subject: Get Into Ski Shape Before The Season Begins [print this page] Get Into Ski Shape Before The Season Begins
The ski season finally arrives and you just can[t wait to get out on the mountains. And, hopefully, you have been conditioning your body for the slopes. The time to start your conditioning program is before the season begins.
Professional athletes expend a lot of time and effort in pre season getting their bodies in shape for the upcoming season. And, while you may not be a professional athlete, you also want to get yourself into good enough shape so that you don't incur any injuries once you are actually on the ski slopes. Many municipal parks throughout the country have winter conditioning programs where you can sign up and get conditioning tips and techniques to help you enjoy the ski season.
A great way to both have fun and keep in shape over the winter months is to participate in winter sports. But, if you are not in condition, your enjoyment may be short lived as you sprain muscles that you haven't used in a while.
A great number of the injuries and accidents that happen on the ski slopes is due to skiers hot-dogging and doing dangerous stunts. But, If you take these away, the majority of injuries happen to people who just aren't prepared to be careening down mountains because they are not in shape. As a result, you will see many skiers getting knee sprains, stomach pulls, hamstring injuries, muscle cramps, and the like.
Once you start your off season training, you should mainly focus on two types. One is general fitness training. The second is skiing specific training. In skiing, the muscles most used are the leg muscles. So your off season training to prepare yourself for winter should include exercises to both strengthen and give flexibility to your leg muscles.
A really fantastic exercise to improve the flexibility of your legs is the calf stretch. In addition, quite a few exercise machines on the market can be adjusted to both strengthen your calves as well as stretch them. This gets you in shape for the twists and turns that you will be making on the slopes.
One of the main parts of your general fitness routines should be to encompass at least one activity that will really get your heart rate going. As an example, an exercise such as power walking or jumping rope can get you into shape really fast. General exercises are meant to condition your body so you don't tire out as easily. They will also build up your heart and lung capacity so you aren't running out of breath while you are on the slopes.
Even though no one really disputes the intelligence of working to get yourself into skiing shape before the ski season, don't try to jump into a new exercise program too fast. Especially if you have been mostly sedentary throughout the year. And you should always consult your doctor before implementing any new strenuous exercise program.
