Skiing Tips - Workouts to Prepare for the Ski Season
My first attempt at skiing was a rather humorous disaster. As an aerobics instructor, marathon runner and weight lifter, I was incredible shape. Unfortunately, I had no balance. When I fell across the skis of a bunch of good looking instructors at line up, I realized that I was playing in the wrong playground. Ten years later, I tried again. This time, I had begun to teach Pilates and stability ball classes. Much to my astonishment, my balance was amazing. At this point, I got so excited about skiing that my husband and I decided to move to Summit County, Colorado, where we opened my training studio, Mountain Sport Pilates and Fitness. A few years later, Dreamtime Publishing published my winter sport conditioning book; Open Your Heart with Winter Fitness: Mastering Life Through Love of the Slopes.
Photo: Winter Fitness Book Cover
Photo: Tripod Balance
In case you haven’t guessed, the book presents a strong argument for balance training as a major form of ski conditioning. This is not to say that strength, flexibility and aerobic endurance do nothing to enhance your ski skills. However, you should keep in mind that first and foremost, ski technique and ski injury prevention rely heavily on dynamic balance. Dynamic balance implies an ability to maintain your equilibrium while you are in a state of perpetual motion. This is in stark contrast to the static balance that you experience in a yoga class. In skiing, I guarantee that you will never have to stand still on top of the mountain and balance on one foot. On the other hand, you will have to maintain an upright posture as you make the transition from turn to turn.
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