| Many expect their ski gear, specific ski instruction, | | | | kind of exercises you do, whether at home or in the |
| advanced ski techniques and/or ski lessons to help | | | | gym. |
| take their skiing to the next level. If you exhausted | | | | Are most of your exercises done in standing (like |
| all the above mentioned variables and you are still | | | | many activities) or are you lying on your back, |
| stuck at the same skiing/riding level, where do you | | | | stomach or sitting in a machine? |
| look next? | | | | Here are some ideas on selecting exercises that can |
| Skiing and snowboarding involves a series of complex | | | | enhance your movement vocabulary: |
| movements all lumped together. The physical | | | | - Exercise in standing (single leg too!). |
| demands that are placed on the body are so great, | | | | - Move in alternating patterns as well as single limbs |
| that if you are not conditioned for these demands -- | | | | (one arm or one leg). |
| then the best ski equipment in the world won't help | | | | - Introduce different speeds (slow to fast). |
| you! That is where you have to start looking at | | | | - Combine exercises together (its like multi-tasking |
| investing some time in training your body for the | | | | for the body). |
| slopes. | | | | - Move in a variety of planes (forwards, backwards, |
| Skiing and riding requires activity from the entire | | | | sideways, diagonal, etc.). |
| body. From a training stand-point, one should train by | | | | - Don't forget to rotate (rotation is vital for human |
| activating the entire body so as to have the most | | | | movement and performance). |
| transfer into life and true function as much as | | | | When you condition and train your body to handle |
| possible. However, many exercises and programs still | | | | the demands of the slopes, not only will you |
| attempt to train the muscles in isolation, which to the | | | | experience performance gains but you will also lessen |
| body is "unnatural." Not that there is anything wrong | | | | your chances of injury. This "insurance policy" is one |
| with that, since your training is dictated by your goal. | | | | of the most effective ways to ensure that you can |
| However, if your goal is to "winterize" your body and | | | | get many more turns on the mountain -- for many |
| help your on the snow performance, then sitting on a | | | | years to come! |
| bench and doing preacher curls is probably not the | | | | Lastly, when looking to advance our skiing/riding level, |
| best exercise (unless you are talking about apres ski!). | | | | you can never go wrong with upgrading your body. |
| In an ideal world, your training should help your body | | | | After all, your body needs to last your lifetime. You |
| solve complex movement problems, so that when | | | | can buy new ski equipment when it gets old or |
| you encounter them in real life...your body already has | | | | breaks down. Unfortunately, you can't get a "new |
| the solution. Remember, your body adapts to how | | | | you!" Although, with the proper training, you can |
| you train it. If your training is slow and rigid then that | | | | create a environment to help bring out the best of |
| will be what your body learns and that is how it will | | | | what you already have. This way, when you decide |
| move. Conversely, if you want to be fast and | | | | to pick up new skis or boots, or try some advanced |
| explosive, then you will need to introduce those | | | | ski techniques or get into some ski lessons...you will |
| variables into your program. Another important | | | | be able to get the most out of each and every turn |
| variable is your exercise selection. Think about what | | | | on the slopes. |