Off-Snow Training with Purpose: Slackboard Fitness for Skiers and Riders скачать в хорошем качестве

Off-Snow Training with Purpose: Slackboard Fitness for Skiers and Riders

In this episode of First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast, host George Thomas sits down with Derek Mikulski, Director of Commercial Sales and Education for Gibbon North America, and National Team member Melody Buell to explore how balance training off the snow can transform on-snow performance. Derek shares how his own fitness journey led him to champion the Slackboard—a slackline-inspired balance trainer designed to build strength, stability, and coordination for athletes of all ages. He also discusses new research showing how balance training supports not just athletic performance but overall health, focus, and mental well-being. Melody offers an instructor’s perspective, sharing how Slackboard training has enhanced her preseason conditioning—improving foot and core engagement, reducing fatigue, and adding a sense of play to her workouts. Together, they discuss why balance work matters for every discipline—alpine, snowboard, cross-country, telemark, and adaptive—and how small, mindful off-snow movements can yield major gains in control and confidence on the hill. Whether you’re looking to prevent injury, extend your teaching career, or rediscover joy in movement, this conversation connects fitness, flow, and longevity in ways that resonate with every snow pro. 00:00 – Introduction with George Thomas 00:29 – Topic Overview: Fitness, Balance, and Longevity 01:00 – Meet Derek Mikulski: From Weight Loss to Wellness Mission 02:25 – Meet Melody Buell: National Team Member and Slackboard Enthusiast 03:03 – Why Balance Training Matters 03:58 – The Missing Element in Fitness Routines 04:57 – Mental and Physical Benefits of Balance Training 05:27 – Melody’s First Impressions and Why She Added Slackboard to Her Training 06:49 – How Slackboard Activates Foot and Core Muscles 08:10 – Training for Core Stability and Precision 09:31 – Keeping Movement Playful and Purposeful 10:01 – Barefoot vs. Shoes: Maximizing Proprioception 11:29 – Group Fitness and Inclusive Benefits 12:54 – Slackboard for All Ages and Abilities 13:21 – Melody’s First Experience on the Board 14:44 – Learning Through Play and Embracing Failure 15:44 – Applying Slackboard Training Across All Disciplines 16:38 – The Science Behind Muscle Activation and Balance Outcomes 18:30 – Real-World Instructor Uses and On-Snow Benefits 19:25 – Translating Balance to Every Snowsport Discipline 21:21 – Exercises for Pelvic and Hip Engagement 22:15 – Squats, Lunges, and Instability Training 23:14 – Slackboard Setup for Snowboarders and Desk Use 24:38 – Building Strength Through Play 25:08 – Where to Learn More and Member Discounts (PSIA20) 26:07 – Resources for Instructors and Free Video Content 26:34 – Closing Thoughts and Season Wrap-Up