Wednesday, January 16th 2019- by Louise Green

Hitting the Slopes with Sportive Plus

Louise Green, trainer, author, advocate, athlete

 Louise Green is a global plus-size fitness coach, fitness activist and author changing the narrative and idealistic standards of our fitness culture.

Her fitness career began in 2008 when she opened the first plus-size fitness franchise, Body Exchange.

As an influential change-maker, Louise has helped thousands of plus-size women find their inner-athlete and love their bodies.  Through speaking, writing and coaching women online she has lead the charge in creating a more inclusive fitness culture across the globe.

Smashing the barriers of mainstream fitness, Louise is the first plus-size athlete to be featured in elite publications such as: Triathlete Magazine, Bicycling Magazine, Canadian Running and Runner’s World UK.

Louise is the Author of Big Fit Girl and a Columnist at SELF Magazine.

You would like to know her better?

https://www.louisegreen.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/louisegreen.bigfitgirl/

https://www.instagram.com/louisegreen_bigfitgirl/

As an avid skier I love to share my passion for skiing with others.  But I’m often met with remarks around what “use to be”.  I hear comments like, “I used to ski when I was thinner or younger” or “I used to ski before I had kids”.   Skiing for me is such a freeing experience and it doesn’t have to be something that use to be. However, along with the usual reasons why people let go of skiing, there’s also the practical stuff like finding the right gear that poses a big problem for so many of us.  But there’s hope!

Here are some ways you can get back to the slopes, at any size, age or ability – Skiing doesn’t have to be part of your past. 

Find the Right Ski Wear 

I get asked all the time where plus-size women can find functional and fashionable ski-wear.  I’ve recently learned about SportivePlus and I stand by their ski-wear more than I do any other brand for plus-size women!  Until recently, I have resorted to men’s pants and had to have them altered for length.  Not only is this costly but they still wouldn’t have the most flattering fit. Never again!  Sportive Plus pants are functional made with high quality fabrics, flexible for the movement ski demands and they look great!  Plus, bonus points for producing them in Canada!

Learn how to get up from a fall 

Many women say they aren’t sure how they will get up if they fall and that’s totally valid because it can be a difficult feat.  I recommend asking your ski partner for a hand up while pointing your skis horizontally across the run.  Alternatively, take the skis off, stand up, brush off and start over! With the right gear on, this part of skiing can be made easier.  There’s nothing worse than trying to get up in restrictive pants or jackets that limit your range of motion.

Map out You Runs in Advance 

If you are just getting back to skiing, make sure you know the run grading system:  Green circle for the easiest runs, blue square for more advanced, black diamond for difficult, double diamond for extremely challenging and orange oval for snow-boarder terrain park.  Get a map of the mountain and study it before heading out by choosing the most suitable runs for your ski experience.  I’ve been caught on runs that were too difficult and it makes the day stressful, more difficult terrain can be achieved gradually overtime.

Cross train for Skiing

Skiing can be quite demanding on the quadriceps.  You will likely experience a burning sensation during your first few days of the season.  I always do and consider it a “break-in” period. If you’re like me, you will need to take regular rest breaks and give your legs a rest. For the first few days on the slopes, consider buying a half-day ticket. Building the quadriceps will help condition your legs for the demand downhill skiing requires.   Exercises that can help are squats and lunges, for ski training I recommend 3 seconds down on the squat, 1 second up on.

Ski with Like-Minded Ski Partners

Skiing with friends and family can be so much fun but not if everyone is racing ahead of you feel like you’re struggling to keep up. Finding likely match abilities is the best for a positive-fun day.  

If you’ve body has changed, if you’ve had kids and feel too busy or just let skiing go over the years, you can make a comeback this season just by suiting up and getting out there.  Company’s like Sportive Plus are empowering women of all shapes and sizes to live out their athletic dreams in the body they have now.  Check out their gear and get out there!  

You can do it!