SWriverstone Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Though I've gotten out on the slopes at least 25 days so far this season...I'm seriously concerned about physically surviving SES! :( :) I mean, I can do 15-20 runs at our short local slopes without severe leg burn...with maybe a day or two before and after...but carving every day...on slopes about 10x longer than what I'm used to? YIKES! I'm curious to hear how others have handled it at past SES's. (And you don't count if you carve every single day and are in superstud Olympian shape.) Guess I'll be bringing the gallon-jug of ibuprofen and drinking a shot glass full of pills every night, LOL. Scott PS - I know there's a "rest day" built into the schedule...but if you think I'm NOT gonna be out on those glorious slopes every single day...you're nuts! :) This is my first trip to a "real" carving location...and I plan to take full advantage of every second! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Sports Legs made it possible for Alex and I to ride at SES 2 years ago. Get a supply before you go to Aspen and just keep taking it straight through the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Can be obtained direct from http://www.sportlegs.com/about/welcome.asp Don't leave home without but if you do, check at the base of Highlands as Dick Durance used to carry this. Need to take from day one on the mountain before the damage is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubz Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Never tried legs, but if you can get to a gym, tall building, parking deck. Anywhere you can get acces to climbing stairs. I did that last year for a few weeks before ECES, certainly not SES, but it did help in riding thru the afternoon. Cant do that, do squats sets each day. you dont need weight but if you do about 10-15 sets of 25-30 reps, that will give you some burn. Throw on a back pack with weights. Pretend youre rocky in Rocky 3, train natural. While you feel like you might miss something, i.e. that many other carvers, afford yourself some breaks thru the day. You might lose contact with a group that you start the day with but you will defintely hoook up with other groups and being able to ride with varying people should help keep it fresh and you wont feel your legs tiring. Here in PA, we just ride till it gets too crowded or icy and very infrequenctly ride into the afternoon unless its "one of those days" so I know what you mean in the diff between local days and CO days.. One thing that JBS shared with me last year at ECES was a herbal supplement. He had something else, but I picked up a bottle of Kyo-Green- powdered natural energy mix when I got home. Its basically minced, dried barley grass, wheat grass, kelp, etc. Suprisingly, it worked very well, mixed it with a glass of water. Keep my legs fresh through the day http://www.kyolic.com/html/products/greens/kyogreen.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 My wife and I ride/ski every second day and rest if we're tired during the day. Our local hills give us one 45-second run every 9-20 minutes or so, depending on line length. You get a lot more time on the board and less rest in Colorado! Hang out at the Bomber tent, there are lots of friendly people to chat with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie00 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Did it last year with Thor during my March break.. and the year before with JoelP . It ws too my first trip to real mountains and I'm used to riding 600 foot bump around here so it was a big difference in height riding Aspen, A-basin and Winter Park. Both times I went to Colorado it was the same thing. I find you hit a wall after the 3rd day or riding hard. I wasn't sure if my body was going to hold for the 4-5-6th day. If you manage to get over it you're good. After the 6th day my body was still Ok for more. The Hot springs baths after the 3rd day had a magical effect on my legs, plus eating right a few protein drinks and stretching. If in Aspen drive to Glenwood springs for that hot spring Pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Though I've gotten out on the slopes at least 25 days so far this season...I'm seriously concerned about physically surviving SES! :( :)I mean, I can do 15-20 runs at our short local slopes without severe leg burn...with maybe a day or two before and after...but carving every day...on slopes about 10x longer than what I'm used to? YIKES! I'm curious to hear how others have handled it at past SES's. (And you don't count if you carve every single day and are in superstud Olympian shape.) A cupla thoughts for you. Stretch, stretch and after that do a little more stretching. Also when I am getting ready to charge hard, I start with my boots loose. Actually slightly looser than is comfortable. For the first run. Makes me slow down a bit and also lets everything (like my calf muscles ) warm up before I really go for it. Then I tighten up a bit for the next run and the third run I go for it. You will have to get into a groove where you can stand up nice and tall once in a while and let those legs breathe. Muscles held in contraction build lactic acid, until the muscle is let loose acid builds, this creates the dreaded muscle burn. Two other things you can do is carry a camera so you have something else to do than carve hard and carry an iPod so when you sucking wind on the side of the run it looks like you are doing something. :rolleyes: "You guys go on I lost an earpiece and ......." Did I mention stretching before? Do as much as you can after too, although this could cut into the beer drinking. I like to stretch in the hot tub - so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 I've done five full days without much problem, so I can't see six being much different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.T. Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Depends on how you ride. Riding hard - you won't make it six days Mellow out and you might make it. Hopefully TVR will chime in. Last week he rode 5 out of 6 days. Saw him on the fifth day; he was dragging a$$. BTW - he rides 100+ days per season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Sportlegs works. Also bring a long board! Fewer turns = more and/or longer days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubz Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Good point on keeping in check on the alcohol, you can drink at home all you want. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and in the evenings. Throw in a sport drink or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 I took Tuesday off last year, and it was a good move. If you can get to a hot tub every night, that makes all the difference. Apart from that, it just depends on your fitness, and how hard you ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertrash Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 If you can get to a hot tub every night, that makes all the difference. I have read just the opposite. Don't know how true it is, haven't tried it yet. Using the rest day for rest is the best bet to have a good time the rest of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWriverstone Posted January 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 We're in pretty good shape (rode a metric bicycle century and a full century in October) and I've been carving several times a week since December...but I just ordered a couple bottles of SportLegs! What about altitude? Anyone ever experience any headaches or other altitude-related stuff? (We're lowly east-coasters, groveling around at barely above sea level, LOL). Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 I have read just the opposite. Don't know how true it is, haven't tried it yet.Using the rest day for rest is the best bet to have a good time the rest of the week. From the article. At least, that’s the theory. But scientists putting ice baths to the test under laboratory conditions have produced mixed results. Two Australian studies published last year illustrate the confusion. The first, from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found no reduction in pain, swelling or muscle impairment in subjects who received three one-minute immersions in 5 C water after heavy leg-extension exercises. I say eat, drink and hot tub. Maybe for someone playing football the icing of the body is like an ice pack on an injured joint. Seems like for me the heat relaxes me, speeds up blood flow to a point and allows me to do long slow stretches of a heated up and relaxed muscle. Maybe the best is to hot tub and then roll around in the snow. Has that been done before at SES? Or did someone just stagger off the deck on their way back into the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie00 Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Ice baths too can help.. they are not fun but very effective.. I haven't needed to taken any while riding but after a few games of volleyball it's a must for me .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJFluff Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 The answer is yes. When I go out west I take fulllll advantage. I don't even like stopping for lunch. Can't wait to get back out. And there is usually a tear in the eye when the last day is over, and I know its back to Wisconsin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 We're in pretty good shape (rode a metric bicycle century and a full century in October) and I've been carving several times a week since December...but I just ordered a couple bottles of SportLegs! What about altitude? Anyone ever experience any headaches or other altitude-related stuff? (We're lowly east-coasters, groveling around at barely above sea level, LOL). Scott This November when I was in Summit County, I had a bit of trouble with the altitude. It did not affect my carving too much except that I was panting after a long run. I did notice that my nose/skin was very dry, and that I was not as hungry as normal. It took me about four days to get somewhat used to it. I did not have headaches. Overall, it wasn't too bad. I'm not sure what aspens elevation is compared to Summit County. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 What about altitude? Anyone ever experience any headaches or other altitude-related stuff? (We're lowly east-coasters, groveling around at barely above sea level, LOL). There was one case of HAPE in a fellow New Englander at the 2005 SES I was at. My first day there we rode Highlands, and the Bowl was looking pristine and very tempting. Some guys hiked it (Paulk - bastard), but I had to restrain myself because I figured there was an excellent chance that a hike up to 13000 feet on my first day there would ruin my trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJFluff Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 For me I find altitude effects show up the most walking up stairs. Every year it is the same thing. By the third day your cruising up them like a local. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 Having a camelpack is a necessity. I filled mine 3 times a day, everyday. Staying hydrated made all the difference for keeping my energy level high (Sports Legs helped too:biggthump). Make yourself drink even if you don't feel thirsty yet. Once you are thirsty, you are already getting dehydrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffV Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 +1 on sports legs. I hydrated VERY well in the Bomber hot tub back in 2005 , ah the memories, uh well they are a little fuzzy now. Yeah one of us NE flatlanders did a lot of :barf:on day one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mats Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 For the last 5 years I have spent 2-3 weeks every winter in Aspen. Normally living at sealevel and then staying at 2400 meters is a challenge for the body. Water and streching is good. But what you NOT should do for the first couple of days is riding hard in the upper parts of Snowmass. Acclimatise in Buttermilk for the first couple of days is the thing to do. And cruise a bit in the afternoons. Lots of greens in West buttermilk. After this go for it! One year I crashed after some powriding in Snowmass and had to stay in the hot tub for a whole day:D It was on my second day in Aspen. I just blacked out. But riding for 3 weeks every day is no problem:biggthump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 If you can't acquire SportLegs, get a box of EmergenC Joint Health and a box of EmergenC Bone Health. Mix one packet of each in about 10 oz water. It's worked for me for the past few seasons; the only days I get lactic acid burn are on 40k+ vertical feet days where my Camelback runs dry and I ignore my better sense and don't stop to refill it. I'm reasonably fit but have a long way to go before I'm really fit. I seem to recall being one of the last ones standing at OES last year... 5 days in a row, and I had had one day off before it which came after a 5 or 6 day run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBrad Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 General fitness and lower body strength are the key for me. On past trips with my local ski club my legs would be dead after the first day, and then I could only ride half days after that until I took a rest day, and even then I couldn't do full days. So before SES last year I really worked on getting fit. I did bike spin classes 2 or 3 times a week. I ran hill repeats and hilly trail runs. I did leg presses and squats at the gym. And I did wall sits, which really burn the thighs. I was able ride every day at SES for full days without a rest day. For the SES day off, I rode with my ski club friends. I did stretch at the end of each day, which helps recovery, and being flexible also helps prevent injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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