Avalanche Experience and Respecting Risk

Today’s episode is with someone who is regarded as one of the best ski coaches on the planet, yet this is not a conversation about skiing. The things my guest has experienced over the years through teaching, coaching, and working in the mountains in unpredictable conditions hold valuable lessons for us all.

Warren Smith is one of Britain’s leading professional free skiers, an Internationally Qualified Performance Coach, creator of the Warren Smith Ski Academy and someone who has spent several decades helping people understand their bodies better to help them move and ski with more freedom. Warren has been a sponsored Volkl athlete for over 10 years and is one of the most innovative instructors working in the Alps and is held in high regard for the research and development he carries out combining Ski Technique, Ski Biomechanics and Ski Physiology. As well as coaching tens of thousands of recreational skiers, he is also well known for being the ski instructor that many high profile individuals seek out when wanting to improve their skills, including Prince Harry, Heston Blumenthal, Laurence Dallaglio and Bradley Wiggins.

I myself have known Warren for around two decades having sought him out in my mid 20s when I first started getting into skiing because I was deeply fascinated by his philosophy, which made a lot of intuitive sense to me. 

In our conversation, we discuss:

• Why so many of us feel limited by our bodies and how simple, five-minute functional exercises can help
• Why differences in strength or mobility between the two sides of the body are incredibly common, and how they affect everything from skiing to running to daily movement.
• What Warren’s injuries have taught him about resilience, patience and rehabilitation.
• Why fear on the mountain mirrors fear in life, and how breaking challenges into smaller steps can help us stay calm and move forward.
• The mental and emotional benefits of elevation and nature, and why gaining perspective from a higher vantage point can help us reset and unwind.
• The life lessons Warren learned from surviving an avalanche and losing friends in the mountains
• Warren’s incredible life story from growing up in a council state to living in one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the world.

This is not just a conversation about skiing, but one that reminds us that when we prepare well, stay curious and look after ourselves , we can keep doing the things we love for longer.

I hope you enjoy listening. 

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.