TRAINING

At RIDGE Mountain Academy, the training you do off the mountain is just as important as what you do on. Cross training is integral to developing the strength, endurance, and conditioning you need to perform at your peak - and thoroughly enjoy the intense mountain sports you crave.

What We Do

From one-on-one student athlete fitness evaluations, to training in the gym, and custom yoga classes, RIDGE incorporates numerous cross training activities into our daily regime. Our goal? To build foundational strength, increase speed and agility, improve stability and flexibility, and prevent injuries all while helping student athletes thrive both physically and mentally.

RIDGE’s approach to cross training emphasizes core strength and proper alignment. The core muscles are critical for all athletic movement and essential for coordination and strength. Core muscles stabilize the spine from the pelvis to the head and are used to transfer power to the arms and legs. This is especially important in mountain sports where movement, power, and speed are combined into simultaneous action.  

Fitness Training

Throughout the week, student athletes train in the gym - as well as on dry land - using an assortment of conditioning modalities that include:  

• Weight training

• Functional training

• Plyometrics

• Balance and coordination exercises

• Cardiovascular training

• Interval training

Tackling mountain sports takes more than guts - it requires physical fitness. Fitness training is essential to building the strength, speed, and endurance needed to perform your absolute best. 

HEALTH & WELLNESS COACHING

HEALTH COACHING

Healthy lifestyles practices are a daily part of the RIDGE Mountain Academy experience. RIDGE coaches work to ensure that every student athlete learns the importance of leading a balanced healthy lifestyle. 

RIDGE Mountain Academy emphasizes clean eating, a sound approach to choosing the highest quality foods that in turn maximize energy and optimizes health.  Our nutritional philosophy is based on utilizing nutrient dense foods that promote health, optimal performance, muscle repair, and growth.  

RIDGE Health Coaching principles:

• Eat Whole Foods: Eat an abundance of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, high quality protein, and healthy fats.

• Source Local: RIDGE sources food from local farmers. We choose Organic, and Grass Fed meats whenever possible.  

• Avoid Unhealthy Foods: Avoid processed and refined foods, refined sugar, trans fats, and hydrogenated oils.  

Clean fuel is essential for peak performance, a strong immune system, focus, clarity, and an overall sense of wellbeing. This approach to eating fosters longevity, prevents disease, and decreases overall inflammation in the body.  

• Healthy Meal Planning: Student athletes learn how to organize healthy meals - from start to finish. This includes learning a myriad of meal planning skills such as pre-planning, choosing healthy recipes, creating healthy balanced meals, making grocery lists, sourcing foods, and food budgeting.

• Healthy Grocery Shopping: Student athletes learn how to navigate the grocery store, decipher labels, and select healthy choices. We explore the in’s and out’s of healthy grocery shopping and gain the knowledge needed to be an educated and knowledgeable food shopper.

• Clean Cooking: Student athletes learn simple strategies for preparing and cooking healthy snacks and meals that enable them to have more time and energy for your studies and outdoor activities. Discover the benefits of strategically stocking up the freezer with nutritious “on the go” options that can be easily packed for outdoor adventures and training.

WELLNESS COACHING

At RIDGE Mountain Academy, student athletes are encouraged to achieve greatness - in sport, as well as every dimension of life.  We believe that achieving optimal health and wellness is a balanced blend of spiritual, physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and environmental factors. Throughout the semester at RIDGE, student athletes will have access to a wellness coach. These coaches assist student athletes with individualized goal setting, food coaching, and accountability.

Yoga for Athletes

During a gap year at RIDGE, student athletes work hard to achieve a fit, healthy and extremely active lifestyle. Through yoga and stretching, students will learn about the importance of body awareness and restorative practices.

Twice a week, students will take an hour long Yoga for Athletes class taught by an on staff certified yoga instructor. These classes are developed specifically for athletes who train hard daily in a variety of mountain action sports.

Before students hop on their mountain bike or click into their ski bindings, they will be led through a Sport Specific Warm Up by their coach. These 10-20 minute warm-ups will specifically focus on the muscles and parts of the body used during the activities of the day.

At RIDGE we work hard to develop a well rounded athlete. Whether it is flexibility when learning to spin a 360 on skis. Balance to keep you on that climbing hold a little longer. Or to calm your mind and breath when standing at the starting line of your first SkiMo race, yoga will be used as a supplemental program to the main sports of RIDGE to get students closer to achieving their goals in the mountains.

Yoga for Athletes at RIDGE enhances:

• flexibility 
  

• balance

• strength

• mindset

• body awareness

• breath control

• injury prevention

Injury Prevention

At RIDGE Mountain Academy we help prepare you to perform at your highest level. This includes maintaining a strong mind, a healthy body - and proper physical technique. Correct posture and alignment are key. We have a variety of resources available to help you develop and achieve your fitness goals, while preventing as many injuries as possible. Physical therapy is available should you require care.