Ski Fitness Exercises Make Ski Holidays Fun
Skiing will be a real pleasure if you are fit before you go, so the first thing you have to do is to fix a time for your ski fitness programme – and keep to it!
If you are apprehensive about the word ‘skiing’ I may be able to advise you here as ski fitness will definitely boost your confidence, and is quite important for general skiing ability. I’m not suggesting that if you are really fit skiing will be a doddle, but it will make the hell of a difference. If, on the other hand you dislike exercise and being fit, you would probably be happier playing chess.
Try some exercise now – go to this ski fitness workout
Now you don’t have to be a superman with thighs the size of car tyres, but you do need to be ‘ski fit’ and that, as I’ve already said needs a bit of discipline. You are going to have to plan some kind of a regime and stick to it.
Specifically, you need to do something to increase your aerobic fitness, ie your puff, and a bit of anaerobic work to strengthen your calf, thigh, and stomach muscles. Trotting up and down hills, or just walking hard on them, is good for both puff and strength. Once again, find what suits you and stick to it, and if you are not certain, pay your local gym a visit and ask for help.
You will have to begin your ski fitness training programme a month or two before you go on vacation and again if you are not sure, ask at your local gym. The older you are, the longer you will need to train, with a slow build up of course.
If you want to try something less demanding, you could try some mental exercise too, which will improve your balance. I occasionally practise this by walking on top of a wooden rail fence. The top rail is roughly three feet off the ground and a couple of wide, but you can try walking along a piece of wood on the ground. As an alternative, try those semi circular plastic balls with platforms on them. By doing some kind of balancing exercise you are of course improving physical fitness but you are helping your confidence as well. Most of the time you fall over because you lose your balance, and if you can recover from a bad wobble, it will be a pleasant surprise.
If you’d prefer to stay at home to build up your exercise routine try this ski fitness video.
If you discover that your thighs are aching at the end of every run, try this fitness tip that Jean Claude Killy used to endure for five minutes every morning. Some of you will know it. He would sit with his back to a wall with his lower legs upright and at right angles to his thighs with his arms folded. If you can get to do this for up to five minutes a day, you will have a pair of gold medal winning thighs just like Killy.
Once you get out on the slopes have a go at this exercise which will improve your balance in times of difficulty. Try skiing for short bursts on your uphill ski with the other one lifted off the ground. Think about where your weight is positioned the ski and you will be filing it away in your head to be used later. Have a go at turning on your downhill ski while your other one is lifted off the ground. You may need to help yourself round with your poles. This is very good for making you think what you are doing!
Finally, concentrate as hard at the fitness programme as you would on the slopes. It will pay off!
For more ski training info visit Ski Jungle