Performance system for skiers or the like

Abstract

A leg stabilization or performance system for a skier or snowboarder that absorbs part of the pressure on a user's legs and drives the resistance force down to user's boots, acting like a shock absorber is disclosed. This function also allows the skis or snowboard to keep closer contact with the snow, giving the skier/snowboarder more control through the turns. The performance system includes removably fixable leg straps, upper and lower adjustable leg shafts or portions, a resistance assembly with a shock absorber and a variable resistance adjuster, a boot attachment, and an activator switch. The configuration of the system allows a user to set the system to various levels of resistance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A leg stabilization system, comprising:
 an upper leg shaft and lower leg shaft, rotatably coupled together at one or more hinges configured to receive upper and lower portions of the leg of a user, respectively;   one or more selectively couplable straps coupled to the upper leg shaft and the lower leg shaft, configured to secure a leg of a user between the upper leg shaft and the lower leg shaft and the one or more selectively couplable straps;   a resistance assembly comprising a shock absorber configured to selectively couple to a shock coupling portion of the upper leg shaft and the lower leg shaft; and   a system coupling portion configured to couple to a boot, and to selectably, releasably couple, to the boot coupling portion   wherein the lower leg shaft comprises a boot coupling portion, configured to couple adjacent the boot.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper leg shaft is configured to selectably couple and decouple generally to a thigh area of a user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower leg shaft is configured to selectably couple and decouple generally to a calf area of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more selectively couplable straps comprise a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorber is selectively couplable to the shock coupling portion of the upper leg shaft or the lower leg shaft to vary force exerted on the system by the shock absorber. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper leg shaft or the lower leg shaft comprises glass filled high impact resistant plastic, polymer material, a composite material, metal, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorber comprises a spring, gas spring, or helical spring. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shock coupling portion of the upper leg shaft and the lower leg shaft are configured to receive and secure an end of the shock absorber. 
     
     
         9 . A leg stabilization system, comprising:
 an upper leg shaft and lower leg contacting portion, rotatably coupled together at one or more hinges configured to generally respectively receive upper and lower portions of the leg of a user;   one or more selectively couplable straps coupled to the upper leg contacting portion and the lower leg contacting portion, configured to secure a leg of a user between the upper leg contacting portion and the lower leg contacting portion and the one or more selectively couplable straps;   a resistance assembly comprising a shock absorber configured to selectively couple to a shock coupling portion of the upper leg contacting portion and the lower leg contacting portion;   wherein the lower leg contacting portion comprises a boot coupling portion, configured to couple adjacent a boot.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a system coupling portion configured to couple to a boot, and to selectably, releasably couple, to the boot coupling portion. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper leg contacting portion is configured to selectably couple and decouple generally to a thigh area of a user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lower leg contacting portion is configured to selectably couple and decouple generally to a calf area or lower leg of a user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more selectively couplable straps comprise a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the shock absorber is selectively couplable to the shock coupling portion of the upper leg contacting portion or the lower leg coupling contacting to vary force exerted on the system by the shock absorber. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper leg contacting portion or the lower leg contacting upling portion comprises glass filled high impact resistant plastic, polymer material, a composite material, metal, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the shock absorber comprises a spring, gas spring, or helical spring. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the shock coupling portion of the upper leg contacting portion and the lower leg contacting portion are configured to receive and secure an end of the shock absorber. 
     
     
         18 . A method of reducing forces on the leg of a skier, comprising:
 providing a leg stabilization system comprising a selectively couplable shock absorber coupled to an upper leg contacting portion and a lower leg contacting portion of the leg stabilization system, wherein the upper leg contacting portion and the lower leg contacting portion rotatably couple together at one or more hinges;   selectively coupling the leg stabilization system to the leg of a user, and adjacent a ski boot of the user; and   selectively coupling the shock absorber to vary the resistance of the shock absorber with respect to the leg stabilization system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising decoupling the shock absorber from the upper leg coupling portion or the lower leg coupling portion to relieve the resistance on the leg stabilization system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising varying the resistance on the shock absorber or the leg stabilization system.