Excersise for skiing

BrokenArrows

Im a regular gym goer anyway but im off skiing next month for 7 days.

Ive never been before. Any idea what muscles i should be focusing on. Im sure its all leg work just not exactly sure what parts of the legs.

rubadub

On TV3 this morning they had a woman on a ski exercise machine, she was fixed in boots with skis, and on a banana shaped frame with elastics going side to side with her feet.
like this


There was a guy beside her with a mini sort of fence, about 1ft high he was just jumping over it left and right.

I expect you have to get used to having your ankles forced over to the side, not sure what is best though. Maybe try the winter sports forum too
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=881

Adelante

Hi BrokenArrows
I've never skied before, that said I would go totally prepared, a total body work-out may help,
-Legs: squats, lunges, extensions, leg curls, presses, ab/ad ductors
-Chest: bench press
-Back: lat p/down,dumb-bell rows
-Arms: dips/kickbacks, biceps curls,
-Abs: crunches, cycles, russian twists, torso rotation machine
Don't forget to warm-up five/ten mins -Xtrainer, threadmill....
and stretches. Hope this helps

when you're on hols, warm -up and stretch, dressing in layers helps as part of the warm-up process, (weather conditions accepted)
- As for this, plenty of fluids of the H2O variety and some vitamins, and don't drink and ski!!! Again these are only suggestions, you know yourself.
Above all, enjoy yourself.

EileenG

Squats, lunges, step-ups.
Crunches and curl ups.
Press-ups and dips.
Balance work (squat on one leg, stuff like that)
Wall squat,
Side and front lunges.
Bird dog (hands and knees, right arm and left leg staight out, hold for 10 seconds, switch sides)
Good Mornings or stiffleg deadlifts.
Jump squats.

The main thing is strength, flexibilty and balance for lower body, with core work to stabilise you on turns and bumps, and some chest and arms for if you have to pole.

Skiinig is dynamic, and involves a lot of angulation, so make sure you do side to side exercises as well as front to back.

olaola

If you're a first time skiier - you'll be spending most of your time snowploughing around the slopes. So your quads are going to be BURRNNINGG!! Focus on quads and calves.

Roper

Pretty much everyone I know who goes on ski holidays comes back with a sore head from boozing, so maybe focus on bicep curls.

Seriously I get asked this question every single year by two people in particular. Just go and have fun. Anyone in Ireland who says they have any idea how to train people to ski is talking ****e anyway so just enjoy! We had a guy training with us from Finland who was an elite evel cross country skier for most of his life. I asked him once how he prepared and he just said that he skied a lot

olaola

Acutally what roper said is really true. Nothing can really prepare you for skiing, only skiing. Cardio might be the thing to look at! Saying that too - my husband who hikes & cycles a lot fares pretty well. But his technique would be good as he's being skiing for years, so doesn't have to put as much effort in.

Exercises will take the edge off, but you'll still be sore. Book a massage when you get there for about day 3

partyguinness

OP- TBH I wouldnt worry too much about getting fit for skiing.

The first time I went I had had a knee operation 3 months prior and was completely inctive up going skiing and I was grand..the only thing I remember being sore was my ass and hips from falling over and the backs of my claves from those horrendous ski boots...

IMO there is no need to get yourself trained up or anything like that...just go and enjoy.:)