Fitness Depot Commercial announces partnership with Strong Hockey Innovations and EZ Glide 350® synthetic ice surfaces

Across Canada, ask a parent or coach and they’ll tell you, the demand for ice time is at a premium.

“Where I live in Cambridge, Ontario, there just isn’t enough ice to go around. It affects everyone, but it’s especially hard for younger skaters to develop their skills. So when we heard about EZ Glide 350® synthetic ice, we saw an opportunity to get involved.” explains Greg Lawlor, Vice President, Sales And Marketing for the Fitness Depot Group.

Fitness Depot Commercial is the exclusive distributer of EZ Glide 350® synthetic ice.ezglide

Designed to be used by regular ice skates, EZ Glide 350® synthetic ice is an all-weather surface that functions like frozen ice-skating surfaces.  The surface comes in approximately 4’ x 8’ sheets, requires minimal installation and maintenance, and has a 10-year warranty.

Fitness Depot Commercial’s national reach made them the right choice to distribute EZ Glide 350® explains Steve Mai, COO of Strong Hockey Innovations, the maker of EZ Glide 350®, “We are very excited about working with the Fitness Depot Commercial. It gives us an opportunity for communities across Canada to try our products.”

So how good is EZ Glide 350®?
Fantastic, according to Lawlor, “their ice surface products are the best of the best, in terms of quality and space required. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get more people active in skating.”  Big names like Disney agree. Disney On Ice is using EZ Glide 350® as are professional hockey players and skating associations.

Fitness Depot Commercial will be introducing EZ Glide 350® surfaces to select stores in the coming weeks.

Opportunities to try EZ Glide 350® will be available at a Fitness Depot store location near you.

For more information contact Greg Lawlor at GregL@fitnessdepot.ca.

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Treadmills for a multi-family housing fitness room

precor_treadmillsWe’ve outlined a step-by-step guide of what you need to know when selecting a treadmill for a multi-family housing fitness room (this includes condominiums, apartment complexes etc.):

  • Electrical requirements: Minimum 115v, 15 amp. dedicated electrical circuit. Each treadmill will include a 12 foot power cord with a normal 3 prong outlet. The important item to keep in mind, is the dedicated line to the treadmill use.
  • AC drive motor: This is highly recommended when choosing a treadmill for multi-use. These run with less moving parts than a DC. It’s not that DC is bad, but AC is better. Most importantly, the motor needs to be continuous duty, which will minimize heat build up. Heat buildup can be a major problem, attracts dirt and is the foundation of 90% of the motor-related service problems down the road.
  • Shock absorbing decks:  However, the key is not too bouncy, as lots of bounce can = premature wear of the deck and belt.
  • Low maintenance decks: Stay away from non-lubricated decks or decks that you have to change wax packages at random intervals. A pre-impregnated wax deck that liberates the special lubricant automatically as heat builds up is the way to go. It is virtually maintenance free.
  • Other specs: Minimum of 1 to 10 miles per hour; an incline of 0 to 10% and a user weight capacity of 300 lbs at minimum.
  • Ease-of-use: If there will no supervision in the fitness room, look for a simple console, offering manual and or 3-4 pre-programmed options.
  • Appropriate warranty: You must ensure the treadmill has a warranty for the type of usage that will be incurred. Even if 2 hours per day, most treadmills built for residential usage will not hold up very long. If you expect usage to range upwards of 6-8 hours per day, then consider an extended warranty. It truly will streamline your costs for a minimum of 3 years and provide a great return on investment.
  • Service contract: Ensure you have a service provider in your area that is factory-trained and offers a pro preventative maintenance contract.

Fitness Depot Commercial carries 24 different models of commercial treadmills, all built for different needs. Our commitment to our customers is to take the time to assess your specific needs, and recommend a treadmill that fits your situation best.

To learn more about our treadmill selection, speak to a Fitness Depot Commercial Representative today!

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Better results in less time!

teutonic_zen pro

Whether you are looking to increase your sports performance, take your fitness training to the next level, improve your health, increase bone density or rehab an injury … whole body vibration could be your answer!

Whole Body Vibration technology has been proven and validated for over 40 years as a superior way to train.

Teutonic, one of the most reliable names in vibration technology offers Zen Pro, created specifically to generate performance results to the entire body. Teutonic gives you the tools you need to boost your muscle burning fat, maximize your flexibility, increase your blood circulation, and improve your overall health through efficient and effective whole body vibration training.

Here are a few reasons you should consider adding a Vibration Training category to your facility:

  • Better Results in Less Time: Just 10 minutes a day of Whole Body Vibration has been proven to show increased results, versus standard cardiovascular exercise in the same amount of time.
  • Performance Enhancement: WBV is a key asset for professional sports teams to increase stamina, and improve flexibility through short WBV workout spurts. Olympic athletes benefit from WBV for the additional muscle strength, and muscle endurance it provides in a short time.
  • Injury Rehabilitation: WBV is a great asset for anyone that needs physical injury rehabilitation, it works efficiently and safely. The vibration helps to wake the inactive muscles that can be dormant from an injury or illness.
  • Bone Density: WBV improves density of bone with just a few minutes of training, making this an incredible machine for the retirement-age sector.
  • Overall Health: Boosts metabolism to burn fat faster, increases flexibility and core strength, advances muscle strength to help eliminate fat cells and helps to decrease stress through hormone balance

These machines have been created specifically to generate performance results to the entire body. 

To learn more about Vibration Training Technology, speak to a Fitness Depot Commercial Representative today!

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Virtual Reality Meets Fitness

Helen Vanderburg for the Calgary Herald

Reprinted with permission

The stationary bike was the first piece of cardiovascular fitness equipment to hit the market and it is still the most-used equipment in fitness clubs and home gyms. For years, people have endured the tediousness of stationary cycling for hours because it is an efficient and effective way to train. The Expresso Bike is the newest stationary bike in the market; it combines an interactive “virtual reality” experience with cardiovascular training known as exergaming.

What is it?
Expresso Bikes are interactive, commercial-grade bikes that incorporate virtual reality course, letting you steer and shift gears like a road bike.
expresso_bike
The bike, networked through the Internet, allows you to track your rides or compete against other riders. You can also ride scenic routes and compete in races. There are three styles: upright, recumbent and youth. Each has more than 30 fantasy, interactive road tours, which are rated basic to extreme or off-road.

The ability to shift gears and move the handle bars like an outdoor bike makes the time fly by.

Who would like it?
People who like to play interactive games will love this bike. On expresso.net, riders can personalize their experience, track fitness results and celebrate accomplishments with virtual awards. Even if you don’t like working out, you will like riding the Expresso Bike. It’s so much fun, you’ll forget you are working out.

The sweat factor
Feeling ambitious, I set my intensity level to black diamond, representing an advanced-but not the most challenging-level.  But my scenic ride through the Alps tough terrain; the pedal resistance automatically increased, and I had to steer carefully avoid riding off the cliff. It was fun and intense.

The virtual reality helps to distract you from the fact that you are working, which allows you to work harder and longer.

The klutz factor
One reason the stationary bike is so popular is that it is easy to use. The Expresso Bike has a range of settings and programs; you can ride by yourself down a country road or you can race against others.

The more advanced rides require concentration. You can’t read a magazine and become distracted from your workout. This bike forces you to continually react to the changing terrain. I even found talking to my neighbours difficult while riding the mountain course.

Gear needed
Wear comfortable fitness clothes. A good pair of bike shorts always makes riding more comfortable. Cycling shoes are not required.

Where to get it?
You can check out the bike at Expresso.com. In Canada, the Expresso Bikes are sold through Fitness Depot Commercial.

How much does it cost?
The Expresso Bike is built for health clubs as well as home gym use. The price starts at $7,000.

Bottom line
The Expresso Bike is a revolutionary stationary cycling experience. The interactive gaming combined with the ability to track workout progression and virtual awards make it the bike of the future.

To learn more about Expresso Bikes and Virtual Reality Fitness, speak to a Fitness Depot Commercial Representative today!

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MYTRAK launching M2

mytrack_m2
Small, sleek, powerful and intelligent

Achieving long term and sustainable health starts with small consistent daily changes. MYTRAK uses creative, state-of-the-art technology to provide immediate, meaningful feedback to ensure you move consistently and enjoyably towards your goals. Small and sleek, is worn daily while at home, at work or at play – it is your personal key to the MYTRAK system. constantly monitors your body movements ensuring you are burning more calories than you consume, you are getting adequate daily cardiovascular benefit and your overall fitness level is improving.

is worn at home, at work and at play – continuously learning and adapting to your lifestyle and activities. You set your own unique and achievable lifestyle goals. MYTRAK continually monitors, analyzes and adapts to your lifestyle and activities – intuitively pushing you when necessary and easing up when required. A benevolent intelligence, watching, protecting, motivating – always available – at home, at work or at play.

Complementing the award winning MYTRAK for Fitness Clubs, will guide you through your workout at any MYTRAK equipped fitness facility, one exercise at a time, ensuring proper form and energy balance.

MYTRAK Health Circle

mytrak_healthcircledisplays the results of your physical activities and caloric intake instantaneously in a series of red, yellow and green lights that form the MYTRAK Health Circle. A solid green circle tells you immediately that you are burning more calories than you consume, you are getting adequate daily cardiovascular benefit and your overall fitness level is improving – motivating you to GO FOR GREEN!

Simple, elegant and effective.

To learn more about MYTRAK products, speak to a Fitness Depot Commercial Representative today!

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Congratulations Windsor Spitfires!

“Congratulations to the Windsor Spitfires, Memorial Cup Hockey Champions for 2009!”
memorial cup_windsor spitfires
Windsor defeated the Kelowna Rockets on Sunday, May 24th, 2009 to become the first team to start the four-team hockey tournament with two losses and end up win the National Championship. Read more about their win here.

The Windsor Spitfires use the Suunto Team POD Training System from Fitness Depot Commercial. Proud suppliers to the Spitfires, Fitness Depot Commercial recently outfitted them with state of the art fitness equipment and systems for their new facility.

No doubt a key contributor to their success! :-)

Congratulations to Coach Boughner and the ownership group, Joey Garland and the support staff, the players and their families and the Windsor community for their fine support of the team.

- Fitness Depot Academy

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Why choose Fitness Depot Commercial?

Fitness Depot Commercial RepresentativeAs a trusted national organization, Fitness Depot Commercial is dedicated to providing our clients with an exceptional selection of top brand commercial equipment and market expertise unmatched in the fitness industry. Coast-to-coast, we will provide service and after-sales support to facilities of all types and sizes.

Our Representatives are experts in their field, and will work with each and every client to assess their needs, bring innovative solutions and provide a quality of service that is unmatched in the industry. We represent quality brands that will provide lasting value.

Our goal is always 100% client satisfaction, which we achieve by continually exceeding our clients’ expectations.

Team up with the leader in commercial fitness – Fitness Depot Commercial.

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