-based startup, Roam, recently debuted a robotic exoskeleton the company hopes will change the ski industry. The product combines a backpack with a pair of braces that are worn outside of ski pants that for all intents and purposes are shocks for your knees and hips. The result, claims Roam, is a product that can help hardcore and beginner skiers alike last longer throughout the day. (Cue the theme from the Six Million Dollar Man).
Despite launching this week, Roam explains on their website that their first SKI exoskeletons have “already been spoken for,” but interested parties are encouraged to sign up on the waitlist. The retail price of the exoskeleton is estimated to be $2000 to $2500 when they become more widely available.
So, want to be a slope cyborg? Now’s your chance. Next question is when does the surf equivalent come out?
