Take one company that makes compression leggings with built-in knee braces, add to the ingredients Chemmy Alcott, 4x Winter Olympian, presenter of BBC Winter Olympics and Ski Sunday and all round National British Skiing treasure and you have yourself the finest snowsports base layer leggings! Ladies and Gentlemen may I present to you the Imbrace High Performance Snow Sport Base Layer.
Well, this is the first time that we have seen compression leggings with built-in knee braces designed specifically for Snowsports. These Imbrace snowsports leggings are designed for Women and Men and have been designed in collaboration with Chemmy Alcott to reduce pain, improve performance and aid recovery. The devil is in the details with these leggings, the knees, IT band and hips are protected and kept warm with neoprene; whilst the booster straps around the waist help engage the core muscles. There are even pockets designed to hold heat pads, perfect to soothe period pains on the ladies’ version.
We were lucky enough to speak to Chemmy about her collaboration with Imbrace, her top tips to prepare for the winter season, how to get through it and deal with injuries so that you can continue to enjoy the very reason why we are all here… to enjoy snowsports of course!
Chemmy, how did your collaboration with Imbrace come about?
I have been a fan of their compression leggings for a while. Using them when my knees ached during physical training and recovery before the winter started. I was such a big fan that I wrote to them and asked them to collaborate to make a product based on their original legging but modified for better performance on snow. Thankfully they agreed and we met and brainstormed ideas. Nine prototypes later we now have Imbrace Snow which I believe is a game changing product.
How do the Imbrace Winter Snow Sport Leggings reduce fatigue?
The support panel layout focuses on lower body areas to keep key joints warm and supple increasing blood flow in these areas. The support that the engineered panels provide reduces strain on joints and muscles too – leading to users reporting an overall reduction in fatigue.
Chemmy how do the Imbrace Winter Snow Sport Leggings reduce strain and potential injury?
The leggings reduce the potential for strains and injury via the engineered support panelling that protects and supports key areas. The knees, hips, IT Band and across the lower back.
The panel layout helps with symmetry and alignment. The high adjustable waistband with pockets for heat pads supports the pelvis and spine – and the core boost straps allow users to ‘switch on’ their transverse abdominals – a key component of their core. I’m a real believer that a strong core is vital to skiing well and being less injury-prone. The waist on these leggings helps you have one even if you didn’t get to the gym as much as you’d have liked pre-season. The leggings feature ‘Core Boost’ straps to help ‘switch on’ your transverse abdominal muscles and engage your core.
Why are the Transverse abdominal muscles so important in Skiing? How do you learn to engage these muscles more?
We need to switch on our core to protect our back from the jarring and impacts of the terrain and snow conditions on the slopes. Off-snow pilates, and stretching can really help. But Core Boost provides tension to engage them which is particularly important first thing in the morning when muscles are tight and cold.
We really like the ‘pocket over the abdomen to soothe period discomfort’ – Any other tips for reducing period discomfort on the mountain?
I am all about heat during my period, which is why I added the pocket for that heat pad. I’m not much of a fan of pill popping and the heat pad over my abdomen is a natural way to deal with the discomfort.
As an Olympian you are no stranger to injury, what are the 3 most important ingredients to recovery?
ICE (even if it’s not a full submerge and you can’t stay) hot/cold combo is great.
HYDRATION – before you do get down some water
SLEEP
Since you have damaged your ACL, how do you care for your ACL and knees in general on and off the mountain?
Other than compression, before skiing strength work, daily mobility – warming up the glutes and foam rolling the IT band
Like all sports, there is a big physiological aspect to it, we can all have off days whether performing (Race, Park etc) or just on holiday, do you have any tips to overcome these ‘humps’?
Know your body, know your limits. Try to slowly step towards them and ease yourself out of your comfort zone but do so when the conditions allow and when the slopes aren’t busy.
(This could be a whole book for an answer!)
Top 3 favourite Ski Resorts and why?
1. Cortina – I love the sunrises on the Dolomites, I love the food and I love the coffee.
2. Flaine – Flaine is like coming home. It is where I learned to ski, and where my sons are learning to ski. I love the family vibe.
3. Kitz – I am so lucky to go there to watch the Men face the Streif for Ski Sunday.
For more information visit Imbrace
