APPS FOR THE PHYSICAL YOU

If you’ve been inspired by the sports action at Sochi, here are some coaching and performance apps to help hone your own ‘ medal’ hopes

Ubersense

It’s used by Olympians and international coaches, but you don’t have to be preparing for a debut on the international sports stage to have fun with this free app on your iPhone or iPad. It records high defi nition video that you can play it back in slow motion to analyze technique — whether it’s a golf swing, a hockey slapshot, or you’re trying to emulate Alex Bilodeau’s performance in moguls. Coaches can keep track of their athletes’ progress and share video on large screen using Apple’s Airplay and you can share with your social networks. It’s used in more than 30 sports so from lacrosse drills to fi gure skating, you’re likely to fi nd help.

snowEdge

If you’re not up there with Iouri Podladtchikov, having your fl ight above the halfpipe measured by the little graph that pops up on the TV screen, don’t worry — there’s an app that will help put numbers to your skiing and snowboarding performance. snowEdge monitors the usual measurements of other skiing and snowboarding apps, such as vertical and acceleration but it also gives you an idea of how aggressive your turns are with its ‘ turn acceleration index’ and it records how much air you get.

Coach’s Eye

Another sports video analysis app, this one comes with a $ 4.99 price tag in the iTunes app store. Unlike Ubersense, it’s also available for Android and Windows smartphones and tablets. The Android version is free; the Windows one is $ 19.99 ( though there is a free trial). The slow motion video playback makes it easy to pinpoint technique and movement and the app has drawing tools that help illustrate coaching tips. Like the Ubersense app, it has a video comparison feature and you can also use it to create analysis videos, adding commentary and annotations to the screen.

Ski Tracks

A friend showed me this 99- cent app when we were riding the gondola one day and after installing it and turning it on, I became one of those people obsessed with every run, every metre of vertical, speed and other specs. You can add photos and share with your Facebook friends.

CoachMyVideo Mobile

Another video analysis app, this one comes in a free version for iPhones and iPads, a Private Coaching Edition at $ 6.99 and in a $ 9.99 pro version. The free version has frame- by- frame video playback, instant replay, zoom and takes images and videos from the camera roll on your iPhone or iPad. The iPad app includes side- by- side comparisons. The Pro version also lets you take a series of videos and save them as a single one and it allows for Bluetooth remote control.

AlpineReplay Ski and Snowboard

AlpineReplay lets you follow your friends and you can make 15- second videos that automatically gets stats added for you to share with your social network. A free app in Apple’s app store or in Google Play, it got a No. 1 rating from Men’s Health magazine. Along with the usual metrics, it adds up calories burned, your air time, jumps and other interesting data.

SkiPhone

This free app doesn’t measure your sports performance but if you have an Android phone, it can be handy on the hill because it lets you answer the phone or launch a voice call just by shaking the phone up and down. To take a photo, shake it front to back. No more frostbitten fi ngers.