Latest posts for the topic "Warm up and cool down"

Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:24:31 GMT

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?

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:38:56 GMT

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!

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:06:48 GMT

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

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:22:18 GMT

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

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:28:18 GMT

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:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:33:28 GMT

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:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:04:19 GMT

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

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:20:19 GMT

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

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:53:13 GMT

I forgot to say, the other thing the ski instructors do is take the class down a comparatively easy run first thing, as a warm up.

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:58:36 GMT

AllyG wrote:I forgot to say, the other thing the ski instructors do is take the class down a comparatively easy run first thing, as a warm up.

:shock: :shock:

I don't do running at all thank you! Way to much like hard work.

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:04:36 GMT

Far Queue wrote:

AllyG wrote:I forgot to say, the other thing the ski instructors do is take the class down a comparatively easy run first thing, as a warm up.

:shock: :shock:

I don't do running at all thank you! Way to much like hard work.

I don't know, I quite enjoy jogging around the resort first thing in the morning, in my ski boots, with all the other 'student's, keeping in time and singing daft songs like the American forces do and following the instructor who jogs at the front holding his skis up in front of him like a flag :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:22:34 GMT

AllyG wrote: I don't know, I quite enjoy jogging around the resort first thing in the morning, in my ski boots, with all the other 'student's, keeping in time and singing daft songs like the American forces do and following the instructor who jogs at the front holding his skis up in front of him like a flag :wink:

Hmmm .....
That must be Austria??

In France it tends to be a coffee, a cigarette and a little shot of eau de vie for the instructors first thing.
:lol:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:58:23 GMT

AllyG wrote:

Far Queue wrote:

AllyG wrote:I forgot to say, the other thing the ski instructors do is take the class down a comparatively easy run first thing, as a warm up.

:shock: :shock:

I don't do running at all thank you! Way to much like hard work.

I don't know, I quite enjoy jogging around the resort first thing in the morning, in my ski boots, with all the other 'student's, keeping in time and singing daft songs like the American forces do and following the instructor who jogs at the front holding his skis up in front of him like a flag :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

What????

That's not a holiday it's a prison camp. And you ski France, not America right????

Anyway. Warm up etc....
Shower first thing to wake up. Walk to breakfast, put on boots, walk to lift, stretch out calves and hammies at the top, do an easy blue and you're ready for anything.

I may have paused somewhere for a fag on the way up as well. Burns some more calories ;-)

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:08:56 GMT

I tend to stretch off in the mornings just to loosen tight muscles, it's the end of the day I really focus on. I actually take a foam roller with me and iron out my legs/lower back. This releases tension and eradicates any build up of knots within the muscle, it absolutely kills if you do it correctly but you feel fantastic the day afterwards. Its sort of like giving yourself a sports massage.

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:27:28 GMT

TowerBridge Andy wrote:I tend to stretch off in the mornings just to loosen tight muscles, it's the end of the day I really focus on. I actually take a foam roller with me and iron out my legs/lower back. This releases tension and eradicates any build up of knots within the muscle, it absolutely kills if you do it correctly but you feel fantastic the day afterwards. Its sort of like giving yourself a sports massage.

Wow and I thought skiing was supposed to be fun :shock:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:59:20 GMT

Bit of yoga helps me in the morning, not much, just some down dog / cobra gets most things stretchy.

And I'm being serious. No rude comments please.

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:31:37 GMT

A short walk to the chair lift for me ........ never pulled a muscle yet :wink:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:42:37 GMT

NellyPS wrote:Bit of yoga helps me in the morning, not much, just some down dog / cobra gets most things stretchy.

And I'm being serious. No rude comments please.

My friends wife just about manages to stretch to some yoghurt!

And she does not even ski :shock:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:59:43 GMT

NellyPS wrote:Bit of yoga helps me in the morning, not much, just some down dog / cobra gets most things stretchy.

And I'm being serious. No rude comments please.

I'm a recent devotee to yoga (ashtanga form). It's not as laid back as people think. The weekly class I attend is run by a 5th dan karate black belt - no mercy from him! It has really helped with balance and also loosed up my ankle, knee and hip joints. I'm convinced it helped when we skied in January.

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:06:44 GMT

NellyPS wrote:Bit of yoga helps me in the morning, not much, just some down dog / cobra gets most things stretchy.

And I'm being serious. No rude comments please.

as if :roll:

Re:Warm up and cool down

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:40:21 GMT

Far Queue wrote:

NellyPS wrote:Bit of yoga helps me in the morning, not much, just some down dog / cobra gets most things stretchy.

And I'm being serious. No rude comments please.

My friends wife just about manages to stretch to some yoghurt!

And she does not even ski :shock:

That's what Mr Nelly calls it - yoghurting :lol: