Top Athletes Reveal Their Tips for an Epic Day on the Slopes

Elycia Rubin March 3, 2020

Ski season is roaring and there’s still plenty of time to pound those pistes. Here, world-class athletes share how to maximize a day of carving, bombing and shredding the gnar.

Our Athletes

Caroline Gleich

When she’s not successfully climbing Mount Everest with a torn ACL, this professional ski mountaineer and activist is skinning up mountains and revelling in the Utah backcountry. Follow her @carolinegleich.

Gideon Akande

Highly sought after for his motivational style and infectious energy, this nationally recognized fitness and health authority inspires all ages to achieve their personal best. Follow him @getfitwithgiddy.

Rob Lea

This triathlete and mountaineer broke a record for being the first person to swim the English Channel and climb Mount Everest in a single year. Follow him @rob.lea.

Photos courtesy of Caroline Gleich, Gideon Akande and Rob Lea

Prepare Your Body

“Maximize your enjoyment on the slopes (and minimize any risk of injury) with a total body workout that emphasizes your core and legs,” says Gideon Akande. “This will not only allow for greater control as you carve the mountain, but it allows you to do it more often because your trained muscles won’t be as fatigued or sore as those that are unprepared. Exercises like lunges with lateral spinal flexion or squats with balanced rotation are great because they both challenge you in multiple planes of motion. Workouts and full exercise programs like those found in the iFIT technology featured on NordicTrack’s Fusion CST are perfect for all athletes, especially skiers. On the Fusion CST, iFIT elite trainers take athletes of all fitness levels through multi-planar resistance training. The technology also automatically changes your resistance levels to exactly where you need to be to maximize your efforts – so you can be sure to safely and effectively build muscle while improving body mechanics and awareness. The versatility of iFIT’s robust workout library and the quality of its featured elite trainers prepare you not only for the slopes, but for anything life throws your way,” he adds.

Get Up Early

“The early bird gets the fresh powder or fresh corduroy (snow surface on groomers) as we like to call it,” says Caroline Gleich and Rob Lea (who recently got married). “I think you just ski better in the morning and you’re less likely to get injured then, too,” says Gleich.

Fuel Up

“Before skiing, my go-to is a cup of RX A.M. Oats. It has 8 simple ingredients and the oats are a reliable slow burning source of snow-carving fuel,” says Akande.

Obsess Over The Weather

“Check the weather to layer appropriately. It will help you plan your day and know what to expect. This means monitoring the weather the night before and the morning you are heading out to see if it’s changed. If it’s going to be stormy, make sure you have goggle wipes and a low-light lens so you can see well (or consider a photochromatic lens that automatically adjusts),” says Lea. “For layering, we like to wear added layers that are made of thinner material so we can adjust. Start with a synthetic or wool base layer (avoid cotton as it doesn’t dry as quickly and could make you even colder). Add a mid-layer like a fleece or puffy, and top it off with a shell. If it’s extra cold, wear another layer. Remember, it’s going to get cooler as you go higher up the mountain (temperatures decrease as you increase elevation), so you’ll probably feel warm at first but that can quickly change the higher you go. If the weather is warm and you’re spring skiing, you can get away with just wearing your base layer and a shell,” adds Gleich.

Keep Quality Snacks in Your Pockets

“We’re loving CLIF Bar’s new Coffee Collection. They’re super tasty and contain organic coffee beans (about an espresso shot of caffeine) sourced from Colombia in partnership with Sustainable Harvest® to help keep you going,” says Gleich.

Protect Your Skin

“Don’t underestimate the power of the sun’s rays, even during wintertime and when it’s cloudy outside. I usually have two lip balms with me at all times to prevent chapped lips, and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen throughout the day,” says Gleich.

Store Gear Properly

“Be sure to take your ski boots, goggles, gloves, and other items inside so they can dry out. Consider putting boots on dryers or close to heater vents. No one wants to step into a wet, soggy boot liner in the morning and in cold temps, that mistake will freeze your toes,” says Gleich.

Hydrate All Day

“Drink extra water throughout the day and be careful with alcohol. Most ski areas are at high altitude, so the alcohol will affect you more. Remember you came here to ski, so après ski responsibly,” says Lea.