SKI RDY

Odd Implements and Country Strong

If you’ve ever known a farmer or someone who does manual labor, you know they can move anything, at any angle.  They have what you call country strength. Training with odd objects can help you take your gym strength to country strength.

  • Sandbags, tires, logs and rocks can all be lifted and moved outside of the normal movement patterns you use in the gym.

  • Shouldering and pressing, lunging, and bear hug/Zercher carries are some of my favorite movements with odd implements.

  • A good way to introduce this type of training is to add 1 or 2 movements to the end of your normal workout.

    • Try bear hugging a heavy medicine ball and go for a walk.  Give it a couple of weeks and you may be surprised to see how strong your core feels.


Stay (Country) Strong,
Scott

Fitness vs Fatigue

Fitness vs Fatigue

More and more, I see athletes schedule training sessions every day of the week.  I don’t know if it’s just because they can’t sit still, they are worried about losing fitness, or for many of us exercise has become a way of escaping the stress of everyday life, but this practice is likely leading to a decrease in your performance.  

Stress-Training Continuum

Stress-Training Continuum

As I have been perusing training websites lately, overtraining seems to be a hot topic.  I know it’s hard to believe but the internet has wildly different opinions on the subject.  Several authors argue that there is no such thing as overtraining, only under recovery. Some argue that overtraining is a badge of honor.  So, what is the truth?

The Why of In-Season Training for Skiing

The Why of In-Season Training for Skiing

Now that touring season is here you may be tempted to ditch off mountain training all together.  Why it can certainly be tempting to leave resistance training and conditioning for the next several months, doing nothing but skiing can decrease your on-mountain performance, increase your risk of injury and possibly compromise your long term development as a skier.  Keep in mind:

Exercising and the Holidays

Exercising and the Holidays

This time of year can be stressful for all of us.  Between last minute shopping (only a couple of days left!), trying to assemble the kids toys, school plays, family parties, travel and everything else exercise can often be the first thing to go. Now listen closely, because I’m going to let you in on a secret known only at the highest levels of strength and conditioning.  Are you ready? Take a deep breath and relax. It’s OK. Missing some training sessions over the holidays doesn’t have to derail everything you’ve worked for.

Muscle Cramps: What Really Causes Them

Muscle Cramps: What Really Causes Them

uscle cramps can be a great way to ruin a workout or even a great night of sleep.  We often hear that cramps are caused by dehydration or electrolyte depletion during sweating. While these are important aspects of cramping, they only tell part of the story.  Two studies have shown that muscular fatigue and temperature also influence cramping.   Here are a few steps you can take to minimize your risk of cramping during exercise:

The Value of Accessory Warm Up

The Value of Accessory Warm Up

Before we can discuss the value of accessory exercises we need to spend a minute discussing the difference between core exercises and accessory exercises.  These are the big movements that involve multiple joints and muscles working in coordination with each other (squats, presses, pulls, etc.).

The Value of a Warm Up

The Value of a Warm Up

“A lion never warms up before he chases a gazelle.”  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this statement used as an explanation to why a warm up is a waste of time.  Well, you aren’t a lion and utilizing a proper warm up can be the difference between a good training session and just getting through it.  Some of the benefits are listed below:

Fueling During Workouts

Fueling During Workouts

You know what you eat before training matters, but did you know that what you eat during exercise has a huge impact on your performance?  If your training session lasts more than 60 minutes, your body will begin to deplete fuel in the muscle and begins to rely increasingly on blood sugar levels to provide energy for exercise.  Here are a few tips you can use to help with fueling:

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