How To Warm Up For Skiing & Snowboarding
Alright, I’m going to be totally honest with you.
I know for sure that I should warm up before I go snowboarding, but I rarely do. Every so often, I’ll do a couple of random stretches, some 80’s style leg swings and a few air squats. There’s no strategy behind it, but I figure that something is better than nothing.
Sound familiar?
My nonchalant attitude comes from doing something without purpose or reason. So I hit up Coach Ziggy Dukes from Remarkables CrossFit to create a warm-up routine specifically designed for skiers and snowboarders. At the end of the day, I want to make sure I’m out there shredding it up on the mountain and enjoying it for as long as I possibly can.
How does warming up before skiing or snowboarding help?
I’m glad you asked.
Warming up your body gets the cardiovascular system going and warms up the muscles that you will be using for an activity. In this case, skiing and snowboarding.
By increasing your body and muscle temperature, you will increase blood flow to your muscles. This also increases the rate of energy production.
Higher muscle temps result in improved contraction and reflex times.
The likelihood of soft tissue injuries (tendons, muscles and ligaments) are less likely.
Coach Ziggy is a skier and a snowboarder who started CrossFit training at the age of 15. By 17, he had completed his CrossFit level 1 training and begun coaching. Through continued education, practice and refinement, Ziggy is now one of only a handful of CrossFit level 3 trainers in New Zealand as well as an OPEX fitness associate coach, CrossFit Strongman trainer and CrossFit mobility trainer.
Ziggy has worked all across the globe, including the UK, New Zealand, US and Saudi Arabia, with athletes and clients of all ages and abilities. His clients have ranged from CEO’s of multinational corporations and CrossFit Games athletes to full-time Mums, grandparents who just want to keep up with their grandkids and everyone in between. Currently, Ziggy is working with a former British Olympian snowboarder.
Ziggy knows what he’s talking about!
Ziggy’s warm-up routine is made up of three different exercises, specifically designed to engage and target the muscle groups used during skiing or snowboarding. This routine can be done in just 12 minutes, so no excuses folks!
I’m certainly motivated and excited to commit to a warm up routine knowing that it is designed specifically for snowboarding and skiing. How about you?
Give it a go and let me know!
We’ve also put together a video on the best foam roller exercies and stretches that you can do after a day of skiing and snowboarding so make sure you check that out too.
Jen
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Jen spends most of her time following Mick around the mountain, often unintentionally off jumps and cliff drops. Currently on a mission to prove that you’re never too old to try freestyle. Aside from snowboarding, a little obsessed about tattoos, CrossFit, saving animals, learning to play the guitar and clean eating. Web designer and digital marketing nerd.
