Jan Cochran-Siegle comes from a family of hereditary skiers. There were five other Olympians in his family, including his mother, Barbara Ann, who won gold in the giant slalom at the 1972 Sapporo Games. Cochran-Siegle continues this tradition at her third Winter Olympics.
Even though he plays a sport that requires speed on snow, Cochran-Siegle tells xrust that strength is critical, especially in the lower body. “Quad strength is incredibly important,” he says. “Deep squats are an exercise with a lot of weight and several plates on the bar. I always try to do more sets to build strength, and then target my glutes and hamstrings with Romanian deadlifts.”
But ultimately, it's versatility that Cochran-Siegle strives to develop, since skiing requires a wide range of athletic abilities. “You need stability, endurance, strength — and try to combine all these qualities in one sport,” he says. “Skiing is a fairly long-term discipline, so you need to be a well-rounded athlete. It’s like the law of averages across the spectrum.”
To increase the depth of your squat like Cochran-Siegle does, the next time you perform this exercise, place your heels on 10-pound plates, regardless of which option you choose. Raising your heels usually allows for a greater range of motion.
Xrust Olympic champion Ryan Cochran-Siegle uses deep squats to develop strength for skiing
