{"id":64920,"date":"2018-01-18T07:15:07","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T12:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=64920"},"modified":"2021-05-15T05:15:21","modified_gmt":"2021-05-15T09:15:21","slug":"2018-winter-olympics-preview-skiing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/2018-winter-olympics-preview-skiing\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympic Preview: 3 Team USA Skiing Hopefuls"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Olympic
Photo courtesy of The North Face<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Consider your favorite activity of all time \u2014 the one you could do all day, every day. Then imagine being #blessed enough to spin that into your dream job. That\u2019s exactly how freeskiers Maddie Bowman, Aaron Blunck and Devin Logan feel about spending time on the slopes<\/a>. It\u2019s not a 9-to-5 for The North Face-sponsored athletes \u2014 it\u2019s a lifestyle. As they put it, they\u2019re just three ski bums turned Olympic medalists who want to laugh with their friends down the mountain.<\/p>\n

And they do \u2014 right before speeding off to vie for another spot on the podium. This year, that competitive stage will be in PyeongChang for the 2018 Winter Olympics. (They\u2019ll find out the final Team USA roster on January 22.) But these three skiers have already earned top medals, a few times over. California native, Bowman, 24, snagged gold at the 2014 Olympics in halfpipe and four from the X Games. Vermonter turned Utah resident, Logan, 24 \u2014 who competes in both halfpipe and slopestyle \u2014 won silver in Sochi. And Blunck, a 21-year-old from Colorado, won gold at the 2017 Winter X Games in the men\u2019s superpipe.<\/p>\n

While the hardware provides a little incentive to work harder, Bowman, Blunck and Logan still gush that it\u2019s their love for the sport that really keeps them going. Here\u2019s a glimpse into their lives, on and off the snow<\/a>, and why they\u2019re stoked to hang at the start gate of the 2018 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>20 Questions with Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy<\/a><\/p>\n

Olympic Hopefuls Talk Fitness, Nerves and Their Passion for Skiing<\/h2>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Bd0WsBGgnLX\/<\/p>\n

On their love of skiing…<\/h3>\n

Maddie Bowman:<\/strong> \u201cI love it because, honestly, it\u2019s the place where I feel I can be myself. It\u2019s very freeing and challenging \u2014 and there\u2019s just nowhere I\u2019d rather be. We\u2019re all just ski bums at heart. I think I\u2019d be doing this even if it wasn\u2019t my career. I know I\u2019ll be a skier for the rest of my life. That really makes me happy<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aaron Blunck:<\/strong> \u201cI never expected to be a pro skier. Obviously I had dreams as a kid. I loved skiing. I started at 18 months old. But it wasn’t that I was doing it because I needed to get to the next level… At the end of the day, there\u2019s really nothing better than sliding down the snow as fast as you can and flying through the air. It\u2019s the closest thing to being a bird that you could do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Devin Logan:<\/strong> \u201cThe friends I made through skiing are my closest friends. It\u2019s just a level you connect on \u2014 being outside<\/a> and being silly, going fast. All I wanted to do was be Picabo Street and go fast and not have poles. It\u2019s that freedom that not a lot of people can get. You can express yourself in different ways. You can just fly and get away from everything\u2026 The wind in your hair is the best therapy you can get.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>8 Signs You\u2019re Way Too Stressed (And How to Deal)<\/a><\/p>\n

On doing it for family\u2026<\/h3>\n

DL:<\/strong> \u201cMy brothers went to a ski academy five months out of the year, so I followed in their footsteps. [My family] believes in tough love. My brothers were always saying, \u2018You’re doing this trick and you’re doing it now or else you’re not eating.\u2019 So I definitely progressed quickly and then started going to bigger competitions<\/a> and realizing that my skill level was above norm… The biggest thing was the approval of my brothers. [My relationship with them] made me who I am today. It made me tough in this sport \u2014 which is<\/em> a tough one. You definitely take some hits.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB:<\/strong> \u201cJust like Devin’s brother, my older brother kind of paved the path for me in skiing and every sport I did with him. I\u2019m still always super thankful I grew up skiing with him because, I don’t get to ski with him all the time, but when I do, it’s typically the best days out of my year. He’s always someone who’s cared about not necessarily me as a skier, but me as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>21 Signs You\u2019ve Found Your Fitness Swole Mate<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

On what their gym sessions look like…<\/h3>\n

DL:<\/strong> \u201cA main focus in our sport is the landing. We try to focus on the hips to take the impact off our knees. And you need to be ready for single-leg landings… I\u2019ve gotten a little bit more gym time<\/a> to buckle down, get strong, and help me get through the season. In the last year or two that’s what I’ve focused on and I’ve really felt a difference. [It\u2019s helped me] make it through the whole season, feeling good and strong. Competing in two events takes a lot out of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

MB: <\/strong>\u201cWe do a lot of lifting, like back squats, front squats, deadlifts<\/a>, cleans and then core work<\/a>. With lifting, we\u2019re not trying to max out. Being powerful is the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB: <\/strong>\u201cI do a lot of cardio and more bodyweight exercises<\/a>, just because we don\u2019t want to be the biggest.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>275 Bodyweight Exercises to Shake Up Your Workout Routine<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BTAA0g4Fq81\/<\/p>\n

On their favorite way to cross-train\u2026<\/h3>\n

MB: \u201c<\/strong>I am an activity addict. I like to go mountain biking or go to the beach or go out on the boat. Then in the winter, I go to the gym…When we’re not skiing or training for an event, we\u2019re still skiing, whether it’s just around the resort, or hiking<\/a> and then skiing.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB:<\/strong> \u201cI mountain bike<\/a>, as well as skateboard, and then I recently got into running<\/a>. It\u2019s cool getting out of my comfort zone, because I\u2019ve never trained for running before. Now that I have a trainer, she actually helps me with my mechanics \u2014 like learning how to have less impact on my heels, ankles and knees…. I\u2019ve also recently started doing hill sprints<\/a>, which is brutal. I\u2019d almost rather do that than a 10-mile jog, though, because it\u2019s only 500 yards up a hill. You get back a lot quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL:<\/strong> \u201cI actually just bought a road bike<\/a>. I\u2019ve been getting into that for cardio, and I\u2019ve been getting into running a little bit, too. I\u2019m definitely not a long-distance runner<\/a>. I try to ride the bike for 20 minutes, then run a mile and get back on the bike…. But also, I\u2019m a big proponent of sleep and rest<\/a>. I\u2019m always go, go, go, so when I get the time, I just sit. I\u2019ve learned now, over the past few years, that the best recovery<\/a> for me and my body is to rest. I know deep down I need to physically just rest my body because the next day, it will be even better.\u201d<\/p>\n

On coming back from injuries…<\/h3>\n

MB: <\/strong>\u201cI’ve had two major knee surgeries… And you just try to do as much as you can with the rest of your body while you’re waiting. I think that really helps you when you start going back to the gym. You have to start out doing small movements, like learning how to do a squat<\/a>… Then, when you take your first step again, you\u2019re like, \u2018This is the best day of my life.’ You do take those things for granted [when you\u2019re not injured], but when you get back, it\u2019s a big realization of, \u2018Wow, walking is pretty awesome.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

DL:<\/strong> \u201cThe injury was an eye-opening experience that the gym is a crucial part of our sport to maintain strength and overall abilities. It’s kind of a shocking realization when you get hurt and then your life is the gym. Mentally, it’s exhausting. You try to do something that seems normal, like walking<\/a>, and you can’t for a little bit. It takes a lot of mentally strengthening… Slowing down is super hard for me. I had to occupy my time with other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB:<\/strong> \u201cI have such a hard time taking myself out and it\u2019s come to the point where \u2014 Devin has done it to me a couple times \u2014 she\u2019s come up and said, \u2018You need to stop skiing.\u2019 I’ve had some back issues for a few years now, and doing core exercises<\/a> has been the best thing I could have ever done. I swear to it now. I do it every single day, even if it’s really quick, like a set of 50 crunches and push-ups<\/a>, and a two-minute plank<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BYMtrRClW9c\/<\/p>\n

On what it\u2019s like right before a big run…<\/h3>\n

MB:<\/strong> \u201cI think we still get nervous, but for me personally, I like to just keep it light and fun at the top of the halfpipe and joke around and chat with people. Everyone\u2019s super nice and fun up there… You\u2019re up there with all your friends and you\u2019re genuinely happy<\/a> to see everybody and talk. It\u2019s nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB:<\/strong> \u201cI definitely found out that the more I mess around and joke about things [at the start], the better off I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL:<\/strong> \u201cI mean, the nerves have definitely calmed down<\/a>, but they’re still there. I think it just means you’re still passionate about it. You still care. You still want to do well. But I express it, again, in a fun, joking way. I also have to listen to music when I ski. Either you have that pump-up song [often DMX], or you’re too pumped up and you need to calm it down a little right before your run. So I’m up there listening to music, most likely singing out loud, being tone deaf, hurting everyone’s ears. But again, I just can\u2019t think about it too much. When you\u2019re relaxed<\/a>, you perform better.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Opening Ceremonies for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games will air on Friday, February 9 on <\/em>NBC<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Read More
\n<\/strong>Inside the Mind of an Ultrarunner: Meet Dylan Bowman<\/a>
\n8 Exercises Trainers Never Do (And What to Do Instead)<\/a>
\nThe 10-Minute Rowing Workout This Olympian Swears By<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Freeskiers Maddie Bowman, Aaron Blunck and Devin Logan may be working toward a podium win at the Winter Olympics. But they\u2019re also just enjoying the sport they love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":64932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6,14],"tags":[209,289,181,200,341,343,186,100],"class_list":["post-64920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","category-strength-training","tag-athlete","tag-exercise","tag-olympics","tag-skiing","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2exercise","tag-winter","tag-workout"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}