There are hundreds, if not thousands, workout routines out there for you to try. You have yoga, martial arts, CrossFit, peloton, and so much more to choose from. All of them have their merits but sometimes you just need advice from someone you look up to. For those who aspire to be an Olympic skier like Mikaela Shiffrin, a member of the HomeLight-sponsored US Olympic team with 47 wins over the course of 11 years, you’re in luck.
Mikaela Shiffrin has an intense workout routine to keep her agile, balanced, and strong. Her workouts can be daunting, but if you think you’re ready to train like an Olympian, here are five training habits Shiffrin swears by to keep her the winningest Slalom skier.
Light cardio and stretching
It’s common knowledge that before any workout, you need to warm up and do some stretching so that you don’t hurt yourself during the actual workout. So to begin her workout, Shiffrin will stretch and take a spin on a stationary bike for 10 minutes.
Strength training for the lower body
As a slalom skier, strength training is a crucial component in Shiffrin’s training routine. To do this, she’ll do a form of training called “eccentric overload training,” which basically means she’ll use a weighted bar and go through a variety of lifts and a lot of squats. This type of training is great for skiers because the focus is all on the squatting position, which helps her maintain a stable position when she’s competing.
Rigorous circuit training
Rigorous circuit training doesn’t just get your heart pumping – it allows you to work on numerous parts of the body at once. Shiffrin’s circuits usually include sprinting as she either pushes or pulls a weighted sled. She’ll do more squats (of course), use a rowing machine, and a slide board. For an average person, it’ll take some time to work up to Olympian-level intensity, so be mindful of how hard you push yourself!
Maintain detailed records of workouts
It’s not unusual for people to keep track of things that they’re trying to improve on, so it’s understandable that Shiffrin would make it a point to keep a detailed record of her workouts. After each exercise or training session, she will rate the workout on a scale from 1 – 10. Usually, she works out at a 9 (really intense) but she’s never pushed herself to the point of collapse (a level 10 workout).
Balance training
If you’ve ever gone skiing, you know that balance is an essential skill to have, especially if you prefer to ski down the hill and not tumble down face first. After circuit training, Mikaela will practice her balance training for about an hour or so. This means she’ll walk on a slackline, walk-on bolsters while juggling, or walk backward on the tops of dumbbells.
Keep a positive outlook even when you’re doubting yourself
It takes a lot of hardwork and dedication to become an Olympian, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train like one. There will be days when you feel like your body is at its breaking point and you’re exhausted, just remember why you’re pushing yourself. Sometimes the only thing holding you back from achieving your goals is your own self-doubt. Even if you’re not trying to achieve anything other than trying to lead a healthier and active life, only you can motivate yourself to keep going. And boy, just imagine how awesome you’ll feel when you finally achieve those goals!
