Training for Powder Riding

[ecpowrider]

All,

I live on the east coast and primarily ride in the Catskills/VT with 1 to 2 weeks in Montana and some time in Utah every season. I try to find as much pow as I can in the side/backcountry on the EC but despite that, on pow days on the west coast, my back leg is almost always fatigued and cramping on longer or less steep pow runs.

I'm wondering if there is any particular training I can do aside from the basic stuff (squats/lunges/etc.) to better prepare myself for the trips out west. Would it be a stretching/yoga routine? Introduction of specialized exercises? Not looking for an answer like "ride more pow" because I clearly ride as much as I can within reason.

I usually workout every other day so getting in the gym is no problem.

EDIT: SNOWBOARDER

Thanks

[SKIORFORGETIT]

Let the shit storm begin!!!!

[::: :::]

back leg?!?

[ecpowrider]

back leg?!?

Weight is distributed more on back leg.

[Benny Profane]

Drink heavily.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Back leg? Stop telemarking.

[Benny Profane]

PM Hugh Conway

[::: :::]

Weight is distributed more on back leg.

just giving you shit for being a snowboarder

plyo-stuff - box jumps, high knee jumps on flat for repetition
eccentric leg stuff - lunges of all stripes
squats
balance stuff - one leg throw/catch, wobble board squats etc


lots of repetitions
run a lot

[Benny Profane]

Don't forget the tall tee bro.

[::: :::]

Back leg? Stop telemarking.

stop telemarking only to the right?

[ecpowrider]

just giving you shit for being a snowboarder

plyo-stuff - box jumps, high knee jumps on flat for repetition
eccentric leg stuff - lunges of all stripes
squats
balance stuff - one leg throw/catch, wobble board squats etc


lots of repetitions
run a lot

Thanks - I do a lot of this (squat/lunge/front squat) but I don't think it simulates the constant quad activation. I think you're right about the high rep counts though. I'll start moving to that.

[Binky]

PM Hugh Conway

RIP

[PNWbrit]

Have you considered just weakening your front leg?

[Gcooker]

When you poop, pretend your doing a wall sit, minus the wall. Constant quad usage and useful pooping at the same time.

[::: :::]

Thanks - I do a lot of this (squat/lunge/front squat) but I don't think it simulates the constant quad activation. I think you're right about the high rep counts though. I'll start moving to that.

so ride switch more?

[snapt]

See Rob Shaul at Mountain Athlete's recent article about eccentric movement. It's a good starting point, google should bring it up, I think the bc.com blog had it too.

[ecpowrider]

so ride switch more?

Found it - thanks

[mall walker]

Have you considered just weakening your front leg?

This is probably the path of least resistance right here

[ecpowrider]

This is probably the path of least resistance right here

Super helpful! Thanks!!

[jmerrey]

poor guy. I learned the hard way too. check out www.newschoolers.com tons of quality info

[Rodneyyee]

so ride switch more?

While you're squatting just hit your knees and chew some skier dong!!!

"my back leg has an owie"------epic troll dude. Props.

[thewon]

Pm nopostholio.

[Danny Noonan]

Just walk everywhere in a squat - lunge - squat rhythm. People might look at you funny, but I guarantee your legs get stronger.

[looseofforangejuice]

The eccentric contraction stuff looks promising. Makes sense. May use that myself.

OP, search is your friend for answering questions like this.

On a side note, the level of Jong flaming around here is getting a little out of hand. I'd say it's fallout from HC ban and people being riled up, but then again it's not a new phenomenon.

[rod9301]

When you say you do squats, I suspect that you probably don't lift very heavy weights.

Try a leg press, and do 5-8, reps, ie the heaviest weight you can lift to do 5 reps, or 8 reps.
3 sets.

Hamstrings as well.
If you look at how world cup skiers train, you wil see heavy weights, and other stuff endurance.

I assume you built a good aerobic base@8 hours a week or so.