Exercises to Prepare for Skiing for your ski holiday really imperative? It will depend mostly on your level of fitness but skiing is physically demanding and works many muscles in ways that they aren’t often used in day to day life. So, our recommendation? Yes! It’s always a good idea to start introducing some ski exercises to your exercise or daily routine roughly 8-12 weeks before you hit the slopes. But fear not, you don’t need to be limbered to the level of a pro athlete. Some simple mobility and strength moves will do just fine and to make things as easy as possible, we’ve rounded some up here for you.
How fit do you need to be to skiing?
A fairly average level of cardiovascular fitness and strength will be required to make the most out of your holiday. There is nothing worse than aches and pains getting in the way of your precious time on the slopes, so engaging in some light to medium exercise before you head off is a useful way to ensure you’re ready to make the most of it!
Ideally, you should already be keeping active a few times a week. You will likely be out on the slopes for up to 8 hours a day so your body will need to be prepared.
7 Skiing Exercises to do at Home
Getting yourself slope ready couldn’t be easier and can even be done from home. Here we have rounded up 7 ski exercises which will help to strengthen your muscles and improve your mobility before you hit the slopes.
Squats
- For a standard squat, stand with your feet roughly hip width apart.
- Slowly squat down as though you are going to sit down and aim to lower your butt to knee level for a
- Rise back up at the same pace and clench your glutes at the top.
- Try to maintain the load between squats, avoiding fully standing up and locking your knees. Your knees should remain outwards and track over your toes.
To intensify the movement, move slower and squat deeper.
Push your weight down through your heels, you should be able to wiggle your toes.
Top tip: Keep your shoulders back, your upper body straight, relax your chin and engage your core.
Jump Squats
For jump squats, repeat the process as with a standard squat. However, increase the speed of the movement and drive yourself off of the floor on the way up
Top tip: Be sure to bend your knees as you land and continue to clench your glutes at the top.
Lateral Skaters
Later skaters are a dynamic move which enables you to simultaneously increase strength and cardiovascular fitness.
- Bend your left leg to lower your knee and hips slightly, then push explosively off your left foot to jump to the right side, landing on your right leg bending down in the same way on this side.
- Repeat to the other side.
Top tip: Take off from your landing foot as soon as you hit the ground and use your arms to balance yourself.
Conclusion
Lateral ski jumps are plyometric exercises that use your body weight to work muscles throughout your body, including your quads, glutes and hamstrings. Since they’re explosive in nature, they will help prepare you for the bursts of power required by your lower body while on the slopes.
Q&A
1.What is the best exercise to get ready for skiing?
2.Why is skiing a good exercise?
3.How do you mentally prepare for skiing?
4.What is the best thing about skiing?