Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1489591
24 WAC Magazine | wac.net Instructor Insights With WAC Personal Trainer Darrick Kung e colder months are here, and that means prime time for winter sports. Avid snowboarder and longtime WAC Personal Trainer Darrick Kung shares his insights on how to stay in shape—and prevent injuries—this season. Whether you're hitting resort trails, carving backcountry bowls, or kicking and gliding on the flats, when it comes to snow sports, Darrick says "physical readiness" is crucial. Preventing injuries A successful and injury-free season on the slopes requires conditioning, and that means practice and repetition. Decon- ditioned skiers and boarders are prone to muscle imbalances, spasms, and slow recovery. e more our muscles and heart are conditioned, the longer you'll be able to stay on the slopes. I usually recommend a couple of months of strength and cardio training before ski season. If it's already too late for that, aim for a couple of weeks of core and cardio training. Four to five sessions on the ski erg or elliptical will pay dividends. Try the ski erg On this page, I demonstrate proper use of the ski erg machine (pictured at right). Located on the 4th Floor in Coed Fitness, the ski erg emulates the motion and resistance felt while skiing, improving power threshold, technique, and cardio. For getting up to speed, staying conditioned, and improving performance, the ski erg is your best friend this season. Achieving peak performance e same exercises you used to get in shape will also help you stay in shape. Individuals who focus on speed, strength, agility, and technique will see optimum performance output. I recom- mend at least two full-body workouts per week, emphasizing strength training, mobility exercises, and the ski erg. Lower-body strength exercises aid core stability and balance. I also recom- mend yoga and other mobility-focused workouts twice weekly. Mind your form! Maintaining proper form on your skis and board will serve you well. Keep your head up, shoulders and hips back, core tight, and knees slightly bent. In this position, we're in a more ideal posture to speed up, turn, and make sudden stops while minimizing force on the knees, lower back, and neck. —WAC Personal Trainer Darrick Kung can be reached at dkung@wac.net. Look for him on the slopes of Crystal Mountain or Mount Baker this season. living fit instructor insights SAVE ON THE SLOPES In partnership with Crystal Mountain ski resort, WAC members receive 30 percent off on lift tickets this season.* Members may acquire their discount code on wac.net/crystal-mountain. Mind your knees! Keep them bent, but don't let them cave inward or go past your toes. This exercise hinges at the hips. Make sure to move your hips when driving the handles downward. Maintain a firm grip on the handles at all times. E M I L I O H U E R TA S *WAC discount valid Monday–Friday. Discount cannot be redeemed weekends, holidays, or January 16–20. No refunds. Ensure your feet stay flat and firmly planted on the platform during the movement.