Minturn Fitness Center to offer winter conditioning classes

MINTURN, Colo. — We all know the feeling: It’s early season. You’re amped for that first big powder day of the year. You grab your hot chocolate and make it to the base for first chair. Two hours later, though, you’re limping back to the parking structure, sore and dejected, because you weren’t quite ready for it.

The Minturn Fitness Center is here to help.

 

With its state-of-the-art, 10-week winter conditioning class, you’ll be in midseason shape by opening day. This isn’t your cushy, six-week course at the local spa. Instead, work alongside top-notch trainers and utilize the same high-tech training methods used by Ski & Snowboard Club Vail athletes, professionals and Olympians.

“Most people say, ‘I’m going to ski myself into shape.’ Some say, ‘I’m going to ride my bike into shape.’ With this program, you’re going to get on the mountain Day 1, and you’re going to be able to go all eight hours with full effort and not really get fatigued or risk injury,” said Jake Wurth, strength and conditioning director for the Minturn fitness Center (MFC).

The program, which begins with a VO2 test and identifies the needs of each athlete, follows a progression from high volume and low intensity to low volume and high intensity. It begins with a muscle and endurance phase, moves into a muscle-building phase and concludes with a strength and power phase.

“We want to strengthen the muscles that are predominantly used in skiing, but we also want to strengthen the opposite muscle group, so that there is a balance,” said Wurth. “We actually go even further than that and do one or two more exercises on the opposing muscle groups so that they’re a little bit stronger leading into the season. Once you do start skiing or snowboarding, there will be that balance.”

You don’t have to be competitive skier or snowboarder to get in shape like one. Any winter-sport athlete who wants to make the most of his or her season, stay healthy and maybe impress some friends is a great candidate for the program.

Hour-and-a-half classes begin Sept. 9 and are held three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 9 a.m. or 6 p.m. Cost is $300 for Minturn Fitness Center members and $400 for non-members (which includes a 10-week membership).

Space is limited, so sign up now! For more information, contact the Minturn Fitness Center at (970) 790-5090 or check out the MFC website at www.minturnfitnesscenter.com.