You just spent the day soaring down the mountain, floating through a foot of fresh powder, carving quick turns, and tackling moguls. Your body is pleasantly exhausted and your muscles are tight, so here is a great sequence of stretches to do after a day of skiing or riding to relieve soreness.
If you'd rather skip a run than hit the treadmill, then there's no doubt you're continuing with your outdoor runs even through this brisk and snowy Winter weather. That doesn't mean you're not dealing with some discomfort along the way. I've given you some tips on how to beat burning lungs, but if it's your feet that are bothering you, here are some ways to avoid numb toes.
First, consider your socks. You can't get away with wearing the same thin, ankle-length wicking socks you sported in the warmer months. Splurge on some thicker knee-highs; socks made of wool will keep your feet warm and dry. Be sure your socks aren't too tight as that can cut off circulation (go up a size to be sure). You can also try compression socks to improve circulation in your feet and legs.
If you're already wearing thicker socks, you'll probably want to go up half a size in your sneaks to accommodate the extra fabric. If you don't, the snug fit of your shoe might be the sole cause of your tingling feeling. Choose sneakers designed for colder, wetter weather (think waterproof Gore-tex) to protect your toes from the snow. Tie your shoes slightly looser because as you warm up, your feet will swell, and too-tight laces can cause that annoying numb sensation.
Continue reading for more tips on avoiding numb feet.
Whether it's Vail, Aspen, Park City, or the French Alps, celebrities love hanging at ski resorts. While some opt to sit by the fire sipping champagne and cocoa, we especially love the ones that keep fit by hitting the slopes. Check out our slideshow to see which celebs you're likely to see catching air this Winter.
When I was a gym newbie, I enlisted the expertise of a personal trainer to help me learn which exercises were best for my goals. His verdict? Start balance exercises ASAP! Years of bearing weight on my right leg and overloading my handbags meant my first balance diagnostics results were a disaster — I couldn't last a full minute standing on my left leg. 
As I learned, balance is an important skill that needs to be maintained. Since we start losing our sense of balance after 25, doing exercises to maintain it is an essential part of your fitness routine. And with ski and snowboarding season just around the corner, perfecting your balance should start now. Get five ways to help your balance after the break.
Clockwise from left: Adidas by Stella McCartney Winter Sport Ski Coat ($176; originally $220); Madewell Ski Lodge Beanie ($10; originally $30); Giro Ember Ski Helmet ($70; originally $100); Athleta Schuss Ski Pant ($100; originally $188); Athleta Stretch Panel Sweater ($70; originally $90); Spyder Opal Bamboo Ski Gloves ($61; originally $160); Ride Sage Boa Snowboard Boots ($100; originally $170).
East Coasters who ski and ride are loving all the snow that's been dumping this Winter. Whatever you hit the powder on, let's see what you know about skiing and snowboarding terms.
Source: Tyler Cohen
Just in time for Valentine's Day is Fitness Magazine's interview with Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. Besides talking about what her diet and workout schedule is, Lindsey gave the mag a peek at what it's like to be married to fellow Olympian and former US Ski Team athlete Thomas Vonn. If you watched the Winter Olympics last year, then you already know that Thomas was by Lindsey's side the entire way — not only is Thomas Lindsey's husband, but he also serves as her coach and adviser — in more ways than one.
Last weekend, I headed up to Lake Tahoe with a group of friends in an attempt to finally, once and for all, learn to ski. I signed up for a beginner lesson (highly recommended!), strapped one ski on, and slid around in a circle with my five co-students. By the end of the afternoon we had graduated to the second-highest beginner hill, and I learned how to ride a chair lift, pizza/french fry my way down the hill, and even almost do a proper turn. Luckily, I took more away from the slopes that day than skiing skills. Namely: confidence. Here's how:
From the time I strapped on the second ski, I was terrified. I've ice skated plenty of times in my life (the closest mental equivalent in my head) and this was nothing like skating. In fact, it was nothing like anything I've ever experienced before. Once our instructor decided we were ready for the chair lift, I was beside myself. Luckily, the first "hill" was anything but a hill. The second, though, was a different story. And since Tahoe hadn't seen fresh snow in a month before my first day out, portions of the hill were packed so solid I was skiing on ice. After taking a dive off of the chair lift, I was completely psyched out, and looking down at a hill that looked humongous was daunting.
For the rest of my experience, and to share your own, keep reading.
The following post was written by New York-based trainer David Kirsch.
I love wintertime in the city. In fact, as I write this blog, I'm watching yet another winter wonderland outside. The snow makes me yearn for the back bowls of Vail, Colorado, where I have spent many snowy, joyful hours perfecting my slalom turns among other things. Before I hit the slopes, I make sure that my legs, back and core have been conditioned, strengthened and stretched. I particularly like to do the following exercises:
Enjoy, ski safely and remember to wear your helmet!
For more tips, recipes, and workouts, be sure to check out all of David's posts here on FitSugar.
The following post was written by North Face athlete and champion freeskier Kit Deslauriers.
The mountains are always in charge. To approach a mountain with the thought of "conquering" is, in my mind, setting you up for a battle, which often means someone ends up winning, someone losing, and maybe someone even getting hurt. This makes no sense to me, and I think a part of any mountaineers recurring successes can be attributed to working with the mountain more so than against it.
When I talk about awareness and senses and skills, many of these things are cultivated from experience, but there are some tools to the trade that are worthy of sharing with readers here. Before you venture in the backcountry, make sure that you have the appropriate avalanche safety equipment AND know how to use it. The most important piece of technical gear that you will need is an avalanche transceiver. This is a battery powered device worn on the body, which transmits a signal when turned on and in the case of an avalanche, allows rescuers to search for you buried in the snow. The people who will conduct the rescue turn their receivers from transmit to search to begin the process of looking for you, which you hope they will be good and quick at since the likelihood of being uncovered alive goes sharply down after even just 10 minutes of burial.
Other items to have in your backcountry ski pack include:
Beyond having your gear and knowing how to use it:
There is no substitute for good judgment, and while that is an acquired skill which takes time, consider taking an avalanche course so you can learn more about snow science. You may just learn enough to feel comfortable out there which the experts will say increases your chances of getting caught in a slide! Stay safe and have fun.
For more mountain time fun, be sure to read all of Kit's posts.
