Tips from Don Boyce
Snow Sports Director

Tip#2
Mother Nature has finally allowed winter to return to Belleayre Mountain. If you are planning your first skiing or snowboarding trip of the year there are several things to remember. Check all your equipment to make sure that it is working properly before coming to the mountain. There is nothing worse than getting to the mountain and discovering that your ski boot has a broken buckle or your snowboard binding won’t hold your boot in place. If you are like me, remembering where you stored your hat, gloves, goggles and winter socks can be a challenge. It pays to start looking for these items early enough to replace anything that is missing or broken (this is especially important if you have children). Finally, take the time to sharpen and wax your skis/snowboard before returning to the slopes. The spring conditions you encountered at the end of last season probably left the base of your skis/snowboard covered with grease and the edges very dull. If you’re not sure how to tune your equipment I recommend that you go to your local snowsports shop and have a technician do it for you. Using properly tuned equipment when you return to the slopes will make it easy to regain that outstanding form that looked so good at the end of last season.

Tip#1. It is late October and ski season is right around the corner as I write this. At Belleayre Mountain, we hope to be skiing by November 11th! Even if you have a regular exercise program (and if you don't, it's not too late to start), it's time to focus on those ski-specific muscle groups. Walking, running, biking, skateboarding and roller blading are all examples of activities that work the legs, arms, stomach and lower back. More importantly, they are motion related activities. It is not enough to just be strong. If you hope to take your skiing to another level this season, work on those "fast twitch" muscles in the feet, ankles, lower legs and stomach. Any exercise that requires balance and agility will be particularly helpful for snowsport athletes. Roller blading is my personal favorite. But almost any exercise can be tweaked to be more effective. For example: jogging through your neighborhood is great, but jogging through the woods while jumping over logs and rocks not only builds strength and endurance, but will also enhance your balancing skills. The classic deep knee bend (with or without weight) is a favorite among skiers. However, doing your knee bends while balancing on one foot or while on top of an exercise ball will be much better for your skiing/boarding. If you really want to engage those fast twitch muscles, try doing these exercises with your eyes closed! This type of activity will also improve your reflexes and give you a better feel for the snow.