The Ski PT's Training Tips Start Your Season Strong

Hey Renoun family!

Ski season is just around the corner, and with resorts starting to open, there’s no better time to make sure you’re physically prepared for the slopes. Whether you’ve been training all summer or are just now realizing it’s time to get moving, it’s not too late to get yourself in ski shape before you hit that first lift.

I’m Greg Louie, also known as “The Ski PT,” and I’ve had the privilege of working with skiers at all levels, including athletes on the U.S. Ski Team. 

My focus is on helping skiers build strength, endurance, and agility to perform at their best while avoiding injuries. For the month of October, my Legaski Club has been all about final preparation for ski season , and I want to share some key training tips that will get you ready as the snow begins to fall.

Before you start thinking about carving down the mountain, you need to make sure your foundation is solid. This foundation is built on strength and mobility. The goal here is to ensure both legs have equal strength and mobility so each leg will be in control when you’re making quick turns or hitting rough terrain.

Once you’ve built your foundation then you can build on it by training explosiveness to help increase performance. This is where power training comes in. By incorporating movements like jump squats and box jumps, you’ll build the kind of quick-burst power that helps you react fast on the slopes. 

It doesn’t stop there. We need to be nimble in all directions and this is where agility comes to play. Agility includes the combination of balance, coordination, and reactivity to navigate tricky terrain like tight tree lines and bumps. Training your body to be more agile with exercises like lateral hops and varying forms of single-leg balance will improve your control and reaction time. The better your agility, the more confident you’ll feel as you tackle different types of terrain.

Skiing in powder is amazing, but when your thighs burn and you have to take rest breaks, it means someone else is stealing your untracked line. If you want to have all the freshies for yourself, you should incorporate endurance training (think wall squats and squat jumps till you can’t do them anymore) to maximize your time on snow.

Why sign up? Because getting your body prepared now will lead to better performance, less fatigue, and fewer injuries when you’re out on the slopes. Oh, and as a bonus, all paying members are automatically entered for the monthly gear giveaways where we’ve given away season passes, skis, goggles, and more!

Let’s get ready to crush this winter! Try the Legaski Club and take your skiing to new levels!