Ski season is upon us. Well, training for ski season is upon us, so it’s time to strengthen the hamstrings and glutes, power up the quads, and ripstart your core. The question is, how to do this?
I can’t go back to Jazzercise after a little incident in 2008 and CrossFat, well, where to begin? First off, there’s too much standing around. The “hard” workouts are either so random (100 pull-ups ’til your hands blister) as to not build any overall strength, or in general it’s just too, well, low-volume. That’s no way to get super-fit. Secondly, if I wanted to join a cult with dietary restrictions, I’d get the black Nikes and move to San Diego. Don’t tell me what to eat, paleo, Atkins, South Beach, or whatever the latest fad is. Lastly, gym time is to help you do what you love, better, not an end in itself. The whole “CrossFit Olympics” thing is kinda weird, and, well, kinda creepy and desperate. I’d rather spend that time climbing or riding or skiing or…just about anything else than having a kettlebell-swing race with some spandex-clad weenie down in Denver.
But I digress.
If you’re looking to get crazy fit for ski season (or anything, really), then look no further than The Alpine Training Center, in Boulder. The ATC follows the structure and philosophy of Mountain Athlete in Jackson, Wyoming. It’s high-volume, blue-collar gym time that will make you strong, fit, and tough–both mentally and physically. Workouts are usually between 50 and 75 minutes, with a dozen or so different exercises designed to improve durability and performance. And it’s always tough–no easy days, down days. Some movements are old-school grunt, like “burpees” and “sand-bag get ups,” while others are more new-wave and sport-specific like method board sessions with ice tools or plyometrics.
For each class there is a climbing-specific and a “general” workout. Either is a crippler, but the climb-specific efforts focus a bit more on core strength and forearm endurance. For ski training, ATC director Connie Sciolino says, “We’ll test, just to get a baseline and to see what our gains are later. We’ll start with lots of leg strength, which feels good at first…but after a couple weeks…” Watch out–testing is this coming Wednesday, September 29. Connie’s quick to add, “You don’t have to test to participate in the ski conditioning, but it’s a good way to gauge your progress.” Your call.
Connie tailors workouts to target a particular physiologic system, like strength or strength-endurance. Over the course of an hour victims sweat, whimper, and toil, getting an insane workout along the way. I have never been to a harder session or seen people get this fit at another gym, racing their bikes, or just working out on their own. It’s the good stuff!
Rest days and periodization is up to each athlete. Connie can certainly help tailor your season’s goals and training, but it’s up to the athlete to listen to his or her body and plan a schedule accordingly.
Injuries, you ask. Yeah, I was turned off by the sheer intensity of it at first, but if you take it easy and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, there won’t be a problem. Connie has a masters in exercise physiology and is a certified strength and conditioning coach, as well. Any questions about form and technique, she’ll spend as much time as you want answering them. She’ll also customize workouts to let you avoid injuries–like a torn elbow tendon I’ve had for the past year–or accommodate your own physical drama, whatever it is. After a year of visiting the ATC, I feel better than ever, and that’s with torn cartilage in both knees, a torn ligament in one knee, my elbow injury, and my general wussiness and advanced age (40). If i can do it, friends, you can too!
So, throw down the $150/month (unlimited classes; check the schedule for more info) and commit to a couple months of the hardest work you’ll thank yourself for doing. You’ll ski better, climb better, do just about everything better…and yeah, you’ll look better, too. If that’s your cup of tea. As you can see from the photo above (that’s me in the red shirt), I’m not exactly slaying it in the cut-and-handsome category.
See you at the ATC!
