Strength, flexibility, endurance and agility drills for skiers and boarders are essential for both recreational and the expert skiers. Most skiers return to the slopes after months away. While some athletes participate in other sports during the off-season to stay in shape, many are weekend warriors. No matter what type of a skier you are, you could wind up with minor aches, pains or a serious injury if you don't spend a little time preparing for the demands of your sport.
Skiing and boarding require both technical and physical skills including strength, endurance, agility and balance.
Muscular Strength
Muscular strength improves your ability to relax and still maintain control, while making quick adjustments needed on uneven terrain. All the major muscle groups of the body, especially the core, are used for skiing. A great strength exercises is a single leg squat. A second great strength exercise is a weighted quadriceps squat.
Also see Strength Training for Skiing
Get Ready for Skiing Workout
Explosive Power
When strength training is combined with speed, quickness and agility training, power is developed and expert level skiers are born. Exercises that create power include plyometrics, sprinting, agility drills, and hill or stair running.
Plyometrics are commonly referred to as explosive types of exercise drills often used in the conditioning program for skiers along with weight training because the combination of squatting and cycling develops the quality leg and hip power necessary for high performance skiing. One great exercise is to stand on a bench or box (12 inches or so), jump down and then immediately back up. Do this 10-30 seconds at a time, rest and repeat. Experts can try to do one-leg jumps.
Flexibility
The best stretches for skiers and boarders focus on the lower extremities and snow boarders need to stretch the upper body as well. One great core stretch is a core twist. Stand with your knees slightly bent and your arms crossed in front of you. Slowly look over one shoulder and let your whole body follow until you feel a good stretch in the back and side. Hold 5 seconds and repeat in the other direction. Hamstring and Quadriceps stretches are also recommended for skiers.
Endurance
For cardiovascular endurance good preparation exercises include: road, mountain or stationary biking. It build the heart and lungs and focuses on the leg muscles used during skiing. To Warm-up with an easy spin of 5 minutes and then add high intensity efforts (sprint) for about 30 seconds. Spin easy for a minutes and repeat 2-5 times depending upon your fitness level. Cool down about 5 minutes and you have a great workout.
Technical Skills
Technical skills start with lessons from a certified instructor.
Balance Training
Working on balance can include one-legged squats or work on balance boards. Also see the Top Balance Training Products.
Agility Exercise
To improve side to side agility stand in a relaxed half squat position and step quickly side-to-side (maintain the squat). As you improve, jump side-to-side keeping the inside foot off the ground and the focus of your weight on your outside foot/inside edge. Perform for 30 seconds, rest and repeat several times.
Plyometric Exercise
Many fitness experts use plyometric exercise to build power and speed, improve coordination and agility and effectively improve performance. It is important to point out that plyometrics,if performed incorrectly by the wrong individuals, can increase the risk of injury.
ACL Injury Prevention Training Program
While this ACL injury prevention program was designed for soccer players, the training routine, principles and concepts apply very closely to skiing and snowboarding expert terrain. The ACL Injury Prevention Program is a highly specific 15-minute training session that replaces the traditional warm-up. The program goal is to teach athletes strategies to avoid injury by: Avoiding vulnerable positions Increasing flexibility Increasing strength Including plyometric exercises in training Increasing proprioception
Consider adding this great warm up to your training program before you head to the slopes.
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