What Are The Best Ski Exercises?
If you are a keen skier but aren’t too sure which are the best ski exercises at home, to condition your body and prepare each muscle and joint for the challenge, here are 4 easy ski exercises that will help you get fit.
Training ahead of your holiday is very important especially since the cold temperatures on the ski slopes can lead to injuries. Some of these injuries may declare themselves a few weeks after your trip, and generally speaking, they are the ones to avoid, unequivocally.
To condition your body correctly, you need a mix of endurance and muscle training. Endurance or cardio is a necessary element as it will allow you to last longer on the slopes. Muscle training is also important and it is best to isolate a couple of muscles and work on them for a few weeks at a time. The most important muscles are located within your legs since most of the weight and action is going to come from the lower part of your body.
1# Endurance training
Endurance training doesn’t have to be boring. The goal is to get your heart pumping and your blood circulate around your body. Make sure you take up something you enjoy- whether it is jogging, rope skipping or swimming. It is preferable to avoid sports such as cross-country running since these can lead to frequent injury and this is clearly the last thing you want
before your skiing trip.
Take up steps training for instance. You don’t need a stepper but if you have one, all the better. If not, you can use any steps (if you have a staircase this will be perfect- provided they are large and wide enough. Jump on and off at a good rhythm and for at least 20 minutes three times a week. If you aren’t already doing cardio training, you should start incorporating it into
a routine.
2# Core muscle training
This is another very important part of your pre-skiing training routine. Far too many ski enthusiasts skip this part and end up unprepared when going on skiing trips. Isolating your main leg muscles is necessary as it will warm them up and allow you to cushion your landings, which is important for your joints and your back.
Doing walking lunges 3 to 4 times a week will prevent your leg muscles from straining when you eventually get to the slopes. The exercise is quite simple: Stand with your legs slightly apart and take big steps forward- as big as you can-while bending slightly and reaching for
your feet.
It is really important to be co-ordinated and the first few steps may be clumsy. Concentrate on your balance and do a few sets 3 to 4 times a week. This exercise will stimulate your hamstrings and help your balance and mobility.
