THIS ski journey began at the obvious ski stop – Chill Factore on their beginners ‘Guarantee To Ski’ course. Click here to read about it. It was a great introduction to what is an initially daunting sport.
Now the basics have been learned and confidence built, the next stage is gaining some good old muscle memory. Because without it, your legs will crumble like an avalanche after your first day on the slopes.
"Conditioning your body prior to hitting the slopes can significantly enhance your skiing experience."
As well as offering personal gym sessions, Pro-Balance in Manchester city centre has a fitness class designed specifically for people working up to a skiing holiday. Whether you’re already an experienced skier or snowboarder, or have never skied before, Ski Fit can help equip you for your relevant grade of slope.
Arm SwingsAndy Jeffries, owner, Pro-Balance said: “Conditioning your body prior to hitting the slopes can significantly enhance your skiing experience, equipping you with increased strength and agility to take advantage of the real-time skiing environment. The course also reduces risk of injury.”
So what does it consist of?
After a ten minute warm up jogging on the treadmill, Andy’s circuit starts with arm swings using dumbbells. While skiing requires the core and lower body muscles predominantly, it’s still important to condition the whole body. To get the balance right, Andy keeps arms reps to between 10-15, with legs and trunk between 15-25 reps.
Next it’s to the floor for toe touches to strengthen the abdominals, followed by squats which of course work pretty much every muscle in your lower body, including glutes, calves and the thigh area.
Toe TouchesThe set continues with arm punches, back extensions lying face down for strengthening lower back muscles and then back up for side touches which replicate a skiing motion.
As you’ve probably already established, the workout is full of ‘ups and downs’. This is conscious decision by Andy, so as not to over exert one part of the body, instead switching from upper body to lower body and standing up to lying down. The circuit is varied, reps reasonably short and every exercise relevant to the motion of skiing.
The end of the set features press ups, half sit-ups and forward lunges – all of which use your body weight as resistance to tone and strengthen.
Side TouchesThe whole routine is repeated 3-4 times with one minute of rest between each circuit. Andy schedules classes on demand with small groups training in the Pro-Balance gym and larger groups at locations to suit. Andy can also incorporate Pro-Balance’s Vibro Gym into the training. These vibrating training plates are very good for core strengthening and stability. Almost all of the body’s muscles are exercised when using whole body vibration training, improving flexibility, balance and strength with no strain on the joints.
Ski Fit packages also consist of a biomechanical assessment to allow the course to be tailored to individuals’ needs if need be. Using a range of skiing and snowboarding specific drills such as the ones mentioned in this article, the Ski Fit course is designed to enable skiers to get in shape for real skiing. And I’ve no doubt that by doing this regime for the month leading up to a skiing holiday, you’ll feel well prepared for the piste.
Vibrogym
Ski Fit packages can be tailored to individuals from £35 per session, or up to five in a group from £15 per session, dependent on the number of sessions booked. For further information visit www.pro-balance.co.uk or call 0161 833 4777.
