WIITE, the exoskeleton for backcountry skiing

While backcountry ski racers are disappointed that they won't be starting the Patrouille des Glaciers, one disabled skier is happily strapping on the climbing skins once again. The designers of TWIICE adapted their exoskeleton so that it can be used to skin up mountains. The idea came from Martin Loos, an avid fan of winter sports who was eager to return to the great outdoors - not "just" to walk, but also to put down his own tracks up the side of a snowy mountain. A rock-climbing accident ten years ago left him paralyzed from the waist down, but that didn't dampen his ardor for the snow-covered peaks. "With my wheelchair I can get around town fairly simply and easily, but I wanted to go backcountry skiing again and get back to the places I used to enjoy but can't access in a wheelchair," he says. For the past few years, Loos has found ways to participate in some winter sports. He still goes skiing using sit-skis and takes part in group backcountry outings.