Post
by John Gilmour » Tue Nov 09, 2004 1:18 pm
Unquestionably- the best winter training is Alpine Snowboarding (freecarving) in Hardboots on a race specific deck or a if you want thigns less intense a freecarve specific deck.
1. You'll build leg strength far beyond what skateboard slalom will do for you- you can easily pull over 1g and sometimes up to 3 gs of force ina turn under the best firm conditions.
2.You'll go at speeds far beyond slalom skateboarding (for some over 80mph)- skateboarding down a hill at 30mph will seem like a joke after that.
3. You'll learn to suck up surface imperfections when riding bad snow conditions- and this can translate in dealing with problems like crowns in the road when skateboard slalom racing.
Slalomers who ride hardboots + Alpine set ups while snowboarding.
Kenny Mollica- backflips on his alpine set up, Jon Rutherford tears it up, CMC, Chris Stepanek, Eric Brammer, Glenn Chapman, John Gilmour, Andres Sidler, Daniel Ridoli, Anatoly Matsukevich, Alex Lutz, Santi Diaz, Vlad Popov, Jeanie Clarke.
Kids: Eric Schipwert, Ben Chapman, Mille Chapman,
If no mountain is accessible to you - you could also try short track speed skating, I have not done this yet, but some Chris Chaput claim it is an intense workout - especially while cornering. But so far as I know there is not a Black Leather speedskating team, however many of todays racers would find a use for their lycra in the off season.