While skiing is a great way to stay in shape in and of itself, it’s also a very taxing sport. Because of this, you need to keep yourself in good physical form the more you advance. Using these top ski fitness exercises three times a week, every week, you can make sure that you are ready for whatever the slopes throw your way:
The Wall Slide
The wall slide is a quick and efficient way to boost your lower body strength and endurance. The wall slide will build up your entire lower body, including your legs, butt, knees, and abdominals, all important to keep yourself injury free while skiing. To perform a wall slide, place your back flat against the wall with your feet directly in front of you. Slide your body down into a sitting position as far as you can go, then bring your body back up. The more strength you build in your lower body, the lower you will be able to drop during this exercise.
.
The Ball Crunch
The ball crunch is the most effective way to improve your core strength and build up your skiing endurance. Regular crunches do well, but ball crunches put less unnecessary strain on your body, and focus more on your center and abdominals, making it easier to do with better results. For ball crunches, lie facing the ceiling with the ball under your mid-back. Place your arms behind your head, and contract your abs the same way you would with a regular crunch. As you curl, keep the ball in a stable position, then lower your back down again.
The Lunge
Lunges are a pivotal exercise in any training routine, and your ski fitness routine is no exception. Lunges can build quadriceps, glutes, and the hamstrings with little strain on the rest of the body. These muscles are important for keeping your body steady while skiing. For lunges, stand on a flat surface with your feet shoulder width apart. Take a step forward, and lay your foot flat on the ground. Your knee should be at a perfect 90 degree angel and line up with the front of your toes. Bring yourself back up, and switch legs.
The Leg Press
The leg press is one of the most important ski fitness exercises to add to your routine. Skiing takes a lot out of your body, but your legs take the worst beating. Building up the muscles in your legs will increase your endurance, which in turn will allow you to spend more time on the slopes.
The Push Up
The tried and true method of building upper body endurance, the push up is the best way to get your arms and chest in shape for the slopes. Build up your strength by starting with three sets of ten repetitions, and increase the repetitions as your push ups get easier. Upper body strength is important for handling the poles and navigating your body through the trails, so push ups are crucial to your ski fitness routine.
Comments on this entry are closed.