| Legs that are weak and rubbery are not unusual | | | | and lungs. Simple walking is not enough to train |
| on the ski slopes. Many beginners are surprised | | | | your body to hit the slopes and cross-country |
| at how taxing skiing is to the leg muscles, since of | | | | terrain; your body needs to be conditioned to |
| course you don't just glide down the mountain but | | | | meet the challenge of pushing yourself through |
| you need to keep yourself upright and need to | | | | the powder and of doing so in that cold weather! |
| guide and direct yourself as well. | | | | This means increasing the duration and the |
| Even experienced skiers may notice that their | | | | intensity of your aerobic activity. Walking should |
| legs get too weak too soon when on skis, or | | | | lead to jogging which leads to sprints. Intense |
| may notice that they're in quite a bit of pain the | | | | activities like kickboxing, jumping rope, and step |
| day after. These things are signals that the leg | | | | aerobics should also be a part of your ski fitness |
| muscles need to be built up prior to ski season, | | | | program. |
| and the best way to do this is by following a | | | | 3. Weights and resistance. |
| good ski fitness program. | | | | It's imperative that you have strong, toned |
| Any ski fitness program should follow three basic | | | | muscles in order to ski effectively. Those |
| steps: | | | | muscles work overtime to keep you on your skis |
| 1. Deep stretching. | | | | and to direct you as you tear down the slope or |
| Deep stretching is needed to make the muscles | | | | across the terrain. Without properly trained |
| more pliable and to open them up to receive | | | | muscles, you'll have those dreaded "rubber legs" |
| more blood and oxygen. Simple or slight | | | | after your first slope or will be feeling that pain |
| stretching is good, but deep stretching will mean | | | | the day after. |
| reaching all the muscles of the legs, back and abs | | | | A good ski fitness program will work on more |
| and getting them ready for exercising and for | | | | than aerobic strength; it will target the leg muscles |
| skiing. | | | | and help to build them properly. This means leg |
| A good ski fitness program will ensure that you | | | | presses and curls, as well as a direct and pointed |
| are stretching and are challenging yourself with | | | | approach to these exercises. If they're |
| your stretching as well. This means deeper | | | | performed correctly you'll have more strength in |
| twists and more exaggerated positions each time. | | | | less time and they'll be more toned as well. |
| 2. Aerobic activity. | | | | These three aspects of a good ski fitness |
| Of course you need good aerobic strength to ski | | | | program cannot be underemphasized. They're all |
| all day, and aerobic activity benefits you in many | | | | vitally important and should all work in harmony |
| other ways as well. But a good ski fitness | | | | with one another so that you have legs of steel |
| program should ensure that your aerobic activity | | | | rather than legs of dreaded rubber! |
| is challenging and is really exercising your heart | | | | |