burning thighs after about 30 to 40 mins of skiing

Adrian1964 wrote:Hi, reasonably new to the forum and hoping to go skiing for the first time. Been looking for some advise and came across this website selling some books and stuff. R they worth it do you think. And will I need them? www.howtoskiandfitnesshealth.com Any advice would be great. I'm 47 and a bit over weight ish !

Hi Adrian.

It might be worth starting your own thread with that kind of question as the scope of this one is pretty specific.

Any knowledge you can arm yourself with before skiing is good, but no need to overdo it. You don't need the books but they may give insight into what is to come.

The main thing is to book good lessons, and make sure you have the right clothes.

Also be prepared to hate it for a couple of days. It may take a while before it clicks in your brain. For me it took nearly a whole week of wanting to quit, wanting to kill the instructor and wanting to go home. But the feeling when it comes together? Nothing like it, and it sticks with you forever!

Good luck,

Owen.

Hi Owen,

Thanks for the advise. Went in a shop and tried some boots on. They made me stand at a funny angle. That's why I was thinking and looking for some execise books specifically for skiing.

Thanks once again

Adrian.

No worries.

The boots are a bit weird aren't they? Don't worry, they feel far more natural when they've got skis on the bottom and are moving!

I wouldn't worry about buying boots until you've had a week to see if skiing is for you. If it is going to be something you'll do then your own boots will be the most significant purchase you make. Anyway, just enjoy the lessons as they come, don't get stressed if you're not brilliant straight away and don't worry if you're totally knackered at first. Skiing gets sooooo much easier (physically) as you get better.

Cheers,

Owen.

Tony_H wrote:Having personally progressed over the years, in particular in recent times, I have to say that fitness is not the key factor. I am less fit than I used to be, but I get much less tired skiing now than I used to. I am totally convinced it is technique, and that mine has improved so much that makes the difference. I am sure if I was fitter it would also make a difference and I'd be better, but being super fit does not make you a good skier.

I think Pavel, as always, hits the nail on the head.

I think you are 100% bang on Tony. Technique is the key.

Up until this week, see my old threads, my thighs burned after a steep run and i was always knackered by the end of the day. Not any more. And i am far from fit.

Looking at my style of skiing up until this week each turn on steep slope was more of small skid, kicking up the snow. And that transfer of energy (speed) was being absorbed by my thighs.
Now i am carving smoother and there is much less of a braking effect going on hence less pain.

To kill speed that kinetic energy has to be converted to another form. And generally, in any situation whether it be skiing, motor sport or just the natural world it is converted to heat.
Its physics.

Adrian1964 wrote:Hi Owen,

Thanks for the advise. Went in a shop and tried some boots on. They made me stand at a funny angle. That's why I was thinking and looking for some execise books specifically for skiing.

Thanks once again

Adrian.

I really would bother buying books, just get lessons with a decent ski school.
Books will help you advance once you reach a certain level and you understand how it feels to ski but for now it may just confuse matters.

Go skiing for the first time with a blank canvas...and be prepared to have a ball.