Factivegrl

Altitude can sometimes be the biggest battle while out in the snow. At high altitude the air is decidedly “thinner”. This is due to the decreased density of oxygen and lower air pressure. At altitude it becomes harder to ensure your body is getting all the oxygen it needs in ratio to the amount of oxygen you are using (which obviously increases when you do cardiovascular exercises like snowboarding). That is why your regular breathing is affected when you do any cardio out on the slopes, from hiking, riding to running. Your breathing intensifies, your lungs and chest burn, and breathing becomes more frequent, shallower and raspy. This is simply because your body is reacting to the decreased intake of oxygen, and is sending messages to your brain to do something about it. That is why when you have to hike a 20 yard section, run to a bus or …

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As promised, I have a three-part series with a great routine to work your legs out-just in time to get in shape for the ski and snowboarding season! Having strong quads enables you to last longer on the slopes and will reduce soreness after a full day, not to mention it’ll give you more strength to pump your legs on the half pipes and snow parks to show off your moves. Besides improving your skills, you’ll have shapely, defined legs to show off!

Keep in mind that the quads (thigh muscles) are huge muscles, so you need plenty of oxygen going through your body as you perform these workouts. Remember to breathe! A rule of thumb to help you remember when to breathe is to blow out when the exercise is hard. For instance, when performing a squat, it’s easy to lower your body, but when rising it is difficult. So …

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Now that summer is winding down, with the days growing shorter and many of our schedules getting crazier, it’s easy to forget to give the same attention to ourselves as we do when we are out in the sun. Summer is not the only time your body needs attention and protection from the elements though. Winter brings with it a whole different array of issues that we ladies should address. Here are some tips to remember before heading out on your next trip to the snow.

Moisturize

This is one I cannot reiterate enough. Moisturizing helps heal your skin after a long day in the snow; as well as protects it from the very get go. If at all possible, wear as little makeup as you can while on the slopes. You may be rolling your eyes, but …

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So have you mastered the last two triceps exercises? Here are three more to mix up your routine and create more of a challenge when working out those triceps:

Tricep Pull Down

This exercise is done on a universal weight machine, one where you can use pulleys to raise or lower the various attached handles. You’ll want to adjust the pulley so that it is raised all the way to the top, with the rope attachment. Start off with about 20 and continue the same amount of sets and reps as you usually do.

Hold your hands just above the rubber handle grips on the rope and pull down until you have one hand on each side of your hips and your triceps tight, and straight down (without your elbows locking). Your feet should be facing forward, about hips’ length apart. Stand up straight …

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Heard of the saying, ‘You are what you eat’? Well we should also view this phrase in terms of our performance outcomes and not just what food can do to your physical appearance. For anyone doing compos or interested in starting them, pay attention to the following, and ensure you are fueling your body correctly before the day or heat.

The food you put into your body leading up to a competition as well as on the day of your competition is just as important as the training you do. A well–balanced diet will provide you with the right amount of energy as well as essential nutrients.

Fuel up on carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the most important fuel for an active person and is stored in the muscles as glycogen. To maximize your performance, you need to keep your glycogen stores topped …

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These easy exercises will help you get a routine going to improve your strength, stamina, and muscle tone in your triceps and quads – perfect for snowboarding. I have listed a variety of workouts from the gym to in your own home, with or without equipment, so something is bound to work for you.

If you are an absolute beginner to these exercises, I recommend doing three sets of ten – that means do the exercise ten times, rest up to a minute, then repeat two more times. If you are used to working out, I’d up the ante to three or four sets of fifteen. Remember your form and that quality is better than quantity.

Dips

At The Gym:
There are two types of machines to work your triceps. In one, you are in a sitting position and you push down to straighten your …

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What is your core?
Your core is a group of muscles which are designed to support your spine. It centralizes your pelvis and is your body’s center of power. When someone talks about their core, they are referring to the muscles that lie deep within their abdominal and back muscles. Some of these muscles include the transverse abdominals, your multifidus and your erector spine. Your core is where movement originates and provides the source of our stability through each movement we make. When you are surfing, skating, snowboarding or in the gym, these ‘core’ muscles help to keep your body stable and balanced so that maximal muscle movement and control of that movement can occur.

So the stronger our core, the more we can push ourselves in our sport and achieve more power, be more agile and are able to land bigger and faster maneuvers. You will also …

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By the time summer roles around every year, we (as surfers) are generally so stoked to get some sun on our skin, some warm sand between our toes and a surf session SANS wetsuit, that we fail to remember the exact implications the sun can have on our bodies and skin, especially when we are pasty and white after a long winter indoors and under hoodies and wetsuits.

That initial summer sun burn though can be detrimental to your health, and can be the major cause of you forming skin cancer, which let’s be honest, is not all that cool. Hanging out in the sun for too long means that you get to much UV exposure, which causes DNA damage to your skin, which in turn, causes cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, beating the likes of breast cancer, lung …

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Yes, yes, I know I am a surfer and I have a certain reputation to uphold, but once in a while, I love to read Cosmopolitan and a couple of those other crappy girlie mags. It’s usually the call outs on the cover that suck me in, like, “78 never seen sex positions to try on your guy”. Then you get to the page and you’re all like, what the hell, this is lame, and yes, it gets me every time, but what can you do. So I end up with the mags and generally read them, well look at the pictures at least. Now this time of year, I love to notice, when summer seems to be knocking on the door, all the articles seem to have something to do with getting your body ready for a bikini and summer. …

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