The leaves are changing, the air finally feels cool again, and in Salt Lake City we can step outside without frying to death for the first time in months. For me, that means one thing: the seasons are shifting, and it’s time to start the transition from summer to winter, from mountain guiding back to forecasting, and from long days in mountain boots to long days... in ski boots. My poor toes. 

That in-between time always stirs up mixed feelings. Some of us are clinging to summer with one last tropical (or European…) vacation, while others are already checking the 10-day forecast like it's a religion. For me, it’s more than just swapping Birkenstocks for Blundstones, it’s a full-on lifestyle switch. Summer is for guiding big expeditions, coaxing tomatoes into existence, running untrained distances through the mountains, and actually seeing my friends past 7PM. Winter is all about getting back into the 3AM forecasting grind, the endless snowpack puzzle, and, of course, skiing, so much skiing. Ski season isn’t just something I daydream about. It's literally my day job.

Because of that, I don’t just cross my fingers and wait for the first storm and hope I’m ready to tackle my season. I’ve got a system. I break preseason prep into three chunks: brain, body, and gear. If I want to show up strong, ski hard, and not fall apart by mid-January, I’ve gotta get all three ready to roll.

1. The Brain

First up: flipping the mental switch back into “snow mode.”

• • Reconnecting with the community: Fall = fundraiser season. Avalanche centers, backcountry orgs, all the good causes throw their events, and it’s way more than just raffles and beer. It’s a chance to see familiar faces, catch up with snow friends, and slip back into that winter mindset. For me, one of these is literally happening tonight as I write this.

  • Sharpening knowledge: Workshops, snow science talks, new research. I try to soak up as much as I can. Even if you’ve taken Avy 1 or 2, things evolve. Snow science is wild like that (which is why I love it). There’s always something new to learn or unlearn. You can find all the local Snow and Avalanche workshops HERE.

  • Watching the weather: Around this time, the long-range models start trickling in. I don’t treat them like a crystal ball, but they hint at what kind of season we might get. More importantly, I keep an eye on those early storms. October and November set the foundation. If it’s shallow snow and big temp swings? Hello, facet city. If it's consistent snowfall stacking up? Yes please.

  • Rituals and mindset prep: I bring in the fun here. Ski films (old, new, or questionably edited), checking in on goals, and drinking a glass of wine and swapping objectives with friends. Some years that’s about helping someone ski their dream line. Other years it’s just about making sure we’ve all re-synced and are ready to get out there together.

Mental prep = curiosity, connection, and rekindling that overall energy for winter.

2. The Body

Now for the thing that I try not to break every year. Skiing, touring, forecasting, it’s all a physical game, and my body’s gotta be ready to play.

• Strength training: Guiding keeps my endurance up, but I’m definitely not schlepping barbells up Rainier. So fall is when I  drag myself back to the gym three mornings a week, and sometimes toss in a CrossFit class or two (bless those people for telling me what to do). The focus isn’t hitting PRs. It’s building consistency. My ski-season prep usually looks like:

  • Back or front squats (leg strength + balance)

  • Deadlifts or Romanian deadlifts (hello hamstrings)

  • Hip thrusts (because, glutes. No further explanation)

  • Step-ups or lunges with weight (protect those knees!)

  • Core work (planks, Pallof presses, hanging leg raises)

  • Pull-ups or rows (pack-hauling muscles)

• Zone 2 Cardio: Ski touring is just hiking uphill forever, might as well train like it. Fall mountain bike rides are my favorite, but I make sure at least 1–2 sessions a week are steady uphill hikes, runs, or walk/jog situations. Bonus points if there’s gossip involved on the downhill.

• Prehab and PT: This is the part where I remember I’m not 19 anymore. I check in on my usual suspects (knees, hips, ankles), and get ahead of any issues. My go-to’s:

  • Single-leg glute bridges (waking up sleepy glutes)

  • Banded lateral walks (knees like a boss)

  • Calf raises and ankle stretches (for those skintrack slogs)

  • Copenhagen planks (awkward but effective, protect the IT bands)

• Nutrition and recovery: I try to eat real food, hit my protein targets, and keep the basics locked in: hydration, sleep, consistent creatine, and the occasional treat that makes me feel alive. We also just finished building a sauna (finally), so I’m in there about five days a week, doing three 15-minute sessions with a “coldish” plunge in between. Watch your back, Andrew Huberman, I am basically a biohacker.

The goal? Durable, not destroyed. Ski strong, recover faster, and maybe even make it through the season without turning into a human knee brace.

3. The Gear

Let’s talk about the stuff that makes skiing possible (and, let’s be honest, fun).

By the time spring hits, my gear is usually a disaster. I keep a running list of what’s busted or borderline and deal with it in the fall. I break it down like this:

• Needs (safety gear): Beacon, shovel, probe, and airbag are non-negotiable. I replace my probe every year because of heavy use, and my beacon every five seasons. These tools save lives, and they don’t last forever. If you wouldn’t hang onto an iPhone for that long, you probably shouldn’t keep your beacon either.
  

• Functionals: Boots are everything. I check liners, buckles, shells, the whole deal. I try to do this early enough to grab fall deals or get boot work done without the ski shop apocalypse. I also make sure my setup actually works together. Looking at you, fancy new boots that don’t match my bindings. Yes, I did that. Bonus: check your skins. If they’re not sticky, they’re useless. Trust me, few things kill the vibe faster than a failed skin on a storm day.

• Wants: This is the fun list. New skis? Maybe. Fresh Wild Rye kit? Absolutely. I keep a list and stalk sales and facebook marketplace like it’s a sport.

Where does glitter fit in? Wherever you want it to. I won’t tell you how to live your life, but for me it’s on the mandatory list. 

Wrapping It Up

That’s my preseason checklist: brain, body, gear. For me, it’s non-negotiable. It’s how I show up ready for the season. But even if skiing isn’t your 9-to-5, the same mindset still works. Prep with intention, and winter gets a lot more fun (and a lot less injury-prone).

Ski season always sneaks up faster than we think. Seriously, where did summer go? So start now. Get your brain buzzing, your body strong, your gear dialed, and maybe grab that glitter stick while you’re at it. You’ll thank yourself on that first powder day, which seems way too soon here in Utah. (If you’re reading this, please don’t ski high boy)

Written by: Nikki Champion