Getting fit for skiing

How does everyone prepare themselves for skiing? I was once told that the only exercise worth doing to get fit for skiing was skiing itself but I don't actually believe that.

I hate the gym but love swimming, I also love walking my dog, but will this be enough?

Just curious to know if anyone spends the 3 months prior to their holiday doing anything in particular to get prepared.

I work out year round, and find that I'm more unfit by the end of the winter, so skiing does not get me any fitter :roll: I also walk outdoors year round.

Nelly, you could try walking the dog up and down some hills, which will use some of the "skiing" muscles. I think it has to be load bearing exercise, swimming is good for your heart, find something you enjoy to add to it.

Prep a very personal thing though :D

I have just bought a book 'Fit for Ski & Snowboard' from Amazon. To my dismay just buying the book isn't enough, I have to do the exercises described within :shock:

It has two 10-week plans in it, one for the gym and an at-home plan. I'm planning on starting the at-home plan this week. It seems very thorough. Some days are strength work outs, others flexibility, etc. It seems pretty thorough I'll let you know how I go on.

Every year I'm the one promising myself to be fitter next year. This year I've been lax up to now so I really need to discipline myself. Hopefully this added to regular gym visits will help me improve.

Inline Skating. Not only does it get you fit, but with the right drills, works on the muscles you use skiing. It Also works for the balance skills you need for skiing. Many racers use inline skating for off snow training. This is the one cross training that will actually improve your skiing directly.

You do need good kit, not those old cheap plastic skates from years ago. Wearing good pads, wrist guards, and a helmet, makes the inevitable falls unlikely to cause any injury and gives confidence.
(I know they make helmets that will fit you...)



Instruction, or a good how to book are essential.

This article mentions the benefit of strengthening the knees, something I find to be very true.
http://www.qwickly.com/inline-skating-off-season-training-for-snow-sliders

The Canadians now appear to have a ski instructor qualification for inline skate training.
http://www.iisa.org/resources/skate-to-ski.htm

A general article that mentions stair running. The part about leaping 2 or 3 stairs at a time is a good exercise. I often work on sites that require a lot of going up and down several flights of stairs. It surprises people, but you get less out of breath, leaping 2 at a time than just walking up at a normal pace. This is a particularly good exercise for keeping some spring in your movements for skiing.
http://www.skinet.com/ski/fitness/workouts/2009/07/your-great-shape-up

Trencher

this is a good site
http://www.fitskiing.com/getdoc/967f362e-6197-4d1a-8bd6-2926961fda68/Ski-Exercises.aspx
you need lots of exercise for core stability and balance

Trencher,
That helmet on the left does look to be a good for for NellyP! In line skating? In the UK? The whole country consists of joined up potholes!

There are different aspects needed to carry us through the winter ~ strength, (plus strength endurance), mobility, and cardio-vascular fitness.

When you are in your twenties, general conditioning allied with some sporting activity, will usually carry you through.

However, when you bat on a bit, you have to do some regular routines, so as to replace natural muscle wastage, and loss of natural fitness. If, like me, you carry a long term injury, then this needs specific work.

Strength endurance routines are critical, if you want to ski all day. A lot of injuries occur towards the end of the day, simply because you a person has skiied into a situation, and does not have the retained strength to pull off an escape manouvre.

Mekka,it looks like you have to open the book!

Trencher wrote:





Trencher

OMG! I have to get one of these, they're perfect!

Mekka wrote:I have just bought a book 'Fit for Ski & Snowboard' from Amazon. To my dismay just buying the book isn't enough, I have to do the exercises described within :shock:

It has two 10-week plans in it, one for the gym and an at-home plan. I'm planning on starting the at-home plan this week. It seems very thorough. Some days are strength work outs, others flexibility, etc. It seems pretty thorough I'll let you know how I go on.

Every year I'm the one promising myself to be fitter next year. This year I've been lax up to now so I really need to discipline myself. Hopefully this added to regular gym visits will help me improve.

Seems we have something in common, I'm a big fan of buying books and not opening them, more so with DVDs actually, buy them so they can gather dust on a shelf, in particular a yoga DVD I bought a few years ago.

Thanks for the other advice, all very handy 8)

NellyPS wrote:How does everyone prepare themselves for skiing? I was once told that the only exercise worth doing to get fit for skiing was skiing itself but I don't actually believe that.

I hate the gym but love swimming, I also love walking my dog, but will this be enough?

Just curious to know if anyone spends the 3 months prior to their holiday doing anything in particular to get prepared.

As I'm on my feet all day I find that helps to build up leg muscle, combined with a bit of cycling, this year I should be super fit 8) 8)