With the competitive season fast approaching and we say farewell to summer, we wanted to ask a few NEXXIES what they’ve been up to over the past few months outside the rink…
Carla Coveart explains why CrossFit is her go-to routine:
“I started CrossFit training last season and continue to attend several sessions each week. The classes combine running, rowing, push-ups, pull ups, squats and Olympic weightlifting. Each class combines a different set of exercises, bringing new challenges to each workout. Classes typically become competitive amongst enthusiasts as the exercises are timed and recorded on a wall for everyone to see. As a competitive figure skater for the past 15 years, I welcome the competition as it pushes me to train in a high intensity. My fitness has never been better and CrossFit has been an essential part of my exercise program outside the rink, allowing me to be the best skater I can be on NEXXICE. I recommend CrossFit to anyone looking to improve their fitness to a level they never previously thought was possible.”
Samantha Defino and Elizabeth Meyers relive their rock climbing experience:
“Euphoric. The blend of energies flowed rhythmically and there was a smooth delicate feel in the air as we hiked through the rock covered foliage. A mixture of pleasures consumed us as we felt the connection between the earth and one another. The lessons of the day were trust and patience, the atmosphere calm. A place for exploration, expectation breaking, pushing boundaries and testing ones limitations. Our senses heightened as we pushed up the rock — our nerves drifted away and as the adrenaline took hold. We chased that blissful moment where you can sit on the cliff face, gaze out onto the landscape, and then glance down at your friends and support team; the people who have your life in their hands.”
Elly Beaudoin discusses outdoor sports and activities:
“Summer is off season for most synchro teams, but my goal was to stay active. Whether that was at the gym, riding my bike or just trying out a new sport. On my vacation this summer, I tried my hand at tennis. It was super fun and I just enjoyed being outside and getting my body moving. I also enjoy swimming in the summer, but I continue to swim during the competitive season too. Trying new things and just keeping your body moving, no matter what your doing, is a step forward to being a better fitter you!”
Victoria Smith glides us through her rollerblading experience:
“This summer I wanted to mix up my workouts as running was becoming my cardio crutch. I finally invested in a new pair of roller blades and found the mental and physical results to be so worth the time and money. Running was doing wonders for my cardio, but roller blading offered me the sensation of skating in a new environment. It allowed me to take my stroking technique off the ice while working those little muscles in my legs that gave me more power on the ice. I feel as if I can push all the way to the end of my strokes better on the ice now than when I got back on the ice after worlds.
To anyone with ankle, knee, or hip injuries looking for a lower impact cardio routine for their off-season: I highly recommend investing in a pair of roller blades. I was able to use the same running routes I was comfortable with and paced myself to a few great songs.
Speaking of music, your iPod can be a great tool to improving your cardio and keeping your focus. Here are a few songs that I ran/roller bladed to this summer:
Sweet Mountain River – Monster Truck, The Original – Switchfoot, No Stopping Us (Steve Aoki Remix) – Dirtyphonics feat. Foreign Beggars, The Crowd – GTA
Happy workouts everyone!”
Kristen Loritz provides a new vision on running:
“I usually run on days that we don’t have practice so I have time to recover in between sessions. Running 5km is a good benchmark distance for me – enough to practice short intense bursts (2-3 sprints) as well as build up my endurance. Last season I started something new: I began to visualize performances while I was running. Most people like to treat visualization as a kind of meditation; a time where they become one with the music, space or their activity (skating) and explore it with no boundaries. For me, visualizing a performance, or aspects of a competition, pushes me to go those extra few minutes or run that extra mile. Visualizing the future makes you work harder in the present and I find there’s nothing more motivating than picturing the last few moments of a performance, be it in Canada or on the World stage. Those will be the hardest moments; the moments where mistakes are sometimes made because we are tired… but this can be prevented by training now, by visualizing now. With Worlds at home in Canada this year, there won’t be the same challenges (altitude) as last season, but there will be other setbacks that none of us can control. Preparing for those moments is an individual job as much as it is a team job. You have to listen to your own body and know what you need to do outside of skating to prepare yourself for when you take the ice. For me, it has been running and visualization this summer, and through these activities, I know I will have have done my job and helped my team become the best that we can be.”
Lee Chandler walks us through his weekly yoga routine:
“Similar to Kristen, I also enjoy running outside in the summer — I usually aim for 5-10km per run. Something that I find helps me the most is going to a hot yoga class throughout the week. It’s something that I started to do last year and have kept up with it ever since. I really enjoy yoga because it is an hour out of my day where I can let everything go and just focus on myself. I prefer to go to a high level hot class because it really gives my body a full work out and I’m able to spend a few extra minutes after each class to stretch and work on my flexibility. There are so many great ways to work on your fitness throughout the summer and the best part is that you don’t always need to pay to go to a gym. Some of the best work outs are outside from running to swimming or even hitting up a park and doing some simple strength exercises like pull ups, push ups, and planks.”
Recent Comments