H O W T O B E C O M E A B E T T E R S K I E R
C R E A T E D B Y J A C K RY G E R
• With winter
approaching rapidly,
now is the time to get
ready for a season of
skiing.
• Whether you ski for
pleasure or for
competition, there are
always ways to improve
how well you handle
the slopes.
• Many people only have a limited amount of time
on the mountains, so here are a few tips towards
becoming a better skier in just five days…
• First, keep in mind that
skiing is a cardio-
intensive sport – this
means it’s time to get fit.
• Before you begin your
skiing adventures, take
the opportunity to set
aside a certain amount
of time per week to get
a strategic workout in.
• You should preferably
create an even balance
between cardio and
weight-lifting so that you
don’t over-push your body
the first few days you start
your workouts (pulling a
muscle is not fun).
• Skiing is all about
endurance, so working your
way towards running long-
distance will greatly improve
how well you end up skiing,
or at least how long you last
on the slopes.
• Setting aside a one-month
crash course that is
designed to strengthen the
areas you use most while
skiing, like your legs and
core, will help your muscles
be prepared for the first day
you ski.
• Second, make sure your equipment is updated.
• Most skiing injuries result from overused skis.
• If you’ve had your
equipment for over six
years, perhaps it’s time to
freshen up.
• Be sure your boots fit
properly as well, because
you’ll be on your feet for
hours at a time and you
want to make sure you’re
as comfortable as possible.
• Another tip would be to drink plenty of water.
• You may be on vacation, but try to hold back on your
alcohol intake.
• Remember, you’re at a
high altitude, so it’s easy
to overdo it the first
night.
• Water will help your
body replenish after
hours on the mountain,
and it will give you the
energy you need to last
the day – alcohol will do
just the opposite.
• A better idea would be to
hold the champagne until
after your week of skiing,
celebrate your success at
the end of your time on
the slopes, you’ll feel way
better about yourself.
• Besides, you don’t want
to pull a muscle, which is
much easier to do when
your body is dehydrated
from drinking alcohol.
• Lastly, conservation is key.
• Don’t overwhelm yourself the first day of skiing, back off if
you’re feeling tired.
• One of the most
important things an
athlete can do is listen
to his or her body, this
includes recognizing
signs of fatigue and
muscle strain.
• Rotate between
pushing yourself for an
hour and then taking a
long break.
• The worst thing you could do
is get an injury the first day of
skiing because you were over-
amped about nailing that jump
– easing into it is the way to
go.
• Following these simple tricks will help improve your skiing
abilities for your first week on the mountain.
• Remember, this is a time to have fun, so don’t push yourself
past your limits.
• Slow it down to fully enjoy the beauty
of the mountains, make every breath
worthwhile.

Jack Ryger: How to Become a Better Skiier

  • 1.
    H O WT O B E C O M E A B E T T E R S K I E R C R E A T E D B Y J A C K RY G E R
  • 2.
    • With winter approachingrapidly, now is the time to get ready for a season of skiing. • Whether you ski for pleasure or for competition, there are always ways to improve how well you handle the slopes.
  • 3.
    • Many peopleonly have a limited amount of time on the mountains, so here are a few tips towards becoming a better skier in just five days…
  • 4.
    • First, keepin mind that skiing is a cardio- intensive sport – this means it’s time to get fit. • Before you begin your skiing adventures, take the opportunity to set aside a certain amount of time per week to get a strategic workout in.
  • 5.
    • You shouldpreferably create an even balance between cardio and weight-lifting so that you don’t over-push your body the first few days you start your workouts (pulling a muscle is not fun).
  • 6.
    • Skiing isall about endurance, so working your way towards running long- distance will greatly improve how well you end up skiing, or at least how long you last on the slopes. • Setting aside a one-month crash course that is designed to strengthen the areas you use most while skiing, like your legs and core, will help your muscles be prepared for the first day you ski.
  • 7.
    • Second, makesure your equipment is updated. • Most skiing injuries result from overused skis.
  • 8.
    • If you’vehad your equipment for over six years, perhaps it’s time to freshen up. • Be sure your boots fit properly as well, because you’ll be on your feet for hours at a time and you want to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible.
  • 9.
    • Another tipwould be to drink plenty of water. • You may be on vacation, but try to hold back on your alcohol intake.
  • 10.
    • Remember, you’reat a high altitude, so it’s easy to overdo it the first night. • Water will help your body replenish after hours on the mountain, and it will give you the energy you need to last the day – alcohol will do just the opposite.
  • 11.
    • A betteridea would be to hold the champagne until after your week of skiing, celebrate your success at the end of your time on the slopes, you’ll feel way better about yourself. • Besides, you don’t want to pull a muscle, which is much easier to do when your body is dehydrated from drinking alcohol.
  • 12.
    • Lastly, conservationis key. • Don’t overwhelm yourself the first day of skiing, back off if you’re feeling tired.
  • 13.
    • One ofthe most important things an athlete can do is listen to his or her body, this includes recognizing signs of fatigue and muscle strain. • Rotate between pushing yourself for an hour and then taking a long break.
  • 14.
    • The worstthing you could do is get an injury the first day of skiing because you were over- amped about nailing that jump – easing into it is the way to go.
  • 15.
    • Following thesesimple tricks will help improve your skiing abilities for your first week on the mountain. • Remember, this is a time to have fun, so don’t push yourself past your limits.
  • 16.
    • Slow itdown to fully enjoy the beauty of the mountains, make every breath worthwhile.