Ski Fit
Skiing is a fun and exciting winter activity that can also provide a great cardiovascular workout. To get the most out of your skiing experience, it's important to be in good physical shape and have strong muscles in your legs, core, and upper body. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best exercises for skiing to help you prepare for the slopes.
Squats: Body Weight Squats are a great exercise for building strength and power in your legs, which are key muscles for skiing. To perform a squat, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and lower your body as if you were sitting back into a chair. I like to do these with my heels elevated on a small plate or board about 1/2inch high to load my quads more. Keep the reps high to burn out your quads. You can add resistance to your squats by holding dumbbells or using a barbell.
Lunges: Lunges are another effective exercise for building strength and power in your legs. I would op for the reverse lunge to load your glutes more. To perform a lunge, step forward with one leg and lower your body until your thigh is parallel to the ground. You can do lunges with or without weights, and you can also try lunging in different directions to target different muscle groups.
Planks: Planks are a great exercise for strengthening your core, which is important for maintaining balance and control on the slopes.
Push-ups: Push-ups are a classic upper body exercise that can help you build strength and endurance in your arms, shoulders, and chest.
Box jumps: Box jumps are a great plyometric exercise that can help you build power and explosiveness in your legs. This exercise is not for everyone, especially if you are a little older or haven’t done any explosive exercises before.
To perform a box jump, stand in front of a sturdy box, explode upward, driving your arms and legs, and land softly on top of the box. Step back down to the ground and repeat the jump. Box jumps can be challenging, so be sure to start with a box that is at a comfortable height and progress slowly as you get stronger.
This is not an extensive list but if you are heading to the mountains soon it will certainly help. The above exercises could also be performed as part of a circuit. perform each exercises one after the other and rest for 2 minutes at the completion of each round. Complete 3-6 rounds of uptown 20 reps depending on your fitness level. Incorporating these exercises into your training routine can help you build the strength and power you need to enjoy a successful day on the slopes. Don't forget to also include some cardiovascular training, such as running or cycling, to get your heart rate up and improve your endurance. With a little preparation and the right exercises, you'll be ready to tackle the slopes and enjoy all the thrills that skiing has to offer. If you have any question about getting fitter for an up coming ski trip reply to this email and I will do my best to help you out.
Happy Skiing
Rod am