About the Invention

Do you remember learning to skate? Was it hard keeping your balance? Most of us learned to skate with the help of our parents who held us up by our hands, or we may have pushed a chair around the ice for balance. Kids fell a lot and parents had sore backs from leaning over their children.

When Giovanna's 2-year-old daughter wanted to learn how to skate, Giovanna tried all the "regular" tricks without much success. Frustrated, Giovanna invented the Skate-E-Z harness literally overnight and within two days Giovanna's daughter was feeling secure and skating. Other parents at the rink were amazed that such a young child could learn to skate so quickly and wanted to know Giovanna's secret.

The Skate-E-Z is a training device that allows children to master the art of balancing on ice, making learning to skate quick and easy. The harness is adjustable, has straps for parents to hold onto from above and loops for children to grasp for security as they stretch their arms out for balance. Giovanna created the Skate-E-Z prototype in 1997 and went into production a year later, selling to sports stores in Montreal. In addition to ice-skating, the Skate-E-Z can be used to teach children how to in-line skate and ski.

About the Inventor

Giovanna never set out to be an inventor, yet she invented a device that caught people's attention. Born in Montreal, Giovanna credits the time she spent raising her three children for her inventiveness. The development of her invention and her business is also a family effort. Though her children are young, they are a tremendous source for inspiration and advice. Although initially intimidated by computers, Giovanna has overcome her fear with the help of her children. Her eldest child, who is fourteen, even taught her how to burn CD's, which she uses for promotion. At the same time, her son says, "we learn from Mom, too."

Giovanna is vested with a true entrepreneurial spirit. Spunky and determined, she never takes "no" for an answer. She also believes in "learning as you go along" and learning by asking questions. Presently, she is looking into a marketing course so she can better market the Skate-E-Z.