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Kristin
Jamie Beauchesne // Photo: Bill Doster
Today, competitive skiing is tougher than ever. Raw talent is no longer enough; you should fine-tune every aspect of your life to maximize potential. Just like you wouldn’t run a racecar with fuel from a 7-Eleven gas station, you shouldn’t put low-grade gas in your body’s natural engine either. A proper diet is essential, so we spoke with a few Formula 1 skiers to find out how they keep their motors revved for peak performance.
Refuel Right Away
After a few ski sets, you need food. Your body needs to replenish its energy right away, so eating two hours later isn’t going to cut it. I always pack a jar of peanut/almond butter, jelly and bread. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are there for me even when I’m in the boonies at remote lakes. They’re easy to make on the fly and share, and they remind me of being 11 again. Mom knew what was up! — Jamie Beauchesne
Keep it Clean
At a restaurant, I choose the clean foods on the menu. By clean, I mean unprocessed, fresh foods, which are digested more easily and efficiently. For example, instead of a Blooming Onion for an appetizer, go with a green salad. As an entree, choose a grilled or sautéed item over a fried one. Unprocessed foods, both when eating out and at home, provide way more energy for performance and recovery and make me feel stronger and more rested for the next day’s round. — Chris Rossi
Hydrate Hardcore
Staying hydrated is key, so always drink lots of water. Skiers might not push our endurance threshold through the roof, but our Gumbylike positions on the water make us fairly injury-prone. Drinking lots of water before, during and after skiing helps prevent injuries and fatigue that result from dehydration. — Jamie Beauchesne
Raw Power
I always make sure to eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Raw fruit and veggies are especially nutritious. I’ll mix different fruit, like apples, bananas and strawberries, with a protein shake — good nutrition without a lot of time in the kitchen. That gives you energy, plus it helps keep your weight down. In slalom, you want your turns be powerful, and that’s a lot easier if you’re not carrying a bunch of flab. — Jason Seels
Cook it Yourself
I like to go grocery shopping and cook at home rather than eating out. At restaurants, it’s too easy to get high-calorie meals loaded with fat because you never know exactly what’s in the food. When you buy your own food, you can carefully prepare each meal, choosing nutritious stuff and avoiding the bad. Keeping a lighter weight relative to my strength ratio is very important as a slalom skier. Since I know exactly what’s in every bite I take, eating at home lets me stay that way. — Terry Winter
Keep it Fun
I’m a firm believer in moderation. I’m not too strict about what I eat; I’m just sensible. I think going too far either way isn’t the answer — whether it’s avoiding all bad things or indulging in everything without control. I consistently eat fruit and vegetables, but every now and then, I’ll have a Dr. Pepper or Mexican food. It’s like skiing: If it’s only a job and you aren’t having fun, you’re not going to be very motivated to continue. Because I still enjoy eating, it’s easy to maintain a healthy diet. — Freddy Krueger
