Pro Tips for Staying Safe from Shred to Bed
The fresh powder here and ski and snowboard season is well under way! Dr. Karmali has some #protips for you to heed from shred to bed:
1] A dynamic warm up is key – before strapping on your boots, hold on to a bar or rail and perform 30 forward-to-backward leg swings, followed by 30 side-to-side leg swings. Next, find a stable piece of ground and perform 30 on-the-spot high-knees, followed by 30 butt-kicks, both with some haste. The goal here is to power up the muscles you intend to use for the day, including your heart.
2] In addition to having appropriate safety gear on your person and being equipped with protection from the elements, including the sun, ensure that you take a number of breaks through the day. Listen to your body. Don’t try to be a hero. Take the opportunity to “re-fuel” with some water or electrolytes before you hop onto the gondola again. Pure coconut water (no sugar added) is an exceptional natural source of electrolytes. Taking breaks will also help you ward off the fatigue that will inevitably set in after a few long runs… Unless you have magical Scandinavian genes and can go all day. In all seriousness, there’s a reason why injuries on the hill typically occur near the end of the day. Stay fresh, stay safe.
3] At the end of the day, don’t just hit the showers and jump into bed. Get the fireplace crackling and take 15 minutes to engage in active recovery, or what I like to call “floor work”. Grab a mat or rug and work on your low back, hip, and knee mobility. If you want to carve on day 2 without falling apart, active recovery should be part of your apres-ski routine.
