It’s Sunday morning and I would love nothing more than to stay in my pyjamas, drink tea and curl up to a good book. Here’s the thing: I’ll be back on the slopes in about two weeks and I want to be in prime condition to slay the slopes. Sure, I’ve been running, hiking and generally keeping active, but skiing isn’t one of those sports you do to keep in shape – quite the opposite.
Last season, my boss and I made a point of getting out for a couple runs everyday, no matter how busy we were. Both being relatively able skiers, we would always head straight for the steep an narrow tree runs at mach 10. Inevitably, about a third of they way down, we would both stop, doubled over our poles, lamenting the searing pain in our legs. This, my friends, is what my colleague and I like to call “office legs.” Hilarious as it may be to hear two skiers simultaneously crying out and giggling in the woods, this year will be different. “Office legs” be damned, bring on the monstrous quads that will allow endless powder charging.
I recently got in touch with fellow instructor Sam Feltham, who now runs a successful fitness business in the UK. Having taught snowboarding in numerous locations across the globe, who better to get tips from on skier fitness? As the founder of Smash the Fat, Sam runs boot camps in various locations in the U.K.. The premiss is fitness without expensive gym memberships; all you need is your splendid self and a bit of floor space. He regularly posts videos for quick routines that are very practical for busy schedules. Check-out this quick Weekday Wakeup Workout:
For the Wanderluster, this is gold. Pop onto the Smash the Fat site and get your sweat on wherever you are. If you happen to be in the U.K., get in on the bootcamp action for all the fun and Sam’s winning smile (bonus!).
My daydream of soft flannel jammies and peppermint tea was put on hold this morning. Instead, I donned my workout gear, plugged into my Ipod and dug in, doing a combination of one of Sam’s quick core and knee strength routines with a bit of cardio for a longer workout. In the end, I know it will all be worth it. For the full routine, stay tuned for my next post!
Winter is coming,
K