An excerpt from “I Am Sam”, 11/9/07
"Yeah, how are your muscles doing?
They’re doing good, I’ve been working out so much, like twice a day. I don’t have anything to do right now, because I’m done school so I have nothing to do so I just sit at home and think, well, I might as well be at the gym getting strong for the season.
Uh-oh, you go to the gym twice a day? Some kids might hate on you now and call you a ski jock, haha.
Yo, fuck that, I don’t go to the gym and lift weights. When I go to the gym I just laugh at all the big dummies with the huge energy drinks and protein shakes. I just do stuff with the medicine ball like core workouts. "
So after reading this, being a two time torn ACL recipient myself, I thought, why wouldn’t he want to lift weights (legs mostly) during the off season? And what is wrong with being a skier jock as long as you are skiing hard and having fun? With their crazy competition schedule and all the powder, large cliffs, and jumps during the season wouldn’t pros want to “beef up” in addition to their core and balance exercises they may or may not already do? I saw the Freeskier podcast with Tanner during the summer and he trains on the trampoline and water ramps. He also mentioned he would go to the Olympic training center and train there. I have seen the US Olympic skiers/athletes workout and it is extremely intense. I am pretty sure that if the pros trained like that during the off-season or occasionally during the season they would see a significant increase in skill, stamina, and (most importantly) injury prevention.
*Disclaimer*
I wasn’t trying to single Sammy out with this thread, but it is something I have been thinking about for awhile. I can also make the educated guess that Tanner probably performed pretty much the same training as the Olympic athletes at the training center. I’m sure lots of pros don’t lift weights and some just run, skateboard, etc. during the off-season. I also realize that there is technically no off-season any more since there is Snow Park in New Zealand. I am aware that I am equating; being in better shape = better skier. I know this is going to be different with everyone. I also realize that the best way to get better at skiing is to ski or rollerblade, jk.
So my question is: Who are the pro skiers that lift weights during and/or before the season and what is their routine?
(I would prefer answers from people who actually know or very good speculation)
Also check this out, if you haven already
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uef31X3QGSQ&feature=related