Manage Fatigue & Stay Fresh on a Multi-Day Skiing Adventure
Heli skiing is one of the most exhilarating ways to experience the mountains, but multi-day trips can get taxing on your body. Deep snow and long back-to-back runs can leave you feeling drained by day two or three. This is when the best skiing starts, the guides understand the group dynamic and are able to really optimize the terrain for the group. If you want to maximize your trip and ski strong all week, you need a strategy for managing fatigue. Here’s how:
1. Build a Solid Base Before Your Trip
The best way to fight fatigue is to show up fit. Your training should focus on:
Lower Body Strength - Having a higher maximum strength in your leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, and glutes) reduces muscle fatigue and reduces injury risk - think if muscle like body armour. Prioritize split squats, deadlifts, and single-leg exercises in a true strength range.
Muscular Endurance - You’re skiing thousands of vertical feet per run. Train for it by integrating some high-rep strength sets and sustained isometric holds (wall sits, split squat holds), and long-duration sled pushes closer to your trip.
Cardiovascular Capacity - Skiing is a powerful sport and not typically thought of as a cardiovascular activity so cardio training is often overlooked as important for training. That said, including a mix of zone 2 endurance work and high-intensity intervals to build your aerobic and anaerobic systems will improve your body’s ability to recover between muscular endurance efforts.
Core Stability - A strong core keeps you stable and centred over your sliding apparatus of choice thereby reducing excess fatigue in your legs. Incorporate anti-rotation exercises, loaded carries, and dynamic movements like rotational med ball throws.
2. Nail Your Nutrition & Hydration
What you eat and drink will directly impact how well you recover during the day and overnight. Key strategies:
Carb Up - You’re burning a ton of calories each day. Prioritize quality carbs (rice, potatoes, oats, fruit) at every meal to keep glycogen stores high.
Hydrate Aggressively - In cold environments people are less in tune with hydration. We just don’t get the same cues. Under hydration is a massive detriment to performance so drink water with electrolytes before, during, and after skiing.
Refuel Quickly - As soon as possible - ideally within an hour of skiing - get in a mix of protein (20-30g) and carbs to kickstart muscle recovery. I’m a huge fan of Stay Above Nutrition’s Restore 9 powder to help me nail that window.
Don’t Skip Fats - Healthy fats (avocados, nuts, olive oil) support joint health and sustained energy. They’re also a great low volume high calorie way to refuel after draining the tanks all day.
3. Use Smart Recovery Strategies
Your off-mountain routine matters just as much as your time on the slopes.
Maximize recovery with:
Post-Ski Mobility & Stretching - Focus on the hips, quads, hamstrings, and lower back. Use foam rolling and gentle stretching to maintain mobility. Foam rolling has been shown to reduce the perception of muscle soreness when performing activities in short succession
Compression & Elevation - If your legs feel heavy, elevate them for 10-15 minutes post-ski and consider compression socks to support the lymphatic system and clear all the by-product’s of hard work from your legs
Cold & Heat Therapy - A contrast of cold (ice baths, snow dips) and heat (sauna, hot tub) can help reduce muscle soreness. That said, the sauna is a great place to stretch if the cold plunge game isn’t for you!
Quality Sleep - The best recovery tool is sleep. It can be hard to unwind and come down after an epic day skiing hard but try to optimize your sleep by setting a hard stop time for speed, limiting screen time, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol close to bedtime.
4. Pace Yourself on the Mountain
It’s tempting to charge full-throttle every run, but strategic pacing can keep you strong for the entire trip:
Warm Up Before the First Drop - A 5 minute dynamic warm-up circuit with bodyweight squats, lunges, hip openers and light plyometrics will help you feel ready for that first lap.
Ski with Efficiency - Good technique saves energy. Stay stacked over your skis, use smooth transitions, and avoid unnecessary braking in deep snow.
Listen to Your Body - It’s fun to slash wind lips and pop pillows but it also takes extra energy so pay attention your energy reserves and ski accordingly. If your legs are burning, take a strategic rest at the top of a run. A short break can keep you from fully redlining. Remember to communicate with your guide about how you’re feeling they can break the skiing up in different ways to help ensure a better experience for the group
5. Prepare for the Weather
Dress Smart - Layer properly to avoid overheating or getting chilled, both of which drain energy.
Final Thoughts
Heli-skiing is an endurance sport disguised as an adrenaline rush. If you manage fatigue properly, you’ll not only ski stronger you’ll enjoy every run instead of just surviving it. Train smart, recover well, and pace yourself so that when the final day of your trip arrives, you’re still charging instead of bonking.
If you’re keen to discuss training for skiing and how to best train for late season or you’re looking ahead to next year reach out HERE
In-Season Strength Training for Snow Sports: Why It Matters and How to Make It Work
It’s that time of year when mountain guides, skiers, and snowboarders are spending every available moment in the mountains. For those who dedicated time to pre-season training, the rewards are clear—strong, capable legs that feel midseason-ready right from the start. But as ski and snowboard season kicks into high gear, many athletes face a common challenge: maintaining the strength and power they built in the pre-season.
The reality of snow sports is that they demand a significant amount of muscular endurance. Long days on the mountain naturally take a toll, often leading to a decline in strength and power as the season progresses. Unfortunately, once the lifts start spinning or the backcountry season is in full swing, many athletes neglect strength and power training altogether. But maintaining these elements throughout the season isn’t just possible—it’s essential for performance and recovery. By incorporating low-volume, high-intensity workouts twice a week, athletes can keep their strength gains, recover faster, and continue to perform at their peak.
Why Strength Training Matters During the Season
One of the biggest misconceptions is that strength training during ski season will add stress to an already taxed body. However, when done correctly, in-season strength and power training can actually enhance recovery and reduce fatigue. The secret lies in keeping the workouts short, focused, and efficient. High-intensity compound movements stimulate the release of human growth hormone, which aids in recovery and helps the body adapt to the demands of long days on the mountain. Incorporating strength and power training also keeps your nervous system primed and ready. This translates to quicker reactions, more stability, and that snappy feeling in your legs when you’re navigating a challenging descent or a tricky uphill skin track. Without it, athletes risk losing the explosiveness and muscular endurance they worked so hard to build in the preseason.
Breaking Down the Barriers
Despite its benefits, one of the most common refrains from athletes is, “I just don’t have time.” Between long workdays, family obligations, and the sheer exhaustion that comes with spending hours on the hill, finding the energy and motivation to train can feel impossible. But the good news? You don’t need hours in the gym to maintain your pre-season gains. Two short workouts a week, each lasting 20–30 minutes, are enough to make a noticeable difference. Strength training doesn’t have to feel like an overwhelming commitment—just a small, intentional effort to support your body and keep you performing your best.
The Two Workouts Every Snow Athlete Needs
1) Low-Volume Strength Training
Low-volume, high-intensity strength training is a game-changer for snow athletes. By focusing on compound movements—like squats, deadlifts, or pull-ups—you can build strength efficiently and effectively. A simple format to follow is:
Pick 1–2 compound exercises (e.g., a squat variation for the lower body and a pull-up or bench press for the upper body).
Perform 3–5 sets of 3–5 reps at a high effort level, with plenty of rest (2–3 minutes) between sets.
This style of training works best when integrated into your daily routine. During rest periods, multitask by folding laundry, organizing gear, or catching up on emails. This keeps the workout manageable and makes it easier to fit into your schedule.
2) High-Intensity Plyometric Training
Plyometric exercises are all about power and explosiveness, making them ideal for keeping your legs feeling snappy and responsive. Think box jumps, lateral bounds, or depth drops. A typical session might look like this:
Choose 1–2 plyometric exercises that mimic the demands of skiing or snowboarding.
Perform 10–12 sets of 3–5 reps with short rests of 30–60 seconds between sets.
Unlike strength training, plyometric workouts are more focused and don’t lend themselves to multitasking. However, they’re usually even shorter—10–15 minutes is often enough to get the job done. The Payoff when done consistently, these two types of workouts help athletes stay strong, explosive, and resilient throughout the season. Not only do they improve your performance on the hill, but they also enhance recovery, making it easier to bounce back after a long day.
It’s important to note that these workouts are intended for athletes who already have a solid pre-season foundation. If you’re new to strength or plyometric training, ease into these movements and prioritize good form over intensity.
Stay Strong All Season
The winter season is long, and the demands of the mountains are relentless. By dedicating just a small amount of time each week to strength and power training, you’ll set yourself up for success—not just in the early season but all the way through the spring melt. Your legs will feel stronger, your recovery will improve, and you’ll be able to make the most of every powder day. Don’t let your preseason gains go to waste. Keep your training simple, focused, and consistent, and enjoy the rewards all season long.
Getting Back On The Mountain: A Recovery Journey With Kat Parks
You know, I’ve never thought of myself as any sort of an athlete but people keep calling me one. I didn’t grow up playing sports like most young people but instead found myself building forts, climbing trees, and romping around the north woods of Wisconsin. I grew up canoeing, camping, fishing, and hunting. When I turned 15, my entire family got into mountain biking which was really the first sport that resonated with me in a way that other activities never did. And, I feel like I have mountain biking to thank for all of my subsequent outdoor activities.
My partner and I moved to Washington State in 2013 and we haven’t looked back. We got to know our home mountain ranges (The Cascades and Olympics) mostly by hiking and backpacking that has now morphed into scrambling and off-trail routing. I came to skiing as an adult learner; determined to add that as a new way to enjoy the mountains I love. Resort skiing is great but my heart really is in the backcountry. The process of following forecasts, trip planning, talking about the snow, setting skin tracks — I love all of that just as much as I love the turns. Skiing just made sense to me and reminded me so much of riding my mountain bike. Honestly, the two sports complement one another remarkably well. Additionally, I practice yoga and I am a year-round bike commuter who also runs to stay in shape. I am a certified mountain bike instructor and serve on the Board of Directors for the local mountain bike trail organization in my area.
The Injury — March 6, 2024
PHEW what happened…I had an incredible day in the backcountry with my husband and two of our friends the day before my injury. We don’t get many champagne powder days in the PNW but it was cold smoke all day for us. The next day was a resort day and full-on blue bird. Temps were pretty cold and we decided to check out an area of the resort called Powder Bowl. It was absolutely heinous. Powder Bowl is steep anyways but it was also tracked out and the moguls were HARD because it had been so cold. I went to put in a turn and just fell sideways over the tips of my skis. I tumbled 3 times and each time, I felt more and more of my bone break. It was a low-velocity fall so my bindings didn’t release (yes, I had them tested after the injury). I knew immediately that I wasn’t ok and instructed my husband on how to support my leg and had him call patrol. Before Patrol arrived, I had taken my first set of vitals and did an initial assessment where I felt crepitus and a deformity. The break was bad enough that I spent the night in the hospital so I could have emergency surgery the next day. My surgeon, Dr. Moore at Olympia Orthopaedic, was absolutely amazing and when all was said and done, I woke up with 2 plates and 17 screws in my tibial plateau.
Finding Don
I remember laying in a bed in the ER hallway, waiting for my room in the Ortho wing, getting pumped with Dilaudid every 2 hours, and being asked by medical staff if I planned to ski again after getting so hurt. It was such a weird question to me but it made me realize that I move through the world differently than most people do. And I told myself in that moment that I’d refuse to work with anyone who doubted my goals of getting back to the activities that define who I am as a person on this planet.
The first thing I asked Dr. Moore when he visited me post-surgery in my hospital room was if I’d be able to mountain bike and ski in the upcoming season. Understandably, he couldn’t give me an answer but informed me that recovery for an injury as extensive as mine is long but he was hopeful I’d be able to return to the things I love doing at some point. When I met with him 4 weeks post-op, I asked him the same thing again and he told me that it could be at least a year before we would know what my knee could handle. I looked at him and replied, “That timeline’s not gonna work for me. I already bought my Ikon pass for next season.” He smiled at me and said, “Well, you’ve got the right attitude.”
I started following Don a couple of months prior to my injury at the suggestion of my husband who began following him because of Joey Vosburgh. A few weeks post-op, I messaged Don on IG with zero expectations. We began talking, and he asked me to send him detailed information about the injury, X-rays, post-op care, the name of my surgeon, etc., and we set up a virtual session shortly after our first message exchanges. During that first meeting, I knew that Don was the right person for me when the only acknowledgment he gave to my injury was “That’s a lot of hardware!” then immediately went into his approach on how to get me back to activities. I explained early on in our partnership that I am in tune with my body in a way that most don’t understand, with the ability to feel internal processes at a molecular level when I want to. Don never questioned this and created space in our plan to honor and trust that my body would be the ultimate guide as we went through this recovery journey together.
Soon after beginning work with Don, I also began seeing an in-person Physical Therapist named Nicolas. Don and Nicolas corresponded early on in my recovery to make sure they were complementing one another in their approaches. I give each of them updates as needed and I appreciate how they’ve continued working together on my recovery care.
At exactly 6 weeks to the day of injury, Dr. Moore told me that I could begin putting full weight on my leg. Sure, walking felt great, but I missed my bike more than anything. It took time to gain enough flexion to pedal but by mid-June I pedaled my mountain bike again and I rode on dirt for the first time on June 22. Slowly stacking bricks (as Don says), I progressed with each ride, carefully erasing and re-drawing my limits. By mid-July, I felt the flow really coming back as I began being able to corner harder and even get small amounts of air off of features. As Fall approached and I felt stronger and stronger on the bike, I set my sights on skiing.
Just shy of 9 months post-injury, complete with a whole bunch of hardware, I put in my first turns of the season. It was magic.
I’ve never been a big goal setter, I just let my body and heart guide my adventures and time in the mountains which I will continue to do as I progress with my recovery into 2025.
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Follow Kat Parks
Photos by Cayman Waughtel
After a Day on the Mountain: Essential Recovery Tips
Whether you’re breaking trail through fresh powder, charging down icy hardpack at the resort, or lapping untouched lines with your favorite heli-operator—shoutout to Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing (STHS)—long days on the mountain are no joke. While they’re thrilling, they can also be grueling on your body. Proper recovery after a big day is the difference between showing up ready to go again and tapping out by day two or three.
Here’s how to stay injury-free, energized, and ready for another day when the snow keeps coming:
1. Fuel Up
Your body burns an incredible amount of energy skiing or snowboarding, especially on back-to-back days. Refueling properly helps your muscles recover and rebuild.
Carbohydrates
These are your primary energy source. After a big day, focus on replenishing glycogen stores with complex carbs like sweet potatoes, rice, or whole grains.
Protein
Essential for tissue repair, aim to consume 20-30g of high-quality protein within an hour of finishing your day. Think lean meats, eggs, or plant-based alternatives.
Timing
A well-balanced meal shortly after skiing, followed by consistent fueling throughout the evening, can set you up for success the next day.
2. Hydrate
Between the cold, dry mountain air and physical exertion, dehydration is common on ski days. It’s easy to underestimate how much fluid you lose, especially when skiing at higher altitudes.
Water
Aim for consistent hydration throughout the day and drink extra post-session.
Electrolytes
Sodium, potassium, and magnesium play a crucial role in muscle function and recovery. Add a carbed-up electrolyte like Tailwind’s Endurance Fuel or Skratch Labs Super High Carb Mix to your water during the day then use a sugar free electrolyte like Skratch Labs Everyday Hydration or LMNT Hydration to top up afterwards.
3. Prioritize Sleep
Recovery happens while you rest, with the majority of physical and neurological repair occurring during deep sleep. Without adequate sleep, your performance—and enjoyment—will decline fast.
Quality Over Quantity
While 7-9 hours is ideal, focus on quality. Keep your sleeping environment cool, dark, and quiet.
Nap If necessary
If you’re exhausted, a 20-30 minute nap post-skiing can recharge you without disrupting your nighttime sleep.
Aprez Wisely: it’s well known that even a single alcoholic drink within 3 hours of bedtime can negatively impact sleep as can caffeine within 6 hours of bedtime.
4. Stretch & Mobilize
Post-ski stiffness is real. Prioritize mobility work and stretching after long days to improve recovery and prevent injury.
Key Areas
Focus on the areas that take the most beating:
Hips
Loosen tight hip flexors and address hip rotation.
Inner Thighs
Stretch adductors to counteract the demands of skiing.
Upper Back
Improve thoracic mobility to counteract forward posture from skiing and riding.
Consistency Matters
Just 10-15 minutes of stretching or mobility work can make a big difference. For more on the principles of mobility work, check out last month’s STHS Blog.
5. Use Heat & Cold Strategically
Hot and cold therapy can aid recovery, but knowing when to use them is key.
Heat
A sauna session or warm bath can promote blood flow, loosen tight muscles, and help you relax. Follow up with gentle mobility work to maximize benefits.
Cold Plunging
Immersing yourself in cold water (50-59°F) for 5-10 minutes can reduce inflammation, ease muscle soreness, and improve your mental recovery. The key is controlled breathing to relax your nervous system.
6. Light Cardio
Active recovery is an underrated way to promote blood flow and reduce soreness.
Keep Moving
Hop on a stationary bike or go for a light walk to keep your body moving.
Avoid high-intensity cardio
The goal is to flush out soreness, not add more strain.
7. Recovery Modalities
Take advantage of tools and techniques designed to help your body bounce back:
Foam Rolling
Use a foam roller to improve circulation and decrease soreness in target areas. Focus on your quads, calves, and upper back. Spend 1-2 minutes per muscle group for best results.
Massage Guns
Devices like Theraguns can help release tension in sore muscles and improve blood flow. Use light pressure, especially on sore areas, to avoid overloading already stressed tissue.
Normatec Compression Boots
These boots use dynamic compression to improve circulation, flush metabolic waste, and reduce swelling in the legs. They’re a great option after a long day of skiing.
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy
By restricting venous return while allowing arterial flow, BFR can enhance recovery by stimulating muscle growth and increasing oxygen delivery to tissues.
Infrared Saunas
These promote deeper heat penetration, which can help with relaxation and recovery without overheating your core.
You Can’t Hack the Basics
While recovery tools and therapies are helpful, they won’t replace the fundamentals of hydration, nutrition, mobility, and sleep. As we always say: you can’t foam roll your way out of an under-hydrated, under-fueled, sleep-deprived state.
Make Recovery Part of Your Routine
With the right approach, you can keep shredding day after day, whether you’re lapping the resort, exploring the backcountry, or hitting the heli lines. Recovery is just as important as training, so treat it like a priority—not an afterthought.
Need help optimizing your recovery? The Ibex Project specializes in performance programming and recovery strategies for mountain athletes.
Get in touch to learn more!
Visiting our Newest Partner in Revelstoke. Meet Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing.
Remember that other journal post where we talked about our time at the Arc’teryx Climb Academy in Squamish? While Jess returned home after the event, Don continued his adventure by traveling from Squamish to Revelstoke to meet with the team from Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing.
Revelstoke is home to Selkirk Tangiers, our newest partner when it comes to supporting mountain athletes. As it turns out, many of those athletes are guides who tour other athletes on mountain adventures. It was a great performance fit and relationship right from the start.
In late August 2024, Don spent a number of days performing pre-season assessments with a dozen of STHS's heli-guides. The partnership with STHS was formed based on a strong relationship with long-time STHS guide and Arc'teryx athlete Joey Vosburgh.
Joey's long-term outcomes from working with the Ibex Project were casually relayed to Operations Manager Dave Pehowich. His interest was piqued and he trialed the program himself in early 2024 with great results. This work led to the Ibex Project setting up a presentation to the guide team in April 2024, highlighting the value of a focused intentional training program to gauge interest in this type of relationship. It turns out that the interest from the guide team was there and the partnership was formed. You can read about it over on the STHS blog as well.
This is all background to set up Don’s latest adventure to meet up with the STHS team as an official partner for some great hikes, conversations, athlete assessments, and a great hang with wonderful people. And hitting Squamish and Revelstoke in the same trip? Damn Don!
Day 1: Sunday, August 25
After heading out from a great time in Squamish, Don arrived in Revelstoke after an 8-hour drive through the gorgeous interior. Don took advantage of the rest of the day to go for a hike which was his first hike post-calf tear. The tear maybe have been a result of a tennis injury but no one will confirm that LOL.
Looking for a good hiking route, Don reached out to Joey who put him onto a perfect short uphill hike with panoramic views of the Columbia River, Mt Mackenzie and the town of Revelstoke. it was a great call by Joey!
The night ended early with a visit to the sauna at the Coast Hillcrest where STHS put Don up for the week.
Day 2: Monday, August 26
With a good night’s sleep behind him, Don kicked off his first full day meeting many of the guides, filling his schedule with four new assessments.
Don followed up the day of assessments with his second hike in Revelstoke. This time he turned his sights on a hike up the Mt Revy Summit Trail but time got the best of him and he had to turn around 2/3 of the way to get back. It was a challenging enough hike for Don to feel out the calf and see how far it had come in the past 3 weeks. It was feeling good. See, we go through the same things as the athletes we work with. We only preach what we practice!
Day 3: Tuesday, August 27
Day 3 was a rinse and repeat with another five STHS guide assessments followed by the third hike in a row. For this hike from the upper lot of Mt Revy into Miller Lake, Don was joined by local Ibex Project athlete Liam Kuipers.
This may have been Don’s third hike since his injury but it was Liam’s first significant hike post-injury and it went exceptionally well. Liam is working with Don and is mid-rehab for bilateral ACL repairs. With a successful hike behind them and feeling good about, Don and Liam celebrated the achievement with a dinner before Don went back to the hotel for the sauna. That is how you spend a day!
Day 4: Wednesday, August 28
The trip was unfortunately coming to an end. The last day included another 4 STHS guide assessments and then Don jumped in a car for a quick drive into Kelowna for a red-eye flight home and some sleep before waking up and getting back to work in Ontario.
Getting to work with all of the guides was a real pleasure and we are super happy about our new partnership with Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing and are already looking forward to seeing everyone in person again. For now our relationships and work together will be virtual as we continue to work with the guides.
We look forward to seeing everyone in the mountains and thanks for reading this far.
Our First Arc’teryx Climb Academy in Squamish as Ibex Project
Back in September we officially launched as Ibex Project so this was the first Arc’teryx Climb Academy that Don and Jess attended under that umbrella. It was great to get the name out there and see all of the athletes, some for the first time face-to-face.
Squamish, BC was home to this year’s Arc’teryx Climb Academy from August 23-25 and we were honored to be included, hanging, assessing, treating, and partying with all of these amazing mountain athletes. We met old friends and made new ones during three days of diverse, and well-organized events.
The town of Squamish was an amazing host and the team at Arc’teryx put together a fantastic three-day lineup including clinics, educational seminars, Pavilion Park programming, and the Academy Music Series where the athletes got to let loose and dance the night away, and dance we did!
Day 1: Wednesday, August 21
Don and Jess met up in Squamish to join with the Arc’teryx athlete and sports marketing team for a Stewardship walk with a local representative of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), St'át'imc and Líl'wat nations at the Mamquam River where she shared stories of the local lands. It was a real honour to participate and be included in this.
Following the walk, we travelled to the Sp’akw’us Feather Park at the head of the Howe Sound where the athlete and sports marketing team gathered to eat dinner and re-connect after months apart. It was great seeing all of these like-minded and passionate mountain athletes all in one place. We met so many great people and got to see some of our virtual friends in person for the first time which was pretty awesome.
For those who were interested, the evening was capped off with a 30 minute drive out of town to experience the serenity of the Aika Spa in the rainforest down the Squamish Valley road. It was an opportunity to relax and decompress before kicking off a busy week for everyone. Don and Jess were happy to take full advantage of the opportunity and it delivered on what it promised to do. It was a great day to cap of the first day.
Day 2: Thursday, August 22
After a morning coffee and a hearty breakfast, Don and Jess dove into a full day of athlete sessions where the team was connecting and assessing them in person as opposed to the virtual sessions that the group was accustomed to. Once again, it was great to connect face-to-face and we were extremely appreciative of the athletes for taking the time out of their busy schedules as these sessions were not mandatory for them. For some of the twelve athletes we saw, this was our first time working together.
Jess managed to sneak out in the afternoon for a fantastic mid-day run up the iconic Stawamus Chief to take advantage of the coastal weather, meaning it was a little wet.
After a full and meaningful day, the evening was capped off with a celebration of the entire Arc’teryx family at the Brackendale Art Gallery. All Arc’teryx Academies kick off this way by having a day of athlete-led clinics for head office staff members, followed by a party with live music to celebrate all the people involved in making Arc’teryx the brand it is. And mountain athletes definitely know how to party and have a good time!
Day 3: Friday, August 23
The day kicked off the same way as day 2 with another full day of athlete sessions for Don and Jess, seeing another 11 athletes. And once again Jess was able to get out for another adventure, heading up to Elfin Lakes for an alpine ridge run. Check out the photos using that link as they are truly grogeous. Sadly, Don had to skip another run as he was still in recovery mode while healing from his calf tear. Instead, Don was able to check out the vendor village mid-day and connect with the various brands supporting the event including Midnight Lightning, CAMP, and Mountain Muskox. Definitely check them out!
The evening was capped off with feature films in the Squamish pavilion park, while a misty and moody Chief stood tall in the background. The films included Ground Up with Amity Warme, Passion with Jonathon Siegrist, and Keep It Real 2 with Ashima Shiraishi. The crowd was into and athletes mingled while taking it all in. It was a great night to be a part of!
Day 4: Saturday, August 25
The mornings and afternoons were starting to feel like a fantastic repeat of Groundhog Day! Don and Jess saw another 10 athletes today, working through various movements and assessments, dialling in the goals of their programs, and addressing any pressing needs in the moment.
It was also another evening of fine programming that included Balancing Acts and Andrea. The film was followed by music in the Pavilion Park with Hannah Cotrrel and the Loboz. We all then boarded buses that took everyone to the Brackendale Art Gallery for an epic after-party that was hosted by the electrifying Donna Dada and Canadian DJ Felix Cartel, and capped off with the Usual Suspects (Tony Richardson, Justin Sweeny, and Drew De Panicis). This is how you throw a party!!!
We just danced and chatted the night away with the athletes and the team from Arc’teryx. We are already looking forward to doingit all over again next year for the Arc’teryx Climb Academy. Music Series.
Saying goodbye after 4 days of good times and good people before heading on another adventure.
After a great few days that ended with a great night of music, dancing, and great people, it was time to call it a wrap. Jess was on her way home and Don was on his way to Revelstoke to meet with the Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing team. More on that in the future.
As mentioned, just getting to hang out with all of the athletes was amazing. We have so much appreciation for the athletes who took the time out of their busy schedules to come and see us to work on their physical health, both existing relationships and athletes we had never met before.
All that aside, a huge thank you goes out to the town of Squamish for hosting us and to the Arc’teryx Climb Academy for putting together such an amazing event and bringing all of us mountain athletes together. Arc’teryx knows how to throw a party! Thank you for letting us be a part of this.
“We acknowledge that this event took place on the unceded traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation”