You’re already counting down the days, hours and minutes until your next ski trip, so channel that excitement into prepping your body to make the most of each moment on the mountain.
Our Director of Ski School, Greg Willis, recommends these five exercises to get you in shape for the season.
Being office-bound is no excuse to skip out on training. Use your breaks and a wall to engage those quad muscles with some wall sits.
Start with modest time goals and keep increasing the duration each day. Pretty soon you will be taking conference calls from this position and your legs will thank you come the first powder day.
A common misconception when getting ready for the season is that strengthening your leg muscles is all it takes to be a strong skier or snowboarder. What many fail to realize is that a strong core pulls it all together and allows you to go the distance, skiing open to close.
Planks are awesome for this.
Gradually work up the length you can hold this pose and you will experience great gains. Try different versions like a high plank or side plank to hit your core from different angles.
A run, a hike, or a bike ride are all great ways to improve your endurance on the slopes. Better yet, combine these activities with a trip through the woods and you have an experience very similar to skiing the trees. Keep your eyes up and looking ahead and this will also prepare you to make line choices once the snow flies.
Being able to react quickly is key to navigating the mountain – from avoiding other skiers to trees to maneuvering moguls. Try ladder drills to improve your speed and agility.
Spend as little as 20 minutes every other day on these moves and you will love the results.
And if you do forget them, they won’t let you forget that you neglected them by the end of day one on the slopes. Ouch.
By Rachel Walker The first thing you notice about Beaver Creek will probably have nothing to do with the mountain. There are the escalators and heated sidewalks, the ambassadors quick to relieve you of your gear and direct you where you want to go. There’s the European-like village, with crepes and coffee, and a coterie of winter enthusiasts.
How to thrive in the mountains: Skiing is a physically demanding sport that requires a lot from your mind and body. With a base elevation of 8,100ft (2,469m) and summit elevation of 11,440ft (3,488m), regular skiers can be caught by surprise by the affects of the high elevation here at Beaver Creek. We’ve put together some tips and tricks to ensure an easier transition to Colorado’s high alpine environment. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate Hydration is the best way to help your body adjust to high altitude. Generally the low humidity at altitude keeps the air dry, so you should drink twice