Performance Athlete Highlight: Down the River with Jennifer Frasier
When Jennifer Frasier signed up for a Grand Canyon rafting trip in January 2022—she knew it would be the trip of a lifetime, but she had no idea the impact it would leave on her life.
Pre-planning ensued, and she paid special attention to the minimum requirements for physical fitness that the outfitter provided: ascend and descend two flights of stairs carrying a 20 pound bag without using a handrail; get up on top of a kitchen counter, stand up, and return to the floor without using a stool; and suspend your weight from a pull up bar for 15 seconds. She knew there would be many obstacles, but she wasn't willing to let her physical capabilities be one of them. From that moment, she committed to being stronger than that—to not only fulfill the eligibility requirements, but to build stamina and prevent injury so she could make the most out of her trip.
Jennifer began a personalized program with Barton Performance coaches—aimed at exercises specific to her goal that would get her feeling confident by her launch date in May. She had less than four months to shape up, and so she committed to two days per week. In the gym, Jennifer focused on rafting-specific strength building (aka - lots of arm work!), plus some core, rotational strength, and more arms. With excellent communication and consistency, she worked with the coaches to address prevalent weaknesses in her back and shoulders. All workouts and exercises focused on inviting strength and mobility, with a goal of reducing her likelihood of injury. From the beginning of her training program, she began to feel significant progression, and by the middle of May, Jennifer was physically and mentally ready for her journey.
Fast forward to three weeks later, Jennifer returned with a smile on her face, unforgettable memories, and confidence in herself and her body. Aside from paddling all day, everyday, there were other activities including hikes (up to 10 miles!) and assembling and disassembling camp each day, where uneven ground put her balance and strength to the test. She found that the strength she built in her program not only helped her stay in the boat, it empowered her to take a greater role in helping the rest of the crew and the guides. It freed her mind and allowed her to focus on other aspects of the experience, like creating new connections with lifelong friends, taking in the amazing history and geology hidden in the rock formations, and listening to the Spanish guitar in the natural acoustics of the canyon.
Upon her return to Tahoe, recovery was in order. 14 days paddling on a raft plus hours of driving to/from the river took a major toll on her muscles. Once again, Jennifer turned to her team at the Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, because she knows that to Barton Performance coaches, recovery is just as important as training. They had a plan focused on restoring her muscle soreness using a variety of restoration and recovery methods along with technology like the Normatec compression boots and a series of ice therapies. Jennifer recovered in no time and has already jumped into a new program to work on her next goal—backpacking this summer in Desolation Wilderness!
