A former Appalachian State University student, a certified health instructor and now an Asheville resident, Chad Slagle talks with the Asheville Citizen-Times about a portable exercise device.

FROM THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES
by Dale Neal:

"“Workouts are part of my life,” said Slagle, now 38, and living in Asheville. “I couldn’t imagine not doing it.”

By helping his clients to better health, Slagle also devised his own physical exercise apparatus, experimenting with a sawed-off broomstick, hose clamps, key rings and tubing. His friend Chad Vanlandingham liked the prototype so much that they decided to launch a new business in 2007.

Together, they refined and developed the Versastick, a trademarked, assembled kit that tucks into a portable mesh bag. Once assembled, the Versastick offers 100 different exercises using resistance to strengthen muscles, whether at home, in the office or on the road.

Breaking out on cable TV
The Versastick has caught on with professional athletes with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Indianapolis Colts.

The device even caught the eye of Phil Keoghan, producer and host of the popular TV series “The Amazing Race.” Keoghan will rebrand Slagle’s Versastick under his Now Travel Gym line of exercise equipment, which he sells on the Home Network Shopping cable TV channel. ...