Slopestyle snowboarder and Red Bull athlete Billy Morgan gives an insight into how a man at home in the mountains manages to train and keep fit from his own front room.

“It’s pretty tricky being a snowboarder in lockdown,” says Morgan, “but I’ve found the best way to adapt is by improvising with everyday objects around the house.

“I’ve managed to continue some gymnastic/acrobatics training with an old trampet and crash mat, which is great fun.

“In terms of cardio, I’ve been getting out on my bike early in the morning, which is always good and helps keep my lower body moving.

“Core strength and stability is obviously really important for a snowboarder, so I’ve been doing plenty of exercises to help maintain that.

“I have a balance trainer which is great for my knee and ankle proprioception work, and I skate a little on flat ground to keep my mind on the tricks element of my sport.”

 

how snowboarder Billy Morgan trains during lockdown – Men's Fitness UK

Cardio

  • Cycle – road or trails.

Core and Stability

Using a BOSU home balance trainer (you can use a large pillow or folded towel instead).

Clock Foot Rotations
(4 x each leg)

  • Stand on the BOSU/pillow.
  • Perform a single-leg squat, with core braced and gaze held ahead.
  • With the free foot, point it out to an imaginary clock face and touch 12 o’clock (straight ahead).
  • Return to standing.
  • Repeat the process, but this time point your foot towards 3 o’clock.
  • Return to standing.
  • Keep doing this single-leg squat/toe point movement for 6 o’clock, then 9 o’clock, and keep going as far round the imaginary clock face as you can.

Single-Leg Hops 
(4 x each leg)

  • Start with the BOSU/pillows positioned in front of you.
  • Stand on one leg and hop onto the BOSU, then hop off to where you were standing – that’s 6 o’clock.
  • Continue the hop-on hop-off movement, but hop off in different directions to touch an imaginary 9, 12 and 3 o’clock.

Pistol Squat
(4 x each leg)

  • Stand tall and brace your core.
  • Lift one leg off the floor.
  • Squat down on your standing leg, while bringing your free leg out straight.
  • Go as low as you can, without coming up onto your toes, then return to standing.

Can’t pistol squat? Try these pistol squat progressions to build up to it. 

Gymnastics

Handstand
(5 sets x 30 secs)

  • “You could do a headstand or wall-supported handstand instead,” says Morgan. “And if you come down that’s fine just get back up as soon as possible.”

Upside-Down ‘L’ Shoulder Press 
(3 sets x 5 reps)

  • Swap in a pike press instead if this is too tricky.
  • Stand facing away from a wall.
  • Put your hands on the floor and feet up against the wall.
  • Move your feet up the wall until your body forms an ‘L’ shape.
  • Press down until your head lightly touches the floor.
  • Press back up and repeat.

Cartwheel
(5 x each way)

Standing backflip
(10 reps)

  • (Your guess is as good as ours…)

Core Circuit

(Repeat x 3-4 rounds)

  • Press-Ups x 10
  • V-Sits x 10
  • Side Plank Twists x 10
  • Plank x 60 secs


To find out more about Billy Morgan head to his athlete profile page at redbull.com