Pulsin Foods - Fuelling the British Team to success

Pulsin is a small company that designs and produces a unique range of functional snack products using synergistic combinations of wild crafted herbs, raw chocolate and other superfoods. The Cacao is ethically sourced from an organic farming cooperative in Ecuador.

All Pulsin’ products are suitable for vegans, and are formulated without sugar, dairy, wheat or gluten.

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Nutrition for Snowsports – Are you getting the right balance ?

Sports nutrition is the study of nutrition and diet and how it affects our sporting performance – taking into account the type, quality and quantity of fluid and food consumed by the athlete.

Sports nutrition is becoming increasingly important in all sports today as the margins for winning are becoming smaller and smaller. Although it should be an important part of all athletes training programs it is too often neglected by many snowsports professionals.

In this short article I hope to give you an insight into nutrition for snowsports and share a few simple tips to make your experience on the hill more enjoyable.

One of the most important factors we must take into account, when considering nutrition, for skiing and boarding is the altitude. Unlike many other sports and activities that take place usually at sea level there are many issues that we have to consider in preparation for going into the mountains but also while we are up there.

At 5,000 meters the level of oxygen in the air is dramatically reduced to half of that found at sea level, resulting in reduced levels of oxyhaemoglobin saturation in the blood. This has many limiting effects on one’s performance which I could go onto write hundreds of pages – but more importantly, what is it we do to reduce these limiting factors?

1.) HYDRATE, HYDRATE and HYDRATE some more – This is crucial as the higher the altitude the lower the humidity and the quicker sweat evaporates from the skin. Also in colder environments you subconsciously loose fluid in the form of water vapour when you breathe out. Water loss can significantly reduce your performance – whether competing or just skiing recreationally always carry a bottle of water in a holster strapped around my waist containing an isotonic sports drink to help replace fluids and electrolytes.

Get into the habit of always carrying water on the hill

2.) Try to cut down on caffeine and alcohol, as both are diuretics, encouraging loss of fluid – this can be difficult especially with a good après ski but the trick is to drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink.

3.) Have a big BREAKFAST and eat little and often – When waking up at 0630 on race day some we have to force food down because we know if we don’t our legs will give up when we need them most! At altitude your metabolism is increased and there is a decrease in the use of fat as an energy source, together with an increased reliance on carbohydrate so always keep a few snacks in your ski jacket.

You may wonder why it is after that long lunch at the Cabane Mont Fort your legs feel heavy and you are not skiing quite as well as you were in the morning.. “hello skiers legs”.. Well this is due to what we called ‘vascular-shunting’, the re-distribution of blood away from your working muscles helping you ski to the digestive organs used to digest that cheese fondue sitting in your stomach!

Finally eat well, perform well and have fun!