The Skier in Summer

How does this skier stay sane in summer? By staying fit, and keeping winter snows in his imagination. And, by traveling to New Zealand.

Okay, let's understand this. I'm a skier. Skiing is first, foremost and forever for me.

That makes summer difficult. Indeed, I've grown to abhor summer.

I don't endure heat very well at - and certainly not the humid heat we suffer in NJ.

I don't swim - the water's too wet. I like my water frozen.

I played tennis for most of my life - til it nearly wrecked my feet with plantar fasciatus.

My softball career recently ended when I noticed that I was fielding the ball several seconds after it had passed me.

So, what's a skier to do?

Well, certainly one can go to the Southern Hemisphere. And, in fact, I will in August be heading to New Zealand. You can expect a full report on both North and South Island skiing.

But, in the meantime?

I run. I run, and run, and while I run, I envision myself on a long, winding mountain road with snowfields towering over me. At one point in my outdoor route, I'm running through a park where there are widely spaced trees. I run around those, imagining them to be ski racing gates. It helps me practice my body alignment for turns.

I often run on treadmill, too. When I do, I run in incline as much as possible. Going uphill builds the quadriceps, skiing's most important muscles. All the while, I imagine I'm hot-shotting through mogul fields.

Running keeps me active and in shape. Come October and November, I begin doing thrusts and sideways power jumping.

Boring, yes.

But, when winter finally re-arrives, I've stayed in skiing shape as best I could, and I'm as ready as I can be to make the most out of what's always too short a season.

Related Article - Staying Ski/Snowboard Fit