Skiing is a famous sport that has gained immense momentum in the last few years. The sport is associated with the winters and requires people to wear multiple layers and glide down on snow-covered hills. The temperature drops to below zero degrees, and people have to cover themselves with thermals and coats. The sport is dangerous, and people often end up falling and hurting them. Besides winter clothes, people have to wear protective gear, helmets, knee pads, and protective eyewear. Modern skiing has many variations, and people try some as per their fitness level.
Skiing cannot happen overnight, and snow-covered mountains undergo some preparations before they welcome skiing aficionados. These enthusiasts wait a whole year for the snowfall so that they can go and indulge in their favorite sport. Many people travel to other countries to have a getaway and enjoy the winter sport. Skiing resorts make sure to groom snow, level the floor, control avalanches, and cut down trees to create skiing trails. Skiing is not an easy sport, and people need a lot of practice to learn the skill and glide seamlessly on mountains.
Skiing is unlike a walk in a park, but you can practice several moves ahead of the season so that when the snow falls, you are good to go. The following are some ways that will help you prepare for ski season:
- LEG BLASTERS
Sports activities demand that you have strong legs Leg blasters help strengthen calf muscles and lose excess fat from thighs. The exercise consists of a different set of workouts, including air squats, in-place lunges, jumping lunges, and ten squat jumps. All these activities demand you to work on your legs’ tissues and make them muscular. Indulging in a ski conditioning workout helps you in shedding extra fat and makes you fit.
- WORK ON POSITIONING OF YOUR KNEE
Regardless of what sports you are fascinated with, it would be best if you had a straight posture to perform better in the game. For skiing movements, you should position your knee over your feet. Moreover, if your knee is in the wrong position while skiing, you will put yourself at a greater risk of harming yourself. An easy way of positioning your knee is to stand tall, with your feet firmly on the ground. Bend your knee by lowering the leg down and make it drop to your feet. Beginners can try 6 to 8 reps a day and gradually take it up to 25 till 30, and in a month, they will learn to position their knees correctly.
- STRONGER QUADRICEPS
Quadriceps are the muscles in the upper thighs, and they play an essential part during skiing. You bend on these muscles, and they help in straightening your knee as you take a step ahead. Squats are an ideal workout for quadriceps and work on your rectus femoris. Regular quadriceps exercises make it easier for you to extend your knee and flex your hips. Aside from skiing, a quadriceps workout improves the kneecap’s stability and enhances overall aesthetic ability.
- RUSSIAN TWISTS
Skiing demands you to run through a mountain, and for that, you need to have a fit body. Experts suggest doing Russian twists as it is a core-specific workout that helps you in maintaining correct posture. The good part is that you do not need to join a gym or have some fancy equipment to do some Russian twist reps. First, lay down the mat on a flat surface and sit on it. Lean up slightly and bend your knees to make a 90-degree angle along your hips. Touch the floor on the right side while flexing your leg muscles, then move to the other side. Repeat the rep twenty times. Russian twists work on oblique muscles, which you will be using while running across the mountains.
- LUNGES
Lunges are effective in burning calories and losing fat. It would be best if you worked on your glute, hamstring, and quads so that you can smoothly run up and down the hills, and lunges will help you in doing so. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Take a large step forward while bringing your other knee towards the ground. Return to the original position and repeat the action with another leg. While making lunges, ensure that your shoulders remain aligned at all times. A cycle of 10-20 reps a day will strengthen your lower body and help you perform sports activities.
- FRONT SQUATS
Fitness experts strongly emphasize squats to work on your leg muscles. For skiing movements, you must practice low-rep and high-weight front squats. Squats enhance the strength of the core and improve lower body power. People often struggle to keep their upper body straight while skiing, and fronts squat helps maintain the whole body. To make it a little more challenging, you can try holding a pair of dumbbells, kettlebells, or a barbell while indulging in a squat.
- SINGLE-LEG DEADLIFTS
Single-leg deadlift is a versatile exercise that works on your glute, hamstring, and your core. It helps in building stability of the ankle, and you can glide smoothly on snow-covered mountains. All you need to do is stand tall and extend your hands in front of you while leaning forward. Keep your chest up and slowly lift your right leg. At the same time, plant the other foot firmly on the floor. Slowly bend over and bring your back-leg in line with your torso. The key is to take a deep breath while you go ahead and exhale, returning to the original position. Single-deadlift strengthens different muscles and helps you in making swift movements while skiing.
CONCLUSION
Skiing is exhilarating, but it requires preparation beforehand. It may seem that skiers glide gracefully over the snow-capped hills. Still, they have gone under significant practice before commanding over the skill of sliding effortlessly. Regular exercise and specific movements keep your body in shape and prepare you for the skiing adventure.