Peak Performance: Workouts To Prepare You For Skiing

Skiing is “snow” joke!

It requires full body strength, balance, and coordination. Before you hit the slopes, prepare your body with these workout tips and you will be at “peak” performance in no time.

“Ski”-lling It

In my personal experience, single-leg workouts have impacted my skiing ability the most. For this, I recommend either doing reverse lunges or Bulgarian split squats. These can be done with any weight of your choice. Because your legs control the direction you want to go, they must be equally strong. I also like these because they require balance, which is vital to skiing. That is why I also recommend incorporating a Bosu ball into your workouts. My favorite is the single-leg Bosu ball squat. The first time I tried this, I felt unsteady, so if needed, try it without a Bosu ball. A Bosu ball is excellent for core strength and balance because it mimics how unstable skiing can be. Bosu balls also offer unique practice for going over ski moguls. Click here to see a how-to video.

I have also found yoga to be beneficial for skiing. Getting up from a fall and navigating harder terrains is much easier when you are flexible. For general strength training advice, try to mimic skiing movements by practicing squatting and shifting your weight from side to side. Don’t forget your upper body! A strong upper body can make you more stable and help control your skis. Skiing requires overall body strength to conquer the slopes.

It’s All Down Hill from Here

Skiing is also an intense cardio workout, so it is essential to incorporate cardio into your workout regime to prepare thoroughly. My favorite workout is walking backward on the treadmill with an incline. I walk at a speed of about 2.5 mph at an incline of eight to ten. I usually do this in intervals, switching from walking forward for five minutes to backward for five. Walking backward helps with coordination and balance and engages calves, hamstrings, lower back, and glutes more than walking forward. These large muscle groups get less attention often, so it's a great way to balance your training.

I also recommend using the stair climber at an interval for endurance. I will do five minutes faster, then slow down for ten minutes and repeat for thirty minutes. In my skiing experience, I go down the slope for five minutes, then wait to return to the top for twenty minutes. Interval training with cardio can help your heart rate and stamina get accustomed to this pattern, which is why I like to do sprints as well. Sprinting at the end of my cardio workout is a great way to get that last bit of energy out and really raise your heart rate.

Hiking is another great way to prepare for skiing. It is important to get outside and prepare yourself in an outdoor setting. Cardio is vital to skiing, so keep your endurance and stamina up.

Ski-daddle

Remember to start slowly and increase the intensity of your workouts to avoid injury. It's also a good idea to look up more information about the location you are skiing to see if there are any insider tips to help you prepare even more. With these tips, you will be ready for the slopes in “snow” time.

Ski You Later and…

Be Well, Auburn.