This month, we’re exploring how summer activities can boost your skiing and teaching skills. Whether you’re working at a summer camp, out mountain biking, or any other activity you enjoy, you’re building the motor patterns that directly translate to snow!
Rosemary Herron, a Level 1 instructor at Poley Mountain, is spending the summer as Assistant Director at Camp Glenburn.
“Working at a summer camp gets me outdoors, is rewarding, and shares a similar skill set required of a ski instructor.
Camp has taught me how to think quickly on my feet when challenges arise with campers. Ski instructing requires problem solving as well when pivoting during lessons. Being able to adapt to different groups is important to be successful in both jobs.
I also get to work with a dynamic group of people at camp. Being able to collaborate effectively with others is very valuable when working within a Snow School.”
Tom Hill, a Level 3 instructor and Level 1 Course Conductor from Wentworth, is often spotted riding his bike around the Wentworth Valley.
“Spring can be quite fickle here – I try to keep my ski season going as long as possible, but by the end of April things have usually warmed up enough to switch gears.
Cycling is my main off-season sport, with many skills and fitness benefits for skiing. Road and gravel riding have helped improve my endurance, which means less fatigue when you’re taking on a long run of short turns or moguls. Once the trails dry up, mountain biking is fantastic for coordination and balance, visualizing lines, and reacting to terrain.
The community here is great too, with many families choosing to spend their weekends here all four seasons.”
Ever wondered what happens in our brain during these summer activities? Ron Betts, a Level 4 Course Conductor based out of Nova Scotia, breaks down some of the science behind it.
‘’I first heard the term engram from Dr. Harold Shim, an ER doc and ski guiding colleague. Engrams, or specifically motor engrams, are essentially the way our brains store motor patterns. Whenever we learn a new movement, or sequences of movements, those stored memories tell our muscles when to fire, and in what order and intensity. I often hear people use the term ‘muscle memory’. That’s pretty much what engrams are, they are stored memories that help us perform a series of movements. When they develop, they allow us to make physical movements efficiently, without consciously thinking.
Engrams aren’t static, they have neural plasticity and can improve and become more refined with practice and repetition.
So, what does any of this have to do with a bunch of ski instructors? Well, there are studies that say learning engrams in one sport can translate to improvements in other sports. Let’s say we’re mountain biking and practicing cornering skills or trail running, where we have to be agile and place our feet with intention. Those engrams will translate to snow. If you take up a new pastime or sport, you’ll really be developing that neural plasticity.
There’s an old saying that I find myself repeating often, ‘If you rest, you rust’. If you want to be at your best for next winter, start now. Develop some new engrams and keep your brain supple. I’m looking forward to hearing about what you learned this summer!”
