It’s been billed as the solution that could potentially re-invent and revolutionise not only the way we all train but also that of professional athletes, too.
As the official supplier to six Olympic and Paralympic Games, from Sydney 2000 to Rio 2016, the Italian company has established itself at the very forefront of the latest training methods and systems of many champions in over 100 different disciplines.
It’s more than fair to say, they know their stuff when it comes to improving sports performance.
We gave the SkillMill a test run at an unveiling earlier this week and we were blown away.
This is the first non-motorised product on the market and at first glance, even for a regular trainer like myself, it was a little bit daunting how to approach this beast – all be it stunningly designed one given the company is Italian.
To be honest, falling off was a distinct possibility but once you get to grips with it, the variety of different exercises you can train is quite amazing. It’s the first product capable of training all the body’s energy systems in a single solution, from sprinting to power develop-ment, for efficient metabolic conditioning. It’s functionality at its best.
One of the key facets of the SkillMill is the MultiDrive component. By using the duel handles you can go from all-out sled push to high speed sprinting and the reactive resistance from the MultiDrive system allows you to unlock your body’s true athletic potential.
In other words, the more you put in the more you get out. So what was the inspiration behind this piece of kit?
“We work closely with Olympic athletes and what was clear from their feedback is that they wanted something that included a lot of variables, encompassing all their training programmes in one solution,” said Warren Connolly, a senior master trainer at TechnoGym.
“With the SkillMill, they don’t need a sled to push and a track to sprint on and because a lot of athletes don’t actually like training, giving them everything they need in one machine, makes such a huge difference. One of the big benefits of the SkillMill is that there is reduced impact on the joints when compared to, let’s say, a treadmill.
“Because of the curved nature of it, your stride is much more natural and it keeps your legs quite controlled. There’s no jarring in the hips and for the ordinary individual, because this is aimed at everyone, this is a massive benefit.
“For the athletes it’s ideal for their recovery and rehabilitation.
“We’re seeing a wide variety of athletes using the SkillMill, from rugby players to NFL stars.”
The SkillMill is a unique machine and is sure to be one that stands out in any gym. But will it change the way we train for good?
“It’s tough to say how revolutionary it can be because I’ve worked with some pretty revolutionary pieces of equipment,” Connolly adds. “In the market here it could be a bit slower in the uptake because other parts of the world are a little bit more advanced but from a global perspective it could be huge.
“This will be there in the athlete’s village in Rio and it’s sure to be a big favourite.”
The SkillMill comes in three different versions: the “Go”, “Console” and “Connect”. The latter two use a console that allows for performance monitoring but the mid-range “Console” version won’t be available until May onwards.
Regardless, you’ll be seeing the SkillMill in your gym soon so give it a go and unleash the athlete in you.
