Training For An Enjoyable Ski Season

I know… you may think that this blog is a little on the early side considering we’re days away from labor day, but If you’re like me then your body has felt the consequences of an unprepared ski season launch. It’s never too early to begin preparing for the upcoming ski season. If you love skiing as much as I do, you are going to want your body to be functional when you get up on those slopes. You may have waited several seasons to enjoy the thrill of tearing through some fresh powder, the last thing you want to do is to get injured at the beginning of the season. I wrote this blog to help you understand the key components to a good preseason warm up that will help you avoid pain & injury, and prepare for an enjoyable and successful season. Consider these components as you engage in a preseason training program.

1. Muscle Solicitation

Lots of muscle solicitation means having all your muscle fibers “turned on”. Your quads, back, and abs are core muscle groups that are used in skiing. Focus on these muscle groups as you train. Your brain will be able to recognize that these fibers are turned on and it will know that it can use them.

2. Static Holding

Along with all the movement in skiing, there’s also lots of “holding your body” in place. If your body is not prepared to endure the demanding static holding that keeps you upright and agile then you can be sure that you will feel the pain in your muscles after a long day on the slopes.

3. Body Balance

You want the forces in your body to transfer properly. If the forces in your body are not dissipating as they should then you will experience knee pain, and back pain. A good stretching program will help your balance.

4. Joint Spacing

A good stretching program will also open the spaces in your joints. Open spacing in your joints will enhance the communication, awareness, and performance of the fine motor movements that your joints are responsible for.

Be proactive in your preseason preparations. Stop procrastinating and start working at your training program now. Your body will thank you for the lack of injuries, and you will thank your body for an improved performance. This may seem elementary but it will be the difference between a short, painful, grueling season, and a long, enjoyable, and successful season. Start having fun as soon as you get out on those slopes. I hope you have found this helpful. Good luck.