Latest posts for the topic "Ski fittness "

Ski fittness

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 16:13:25 GMT

Ive just returned from my 2nd year sking, with my 2 daughters since 1976 which i reaily loved. I always wanted to try it again,and now my kids are of age to all enjoy it we will try and go every year till the old legs give out.As anyone any advice on exercises which help to prepare the leg burn.I do keep fit but i couldnt keep up on the long reds and sometimes had to take a breather.Is this fear of the reds slopes or is it my age Any help will be appricated.

Re:Ski fittness

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 16:34:43 GMT

It doesn't do any harm to get a bit fitter and build up the leg strength (I find that cycling works for me), but the best thing is to get some lessons and work on your technique. I have always been a 'first lift till last' skier. 15 years ago it was because I was as strong as an ox and as fit as a butcher's dog. These days it's because I'm doing it right(-ish) -)

Re:Ski fittness

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 16:55:05 GMT

Thanks for the advice Gaz,when im paralle turning on the blues its ok,its when our instructor took us on the reds the old plough keeps sticking its head to the surface,hence more work on the old pins.Ive just got back early this month and are concidering the snow domes for more lesson to tyy and kick the plough into touch.As anyone tryed any of them and if so how are instuctors.

Re:Ski fittness

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 18:41:06 GMT

I have only messed about for an hour or so a couple of times at ChillFactore, Manchester while my kids were at tubing/luging parties. It was a hundred times better than the dendix at Rossendale. Reports from people who have had lessons there are generally very good.

Re:Ski fittness

Tue, 5 Mar 2013 19:41:58 GMT

Don't worry about your fitness so much until you ditch the snowplough, as that just messes your legs up anyway

Re:Ski fittness

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 13:52:04 GMT

Other than walking around in a bent-leg position to mimmic a sow-plough, Id' recommend lessons. The better the technique, the less energy used.

Re:Ski fittness

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 16:52:38 GMT

Thanks guys,it sounds like lessons are the way forward,roll on 2014

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 11:15:46 GMT

The better your technique the less fitness you need. (Although as you get better you will ski faster and on more demanding terrain)
Given that technique takes time to develop a bit of fitness work is useful and most people's technique tends to go out of the window when you get knackered.
Aerobic stuff in the main and leg based - so cycling, running cross trainer are all good exercises. A bit of core work - sit ups/curls again will help.

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 13:14:24 GMT

Volf wrote:Other than walking around in a bent-leg position to mimmic a sow-plough, Id' recommend lessons. The better the technique, the less energy used.

Did this yesterday ( snow plough? :shock: )... Got a few funny looks on the high street.

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 16:08:09 GMT

I wouldn't waste your money taking lessons indoors, the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

Save your money for your next trip.

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 17:11:46 GMT

Snapzzz wrote: the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

:?:

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 17:50:52 GMT

Snapzzz wrote: I wouldn't waste your money taking lessons indoors, the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

I don't think these guys would agree with you.

http://vimeo.com/56882024

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 18:55:39 GMT

SwingBeep wrote:

Snapzzz wrote: I wouldn't waste your money taking lessons indoors, the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

I don't think these guys would agree with you.

http://vimeo.com/56882024

I pretty sure they wouldn't being as its their business.

For me i find the runs indoors far to short, just as i find myself getting into my stride the snow runs out and its back on the lift.
Im sure theses lessons do have a value for many, in fact i have already been set straight by others, but this is just my opinion.

On a different note, that snow in those vids looks better than Tamworth thats for sure.

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 18:57:11 GMT

Gaz C wrote:

Snapzzz wrote: the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

:?:

Sorry bad choice of words. Of course the length of run has no bearing on how you turn. I simply meant its frustrating that one you have made a few turns the run is over.

Re:Ski fittness

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 23:22:57 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:

Gaz C wrote:

Snapzzz wrote: the slopes are to short to get a decent run to really perfect your parallel turns.

:?:

Sorry bad choice of words. Of course the length of run has no bearing on how you turn. I simply meant its frustrating that one you have made a few turns the run is over.

Yes, I understand your frustration over the shortness of the indoor runs. Skiing in a 'fridge' is never going to be as much fun as the real thing. However, the standard of tuition can be excellent, (no language problems for a start) and practising as many short radius turns as you can fit in on the length of an indoor run is just one of many exercises we could do to improve technique and rely less on brute strength.

I know where you are coming from with the 'Save your money...'. I'm in the same boat as you with a family trip to finance as well as my own 'jolly' ('jollies' if I'm very lucky -) ) and I always feel that I ought to put the money I spend at ChillFactore into the holiday fund. The OP may have different circumstances and have no problem justifying the outlay.

Re:Ski fittness

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 10:16:42 GMT

I'm with snapzz on this. Don't bother with indoor slopes, spend more on your trip away and have lessons out there.

Re:Ski fittness

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 10:21:27 GMT

Have a couple of private lessons before you go is always a good thing if you are a beginner it saves you time when your out in the alps on some of the more mundane things that beginners have to do in lessons.

Re:Ski fittness

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 10:22:55 GMT

Yes, for complete newbies id say a visit to an indoor centre to get used to boots and skis on your feet, falling over and getting up, all the basics is a really good idea

Re:Ski fittness

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 16:44:08 GMT

I would strongly suggest that all beginners have lessons before they go.
Why? - Simple you will get much more from that first week if you do and a week's skiing is expensive enough without spending it learning how to put your boots on, side slip and do basic turns and stops.
Sure, if you can afford all day long lessons it may not matter too much but finding yourself alone on the slopes after your 2 hour morning lesson has finished is quite daunting. (At busy time in some resorts you may only be able to have afternoon lessons so some rudimentary training in the UK can make a huge difference to a first holiday.) If you've had some lessons at home you can confidently go and practice outside of the lesson.

After the first week will you get anything like as much from indoor lessons? - probably not - partly because the slopes are short and tame compared to the real thing. However that doesn't mean you can't work on specific skills which will improve things on the mountain proper, but it's a bit individual.

Re:Ski fittness

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:26:52 GMT

Try and get hold of a copy of 'P90X', and do the plyomatics. Fantastic for the legs...some routines even designed specifically for skiers.