Podcast Summary

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Episode #600: How to Stay Strong, Mobile and Active at Any Age
Guest: Warren Smith, Elite Ski Coach
Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee sits down with Warren Smith, one of the world’s leading ski coaches, to uncover essential lessons about movement, resilience, and health longevity that apply far beyond the slopes. Drawing from Warren’s journey—from council estate to coaching royalty—and decades of coaching and personal injury, the conversation explores the universal impact of preparation, the importance of functional movement, the management of fear, and how nature and perspective can shift our lives. Whether you’re an athlete, weekend warrior, or someone seeking to stay mobile and confident as you age, this episode is full of practical insight and motivating life lessons.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Warren Smith’s Backstory: From Hemel Hempstead to Verbier (04:17–09:40)

• Warren discusses growing up in a council estate and how the installation of a local dry ski slope—initially the cause of frustration and youthful rebellion—became a turning point.
  • Memorable moment: Warren describes being caught for vandalizing the slope and being redirected by a local policeman to work there instead:

    "Getting caught by the local bobby on the beat...one of the local bobby on the beach solutions was to work at the dry slope." (06:15)

• Passion for sport and skateboarding dovetailed into skiing, aided by community facilities that were accessible and affordable.
• Key idea: Skiing is more accessible than commonly perceived; local facilities (like dry slopes) provide inclusive entry points.

2. Lessons from Upbringing: Resilience Through Adversity (09:40–12:30)

• Family instability and financial hardship taught Warren early independence and a robust work ethic.
  • Warren: "I don't think there's anything wrong with that. For me, it built resilience." (11:07)
• Early self-reliance and “getting on with it” evolved into a lifelong inner drive.

3. The Core Principle: Preparation & Biomechanics > Technique (12:30–19:36)

• Dr. Chatterjee and Warren dismantle the myth that technique is all that matters, emphasizing that biomechanical readiness is foundational for all movement, not just skiing.
  • Warren: “If your body isn’t able to apply that technique well, you’re probably better off spending time on your biomechanics first.” (13:28)
• Most people have significant left/right imbalances (often 65° vs. 35° hip rotation); these imbalances are universal, yet easily overlooked until they limit performance—or cause injury.

4. Universal Lessons for All Sports & Daily Life (19:36–32:55)

• Preparation isn’t about sports obsession, but about “fitness for life”—being able to respond confidently to life’s demands (e.g., sprinting for a train).
• Simple, daily functional exercises (as little as five minutes) can correct imbalances and build trust in your body.
  • Dr. Chatterjee: "This is how you build trust in yourself and confidence, is through doing that small bit of prep consistently." (31:04)
• Warren’s “Ski Technique Lab” assesses and targets key movement patterns for longevity and performance, whether you ski or not.

5. The Role of Routine & Habit (31:04–34:30)

• Scheduling mobility or prep work into your daily calendar ensures follow-through.
• Consistent, minimal prep is “a sign of love to myself,” sustaining health and enabling longevity.

6. Injury, Recovery, and the Chain Reaction (36:29–41:31)

• Warren recounts a snapped Achilles (2010) and the cascading effects of compensation on his hip and back.
  • “The whole system slows down…You can't afford injuries too much as you get older.” (36:39)
• Early attention to niggles or imbalances prevents the negative cascade and accelerates recovery.
  • Dr. Chatterjee: "It's not a neutral three months... you are way further behind than where you would have been had you not got that injury." (35:19)

7. Fear, Confidence, and the Mental Game (41:31–54:47)

• Preparation not only builds the body, it reduces fear and increases enjoyment.
  • Warren: “A lack of preparation can massively contribute to an increase in fear.” (42:09)
• When helping clients face psychological obstacles (e.g., steep slopes), Warren breaks complex challenges into bite-sized, achievable steps.
  • “You have to intervene and spell it out like a children’s book.” (51:46)
• Dr. Chatterjee draws parallels to everyday life—how breaking things down can help when overwhelmed.

8. The Power of Perspective & Nature’s Healing (58:23–69:45)

• Being in elevated, natural settings (mountains, hills) literally and figuratively grants perspective, triggers relaxation, and reduces stress hormones.
  • Warren: “For me personally, having the view or the perspective of looking out...it feels like you’re elevated in perspective.” (59:04)
• Programs like Snow Camp use the outdoors to positively transform young people’s lives; even brief escapes to local hills can have profound effects.

9. Resilience in the Face of Danger & Tragedy (69:45–78:33)

• Surviving an avalanche and losing friends in the mountains taught Warren the value of preparation, humility, and knowing when enough is enough.
  • “If there’s one thing...it’s waking up the idea that let as many people know about [mountain safety] as we possibly can.” (72:39)
• The temptations of ego, comparison (social media), and “more” can push people beyond what’s safe; real wealth is knowing what is enough.
  • Dr. Chatterjee: “True wealth is knowing what is enough.” (76:24)

10. The Art of Coaching & Listening (78:51–80:37)

• The single most critical skill for coaching (and medicine) is deep, attentive listening.
  • Warren: “You’ve really got to know who the person is you’re going to coach and what their expectation is.” (79:00)
  • Dr. Chatterjee: “Listen without preconceived ideas.”

11. Practical Advice for Non-Skiers (83:26–85:24)

• Start by testing your left/right body balance—this might be the single thing holding you back from enjoying an activity.
• Movement and functional regimen give you the best chance at staying active into old age.
  • Warren: “If you get to work at it right now by trying to look at what your body's capabilities are, your machine will go on lasting longer and longer and longer.” (85:12)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Biomechanics Over Technique:
  “Preparation for me is also about biomechanics before technique.”
  — Dr. Chatterjee (13:30)

• On Injury & Compensation:
  “Even with the best will in the world, it has a knock on effect. The knock on effect was in my hip positioning.”
  — Warren Smith (39:21)

• On Confidence Through Preparation:
  "You actually have this inner confidence and trust in your body because you've prepared and you've done the work."
  — Dr. Chatterjee (22:38)

• On Perspective and Elevation:
  "For me, the mountains unwinds people, just switch off and everything becomes a lot more like, 'ah, I can breathe out.'"
  — Warren Smith (61:15)

• On Greed and Knowing When Enough is Enough:
  "True wealth is knowing what is enough."
  — Dr. Chatterjee (76:24)

• On Coaching and Listening:
  “For me it’s listening and understanding the person…The Listening game covers way more than just audio.”
  — Warren Smith (79:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Warren’s journey from a council estate to Verbier: 04:17–09:40
• Discussions on preparation and biomechanics: 12:30–19:36
• Importance of small, daily practices: 31:04–34:30
• Cascade of injuries & the need for early intervention: 36:29–41:31
• Managing fear, breaking down challenges: 51:46–54:47
• The power of perspective & nature: 58:23–69:45
• Lessons from avalanche and loss: 69:45–78:33
• Listening as the hallmark of great coaching: 78:51–80:37
• Final advice to non-skiers on staying active: 83:26–85:24

Actionable Takeaways

• Test and work on your left/right imbalances—begin with hip rotation, use simple daily routines.
• Preparation matters for everyone, not just athletes. Five minutes a day of functional exercise can future-proof your body.
• When feeling overwhelmed, break any challenge—on the mountain or in life—into manageable parts.
• Seek out elevation and nature, even locally, to gain fresh mental perspective and reduce stress.
• Reflect on where, in your pursuit of “more,” you may risk what is “enough.”
• Make listening—to yourself and others—a cornerstone of growth and support.

Resources Mentioned

• Warren Smith Ski Academy & Ski Technique Lab
• Snow Camp Charity
• @warrensmithskiacademy (Instagram)

If you want to stay strong, mobile and confident at any age, the principles and stories shared here—simple preparation, functional movement, and the confidence that comes with them—are always approachable. As Warren closed:

“I want to do sport until I’m older, much, much older. I want to enjoy all these things for as long as I possibly can. And if you get to work at it right now by trying to look at what your body's capabilities are, your machine will go on lasting longer and longer and longer.” (85:12)