Post by lionsroar on Jan 10, 2008 17:26:31 GMT -5
Lions Will Test New Helmets Date: 1/10/2008 1:00:33 PM
Columbus, GA- Columbus Lions part owner, John Hargrove, came across a NY Times article describing a new generation football helmet using air based shock absorbers and thought what a great opportunity it would be to have his players wear the innovative head gear. Xenith, LLC was founded by former Harvard quarterback Vin Ferrara. Ferrara was looking for an aspirin in his medicine cabinet when his eyes fixed upon a ribbed plastic bottle used to squirt saline into sinuses. He then squeezed the bottle, and pounded on it-finding that it cushioned soft and hard blows with equal aplomb, almost intelligence.
“This is it,” Ferrara declared. Three years later, his squirt bottle has lead to promising new technology to protect football players from concussions. Xenith has applied this technology to its brand new X1 helmet that will be seen on Columbus Lion’s player this April. Unlike traditional helmets which are lined with rows of dense foam or urethane, the X1 features 18 black, thermoplastic shock absorbers filled with air that- not unlike his squirt bottle- can accept a wide rage of impacts and can still moderate the sudden jarring of the head that causes concussions. Moreover, laboratory tests have shown that the disks can withstand thousands of impacts without any notable degradation in performance, a longtime drawback of helmets traditional foam.
“It really caught my attention,” said John Hargrove. “Our coaches, trainers, and all of our medical staff are extremely excited to see this helmet on the field.”
The helmet will be ready for distribution to teams at the professional level, Divison I, and even down to Pee-Wee at the beginning of April for field testing.
“Anytime a piece of equipment comes along that has possible increases in the current safety specifications, you have to jump at the chance to try it out. Football is an extremely violent game and indoor football can be even more violent with the walls. We are just honored to be chosen by Xenith, and we can’t wait to see the results,” said Lions Head Coach Jason Gibson.
The helmet is certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment and will be on the market for around $350 beginning in July of this year.
Click here to see the new X1 technology: www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/26/sports/football/20071026_XENITH_GRAPHIC.html#step1
:smileylions:
Columbus, GA- Columbus Lions part owner, John Hargrove, came across a NY Times article describing a new generation football helmet using air based shock absorbers and thought what a great opportunity it would be to have his players wear the innovative head gear. Xenith, LLC was founded by former Harvard quarterback Vin Ferrara. Ferrara was looking for an aspirin in his medicine cabinet when his eyes fixed upon a ribbed plastic bottle used to squirt saline into sinuses. He then squeezed the bottle, and pounded on it-finding that it cushioned soft and hard blows with equal aplomb, almost intelligence.
“This is it,” Ferrara declared. Three years later, his squirt bottle has lead to promising new technology to protect football players from concussions. Xenith has applied this technology to its brand new X1 helmet that will be seen on Columbus Lion’s player this April. Unlike traditional helmets which are lined with rows of dense foam or urethane, the X1 features 18 black, thermoplastic shock absorbers filled with air that- not unlike his squirt bottle- can accept a wide rage of impacts and can still moderate the sudden jarring of the head that causes concussions. Moreover, laboratory tests have shown that the disks can withstand thousands of impacts without any notable degradation in performance, a longtime drawback of helmets traditional foam.
“It really caught my attention,” said John Hargrove. “Our coaches, trainers, and all of our medical staff are extremely excited to see this helmet on the field.”
The helmet will be ready for distribution to teams at the professional level, Divison I, and even down to Pee-Wee at the beginning of April for field testing.
“Anytime a piece of equipment comes along that has possible increases in the current safety specifications, you have to jump at the chance to try it out. Football is an extremely violent game and indoor football can be even more violent with the walls. We are just honored to be chosen by Xenith, and we can’t wait to see the results,” said Lions Head Coach Jason Gibson.
The helmet is certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment and will be on the market for around $350 beginning in July of this year.
Click here to see the new X1 technology: www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/26/sports/football/20071026_XENITH_GRAPHIC.html#step1
:smileylions: