Summer Sports for More Mindfulness, Confidence, and a Fulfilling Travel Experience

New PSIA Alpine Team member Dominique Vetromile only recently started spending her summers in the mountains, where she’s found a whole new range of activities to enjoy in a snow and surf-less environment.

Here, she shares how Pilates and strength training provide an ongoing physical and mental basis for any activity, how she enjoys hiking with her dogs, and her latest favorite “not scary” Stephen King book.

Enjoy more offseason workout insight with AASI Snowboard Team member Matt Larson, AASI Snowboard Team member Cori Lambert, PSIA Alpine Team member Katie White, PSIA Telemark Team member Keith Rodney, PSIA Alpine Team member Kevin Jordan, and AASI Snowboard Team member Lyndsey Stevens.

Q: What’s your go-to offseason workout or outdoor sport, and why is it what you like to do?

A: I didn’t spend summers in the mountains until 2020. Before that, I spent summers on Maui, so most of my sports are water sports. I windsurf, surf, and scuba dive, but with the shift to the mountains I have had to try out a few other things. Nothing has stuck yet, but I spend a lot of time hiking because I can do that with my dogs.

Throughout the year I do reformer Pilates, I lift, and I find some form of cardio to keep me busy. I find that a combo of all three keeps me strong, flexible, and helps with my endurance on skis. I will say Pilates has given me an incredible awareness of my body’s strengths and weaknesses, and I use that information to strengthen my weaknesses in the gym. It’s an incredible combo.

Q: Do you teach or compete in this sport, or has it led to any great adventures around the world?

A: I’m not currently competing in any sport, but sport has taken me to many amazing places. I have windsurfed in Italy, surfed in Central America, and skied in South America. Travel is a huge part of my life, and I love centering those trips around something active. I find it’s a cool way to experience a new place and gives me a deeper experience.

Q: What can you take away from summer sports that can be applied to your work on snow?

A: Experimenting with summer sports, most notably mountain biking, has given me a lot of empathy in my teaching in the winter. When I mountain bike the primary emotion I feel is fear, and working through that is a huge challenge. I try to remember those emotions when I’m introducing a new concept or new terrain to students, as things that come easily to me may not make sense to them.

In terms of how my own summer activities affect my skiing, I find that the stronger I am the larger my comfort zone, and that I can make choices that were not available to me before I started lifting. For example, things like my line choice in terrain or accuracy in short turns have changed drastically as my comfort zone has grown.

I can also focus on the people in my group and my teaching instead of worrying about my ability to ski at the level I want to. I find a lot of mental clarity when I can take that off my plate, which allows me to show up as the best teacher, clinician, and examiner I can be.

Q: Do you have any other fun summer plans or good offseason reading suggestions you’d like to share?

A: This year we’re going on a river boat from Memphis to New Orleans with my 92-year-old grandmother, and I am trying to sneak in a ski trip to Argentina with my husband.

I read a variety of books and some of the most notable from the last year are Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia. I cannot stop telling people about this book; it’s life-changing). Also, Fairy Tale by Stephen King. It’ s one of his few not scary books.

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Teaching snowsports requires year-round physical preparation. To help keep your edge during the summer and throughout the year, pick up your copy of Fitness for Skiing and Snowboarding.