In a strange way skiing reminds us of the real power of CrossFit: intensity. Many recreational sports are more recreation than sport. Skiing and snowboarding is an example. On one hand we see the athletes pushing the technical and intensity limits in the trail park or racing slope on the other hand we may just be cruising at a very comfortable pace…
To make recreational sports WOD-worthy, there needs to be good parts of high intensity work. Since skiing is mostly sitting on chairlifts and cruising on cat tracks, when it does come to a downhill runs, they should be all out efforts. Most places frown upon high speed runs (ski-patrols are only interested in safety and not your fitness), then we should make the runs as technical as possible. Jumps, powders, moguls and deep carving can all do the trick at higher speeds.
Anyone getting to the lifts without being completely out of breath is really not working that hard. There is plenty of time to rest on the chairlifts… Some in Heavenly ran for 15 minutes… Plenty of time for recovery.
