Ski Season Training Made Fun: Balance Workouts, Recovery & Après

There’s a crisp bite in the air, the pumpkin spice is finally starting to fade from your favorite brewery's menu and your Instagram feed is filling with snow-dusted peaks. These are all signs that winter is around the corner and it’s time to start your ski season training.

Before you clip into your bindings or order that first après beer, take a minute to think ahead, fall is prime time for ski season training. Building strength, mobility, and endurance now means more turns, fewer aches, and way better après later. Whether you’re a weekend warrior who sneaks in a few powder days or the type who mysteriously “calls in sick” every time it snows, you’ll want to be ready. Let’s face it, skiing and riding aren’t cheap, so don’t waste a single day because your shape is more round than ready.

The goal isn’t just to ski harder. It’s to ski longer, feel better, and still have enough energy left for a whiskey at the bar after last chair.

Let’s get you there.

Step 1: Start with Mobility – Move Better, Ski Better

Think of mobility as your ski season insurance policy. When your joints move freely, you not only perform better, you also recover faster and hurt less. Now that is something worth stretching for. 

Fall is the perfect time to improve ankle mobility, hip rotation, and thoracic (upper back) movement, the holy trinity of strong, fluid skiing.

Try this mini circuit 3–4 days per week:

• World’s Greatest Stretch (because, well, it is)

• 90/90 Hip Rotations

• Deep Goblet Squat Hold

• Cat-Cow or T-Spine Rotations

If you need a simple, done-for-you plan to improve mobility and prep your body for ski season, check out the Adventure Proof Body Blueprint — my 7-day pre-trip prep plan that combines mobility, strength, and recovery to get you mountain-ready fast.

Step 2: Conditioning That Doesn’t Kill Your Après Vibe

Forget running on a treadmill endlessly. We're not gerbils on a wheel. Fall conditioning for skiers and snowboarders should build real mountain endurance. The kind that gets you through back-to-back runs and still lets you dance in your ski boots at après.

The key? Short, intense sessions that mimic the demands of skiing: power, recovery, and repeat.

Try mixing in:

• Hill sprints or stair intervals (for those quad burn moments)

• Kettlebell swings and jump squats (for power)

• EMOMs (every minute on the minute) or AMRAPs (as many reps as possible) for mental and muscular endurance.

If you want it all mapped out for you, The Adventure Routine Reboot is a 4-week fall training program that helps you build momentum and consistency. You’ll get mobility prep, strength circuits, conditioning WODs (workouts of the day), and recovery built in. It's all designed for real life performance and real après longevity.

Step 3: Après-Proof Your Nutrition

Here’s the thing: training like an athlete and eating like a ski bum won’t get you very far. Don’t worry, I’m not here to take away your après ski nachos. I’m just here to make sure you recover fast enough to enjoy more of them.

That’s where the Après Proof Nutrition Toolkit comes in.  It’s your guide to balancing fuel and fun. 

Try these simple tweaks before winter hits:

• Tip #1: Start your ski day with a protein-carb combo. Eggs and oatmeal, yogurt with granola, or a breakfast burrito will keep you fueled through those first few laps.
• Tip #2: Keep quick fuel in your pocket. Trail mix, nut butter packets, or jerky can help you sustain energy without relying on mid-mountain fries.
• Tip #3: Après smart. Pair that burger or beer with water and electrolytes to jump-start recovery. Your legs will thank you the next morning.

Because yes, you can enjoy that plate of poutine and still wake up ready for first chair… if you know how to recover right.

Step 4: Recover Like a Pro (a.k.a. Après Recovery Done Right)

Most people think training ends when the last rep is done. Wrong. The real magic happens in recovery and après ski is a huge component of that. You just need to make sure you are doing it right.

I like a good Shotski as much as the next guy, but you don't need to do 5 of them. Instead, swap “send it” shots for hydration and electrolyte mixes. Add mobility, contrast showers or even an ice bath after big ski days. And I know this may sound controversial ; ) but maybe, just maybe, stretch before collapsing into that hot tub.

Fall is the time to build these habits. Start now so they’re automatic come winter.

In Adventure Strong, Après Hard: The 8-Week Ski Fitness & Performance Plan, we build recovery right into your program . From active mobility to mindset journaling to après recovery stacks that help you feel your best on and off the mountain. It’s a full-season prep plan for those who want to ski strong, recover faster, and still enjoy every round at the bar.

Step 5: Find the Balance — Train Hard, Après Harder

At the end of the day, being adventure-ready isn’t about grinding harder or cutting out the good stuff. It’s about balance. Train smart, eat well, recover intentionally, and yes...absolutely enjoy your après.

Because when ski season hits, you don’t want to be the guy cramping up on day one or skipping last call because your legs are toast. You want to be the one closing out the day with a pint in hand, laughing with your crew, knowing you’ve earned every sip.

Ski Season Training to Get You From First Chair to Last Chair

Key Takeaways: How to Be Adventure-Ready This Ski Season

• Start your ski season training now. Fall is the best time to build the strength, mobility, and endurance that’ll keep you skiing longer and recovering faster.

• Mobility = longevity. Loose hips, mobile ankles, and a flexible spine are your best defense against early-season soreness that could lead to injury and missed powder days.

• Train smart, not endless. Short, powerful conditioning sessions beat marathon cardio for ski performance every time.

• Fuel like an athlete, après like a pro. A balanced plan like the Après Proof Nutrition Toolkit helps you recover faster and still enjoy your favorite brews guilt-free.

• Recovery counts. Foam rolling, hot tub or ice bath sessions and proper hydration is après recovery done right and will keep you strong from first chair to last call.

• Build consistency early. Programs like the Adventure Proof Body Blueprint and The Adventure Routine Reboot make it easy to stay on track before winter hits.

• When you’re ready to go all in, the Adventure Strong, Après Hard: 8-Week Ski Fitness & Performance Plan delivers peak-season power, endurance, and après balance.

Because when ski season arrives, you don’t just want to show up. You want to send it, recover fast, and raise a glass knowing you earned every turn.

Stay Adventure-Ready All Season Long

Getting your body in shape for ski season is just the start. Be sure you stay adventure-ready all season long with insider tips and know how. Subscribe to the Après Ski Blog and get expert ski season training tips, recovery hacks, and après-worthy tips and ideas delivered straight to your inbox.

From fall workouts to first-chair fitness and last-call fun, we’ve got you covered, on and off the mountain.