Warm up and cool down

I'm wondering how much warm-up excercies people do before they begin skiing/snowboarding? I usually do a few quick stretches, but this doesn't last more than a minute or so and I'm thinking I should do more. Is it dangerous that I'm not doing more? Also, I don't usually do any sort of stretching after I'm done, but is this also necessary?

The latest research suggests that warming up doesn't make a big difference to the risk of injury however there are individual factors that are perhaps more relevant - such as old muscle tears & strains which may benefit from gentle stretching.

Warming down is claimed to reduce muscle ache and fatigue by keeping the blood flowinging to the muscles but when it comes to a call between warm down/ 4 o'clock cake / a beer I know where my priorities are!

Hi Sunnyboy,
I always take the stairs instead of the lift down to the locker room from our apartment, and I find the effort of getting ski boots on and walking a few hundred yards in them carrying my skis is a great warm up!

The only time I feel in need of warm up exercises is when it's extremely cold and windy and I've been sitting on a freezing chair lift for quite some time. In those sort of circumstances the instructors make us jump up and down, do stretches, and swing our arms around and things to get the circulation going again before we set off ski-ing.

And I've never done anything special afterwards either. As before, I find the effort of getting back to the apartment quite enough! But I guess a hot soak in a bath or jacuzzi after ski-ing is a good idea to relax tired muscles.

I reckon it's more important to get your ski muscles flexible and fit before the holiday, than to do warm up exercises.

Ally

My idea of a warm up is to sit on a radiator for 10 mins :)

I normally have a stretch and a scratch when I get up to loosen anything that feels a bit tight but that is it.

Defo think that the stairs, putting on boots, carrying skis etc etc counts as an athletic warm up routine.

I do like some sort of soak, though, after a day - whether a hot bath, swim and sauna, or whatever is available - does help with the effects of the days exertions.

Mind you the only injury this last hol was in the boot room bending down to do my boot as there was nowhere to sit and I pulled a muscle in my side!!
Plonker or what?
:mrgreen:

The simple act of bending over to do up your boots usually provides sufficient stretching for the morning, then the 10 yard carry of the skis to the slopes warms you up nicely.

As for a warm down, I think you will find that for Alpine sports this is actually called Apres Ski :twisted:

Far Queue wrote: then the 10 yard carry of the skis to the slopes warms you up nicely.

I always aim for ski in ski out accomodation to avoid this exact scenario FQ

I just don't do walking and carrying skis ...... I come over all grumpy :twisted: