5 Exercises Every Backcountry Skier and Splitboarder Should Be Doing This Season

"The sport is unique in that it asks for prolonged endurance on the uphill, then explosive strength and stability on the way down. Most gym routines do not train both. This one does. The five exercises Bell recommends are the single leg Romanian deadlift, the standard and multiplanar step up, the renegade row, the deep split squat, and the single leg hip flexor raise with band resistance."

"The multiplanar step up takes the standard movement and rotates it laterally, mimicking the external rotation demands your hips face on every uphill stride. Keeping the knee from collapsing inward is critical here, both for performance and ACL health. The renegade row trains your core and upper back to stay locked in while carrying a loaded pack."

"Bell calls weak hip flexors the number one thing that holds backcountry skiers back, and this single leg movement targets them directly while also forcing the standing glute to fire for stability. All five exercises blend mobility, stability, and strength in every rep. That combination is exactly what backcountry terrain requires."

Backcountry skiing and splitboarding require distinct physical capabilities: prolonged endurance during uphill climbs and explosive strength with stability during descents. Standard gym routines typically fail to develop both. Mikey Bell's specialized program combines five exercises targeting these specific needs: single leg Romanian deadlifts for posterior chain strength and kick turns, multiplanar step ups for hip external rotation, renegade rows for core and upper back stability under load, deep split squats for quad resilience and stride length, and banded hip flexor raises for hip stability. Each exercise integrates mobility, stability, and strength simultaneously, directly addressing the physical demands of backcountry terrain and preventing common injuries like ACL damage.

Read at Unofficial Networks