A woman skiing down a snowy slope, wearing a pink jacket, black pants, a black hat, and goggles, with a yellow backpack.
Two people wearing winter gear and backpacks skiing on a snowy mountain landscape with snow-covered peaks in the background under a clear sky.

SKI & SNOWBOARD

SPECIFIC TRAINING

Why Ski and Snowboard-Specific Training Beats General Fitness Every Time

Skiing and snowboarding challenge your body in ways that general fitness classes or standard strength training simply don’t prepare you for.

Mountain performance requires more than general fitness—it demands power, strength and stability that transfer directly to the slopes.

Here’s why ski and snowboard-specific training matters so much more than a standard workout routine:

START TRAINING

Green circle with a check mark inside

Mountain Strength has Unique Requirements

Green circular icon with a downward arrow in the center.
Snow-covered mountain peaks with a foggy base and a clear sky above.

Traditional training may help build muscle and cardiovascular endurance, but they don’t necessarily replicate the forces your legs and core face on snow. Skiing and snowboarding require your muscles to stay under tension for long periods while constantly adjusting to terrain changes.

You won’t just feel stronger—you’ll ride smoother, stay in control, and last longer on the mountain.

Your programming should focus on:
  • Eccentric leg strength to absorb landings and maintain control on descents.

  • Glute and hamstring endurance for stability and power throughout long runs.

  • Core and oblique strength to help you stay balanced and strong through every turn.

  • Explosive power to charge through dynamic changes in terrain

Week 01

Welcome to week 1 of our Winter Training Program! This week is all about testing.


We will be finding 3 rep maxes of all our main strength movements as well as testing our conditioning.

Remember; It's week 1, no need to be a hero. Prioritize quality movement over load and understand we are building for the long term.

If you have any questions please leave us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Day 01

Strength (Determine three rep, Max)

Establish a 3 rep max. Warm up with 1 set of 10 repetitions and 1 set of 6 repetitions. Then take 3-5 attempts to find your 3 rep max.


Front Squat
Warm up with one set of 10 reps and a second set of 5 reps. Then take 3-5 attempts at establishing a three rep max.

Conditioning AMRAP

As many rounds and reps as possible (AMRAP) in 15 minutes
Push up - 5 reps
Sit up - 10 reps
Airsquats - 15 reps

Day 02

Strength

Warm up with one set of 10 reps and a second set of 5 reps. Then take 3-5 attempts at establishing a three rep max.
Barbell push press

Conditioning AMRAP

Perform max amount of pull ups in 2 minutes, then rest for 5 minutes. After resting, accumulate as many calories as possible on the echo bike in 5 minutes.
pull ups - 2 mins
Echo bike - 5 mins

Day 03

Strength

Establish a 3 rep max. Warm up with 1 set of 10 repetitions and 1 set of 6 repetitions. Then take 3-5 attempts to find your 3 rep max.
Barbell deadlift

Conditioning

00:20 sprints on the echo bike with 1:40 of rest between sprints. Score is total amount of calories accumulated at the end of 20 minutes.
Echo bike

Day 04

Strength

Establish a 3 rep max. Warm up with 1 set of 10 repetitions and 1 set of 6 repetitions. Then take 3-5 attempts to find your 3 rep max.
barbell bench press

Conditioning EMOM (Every Minute On the Minute)

Alternate between max body weight step ups and a 200m run every minute on the minute for 16 minutes. Score is total amount of body weight step ups completed over the 16 minutes.
Step up - 1 min | run - 1 min

Day 05

Strength

Warm up with one set of 10 reps and a second set of 5 reps. Then take 3-5 attempts at establishing a three rep max.
Barbell thruster

Conditioning Interval

Perform max amount of bare bar thrusters in 2 minutes, then rest for 5 minutes. After resting, accumulate as many burpees as possible in 5 minutes.
barbell thrusters - 2 mins
burpees - 5 mins

SKI_SNOWBOARD TRAINING PLAN

A skier in a yellow jacket skiing down a snow-covered slope surrounded by snow-covered trees.
Woman performing a barbell squat in a gym, seen through a mirror.

Get Slope-Ready with the Evergreen.

Download our App to unlock structured skiing & snowboarding training plan — designed to build the strength, endurance, and resilience you need for the mountains.

- Step-by-step training schedule tailored for skiers & snowboarders

- Guided strength, cardio, and recovery workouts

- Expert tips on load management, mobility, & injury prevention

How to Prevent Injuries While Training for Skiing & Snowboarding

Two climbers ascending a snow-covered mountain slope with rocky cliffs in the background, wearing helmets, gloves, and outdoor gear.

Skiing and snowboarding place stress on knees, hips, and back. Smart preseason training helps by:


The key to preventing injuries while training for skiing and snowboarding is combining strength work, mobility drills, and progressive loading. Here’s how:

- Build leg and glute strength with squats, lunges, and step-ups to protect your knees on steep descents

- Train your core and lower back with planks, carries, and anti-rotation movements for stability under a heavy pack
- Add ankle and hip mobility drills to improve balance on uneven terrain and reduce the risk of sprains

- Progress your pack weight and mileage gradually instead of jumping into long, heavy hikes too quickly

- Include at least one day per week of active recovery (mobility, foam rolling, light walking) to reduce overuse injuries

Preparing your body in advance ensures your hiking training plan builds strength without breaking you down, so you arrive at the trail feeling confident, not injured.

FAQ’s

  • To get in shape for ski season, focus on a preseason ski training plan that combines strength, cardio, and balance. Leg exercises like squats and lunges build power, while endurance cardio prepares you for long days on the slopes. Add core and mobility drills to stay injury-free.

  • Most skiers need 8–12 weeks of consistent training to feel fully prepared, but even 4–6 weeks can make a difference. The more time you give yourself, the more you can build strength, improve endurance, and reduce the risk of injuries when the season starts.

  •  If you only have a month, focus on high-impact preseason ski exercises: bodyweight squats, lunges, core stability drills, and short interval cardio sessions. Training 4–5 days per week with a mix of strength and endurance work can noticeably boost fitness in just 30 days.

  • An 8-week ski training plan should balance strength, cardio, and mobility. Dedicate two days to leg and core strength, two days to endurance cardio or intervals, and one day to balance and plyometric training. This structure builds the stamina and stability needed for the mountain.

  •  Start your ski preseason training 8–12 weeks before your first day on the slopes. This gives your body time to adapt, build leg power, and develop balance, so you perform better and stay injury-free once the season kicks in.

  • The best ski exercises are squats, lunges, plyometrics, and core drills. These movements build explosive power, stability, and agility — all essential for carving turns, absorbing impact, and handling variable terrain.

  • Prevent knee injuries by strengthening glutes, hamstrings, and quads, while also improving hip and ankle mobility. A balanced ski workout plan lowers the risk of ACL tears and keeps your knees stable on the slopes.

  •  Yes. Skiing and snowboarding require explosive power, balance, and rotational strength that general workouts don’t cover. Ski-specific strength training ensures your muscles and joints are ready for the unique demands of the mountain.

  • Practice single-leg drills, rotational core exercises, and BOSU ball work. These moves simulate the shifting weight and edge control of snowboarding, helping you ride with more control and stability.