Strong Body. Strong Mind.

The title is a mantra I use while engaging in my favorite sports: skiing, hiking, cycling and even golf. Physical strength balances with mindful confidence in executing skillful activities and is especially true in skiing or riding because the terrain and conditions will vary throughout a day on the slopes.

Strong Body. With significant snow in the near forecast, the conditions will be variable so maintaining a strong core is essential to balance through powder, crud, ice, and hard moguls disguised as the piles of fresh snow. There are many YouTube videos to provide drills for balance control. Look around and try a few that will work for you. Start the day on a low-angle trail, such as Bear Cub, or Upper Skylark to practice skills and feel the variable snow conditions under your feet. Feel how much your fore and aft balance changes when skiing through powder, to crud, to ice in a short distance. Anticipate and respond by adjusting your core to flow from one turn to the next.

Strong Mind. Connect with your confidence and dial it up. At the top of the trail assess the overall trail conditions and take a deep breath and own your abilities. Check all the positive boxes in your mind. Strength. Ability. Quality equipment. Relaxed and warm. Only you can make every turn, and every run culminate in a great day of doing what you love: skiing and riding at Killington. Only you can elevate your skiing ability and confidence to go beyond your comfort zone. Make it happen the next time you are at the top of your favorite new trail.

Happily, there are some new trail options at Killington! Cascade, Escapade, Vagabond, North Star to name a few. The trail count will only go up from now into the month of February. Enjoy and own it.