Going On A Ski Trip? Make Sure Your Stretch And Strengthen

An incredible ski vacation experience comes out as a result of careful planning and preparation. To get the best deals from a target ski area, vacationers need to select and book packages days or even weeks or months ahead of scheduled trip. There is also a need to prepare the right clothes and gear. In addition, vacationers also need to make sure they have solid physical preparation!

Physical preparation for ski trips allow for more incredible vacation getaway on the slopes and helps prevent injuries while on summit. This preparation should include not only leg strength training but should encompass strength training on practically all parts of the body considering that skiing and snowboarding utilizes not only the leg muscles. After all, individuals who engage in snow sports need to move solidly as a unit when skiing and snowboarding.

According to researches, essential demands of skiing include:

Strength Training – Neophytes in snow sports need to go through base strength preparation, and should eventually progress onto more advanced forms of strength training such as stability ball exercise and resisted movement training. Strength training for skiers and snowboarders usually involves squats, lunges, deadlifts, and body weight resistance exercises that include pull ups and press ups.

Core Development – Core development is considered the most important element of all ski fitness programs. This preparation helps ensure that skiers and snowboarders are strong and stable in the trunk and can support quick, dynamic movements required in snow sports. An example of core stability training is single leg training where skiers are taught to maximize use of reduced surface areas and to decrease body contact with the ground. Examples of exercises that helps develop the core are single leg backward lean, opposite leg and arm reach, and resistance exercises like single leg shoulder press and single leg squats.

Agility – Sports at ski resorts are aerobic in nature; hence there is a need for would be skiers and snowboarders to go through aerobic training before going down the slopes. Aerobic exercises are known to build agility and to increase quickness and reaction time. Samples of agility exercises are short sprints, agility ladders, and vertical cones/ hurdles.

Dynamic Flexibility - Dynamic stretching is believed to be a more effective way of improving flexibility. Exercises that help develop flexibility include leg kicks, star jumps, hip swings, and hip adduction & abduction. Ski coaches at ski vacation destinations as well as ski professionals suggest at least five minutes of flexibility exercise for every session.