Unless you’re able to escape to the southern hemisphere or consistently find large glaciers, the summer months can be brutal for skiers. We’re a group built for snow covered mountains and cold weather, not 100°F days and violent humidity.
We’re likely within 100 days of the ski season kicking off again, but that doesn’t mean you should just sit around waiting patiently for the snow to start falling. There are plenty of fun ways to replace the whole that skiing leaves in our lives during the warmer months, many of which will help you be a better skier when you can get on the mountain. These are 5 great warm weather sports that will keep you active, from one skier to another.
1. Running
Running is one of the cheapest ways to get outside and get a workout in, as most people can go right outside their door and only really need a pair of shoes. It’s great for your heart and lugs, improves muscle and bone strength in your legs and core, and can generally improve your mood. All of those things will be beneficial when ski season comes around, with your improved endurance and strength allowing you to last longer on the slopes.
If you’re looking for more of an adventure, trail running can be even better when you’re preparing for the ski season, strengthening the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves while building balance and coordination. If you’re new to either trail or standard running, just make sure you start slow and build your way up.
2. Hiking
Hiking, like running, can be a very cheap way to get outside. You might have to travel to a trailhead and will need some safety equipment, but short hikes don’t require a ton of gear and can be great for your legs. Specifically hiking works your glutes and quads, providing power for your ski turns.
The way to the top may be the hardest section, but coming back down provides plenty of ski support as well. Downhill hiking can help train the muscle control that will eventually protect your knees during ski descents, reducing the risk of injury on the mountain.
3. Biking
Many people point toward mountain biking as the ideal summer sport for skiers, working your balance and reaction time as you navigate technical trails and engaging your core as you make your way through rocky terrain. But if you’re like me, you prefer flat gravel trails or bike paths over technical descents and jumps.
Mountain biking, road biking, and gravel biking all work your legs, building your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves while boosting your endurance. A summer of heavy biking can easily translate into a fun winter of strong skiing.
4. Rock Climbing
Climbing isn’t the best sport out there for building your legs. In fact some people claim that building bigger legs will hinder your climbing ability. So if you’re looking for a summer activity based around bullet-proofing your knees, this probably isn’t the right choice. That said, climbing is a great for your core control and mental focus, both of which can be very helpful on the ski slopes.
Beyond that, rock climbing is a fantastic way to get outside and explore the world in a unique way. Not every summer activity needs to improve your winter skiing (though we certainly appreciate when it does).
Honorable Mention
If your goal through the rest of the summer is to get in the best possible shape for ski season, you’d better hit the gym and start lifting weights. No sport can really prepare you for the impacts of skiing like squats, lunges, and other lifts. Find what you like and start building that strength (mix in some cardio too if you want to make sure you can last all day on the trails).