athlete Blog and Journals

So if there's one thing we Canadians on the West Coast look forward to this winter (besides being graced by the presence of the world's finest Athletes this February) it's the snow. Beautiful, majestic, fluffy, fantastic snow!

If there's one more thing we look forward to, it's snowboarding!

I'm really fortunate to live in the Okanagan Valley which is basically the next best thing to Whistler (Big White, SilverStar, Sun Valley, Crystal Mountain, etc.)

Perhaps you've never boarded before and maybe want to give'r a try this winter! By all means go for it! Just make sure you know what you're getting into beforehand because.. well.. it's a doozy! You won't know if you don't try!

#1 Start working out now!: Nothing is worse than going snowboarding and running out of gas trying to play catch up with your friends. Research a bit, maybe hit the gym, start running intervals to get your cardio up. Do some strength training while you're at it! You don't need to have a gym pass to do this. Just a set of stairs, MAYBE a swiss ball (those big ass balls you throw at each other), If you have a treadmill rad, if not, a road will do. Start somewhere and build it up every second day. Don't go balls to the wall and hurt yourself. Here's a few workout recommendations, you can research ANYTHING on line to help out!
Best advice any coach ever gave me was STRETCH!!!!!! before you workout and after and drink TONS of water!

Squats - get your legs at hip length apart while standing up. make it look like you're going to sit on a toilet keeping your knees bent at 90 degrees (thats a corner of a square for those mathletes out there) then return to standing position.

Lunges - stand up, legs hip length apart, take one step forward keeping both legs at 90 degree angles. Catch your balance and use your abs to keep you stable. Return to standing position and alternate legs.

Crunches/Side Crunches - just like a regular crunch BUT lift your legs so your knees are bent 90 degrees (we're all about the math) and your calves are parallel (side by side) to the floor and what you're going to so use your tummy muscles (abs) to lift your shoulder blades and head off the ground. Then SLOWLY release back down using your tummy muscles.
To do the side crunches, same thing, just have your hands behind your head, elbows bent out and you're going to touch opposite elbow to opposite knee.

Push Ups - pretty straight forward. Use your arms to push your body weight off the ground. If you can't do the full military push up (most of us can't it's fine! you can build up to it), you can push up off your knees instead of your toes and do twice as many reps for the same effect.

Calve Raises - basically, stand on the edge of a stair or a stable bench or box on the balls of your feet with your heels hanging off. Then stand on your tippy toes as high as you can and lower as loooow as you can. This will give you killer calves and will help with balance.

Another thing to is balance. Sooooo if you try standing on one foot with your eyes closed, this will really help with your balance. Eventually you can upgrade to the stairs or a box.

Tricep Dips - (I HATE THESE...but they work like nothing else!) These are going to hurt the first few times, much like boarding! what your going to do is like a reverse push up. Sit on a bench or a stair and you're going to support ALL of your weight on your hands and arms as you slide your body off the bench. A little scary at first, but worth it. Keep yous elbows at 90 degrees and your knees bent at 90 degrees as well. Your going to use your arms to dip down and pull yourself back up.

Not only will these help you out A LOT, you'll also look pretty hot by the time all is said and done. Also this helps out a lot to fight off the Halloween candy/Turkey bulge/ Fruitcake overload for the next few holidays.

Do 3 sets of 7 repetitions each to start off 2-3 times a week with at least one days rest in between and gradually boost it up to 15 repetitions.
Try running, walking, jogging, spinning (stationary bike) at least a half hour a day 3 times a week and you'll notice how strong you get!

DON'T FORGET TO STRETCH, BREATHE, AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER! Dehydration is a bad new sandwich.

#2 Be Confident, Not Cocky!: There is nothing worse than prepping for the hill for a good time with your friends. But when you have that ONE downer, the whole trip could be disasterous. If it is your first time going up, don't complain! Be stoked!!! Be energetci and be willing to learn! You're going to fall on your ass regardless just don't think about it as often. Nothing beats a downer like a "Can Do Attitude!"

#3 HAVE FUN! Just because you may not be able to land a 1080 the first time you jump off a kicker is no reason to pout for the rest of the day. Rome wasn't built overnight and practice does make you better, but not perfect. Just go out, who cares if you look like a goomba. You're with friends, making memories and enjoying the beautiful weather. What's better?

#4 Finish the day with hot chocolate or tea or coffee. It allllllllways makes the day better. We like our Timmy Ho's, but Starbucky's works just dandy.

#5 HAVE A GOOD PLAYLIST ON YOUR iPOD: This is vital! nothing gets your more pumped than a good playlist! Here's a few of my faves:
Artist                                                                      Song
Alexisonfire                                            This Could Be Anywhere in the World
Johnny Cash                                                          Ring of Fire
Relient K                                                       So Hate Consequences
Paramore                                                               Pressure
Thursday                                                    Understanding in a Car Crash
Motion City Soundtrack                                       My Favorite Accident
Cobra Starship                                                    Guilty Pleasure
Death From Above 1975                                    Go Home, Get Down
The Dollyrots                                                      Brand New Key
3OH!3                                                             Richman/Punkbitch
Katy Perry                                                            Fingerprints
Kings of Leon                                                       Manhatten
Lily Allen                                                                  LDN
New Found Glory                                                Head on Collision
Fall Out Boy                                         I Slept With Someone in Fall Out Boy...
Brand New                                                         Seventy Times 7
System of a Down                                                  Pizza Pie
Tegan and Sara                                                 Like O, Like H
The Ting Tings                                                That's Not My Name
Lady Gaga                                                      Beautiful, Dirty, Rich
Killswitch Engage                                              End of Heartache
Jack's Mannequin                                                   Spinning
All Time Low                                                 Dear Maria, Count Me In
Hit The Lights                                                       Breathe In
Hey Monday                                                     Hurricane Streets
Flyleaf                                                                I'm So Sick
Benny Benassi ft Public Enemy                    Bring the Noise (Pumpkin Remix)
Billy Talent                                                        Try Honesty
Flogging Molly                                                Drunken Lullabies
Set Your Goals                                                Put Yo Hood Up
Say Anything                                                          Woe
Gallows                                                        In the Belly of a Shark

Is there any sport out there you want to try but haven't had the chance to yet?
Mine's been surfing. I would love to surf one day!

xo

DON'T FORGET TO STRETCH!! Just not too much.. Ch-Chickity Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself!