With forecasts increasingly focused on the potential impacts of a Super El Niño, Outdoor Adventure Training is encouraging skiers to focus less on the seasonal predictions and more on preparing their bodies for winter.
While no long-range forecast can guarantee how much snow any individual resort will receive, trainer Mikey Bell encourages skiers to start preparing now for whatever winter might deliver.
Mobility Should Come First
Mobility should be a major part of preseason ski preparation. Bell highlights ankle dorsiflexion as particularly important for maintaining forward pressure in ski boots. Limited mobility can contribute to skiing in the back seat, increased quad fatigue, and potentially a greater risk of injury.
Hip mobility is also important for achieving proper angulation and getting skis on edge. Bell recommends making mobility work a regular part of both preseason training and in-season recovery.
Skiing Requires More Than Strength
Skiing places repeated eccentric loads on the quads and hamstrings throughout a day on the mountain. Bell describes skiing as a fatigue resistance sport rather than simply a test of maximum strength.
Building muscular endurance can help skiers maintain performance later in the day and during consecutive days on the mountain.
Balance and agility are also key components of ski fitness. Bell points to research involving recreational skiers that found lower extremity agility and balance were important predictors of injury.
Recovery Could Be Critical During Deep Snow Cycles
If El Niño delivers extended periods of heavy snowfall, skiers may be tempted to spend multiple consecutive days on the mountain.
Recovery should be part of the plan from the start, with active stretching, mobility work, foam rolling, hydration, and proper nutrition all helping skiers prepare for demanding days and recovery afterward.