With the ski season fast approaching in the Northern Hemisphere and the snow already starting to fall in the Alps and the Rockies, it’s time to start thinking about that pre-season training.
For some, the prospect of a full winter’s skiing or snowboarding can be a daunting thought. Soon comes the internal monologue – am I fit enough?… am I strong enough?… haven’t made it to the gym in 2 months…
Ok maybe we’re talking from personal experience, but the notion still stands and it’s good to prepare for your time on the mountain.
GET OUTSIDE!
Strength training in the gym is perfect for maintaining overall core and leg strength, but doing regular cardio will help massively with your general fitness and stamina for long demanding days on the hill.
Whether you’re into riding bikes, running trails or doing local hikes, getting outside for some fresh air and headspace is a great excuse for boosting that heart rate and getting rad!
New Zealand’s dramatic Southern Alps are the ultimate playground for adventure seekers and mountain lovers alike. So what better to get you inspired to head into the Great Outdoors than some incredible rugged terrain and quiet trails from our backyard?
TRAIL RUNNING IN THE SOUTHERN LAKES
Avid trail runner, outdoor enthusiast and author/creator of Adventure Venture, US-born Erica Clapp thrives off living in the heart of the mountains and surrounding herself with people that also feed off the adrenaline of sweet mountain-top highs!
Long trading her Chicago business casual wardrobe for a coffee covered barista apron in Wanaka, she tells us why getting out on those hills is one of her favourite things to do in offseason, and why it’s so important for her well-being (in her Mons merino base no less!).
“A short drive to the far side of Lake Hawea lands me at a favourite trail that provides ridge-line views within an hour. As I get going my legs speed up and my mind slows down and I begin to gain perspective as I slip between the beech forest and navigate the razor-sharp ridges of these colossal mountain giants.
My time spent running trails rejuvenates my tired mind and resets my sense of balance from the chaos of the day. I’m reminded of what it means to be small yet powerful, extraordinary yet insignificant.
I run harder and faster until I can feel my heartbeat throbbing in my fingertips and the burn of the cool evening air in my lungs. I stop on the ridge to enjoy the quiet and stillness of the mountain top, enjoying the private light show as the sun slowly tucks away into the folds of the western ranges.
I’m euphoric and buoyant, and capable and proud but more than anything, I’m humbled. I’m grateful for existing exactly as I am at this moment. I’m grateful for the freedom I have that allows me to pick a mountain and run to the top.”
READ ERICA’S FULL ODE TO TRAIL RUNNING HERE →
