This is how the marketing message of iSki Instructor begins. Although I have seen already quite a few similar ads I got curious and wanted to know more about this particular application, so instead of reading and trusting the whole marketing bribe I wanted to hear more from the company behind iSki application. I contacted  Pernille Slot who runs the Danish company and shot few hot questions.

Interviewing Pernille Slot – the creative founder and owner of Danish iSki company

[Hometown Boy]: Pernille, what’s the purpose of iSki application? As a self-learned skier, snowboarder and telemarker I’s like to know what kind of benefits such an application provides to skiers?

[Pernille]: I believe you “Homeboys” are already experienced and skillful skiers, so I wouldn’t recommend iSki exactly to you, but people who are learning to ski can benefit from using iSki application. Having iSki on your iPhone or iPod Touch you can listen to how you get into the most optimal skiing position and you can also watch live on the screen how your are doing the exercises. This way you can start preparing yourself at home or on your way to the destination and listen to iSki’s guiding when you are on the slopes. If you find special interest in certain chapters you can choose to practice them as many times as you like.

[Hometown Boy]: All right, I see. I’d like to dig this a bit more, so could you describe who exactly needs “a ski instructor in a pocket”?

[Pernille]: I would say iSki Basic is for you

• who have been skiing more than 3 weeks
• who would like a dynamic skiing style
• who would like a nice relaxed and stable skiing style
• who would like to learn how to control the speed during turning
• who would like to learn how to carve ski

In fact iSki is not meant to be used only by beginners. It could also help experienced skiers who have been away from the skies for a little while, to find there balance point again. It`s a good brush up for everybody who is not standing on skis several months a year. So for the common ski enthusiasts who have few weeks a year time to ski, and who would like to develop their skiing from the beginning, I would say iSki brings them faster to the point where they can start developing instead of using a day or two to adjust body to the new environment. Start with iSki and develop to the level you want.

[Hometown Boy]: May be my next question is a bit silly, but do you personally use your own product?

[Pernille]: No, it’s not silly at all. I do use iSki when I go skiing. I have the opportunity to do my ski lessons when I like to and as many times as I like. Basically with iSki you get your own personal ski instructor for less than the price of one ski lesson, and iSki you may use again, again and again.

[Hometown Boy]: Does this mean we won’t need real ski instructors anymore in the future?

[Pernille]: No, because iSki is not meant to replace a real human ski instructor. Anyhow, it can prepare you so that you will get the absolute best out of your skiing also when you are with your local ski instructor.

[Hometown Boy]: Ok, I see. iSki seems to be an additional tool for learning to ski. Pernille, how did you come up with the idea of iPhone or iPod Touch teaching people to ski?

[Pernille]: Well, it’s a long story, but let me tell you..

I had been away from teaching skiing for a couple of years when I was invited to come along on a trip with teenagers. The first day I had 16 beginners on a cold frosty northside of the mountain. I started teaching without thinking too seriously about all the ski teaching or technicals trueness. It was just me teaching these kids and having fun. After 1,5 hour of balance training all 16 beginners could ski.. All this happened without talking anything about technics such as “This is how you break, this is how you turn”, but only by letting them play with there balance on skis and guiding them to the good feeling of balance. That was amazing to me, and I acctually thought it was a coincidental.

Later on the afternoon a pair wanted to get a ski lesson. In the beginning the of the lesson the lady told me that she was a little bit scared because she was ran over by a snowboarder earlier that day. We started out nice and easy, and I did the same way as with teenagers. I communicated with my tools from my knowledge about how the human brain works and the fact that the body is learning faster than the brain. I trained them balancing in 2 hours on all diffrent kind of terrain. In the end of the day I was waiting on the side of the slope when she came down to me doing nice big curves, while suddenly a snowboarder approaced behind here and came really close to here legs. She just continued with the same peace and dynamic as before. I was affraid in that moment on her behalf, but she just continued and told me afterwards: “I saw him but It’s fine now, I have the control. I know how it feels when I’m running good, and I knew he would stop because he had the giving way.”

Then it stroke me. This is to good to keep in my mind. I had to find a way to provide this information to anyone who wants to learn to ski. Afterwards some of their friends said to the male “Soren, what have you done? You ski like a whole other skier than for 2 hours ago!” They have been skiing together for over 15 years.

[Hometown Boy]: Interesting story, Pernille. Thanks for giving us your time and sharing your story. Is there something more you would like to say?

[Pernille]: Well, my bottom line is that the strategy of my work is to do it as simple as possible, and to make it work most places possible. People can see the video at home, on the road, in the lift or even on the slope. They can plug in the earplugs and let them be guided for just 1 hour to their best balance point where all good skiing begins. In the future I will add some software technical features as speedometer, altitude meter, trailtrack and even a movement sensor. So it will become an interactive ski instructor.

[Hometown Boy]: All right, thanks! All the best for you and your iSki Instructor application!

What do YOU as a reader think about apps like iSki? Is this the future of learning to ski? Please have your say.

With exactly these words I was presented the iSki iPhone app. I was asked if Homeboys would like to review the app and write a story of it. Oh yeah, why not, even though iPhone is not  too popular here in Finland (yet). We soon must find an iPhone somewhere in order to review the iSki app during the next couple of weeks. For those of youwho have one it looks pretty promising and best of all it’s free.

Personally I have been a bit skeptic with these iPhone apps for backcountry skiers. May be it’s just because I’m getting older (he he.. 35 is old already), but I won’t let my age disturb our serious iSki test session. Before we get into the actual review I let the manufacturer say couple of more words about the iSki iPhone application.

Once your on the slopes, iSki’s Pace Tracer feature allows you to track your speed and altitude through iPhones GPS technology as you ride above the clouds. Side kick allows you to see where your friends are on Google maps when they can’t keep up with you.

When you decide to take a break from deep powder, iSki’s Cash Stasher can help you find the best deals on food, shops, and hotels. Best part about it is that iSki is FREE at the App Store. You might even save enough money to call in sick tomorrow. More information can be found at iski.apptime.com or for more snow related information visit snowfinder.com.

Here is what others have said about our iSki App.

“iSki allows the user to get updates on current snow conditions for most of the world’s ski resorts. A summary resort page lets you scan conditions by region, while a resort detail page includes weather conditions, webcams, trail maps (some of which are GPS-enabled) and more. When enabled, an alert feature sends a text message to the user in the event three inches or more new snow falls at their favorite hills.

Unlike other snow reporting apps, the iSki’s Pace Tracer feature tracks the user’s speed and altitude using the iPhone’s GPS technology. Sidekick Search uses Google Maps to find your friends who can’t keep up.

Units for snow depth, temperature and GPS data are selectable between English and Metric units. GPS data can be turned on or off by the user.

iSki is free to download thanks to advertising support that appears in the form of a splash screen at launch, as well in the app’s Cash Stasher feature that includes coupon discounts that can hook up the user with places to eat, sleep, and shop.

iSki is now available for free download from the iPhone App Store. More information may be found at iski.apptime.com.”

Have you used iSki or any other iPhone apps for skiers? Please let us know (leave a comment below) about your experiences because we are truly new to these kind of gadgets.

Photo by uwehermann