How to Thrive While Skiing

Skiing is one of my favorite ways to stay active during the winter months. I find the repetition of the turns combined with the gliding very meditative.

For me, it requires a mixture of focus and relaxation.

Skiing is physically and mentally taxing. It is important to keep your body hydrated to prevent fatigue and muscle soreness. 
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Read below to learn some simple tips for how to support your body to maintain endurance and strength and save money!

Physical Stamina

Hydration: lots of filtered water is good, but something with electrolytes and trace minerals are even better.

I use Nuun Hydration tablets interchangabley with trace mineral liquid drops

Nuun Hydration

Trace Minerals

Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade contain many artificial ingredients as well as sucrose and dextrose which can spike your blood sugar leading to crashes, which you absolutely do not want while skiing!

Be sure to bring a backpack with a reusable water bottle. Ski lodges have places to fill up your water. ​

Après Ski Recovery 

Lets face it, you've probably had a couple the night before. It's hard to resist the après ski vibes when you're winding down your skiing. ​

​Supplement Regime

 
Morning
Before breakfast: 1 glass of lemon water + Trace minerals,  B vitamins, Zinc
Breakfast: Balanced meal with proteins, fat & carbs + Astaxanthin 

• EX:
  • 1 egg, 2 pieces of turkey bacon + 1/2 avocado        or 
  • Smoothie with: frozen cherries, L glutamine powder, protein powder, 1/2 avocado, filtered water
    • I don't usually recommend cold smoothies in the winter, but they're ok for spring skiing 

Snacks: Sip on water/ hydration drink
Lunch: Digestive enzyme + balanced meal with proteins, fat & carbs

• EX: Veg or turkey Chili or some sort of stew

Snacks: Nuts, pumpkin seeds, protein bars
Dinner: Digestive enzyme + Balanced meal with proteins, fat & carbs 

• ​EX: Veg/Chicken Curry with rice

​Desert: Recovery Hot Chocolate (see below)

Eating at ski lodges can be very expensive, and many ski lodges only offer fast food.

I usually pack my own wrap or sandwich that I have made beforehand. 

If you have a partner and are super hungry, split a soup or chili between the 2 of you and eat your packed lunch. If you're not that hungry, buy a tea to warm up and be a patron. 

Supplements explained

B Vitamins: Energy production
Zinc: Immunity, healing & repair
Magnesium: Muscle recovery and repair
Potassium: Electrolyte that is depleted with intense physical exercise 
Astaxanthin: Used as an internal sunblock as well as a post workout supplement and anti-inflammatory
L-Glutamine: Post-workout supplement, good for sealing gut lining 
Digestive Enzyme: To help break down and absorb food
​Ashwaghanda: Adaptogenic herb that alleviates post-workout fatigue and supports adrenals
Collagen: Bone and joint health

Recovery Hot Chocolate:
​

• 1.5 cups of almond or coconut milk
• 1.5 tsp Botanica Reishi Hot Chocolate Powder
• 200mg of powdered magnesium bisglycinate
• 1-2 scoops of powdered marine collagen
• 1 tsp ashwaghanda powder

Heat in pot on the stove, stir until all of the ingredients have combined.

Botanica Website

What to pack

Homemade Trail Mix

I bring a backpack that can fit over my ski jacket and fill it with:

• A reusable water bottle 
• Protein Bars (homemade if I have time)
• Homemade trail mix
• Homemade Sandwich/wrap
• Tissues
• Natural Zinc-based Sunscreen
• Lip Balm (I use Plenty and Spare)

I buy my nuts and seeds in bulk (about 90% organic) and store them in large glass containers. My favorite ski mix includes:

• Pumpkin Seeds 
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Dried Montmorency tart cherries
• 70% dark cacao nibs

Plenty and Spare

All good Sunscreen