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If slalom skier Paula Moltzan can’t be on snow, you’ll find her in “Paula’s Shed Gym.”
Summer is always a critical prep period for the athletes of the U.S. Ski Team, when most spend at least a few consecutive weeks at the team’s indoor training site at the Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah, participating in a focused strength and conditioning training program. Some athletes, however, like Paula Moltzan, found they needed more time at home this summer—so she turned a wood shed into a gym. Read more.
Prepping the body for the demands of skiing requires an intentional focus on specific kinds of training. Here’s your cheat sheet.
No matter how big a role gravity plays in our sport, skiing is not for the weak-legged. You don’t have to have quads of the gods to ski well, but imagine how much more fun you’d have to lap back bowls if you did. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or more of a recreational skier, this fitness course will improve your strength, power, stamina, coordination, and ultimately, your form on the slopes.
Take a cue from the pros and incorporate balance training into your dryland workouts.
Improving balance is about more than just learning to stay centered. It’s about motor control and proprioception—that is, understanding how to move your body to adapt to changes in your environment. “It’s about how your brain perceives where you are in terrain, relative to the ground,” explains JC Cole, Human Performance Director for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail in Minturn, Colo. Read more.
4. Protect Your ACL With These Essential Butt and Hamstring Exercises
To protect your ACL, you need to beef up security around the knee.
Make sure you invest as much time and energy in strengthening your hamstrings and glutes as you do your quads. Not only will stronger hammies and glutes help protect your knees, they’ll also increase your staying power on the slopes because your quads won’t have to do all the work. Read more.
Everyone wants legs of steel as soon as the chairlifts begin turning. But in order to get there, it’s time to start putting in the work now.
Whether you are hiking into the backcountry for some turns or catching a lift into some back bowls of your favorite resort, these are seven ski resorts with some scenic vertical hikes and a couple of extra credit climbs that will ensure your legs will be good to go come ski season. Read more.