Choosing the right Skiing Exercise program is critical to getting the most out of skiing and improving your skiing fitness. Have you ever reached the last run of the day and wished you had a bit more gas to get you safely down the hill? Or have you felt your legs get wobbly and been afraid that you were going to fall and hurt yourself!
Or worse, have you ever tumbled down the side of a mountain absolutely helpless - all because your legs gave out on you. That happened to me at Mammoth Ski resort a few years back. It was the last afternoon of a week’s ski vacation, and I’ll never forget scraping the snow out of my ears!
The first skiing exercise that comes to mind is usually a leg related exercise. Perhaps a wall squat or knee extensions to build up the quads. Or maybe it’s running, the thought being that running will help strengthen the legs plus you get the added benefit of aerobic exercise.
Use the following guidelines when choosing the best ski exercises:
1. Be sure to include an exercise that incorporates fast side to side motions, similar to what you’d do when skiing. Side to side leaps for example, are real good. Before ski season starts, it’s necessary to get your body thinking like a skier again. Performing the side-to-side leaps or jumps will improve your skiing fitness and remind your body that it needs to get moving and be sharp when you put your skis on.
2. Whatever ski training exercise you do for your legs, be sure to use free weights, not the weight machines in the gym. Think about the last time you used free weights like dumb bells. Remember how “wobbly” your muscles felt? And recall what it was like when you used gym equipment. Piece of cake, wasn’t it. But which do you think builds more muscles and provides you with a strong muscular foundation? That’s right, the free weights. So pick up a set of dumb bells from the local fitness store and start on your skiing exercise today.
3. Always include stretching in your skiing exercise program. Some of your muscles haven’t been used since last ski season. Think you might be a candidate for a muscle pull or two? Do at least five minutes of warming up before you begin stretching. Work on your hamstrings and lower back because they are at the core of skiing.
The last and possibly most important piece of advice is to start your skiing exercise early! About four to five weeks before you start skiing, if possible. And if you can’t do that, at least stretch as part of your ski training so you will avoid muscle pains and strains!
With a basic level of skiing exercise, you’ll cut down the chance of injury and you’ll end up skiing longer each day. Have an enjoyable ski season!
