J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

A place is accessible. (Or not accessible).

Hence Hochgurgl used to be accessible from Obergurgl, only by ski bus. But now in is accessible by direct Gondela.

Ranchero_1979 wrote:Dave, are these 1/2 squats against wall or free standing?

Agree on the mobility, guys especially have to work on this one. Can't help but feeling that was a contributing factor to my incident (although not fully sure of logic behind it :-)).

Half squats are free standing, just touching the back of a chair for balance. I usually put the morning news on TV, so I'm not taking up any additional time!

My sports scientist lady included the bodyweight half squats in the exercise routines. It made sense to me, since it is pretty well replicating the ski routine, (well for the way I ski anyway!)

Re the fitness, if the muscle strength is built up, ie strong quads, then leg exercise is more efficient, and there should be less demand on the cardio vascula system.

Having a mixed and elongated strength routine ~ more than an hour a day, will extend the muscles towards achieving strength endurance. Basic strength decays during skiing, but the endurance element sees us through the ski day.

A benefit of basic strength is the avoidance of accidents ~ someone does the unexpected in front of you, you need to throw in a strong avoidance turn.

A benefit of strength endurance is the avoidance of end of day injuries.

My summer fitness is pricipally down to 10~12 hours tennis a week, including one night a week, when I play for the mens team ~ we each have to play six sets! Plus some hill walks.

Think I will go and lie down now.......

It was the suggestion of "Moobs", that had me opening up the discusion onto calorie levels. When I was an athlete, I could cheerfully eat my way through 6500 cals per day ~ and tip the scales at 11.5 stone, (at 6ft 2")

My belief is that if you have a reasonable skiing ability, and can ski in a relaxed style, then fitness is not such an issue. We should easily get through a days skiing ~ after all we spend 80%of the day on the gondola/chairlift.

I maintain that strength, and strength endurance, couple with mobility, are much more important.

The squats that I do, (half squats, I too think that full squats are not a good idea), are aimed at strength endurance.

Mobility is important for the avoidance of injuries.

Er, maybe a connection with food/alchohol/calorie intake? (No offence, guv)

Snapzzz wrote:

OldAndy wrote:Premature IMHO.

You haven't seen my moobs.....gonna take 6 months to shift these.

Hrrumph, er,if moobs are present, exercise may be only 50% of the problem! :shock:

Good analysis and conclusions, Swingbeep. Once you add in some actual information, he picture changes.

The views of the"expert witness" are concerning. Also, given your analysis, where was the defence expert witness?

Have to agree with Pavel. If you came back before complete recovery had taken place, and damaged the knee again, the consequences might be more severe than your current position.

I think you are doing the right thing, with the physio, and general ski exercises ~ body weight squats are good ~but, as Pavel says, not brute force. Interestingly, Pavel uses the term "endurance". My pre-season routine includes 1000 body weight half squats a day, ie 500 per leg. Reps of 20 on each leg, to avoid lactic build up.

This is not part of an injury recovery program, just part of a normal ski prep session.

Important point to add ~ work BOTH legs, not just the damaged one. You will be building up muscle quite quickly.
Take a thigh circumference measurement every few weeks ~ at worst, I had a two inch variation.

That will deal with the strength and repair recovery aspect. You still will have to find ways of testing and improving leg mobility, particularly with lateral and twisting forces. These are generally the forces that cause knee injury.

One of my faster ski buddies, an instructor that lives near Innsbruck, fell over, just while standing at the side of the piste. She suffered a bad injury, with a complete tear, and had a reconstruction. This was suffered in October 2011, and she can only start skiing next winter.

Having said all that, I wish you well, and that you rapidly regain your former capabilities.

Yeah, Andy, so why is it mostly left hand gloves?