Peering out over 10,000 feet of fresh powder in the Palisade mountains is daunting on several counts: the size and expanse of the surroundings, firstly, and secondly, the physical commitment it takes to ride the terrain, especially the knee-deep snow and dense tree cover in the lower bowl. Crushing these conditions takes mental fitness[1] — the kind you get after dedicating time to riding — and physical strength, typically earned the same way.
If resort style or backcountry snowboarding is on your calendar this winter, style, and more importantly, strength, will be on your list of things to think about before heading out. Here, in this three-part series focusing on snow style, fitness and heli-boarding[2], we ask a couple people in the industry — professional riders mostly — for their perspectives and practical tips on staying fit for riding big mountain conditions.
Keep Active In The Off Months
Few of us have the luxury of snowboarding big mountains for more than a few months a year, even pro rider and Burton[3]-sponsored athlete Mikey Rencz. To stay fit when the season stops, he spends his summers mountain biking and hiking as much as possible — anything that keeps him in the motivating surroundings of Whistler, B.C. — considered by many to be the world's best backcountry playground.
Photo courtesy of Moran
When the snow starts to fall, the 29-year-old will hike the snowline to strengthen his quads and strap on a splitboard as soon as conditions allow. His advice for getting ride ready? "Just try to get out on your board and ride as soon as there's enough snow," a suggestion we hear from countless pros with whom we discussed snow fitness. To them, there really is no substitute.
Flexibility Or Death
One of the things Noah Morrison[4], professional free skier, does regularly to stay mountain-fit is stretch — an often overlooked part of any man's fitness regime. Over email, he explains how flexibility plays a massive part in helping him put in more vertical mileage.
Photo courtesy of Moran
Another part of his routine? Don't forget the importance of mental training, Morrison adds. "I have to scare myself once a day, something I recommend. It keeps my mind and body focused on what I am doing and keeps my senses sharp."
Location, Location, Location
Charles Reid — pro-rider and Oakley[5] athlete — takes a less scientific approach to snowboard training, using a lot of obvious techniques in his routine. Stretching, using a foam roller to loosen muscles, eating properly[6] — seemingly baseline stuff for any pro-athlete, right? His best advice on riding fitness? Live close to where you're going to ride — in this case, somewhere at elevation. It gives you access to steep snow, he says, but also to a like-minded community — people who will invariably rub off and keep you fit even when you're in the troughs of training periods.
No Days Off (Leg Days, At Least)
Popular freestyle-skier and Giro[7] athlete Mack Jones has spent the past several years shooting film on urban rails in cities across North America (sliding handrails and skiing in an urban environment). What's kept him fit? "I'd say it's probably that," he admits. This means skiing mostly concrete, on minimal snow, and doing a lot more crashing than landing — which is hardly an adaptable routine for most freeskiers and snowboarders.
Photo courtesy of Moran
The biggest tool in his training kit? Anything that jacks his heart rate on account of skiing's sky-high aerobic demand, particularly on powder days where carving turns takes more effort. He adds that keeping his core and lower back strong — with plank exercises, mostly — is also super important. "You might not realize how much you use these muscles while riding. Also no matter how tired, I'll never skip a leg workout[9] in the gym," he says. "Your biceps won't do you much good when your legs giv e out halfway down the mountain!"[8]
Mark Cohen is a frequent contributor to AskMen on cycling and style. Connect with him @mcohensays[10].
Have a sports question[11] ? Get it answered by AskMen's guyQ[12].
References
- ^ mental fitness (askmen.com)
- ^ heli-boarding (www.heliskijackson.com)
- ^ Burton (www.burton.com)
- ^ Noah Morrison (www.giro.com)
- ^ Oakley (ca.oakley.com)
- ^ eating properly (askmen.com)
- ^ Giro (www.giro.com)
- ^ plank exercises (askmen.com)
- ^ leg workout (www.askmen.com)
- ^ mcohensays (twitter.com)
- ^ sports question (www.askmen.com)
- ^ guyQ (www.askmen.com)
- ^ Snowboarding (www.askmen.com)
- ^ Fitness Tips (www.askmen.com)
