Bighorn has access to a staggering amount of world-class skiing, over 1 million acres of pristine powder are yours to explore. To maximize enjoyment of your heliski experience, fitness is paramount. It’s not too late to build strength, improve stamina and encourage flexibility for this season. Our Bighorn fitness expert advises that you can make a real difference to your overall fitness in as little as 6 weeks.
Heliskiing is a full body workout and whilst many people focus on leg strength, training your whole body will ensure you are gaining true control of your movement. Angela Parker, owner of Body Inspired Fitness in Los Angeles advises, “properly training your core as well as your arms and back will take your skiing to the next level”.
Incorporating cardio activity such as running, cycling or swimming will also boost your performance, especially as you’ll be exerting yourself at altitude.
Many people forget to stretch after exercise, but this is equally as important as the work out itself. Thorough stretching will increase your flexibility, giving you better mobility in all joints. This in turn will allow you to be stronger over a greater range of movement. You will also be less susceptible to injury.
Try the following training programme 3 times per week to improve your overall ski fitness ready for the holiday of a lifetime:
- Squat jump 10-12 reps
- Push up hold and row 30 reps (15 rows on each arm)
- Lunge jumps 20-24 reps (10-12 on each leg)
- Russian twists 30 reps (15 on each side)
- Lateral jumps 20 reps (10 on each leg)
- Deck jumps onto a fixed platform 10 reps
Then take a 60 second rest and repeat the set as many times as you can in 30 minutes.
Now stretch…
Quads – lie on your stomach and bending you right knee gently pull your foot back to your butt with your right hand, hold or 30 seconds, then repeat on the left side.
Hamstrings – lie on your back with your knees bent raise and feet on the floor. Raise one leg straight up and gently pull towards you. Hold for 30 seconds and then repeat on the other side.
Back – on your hands and knees raise and round your back towards the ceiling and hold for 30 seconds.
Shoulders – standing straight clasp your hands behind your back and lift them away from your body, hold for 30 seconds.