There’s no denying it, skiing and snowboarding require you to use a lot of your muscles. So, after a long day on the slopes, you can feel very drained and sore. In fact, it is common to burn up to 3,000+ calories during one full day of downhill skiing or snowboarding. This means that skiing is a very intense workout.
If you know that you will be doing some skiing in the near future, here are some great ways to recover after you are done on the slopes.
Stretching
Taking a few minutes to do some stretching after a long day on the slopes is crucial for helping your body to recover. This is because stretching will help to remove the built up tension in your muscles and allow them to return to their original positions. Also, it helps to improve circulation which will increase blood flow to your muscles. This will help them to repair faster.
Get Hydrated
The human body loses water faster at higher altitudes. So, it is very important to load up on water or sports drinks with electrolytes when you are done skiing. This will help your body to recover faster. Water is needed to repair muscles and help get nutrients out of the food you consume during digestion. So, don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids after you ski, and beer doesn’t count!
Ice Baths
Taking an ice bath after skiing may sound crazy. However, ice baths can actually be extremely beneficial for assisting with recovery after a long day of skiing. The reason is because the cold temperatures will help to reduce the inflammation in the muscles. Do not stay in the ice bath for too long, however. You should only stay in it for a few minutes. If you do not have that much ice, then you can do it with cold water instead.