Will 10,000 hours out on the mountain make you a master skier? Sure, it’s fun to get out in the snow, no matter what your level of experience is. But when you’ve been skiing for years and still feel stuck in the range of a confident intermediate, it can be frustrating. You’re in search of that elusive feeling of flow, speed and playfulness that carries you effortlessly down a run, no matter how difficult or steep. WHY is it so difficult to achieve mastery?
You’ve probably heard the saying that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. Popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers, the concept is based off the observation that the best of the best in sport, music, business and more averaged over 10,000 hours of practice before their rise to excellence. However, it’s important to note that the 10,000 hour average is merely that: an average.
Although the exact number of 10,000 hours has been proven to be an imaginary benchmark, there’s still some truth behind the premise. True excellence requires TIME, COMMITMENT, and CONSISTENCY. Let’s carry this concept over to skiing. Think of the best skiers in the world—the Olympians and World Cup competitors—what do they have in common? Access to year-round dry land training. They’re not focusing on their sport for only a few months out of the year, or a few weeks before a competition. They are consistently putting time and effort into developing technique, strength, and endurance—both on and off the mountain—so that when the snow falls and the runs are groomed, they can maximize their training on the mountain.
The answer is clear: if you want to ski like the pros, you have to train like the pros. But let’s face it, the average person doesn’t have access to Olympic training facilities, hours of training time each day, or months of vacation for summer skiing in the southern hemisphere. We have lives to live, and some of us only a few precious minutes out of the day to dedicate to our training. That’s where the Skier’s Edge comes in. Built to maximize efficient training in a short amount of time, this trainer can help you see improvements to your skiing in only 15 minutes a day. But HOW?
The answer is not quantity but quality. This is the problem with the 10,000 hour rule: putting in time is meaningless if you’re not focused on a specific goal, and using the best tools to help you succeed. True excellence can be achieved in far less than 10,000 hours, if you train the right way. The Skier’s Edge is the best ski-specific trainer on the market, designed to replicate the technique and muscle recruitment you’ll use on the mountain. With focused training, even 15 minutes a day will do more for your ski fitness than 45 minutes of running or an hour of weightlifting. That’s what we call training smarter, not harder!
Just like the machine itself, the Skier’s Edge accessories are developed specifically with ski technique in mind. For example, The Bootmaster—which allows you to train directly in your ski boots—further increases proper muscle recruitment, body position, and weight transfer, to help you get the most out of every minute of your ski workouts.
Here are some of the skills you’ll develop year-round on the Skier’s Edge that will translate effortlessly to your days out on the snow:
- Lateral movement: Skiing requires a specific movement pattern from the major muscle groups like the quads and glutes, which is unlike almost anything else we do in our daily lives. The Skier’s Edge gives you a chance to practice it regularly by replicating the motion of edging turns, which strengthens those large muscles in the same way as skiing, to help eliminate mid-run leg burn and mid-day burnout on the slopes.
- Stability: Workouts on the Skier’s Edge require balance and coordination. Consistent practice will develop all the little muscles in your feet, ankles, and calves, as well as strengthen stabilizing tendons, so when you’re on the mountain with all the natural bumps and pitches, those muscles are fatigue resistant and ready to handle anything to help keep your weight forward and your speed high. Stability and control will improve your edging technique, allowing you to create smooth, confident turns.
- Upper / Lower body separation: This is one of the most important skills a skier can master, and also one of the most difficult. Learning to keep your upper body quiet is the key to unlocking flow on advanced runs, keeping you balanced and allowing your legs to remain active and react to any kind of terrain, especially powder and moguls. A strong core will keep you centered and give you more control when carving your turns.
Are you ready to begin your journey to skiing mastery? You don’t need 10,000 hours to become excellent, but with the Skier’s Edge you can easily get in 10,000 turns a month. The Skier’s Edge offers packages for any skill level. Learn more about the year-round, at-home training package that’s right for you.