Get Surfer Abs with OSIM's Latest Robo-Contraption

One of the hardest workouts I’ve ever had was one lousy surfing lesson in Hawaii. I had to crawl back up the beach, and my abs were killing me. Such exertion is the idea behind the uSurf Wave-Action Exerciser, which Brookstone has been showing at various CES events (and which just became available in Brookstone stores for $499).

The uSurf is essentially a motorized platform that you stand on. The surfboard-like contraption gives your body’s core muscles—abs, hips, thighs—a nonstop workout because you’re always using said muscles to balance yourself, just as if you were riding a wave. Now, it could be really tough if you’re a spaz such as myself, but when I tried it out, I was able to stay on by holding the elastic cords on the side (which can be used to work your arms as well). Of course, the idea is to get good enough to forgo the cords and pull off challenging on-platform combinations, like squats, lunges, push-ups, and more. All I know is that even with the cords, I felt like every muscle in my body was working to keep me on balance (what I looked like doing this is another story).

The uSurf is made by OSIM, the same company that brought us the iGallop (a watered-down mechanical bull for home workouts), the iSqueez (an amazing and affordable robo-foot-massager), and the just-announced (and pictured) OSIM iDesire Massage Chair (features optical sensors that find your body’s acupressure points and adjusts the massage accordingly).