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Help! Should I buy a ski mojo?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I had surgery on my left knee eight weeks ago to stop my bones grinding together and to correct the position of my knee cap. I was told it will take approximately 6 months to heal but due to other problems in my knee It will never be 100%. I'm going to Canada skiing for two months, starting December 17th for my gap year. I need some advice on the ski mojo as I have saved like mad for this trip and £300 is a lot of money to spend if it isn't worth it. My main concerns are that Ive read it feels like the skis are stuck to the snow and it's difficult to ski in powder and bumps (which are my favourite Very Happy) but there is no way I will ski without some help as my knee is very weak, painful and I've lost a lot of muscle around it (surgery apparently means muscles that didn't work before now do their proper job, just very badly) Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks Very Happy
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
No.

I purchased one, didn't use it and returned it. They claimed not to have received it and I got no refund. Foolishly, I had not obtained proof of postage and payment had not been made on a credit-card, so I was left dangling. They were spectacularly unhelpful in all my dealings with them.

A knee specialist I know has subsequently told me that there is no decent published evidence to suggest that the devices are much use post-surgery, particularly with ACL problems and that an individual custom-built sprung knee-brace is the answer.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Is you doc/surgeon happy for you to go skiing whilst your knee is still healing? I strongly suggest you get a fitness to travel & ski note from them, otherwise your insurance company may take a very dim view if you need to claim. You should probably check with your insurance in advance as well, just in case they refuse to cover you at all.
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Jess9887, work very hard on the physio to build up the muscles. The Mojo wont help your knee in a crash, but I think it is a fantastic bit of kit that has helped enormously with my knee pain and fatigue. It takes a bit of practice in deeper snow but I did notice bumps were a bit trickier as the Mojo tries to extend all the time so compression can be weird. My knee bones have been grinding together for 30 years and I cant ski for more than a few hundred metres without my Mojo.

I have found them to be a most helpful company.

Lenny Law, Why did you buy it and then return it unused?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Jess9887, sounds to me, subject to physio approval etc., that you're more likley to get a better outcome from a properly fitted knee brace. Likely to be more expensive, though.
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Jess9887, welcome to snowHeads.

I don't have the need (fortunately) for a knee brace. However, at snowHeads last December's Pre-Season Bash (PSB) in Tignes, the guy who owns Mojo (and a snowHead himself) came along with the latest model. About half a dozen or so snowHeads tried them out (each with a need for the support) and all I heard were incredibly favourable comments. I think the supply brought along sold out.

Several of the purchasers are regulars here, so hopefully you'll get some additional feedback from those for whom the ski mojo really matters.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'm new to this so how do you get someones name in bold to reply to them?
To be honest I totally forgot about it affecting the insurance as i already had insurance. I'll have to ring them. The surgeon and physio both know I had a ski trip booked and I'm having two physio sessions plus gym sessions each week to try strengthen the muscles in time. Currently working on wall squats but my knee can only manage about 60/90 seconds at a push. Sad. Both say I'm healing much faster than normal though Smile
I wore a knee brace designed for skiing before the op, I found it did help a little but constantly slipped down. The doctor said I could buy one with hard rods in but it would prevent me from bending my knee properly.
The ski mojo sounds the best thing I can get to help because I know I won't be able to ski without it. I'm just a bit worried that although I'll ski all blacks and most double blacks, I don't always have the best technique (already sorted some lessons) and the ski mojo will remove any technique I do have on the harder runs.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Jess9887, to get the name in bold in a reply, just click on the username (left hand side of page). Or use [insert letter "b"]the name[/letter "b"].
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Frosty the Snowman wrote:
Jess9887, work very hard on the physio to build up the muscles.

Absolutely!

I had the usual cartlidge op 4yrs ago. The knee was giving me massive problems when skiing prior to the op. Because I'd been subconciously favouring the better knee in everyday activities for years, the dodgy one had become weak.

I had the op, did the physio and hit the gym. The imbalance eventually corrected itself and now both are good. The more muscle that you can build around the knee the better AFAIK.
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Fully agree with above comments, I had cartilage operation two years ago on right knee and lost a fair bit of tissue also had a lot of arthritis on the knee bones with over 20 years of skiing and a Scottish climate which doesn't help. The most import aspect of your recovery is good physio and and plenty of leg exercises in the gym concentration on squats and leg weights. My recover took about 4/5 months to get back to full fitness after the operation. I also had a Meniscus Tear operation done about 5 years ago on my other knee which still gives me discomfort on a cold day. I have tried a number of different knee braces over the years with varying degrees of success , however on a personal basis I have found most of them to be uncomfortable to use when skiing or of very limited use.

Last year at the ski and Snowboard Show in Glasgow I decided to buy bought a Mojo. This was strongly influenced by the advice I had received from my Knee Surgeon who has been a skier for over 30 years and most importantly who has tried and used a Mojo on holiday in France himself. Like the comments of other Snowheads a Mojo will not help you in a fall and might even make your fall more difficult as it can "lock out" and it can be difficult to get back onto your feet again, particularly if you land face down as I did last year in France.

However in the last year I have skied over 5 weeks in France and Austria and over 20 days in Scotland and found the Mojo to be very beneficial. In particularly by removing weight and stress on the Knee joints. I also wear a" doughtnut" which is a thick spongy knee support supplied with the Mojo which does provide some cushion in the event of a fall. As I am getting on a bit (52 years) it does help me with tiredness and leg/muscle fatigue over a hard day on the slopes. It does provide very good support and very importantly improves your technique and confidence. According to your post I suspect you are much younger and fitter than me and fitness and fatigue might not be so much of an issue.

At he end of the day it is a personal choice, £300 is a fair bit of money for a one off item of kit, but it has certainly helped me to maintain my skiing over the full duration of the session, and has had a positive impact on my physical health.
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richards521, What's it like skiing trees, moguls and deep snow wearing one? I'm 21 so fairly fit apart from the knees and muscles around them that have just given up. I'll probably wear it every ski trip so wouldn't be a one of.

Chasseur, Thank you Smile
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Jess, can't really help you with the pros and cons of the Mojo. However, you are still young and presumably, like me, you want to ski forever. Make sure you don't go back to skiing before your knees are ready. Good luck and hope the recovery is quick! Smile
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So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Quite simply, my knee recovered with exercise and physio. I was booked for surgery at the time.

Lenny Law, Why did you buy it and then return it unused?[/quote]
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Lenny Law, Have to say I'm really surprised that you've had a problem with the company, I've received what I would term exceptional service from them - repeatedly - and especially when I had a problem. In my experience, they go 'above and beyond'.

Jess9887, I am one of the Snowheads that Chasseur, refers to above. I have problems with back/knee alignment which results in cramping of the calves, so not the same as you but it restricts my skiing to very short distances interspersed with trips into the nearest bar to get boots off and massage out the cramps... Or piste side in the absence of a nearby bar. Since I didn't specifically have knee problems I was reluctant to try the mojo and was repeatedly nagged by various Snowheads for the first 3 days of that bash. In all honesty, I eventually tried it just to shut them up. Toofy Grin

Suffice to say that was the first day I skied non-stop for several hours in some years. wink when I eventually got back, I told mr mojo that he couldn't have it back. I'd pay for it, but I wasn't taking it off. Laughing

I'm no expert skier, more of an intermittent intermediate, piste basher with occasional forays off the side of the piste - so not in your league. I can tell you that in icy conditions it is brilliant, catch an edge and it's easily retrievable with no yanking of the knee etc and for carving it's a dream, ditto slush. I struggled with deep snow but then I do anyway and getting up when you've fallen and lost sight of your legs and skis in the depth of snow was..... ummm... interesting with the mojo on but again I suspect that technique and fitness might help in that area.... And gawd knows I don't have any of either rolling eyes

In a nutshell, I would highly recommend it. For me it's been the difference between loving my skiing again and not being able to ski more than 500yds without sitting on the side of the piste and bawling my eyes out with pain.

Hope that helps and welcome to Snowheads snowHead
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Jess9887,

Don't know if this helps but do they sell the Mojo in Canada? If they do I would be tempted to exercise like mad + physio, hit the slopes and see how it all feels. If you are having issues then buy the kit. If not, don't. It's highly likely that you will heal given your age so you may not need assistance once full function is restored. That would make it the Mojo an expensive short term purchase.

I have a knee issue as well. I use a £40 neoprene patella/knee support and chew nurofen plus like smarties - works for me.

You don't say what weight you are but if you could lose a bit {places own hand in air} losing 10kg+ and 'exercise like mad + physio' is probably going to do you more good than any piece of kit in the long and short run.

FYI there is a mammoth knee related thread somewhere on the top of one of the other forums (fora?) -I thin it's called something like 'public vs private' - I'd skim that for further advice.

Like much ski kit The Mojo is probably quite specifc in function so it will really suit some people and not help others. If you are going way into the back country on foot, you don't take a piste snowboard to do the job (unless you are a bit dim, that is). Similarly, an air bag is of very little use on piste. Swap them around however and ...... I'm sure you get the point.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
RattytheSnowRat wrote:

Like much ski kit The Mojo is probably quite specifc in function so it will really suit some people and not help others.


Actually, I wouldn't agree with the first part of that sentence, it aids far more conditions than you would think. My and Frosty's problems are very different and of three other Snowheads I can immediately think of that purchased a mojo on that trip, they all had very different issues that it fixed.

Second part, yes.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Schuss in Boots, Thanks for the help Smile. I think I'll give it a go and get one, I havent skied pain free in ages so if it can take away the pain like you say it's worth it.

RattytheSnowRat, I'm exercising like mad to build up muscle but I have problems in both knees. Plus the op couldn't 100% fix it. I normally wear a knee support and live of painkillers which has worked for me till my last ski trip. It was that painfully I couldn't do the runs I wanted. Im just scared I'll have the same problem this trip and miss out again. Thanks for suggesting that thread, I'll have a look Smile.

Rishie, Already booked and paid for all the trip before I realised I would have to have the op. Plus it's probably my last year I'll get the chance to run away skiing for 2 months Neh Neh
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Jess9887, It's a suggestion i've made to others before (and been laughed at too), but snowboarding in easier on the knees than skiing. I've met many people who've switched after no longer being able to ski due to injury or arthritus, as there is none of the twisting motion. So if you do find skiing too tough, you may want to think about it as an option...
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Perhaps try taking up telemarking snowHead
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Richard_Sideways, I couldn't possibly cross over to the dark side, I'd be disowned Neh Neh I've had a snowboarding lesson before and really enjoyed it (apart from the sore and cold bum Neh Neh) but I spend the summer counting down the days till I can next ski (68 Smile ) defiantly a skier!

skimottaret, Telemarking looks way to difficult! Not sure it would be much help to the knees and weak leg muscles either haha.
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Just one thing: If you do not want a proper knee brace (with hard bits) cause it is difficult to bend your knee, I am pretty sure the Mojo is not the answer. As it is more difficult to bend the knee (and therefore more difficlut to get up in case of falling over)
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Jess9887, fair enough - just hold it in reserve till you (k)need it. Very Happy
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@Jess9887, Jess, My wife bought a ski mojo as she is awaiting a knee replacement for arthritis - but wanted to keep skiing. She has decided that she will not ski again - at least until after the operation and then wait until she feels confident in her knee.

For that reason I am selling her Ski Mojo. Its a silver spring in it - I am pretty sure that's suitable for 55-85kg skiers. It was only used for 1 week - season before last and is in perfect condition.

If you want it I'd be happy to let you have it for a much reduced price on new. Not sure what they cost now _ I'll have to look, but feel free to get in touch and make me an offer.

All the best

Colin
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I think she probably has one by now!
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Klamm Franzer wrote:
I think she probably has one by now!


I would think so (after 8 years!) Laughing
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Snowcol, put it on the buy and sell forum
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Haha - Didnt see the date! Hope she's still skiing!
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Snowcol, Good start! Smile

Welcome to snowHeads snowHead
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I would be interested to know if any of the Snowheads who had such paeans of praise for the ski mojo in 2012, would still have the same opinion of it now? Just asking because I am 8 years older than I was at the time of the original post and can see a time when it may be of benefit to me coming onto the horizon... Who am I kidding, probably near horizon! And I need to find a way to keep up with my girls when they ski. The perils of too many ski lessons at an early age!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Wrekingirl, got mine in about 2015. Wouldn't be without it
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Got mine 2016 its brilliant. It the difference between skiing every day we are not travelling on a one month road trip.or skiing half the days we are in resort.
So we do 12 night 1st resort , 6 nights 2nd resort 12 nights 3rd resort .
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Testing the Mojo here in Saalbach tomorrow. A neighbour is doing a thesis on it for her Sports Science degree and has kindly chosen me as a guinea pig. Had my leg power measured three times in the last 24 hours, so it seems that I will get some feedback on how much energy I will be saving. Will report back. After reading some of the above comments I’m feeling optimistic that it will make me the “Bionic Man”.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Interesting, @tatmanstours. Why are you the guinea pig? Have you been feeling that your legs aren't what they were? Will be fascinating to hear how it goes.
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@pam w, my neighbour just wanted a few “guinea pigs” to test it and be measured for muscle power, leg strength and general energy levels before and after. Looking forward to trying it, especially after feeling completely knackered, with at least one sore knee, after a big day out yesterday.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
following with interest.
Have a friend who has been skiing with a mojo now for approx 7+ years - made a huge difference to him - enables him to stick with us for most of the day / week, where before he could only do a few hours cruising.
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Boss of Ski Mojo, Martin Hannaford, has completely shot knees and can't do a turn without pain. Skied a day off piste with him a few years ago on a bash and you wouldn't know. I got some at the time but have to start using them.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Well, having skied for three or four hours today (about 5,000+v.m.) with the Mojo, here’s my feedback.
I found the initial fitting a bit of a faff, exacerbated by the walk to the lift (the gondola station across the road is currently closed), when the Velcro straps were slowly slipping down my thighs inside my salopettes, and the metal rods were clonking on the road as I walked. This would not have happened if I’d been wearing ski boots, but I was wearing shoes with my boots in a backpack.
At this stage I was struggling to keep an open and optimistic mind. I completed the fitting on the way up in the gondola, and once the rods were connected to the clamps on the back of my boots, it obviously felt strange - as if my legs were in splints that were hinged at the knee.
When I got my skis on, I was instructed by my companions/mentors how to engage the switches that are located at about mid-thigh height at the top of the rods. Stretching the legs backwards then locked the rods in skiing mode.
That mode is maintained whilst wearing skis, except when getting on a chair lift, when disengaging the switches deactivates the Mojo and allows you to sit down normally.
At first I found it easy to forget to disengage the switches, when about to get on a chair lift, and on the first occasion that I not only forgot but was not reminded to do so, I found it very difficult to bend my legs and put my skis on the footrest after I sat down. It wasn’t a serious problem though and served to make me remember in future.
Any apprehension that I may have felt about the effect of the Mojo on my skiing style evaporated as soon as I started skiing (down a red run). It felt pretty normal, and within say 20 minutes I had adjusted to the slightly strange feeling of having callipers attached to my legs.
I didn’t exactly have a “eureka” moment - more a gradual dawning over the next hour or two that, (a) the Mojo was actually helping, rather than hindering my ability to ski with reasonable confidence and style, (b) it was absorbing somewhat the stresses and jolts that had in previous days been causing me sometimes to wince (I’m far from ski fit, having taken very little physical exercise since last March, and I have a sore and slightly swollen right knee), and (c) it was discernibly reducing the amount of energy that I needed to expend, so that I was able to ski reasonably fast for sustained periods, without getting as tired as I would normally expect, or stopping for a rest as often.
As I became used to the feeling of having “shock absorbers” attached to my legs, I warmed to the Mojo, and by the end of my skiing day, I was “sold” on the system, to the extent that I would now be reluctant to ski without it.
I can readily understand why some people say that it’s been a “game-changer”.
In saying that however, I must acknowledge that I’m getting old, and that my stamina, muscle strength and general fitness levels are not (yet) as they normally would be in late January. I blame laziness and Covid19 for that.
In the Mojo’s marketing bumph, I saw an analogy with the difference that an electric bike makes to one’s cycling experience, and I wouldn’t strongly disagree with that.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Great to hear. I might start using mine.
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Quote:

I’m getting old

True of many of us. Thanks for such an honest and thorough analysis, @tatmanstours. Will be interesting to know what the researcher makes of it all.
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@tatmanstours, may u suggest you need to tighten up the velcro straps. Mine don't fall down my legs without boots. The boots shouldn't really be 'keeping the mojo up'
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