Heli Skiing – Conditioning – Exercises for Heli Skiing

Your Endurance Determines the Vertical Feet You Accrue HeliSkiing Canada

The formula for getting the most out of your heli skiing trip is simple: the better condition you’re in, the more times you can get on the helicopter each day. The more times you get on the bird, the more vertical you accumulate.

So, the question is, how do you get in as many laps possible each day and the solution is simple, be in shape. That begs another question: how do you get into good/great heli skiing condition?

Condition Like a Pro Even if You don’t Match Their Intensity

The closest thing to the conditioning of heli skiing is that of downhill racers. No other skiers — professional or recreational — come close to skiing the amount of vertical you will heli skiing in Canada. As a result, the best method for getting ready for Canada heli skiing is to follow the regiment of the U.S. Downhill team.

Plyometrics and Bodyweight Exercises for Heli-Skiing

The U.S. Ski Team is crazy about plyometrics and bodyweight exercises. They are part of the year around regimen. While other exercises are only used for training in the summer and others are only used in conjunction with in-season training, the team does vertical and lateral plyometrics on almost a daily basis (1). The key is knowing which ones will help you the most when you go heli skiing in Canada.

One Leg Squats (Weighted or Unweighted) – According to a Shape Magazine article documenting the workout of Pro Skier Paula Moltzan, the reason one leg squats are so important is because 90% of an athlete’s job is done on one leg or the other. As a result, the U.S. Ski Team puts a high premium on what they call instability training. While not excruciatingly difficult, you’re legs will get a burn. More importantly, you’ll be working on your balance at the same time you’re conditioning your heart.

Squats – Like one leg squats, buso ball squats are another instability training exercise. In addition to working your thighs and buttocks, they also work your core (2).

Burpees – Everyone hates them and everyone has good reason. Burpees suck, but what an incredible bodyweight exercise. Burpees work your thighs, buttocks and core. If you can do 50 burpees in a row, you can heli ski in Canada, anywhere!

Resistance Band Side Steps – As you know, skiing is as much about shifting your weight from one foot to the other as it is keeping your shoulders over your knees and your knees over your feet. Resistance band training is one of the few types of exercise that mimic the resistance your hip flexors deal with as you ski. While the exercise isn’t aerobically tiring, it develops aerobic strength on the lateral sides of your hips.

Jumping Jacks – Yep, they look funny and make you feel like you’re wearing 1980’s NBA shorts, but they’re a great workout and they exercise the lateral sides of your hips. If you ever need to take yourself less seriously, do jumping jacks in the mirror and use perfect form. They’re twice as funny if you’re a girl.

Running, Swimming and Biking

All the strength in the world won’t do you any good heli skiing in Canada if you don’t have endurance. Unfortunately, endurance is earned the hard way. You don’t get to look cool in the gym doing exotic pushes and pulls, but if you have to make a choice, run, swim and bike before you do anything else because those are the exercises that will make your legs last and if your legs last, your money goes farther!

Skiing!

The fact is, nothing gets you in heli-skiing shape like skiing does. Every other exercise you do can help you accentuate your base skiing endurance, but nothing can exactly replicate the movements of skiing except skiing.

Want to go Vertical feet heli skiing in Canada this season? Call 925-683-7676 or Contact us for free recommendations…

Then get in shape!

Thanks to Ryan Hotchkiss for contributing to this post.

Regenexx – How to Keep Heliskiing with Regenerative Knee Therapy using Stem Cells

PRP vs Synvisc

Like many heliskiers, we’re always looking out for the best therapy for knees that have seen a few too many bumps, needles or scalpels. I am not a doctor, although I heliski with them. So, please do not consider any of the following to be medical advice.

Dr. Chris Centeno is pioneering the use of regenerative treatment of joints using stem cells. The innovative Regenexx(TM) procedures are performed at The Centeno-Schultz Clinic in Broomfield, CO (north of Denver) and in Grand Cayman, as well as a network of clinics across the U.S. Our interview follows, although some answers are paraphrased, sorry Doc.

Regenerative Knee therapy

It sounds like Luke Skywalker growing a new hand in Star Wars. Can you give us a brief description of it, please?

The Regenexx SD, or “same day” procedure, uses your own stem cells to regenerate lost tissue (cartilage, disc, bone, meniscus, tendon/ligament). The procedure consists of a bone marrow draw from your hip (which is totally, completely numb). We then isolate your stem cells from that marrow sample, and do anywhere from 1-3 injections back into the joint, depending on the procedure.

What can you treat with my stem cells?

Our Regenexx procedures can be applied to fractures that have failed to heal, joint cartilage problems, partial tears of tendons, muscles, or ligaments, chronic bursitis, avascular necrosis of the bone, and lumbar disc bulges. We are an orthopedics-based clinic, and we do not treat any other problems outside of bone, tendon, muscle, joint, or ligament issues.

What knee maladies can you treat with it?

The Regenexx knee treatments are for people suffering from knee pain due to common injuries or other degenerative problems.

If you have encountered an injury to the knee’s meniscus, ACL or MCL, cartilage or have chronic knee pain due to a past injury or osteoarthritis (also known as “degenerative joint disease” or “wear and tear arthritis of the knee”), you may be a good candidate for the Regenexx procedure.

Knee Pain (I couldn’t resist an image)

Traditional options for patients suffering from these issues include arthroscopic knee surgery to repair ligament tears, or total knee joint replacement. With both surgeries, months of rehab are required, and the patient must be aware of and prepared to take on the risks of other possible side effects including infection.

In general, is Regenexx SD better for acute or chronic conditions?

Typically, Regenexx SD is best suited for sub-acute and chronic injuries. Many of our patients have already had one or two surgeries and may have been dealing with their injury for more than 15 years.

How long does it take to see results?

Most of our patients notice improvement in as little as six weeks. By 12 weeks, most can return to their normal, active lifestyles.

How long before the patient can resume exercise after Regenexx SD?

Patients may resume low impact exercise, such as cardio, immediately following the procedure. A full return to their “normal” work-out routine usually occurs around week 12. So, unlike surgery, there is no weakening of the muscles prior to recovery. In 12 weeks, patients can resume all activity (even bumps!).

How long do the effects of the procedure last?

We have many patients that had their procedures done 7 years ago and counting. Some patients require a second or third treatment a year, two years, three years after their original procedure. However, most are good to go with one treatment.

How many knees have you done?

A lot! We’ve performed the Regenexx stem cell procedures on more than 1,000 knees.

Who is your typical patient?

The same people that use HELISKI.com to find the best helicopter skiing trips are our patients. (Thanks, Doc.) Our patients tend to be active individuals in their mid-30s to mid-60s with one or two prior knee surgeries. They are usually athletes who want to maintain or return to that active lifestyle. Often they have been advised to get a knee replacement or another surgery; and they are looking for alternatives.

What’s the status of FDA approval?

For same day (Regenexx SD), it’s exempt, and therefore not regulated. For cultured procedures (Regenexx C), it is not approved in the U.S, so we have a clinic in the Caymans.

Unfortunately there is no CPT code for the Regenexx procedures. We are the only providers in the U.S. who do this, and typically the American Medical Association needs tens of thousands of doctors performing the procedure before creating a CPT code.

What’s the difference? (Who gets a trip to the Caymans?)

Regenexx C, our cultured procedure, takes your own stem cells and then essentially supercharges them in a lab over several weeks (grows them to much greater numbers) which allows for greater improvement to the joint or ligament. It’s used for severely arthritic knees and other joints and is performed in our clinic on Grand Cayman.

What does Regenexx cost?

Approximately $4K for most procedures done the same-day and much more for cultured procedures.

Does insurance cover the procedures?

No, but we’re finding that the costs are in line with the high deductibles for surgery, so our pricing is very competitive. Editor’s note: It costs less than a week of helicopter skiing.

Does Regenexx also work for chondromalacia petal, ACLs, and meniscus tears?

Yes on all counts. We’re based in Colorado and because of our proximity to Summit/Eagle County and the like, we have treated a lot of skiers. Regenexx can repair partial tears and reconstruct ACLs and, in the case of meniscus tears, Regenexx may be more effective than removing the torn pieces, which also removes the cushioning in the knee.

I have been getting a shot of Synvisc every fall. It helps for about 6 months. Am I a good candidate for Regennex?

Yes. If you respond to any vicso supplementation, it’s a good sign.

Is this the same as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)?

No. PRP is concentrating platelets in the blood, not stem cell therapy. Regenexx offers a more detailed discussion on the differences between PRP and stem cell therapy. In addition, while PRP is one component of the therapy, we use a very different “Super Platelet Mix’ which we believe helps to produce many more stem cells.

What’s your opinion of BMP enzymes and how it compares to Regenexx? Bone Morphogenetic Proteins are used to promote spinal fusion, but its off-label for knees. It’s also extremely expensive.

How about steroid injections? Am I limited to three shots per joint of Regenexx in my lifetime?

One word of caution about any steroid injection therapy. Steroids can degrade cartilage. There is also evidence that anesthetic shots can kill cartilage. But now it looks like anesthesia and steroids together, which is typical, have a synergistic effect. Animal studies are showing a multiplicative effect…in a bad way.

There is no limit to the number of Regenexx injections someone can receive over a lifetime

Any negative side effects?

This is a needle-based procedure so the risk of infection is significantly less than the risk when having surgery. Also, the procedure works best on healthy, fit individuals so as the old saying goes, “results may vary.” We require all of our Regenexx patients to join our registry in regards to timelines, follow ups, surveys, etc. so we can track any side-effects over the long term.

Is there anything else you would like to tell heliskiers?

We’d like them to know that we have a network of providers around the country, so people don’t have to come to Colorado For example, there is a new clinic in Mill Valley, CA. However, Colorado is a nice place to visit!

Thanks, Doctor Centeno!

Posts in category: Heliski Conditioning