POSTED: Monday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m.

"Fitness equipment today in people's homes too quickly becomes a clothes hanger," said RA Sports' Bruce Winkler. "We want to provide the excitement you don't get by just working out indoors."

What if there were technology that allowed you to bike in Australia, or run the Boston Marathon without ever leaving your home? Well, there is. And all you have to do is turn yourself into an avatar.

Added Winkler, "We're the world leader in allowing people to go on-line and compete against other people world-wide."

An avatar is a fictitious character you create that becomes you on screen. Through a series of sensors placed on exercise equipment, you already own, RA Sports lets you can take your fitness programs to a different level.

"We actually have troops in the Middle East who take bike rides with their families back home on the weekend," said Winkler.

RA Sports is the only company in the world that allows users to compete on-line in virtual reality fitness with any equipment. And they are right here in Madison. But later on Tuesday, they will be in Vancouver.

The company is unveiling their newest event, speed skating, this week at the winter games. All users need is a slide-board, sensor and the software, which totals about $200. The designers say the experience is so real, you'll compete like an Olympian.

"So if you set up a race for two o'clock that day. Well, you need to show up and make sure you are there at two o'clock," stated Winkler. "You get the motivation. You get the excitement. You get something that is stimulating. You're not just looking at a wall, or a TV. Your looking at a live race. Your motivated to excel. And motivated to win."

RA Sports' groundbreaking technology is on display at Disneyland and the Denver Museum of Science. The company has subscribers in nearly 50 countries all around the world.

We have a link to RA Sports' products on this webchannel under Newslinks.