Physically Tweaked by Cat Smiley


Adventure Sports Exercising in the Great Outdoors Perhaps the greatest reward of all is the bond between nature and sporting accomplishment, when your body feels energized enough to kick up a storm. Basic steps can open up doors to a more adventurous lifestyle - surrendering ourselves to the possibility of injury means looking over the walls between simply being fit, and taking our physical abilities outside to play.

Victory lies in feeling free within ourselves, which is perhaps why so many people are drawn to outdoor sports. You’ll know you’ve become hooked when worries seem a thousand miles away as the sun warms your face, and memories of your perfect weekend of Spring exercising lingers throughout the work week. Laughing at yourself may be your savior when you first embark on adventure sports, however there are certain things you should know during the beginning stages of any ‘extreme’ activity.

Essential things you should know about adventure sports:

1. Warm up before you head out.
The natural environment of the outdoors provides a certain amount of insecurity - from tree roots sticking out of your running trail through to spring snow making your skis difficult to turn. Most sports target muscles from different angles than you may be used to working in the gym. Being fit definitely helps, however you should always stretch major muscle groups - tight muscles can result in an injury that may have been avoided.

2. Make sure your gear is safe
There’s nothing like borrowing your cousins mountain bike only to discover the brakes are loose as you catapult head first down the hill. Any adventure sports junkie will confess the equipment part of their habit is definitely expensive, however most beginners rent gear before they buy. Not only can you ensure the gear has been inspected recently (likely the last time it was rented) but you can often opt to apply the rental fee should you choose to purchase. Before throwing down your hard earned cash on a sport you’re not sure you will enjoy, knuckling through the beginner stages with rental gear is a great option.

3. Protect yourself
Fear of injury almost initiates the fateful event through anticipation! Protection is essential - wearing a helmet may be second nature on a bicycle however most adventure sports encourage head protection. Take skiing for example, you may be in perfect control until the beginner behind ploughs into you. Beyond the helmet lies wrist protection (especially roller blading and snow boarding) as the instinctive reaction to a fall is to stick your hands out to brace yourself should you crash. Discuss protective needs with your doctor or physiotherapist.

4. Take lessons
You may be surprised how often people would rather wing it rather than take a lesson. Certified professionals are experts in teaching you control, body mechanics and proper form - definitely a smart investment. Keep in mind that just because someone may have better ability than you at something, it may not necessarily be best they teach you. Teaching family and friends can become your worst nightmare, with the chosen ‘authority’ teaching dated techniques and habits that can be exceedingly difficult to break down the road. Swallow your pride and allow yourself to be taught the right way to be introduced to the sport.

5. Drink water
Summer sports make it easy for us to keep hydrated, yet the cooler days of Spring (especially with mountain sports) commonly sideline the importance of water consumption. On altitude, the combination of exercise, dehydration and higher elevation can run the risk of serious altitude sickness, fatigue and nausea. Often heading straight to caffeine-loaded drinks, high sugar fluids and alcohol take priority over the simplicity of sipping water throughout the day.

Contemplating outdoor activities is an exciting, empowering feeling it is liberating to realize that fitness can be rewarded with invigorating sports you can tackle at any pace.

Remind yourself that like any great relationship, your partnership with exercise and sporting endeavors takes time to test the waters and find what suits you best. Taking random spills will be part of the game, yet acknowledging how to roll with the learning curves without injuring yourself takes maturity, intelligence and patience.

Take the time to acquire new skills gradually and turn the gym into your preparation ground for maximum sporting performance. You’ll find releasing your adventurous side will become second nature, also inspiring others (through your infectious new zest in life) to embrace their adventure zone with you!

Cat Smiley is personal trainer and pro-athlete. Her company, Cat Smiley Personal Training, helps people of all abilities maximize their athleticism. Hear her new internet radio show on www.catsmiley.com.




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