Podium of Life Ski Academy is still in session, and ski competitors are still travelling to races to test themselves.
Although there has not been any snow to train on, Podium of Life students have been dryland training for the last two weeks. Using the natural environment of Strathcona Park, students experienced fun with fitness through hikes, adventure games, and hard work. After shovelling off ice from the Podium Pond, student played heated games of duct tape ringette on the ice.
The Vancouver Island Mountain Centre offered another venue for training. Students used the training facilities to focus on certain exercises to complement their skiing. Jennifer from Nature Therapies led students through yoga, focusing on balance, body awareness, and core. Kenpo was also introduced to students as a cross-training activity. Students experienced a number of activities to work on strength, balance, and fitness.
It looks like the dryland training paid off for some ski racers, who posted great results at Apex mountain.
Maja Nymann, of Campbell River, won two silvers medals in the U16 category, and her sister, Sylvi, in the U14 category, raced to 12th and 13th. Kieran Harley, Victoria, earned a 18th and 20th position in the U14 group, while his brother Hayden got 11th and 14th. In the U16 age class Liam Gilchrist, of Victoria, won 4th and 7th, and Kole Harle raced to a silver medal.
Everyone is looking forward to the snow falling and the lifts running, to get some ski training on snow.
– Podium of Life Ski Academy