Morning Swims

Most mornings before work I go swimming. This is a great way to stretch out any aches and pains from the work outs the evenings before in a low intensity environment. 

I've also found that this helps me be more motivated. It's tricky to be positive and upbeat at 6am. Finding the motivation to go swimming when I'm in crippling pain will be essential when day after day I will be expected to ski. 

Well that was hard...

I think last nights boot camp was one of the hardest I've been to in a while. Hill sprints, squats and lots of work with kettle bells. 

GoPro

Today I made a splurge purchase. I bought a GoPro. After many years of debating if this was just a gimmicky piece of kit, I decided it was time to forget my pride and join the GoPro craze. 

And if I'm honest, it's probably one of the best descisons I've made. Already, it has helped me to document my skiing experiences and the slightly pricey camera is becoming a part of my adventures. I opted for the hero 4 model, the latest, but not the best with more advanced cameras available. 

The camera itself is tiny. However the image quality is immense. This was my main reason for choosing the Hero 4. The GoPro app allows you to control the camera from your phone through Bluetooth and Wifi. This is pretty cool. 

I could talk about this for hours but it's much better if you actually try using a GoPro. 

Expect lots more videos.  

Parkrun

Parkrun is a free weekly 5K run organised by dedicated volunteers every Saturday morning. This was introduced as a government funded scheme to encourage UK citizens to become more active. There are many Parkrun's across the country enabling thousands to complete the 5K run. 

This gives experienced and beginner runners the opportunity to run together and improve their time weekly. You can sign up online and receive a barcode that is scanned once the 5K run is completed. 

No matter if its sunny, rainy or snowy Parkrun goes ahead. It offers runners a great sense of community and support. Running has never been my forte however I have seen a considerable improvement in the times that I achieve. 

I have completed over 50 Parkrun's and am truely greatful to the volunteers who give up their time to organise these events. The positive and infectious environment has ensured I keep returning week after week. This has also been key to my training for skiing in Austria. 

Morning Bike Rides

My morning bike rides to work are lovely. I'm blessed to work outdoors in the countryside for The National Trust. Cycling has been one of the key activities I do to improve my fitness for when I move. 

Boot Camp

Smashed it tonight at boot camp. In agony but feel pumped! Squats, burpees...... and more squats. 

Training is essential for when I move. Five hours a day minimum on piste. Plus majority of them spent in a snow plough. 

I'm learning to love squats 

Too hard to choose!

The skis I'm currently using are the Salomon lady rocker twin tips. 

These skis are AMAZING! Perfect for all mountain skiing, offpiste, tricks- you name it they'll do it BUT... 

Not so good to use when teaching little people. As I'll be teaching three to sixteen year olds it's most probable that they'll be a few accidents. I'd hate for the stunning design of the ski to be spoilt  whilst working and so have decided to invest in a more durable ski. 

There are two pairs of skis in contention for the job however my bank balance will only allow for one. 

Both sets are men's skis. The reason for this is mainly that they are stronger, and more powerful. When using them everyday I would recommend that experienced women skiers consider switching to a men's ski. The difference is considerable (I had a spin on my brother's Salomon Lord's a while ago) and wouldn't consider buying another pair of women's skis other than for the more aesthetically pleasing design. 

I find the Rossignol skiis more attractive and find it unusual that Dynastar opted for a vintage, less appealing design on the ski. More recently they have released a similar design in a different colour scheme and the ski is much more appealing to the eye. 

But in truth I need to test these out on snow. A few sessions on a dry slope should give me an idea as to which will be more practical. 

Results to follow...

Dreams to Reality

My name is McKenzie. 

After two rather tricky years at college I decided that further education wasn't for me. With the support of my amazing family I decided to chase my dreams and become a professional ski instructor. 

Skiing is my passion. Since aged three when my parents took myself and my brother Pace on our first ski holiday to Canada, I have been in love with the sport. 
        

As I grew older and had several ski trips later to France, Italy and Austria I soon discovered that this was what I wanted to do as a career. I wanted to give little people the same magical experience I had in ski school. 

Several years after this trip to Canada my parents unexpectedly flew to Austria to have a look at a property. This would become my second love. 

The house they visited was unloved and crumbling away however I knew instantly that it was perfect for us. I begged by parents to buy it. 

Nearly seven years later and many school holidays spent building, decorating and painting... the house was complete. 

This beautiful piece of tranquility in the middle of nowhere will soon be my home and workplace and I just can't wait. 

In four weeks time I will begin the training that will turn my dreams into a reality. 

This is my journey. 

One girl, two skis

A message to the readers of my blog...

Welcome. This blog is an account of my experiences when training to become a professional ski instructor. I will be training with the company SIA for six weeks and will hopefully continue to employment in a small ski school in Rauris.