Do you do Warm Up Exercises before you hit the Slopes?
I have been a recreational alpine and cross country skier on and off since I was 10 years old.
I grew up in Southern NH and skied the Northeast as well as trips to Utah and Colorado. I moved to San Diego in my 20’s in search of the endless summer. My love for the ocean trumped my desire to seek snow at this point so I took a break from skiing until I moved back to New England at 30. I was able to pick up skiing again. Short getaways from my home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts to the mountains of Vermont were becoming a weekly event. I was embracing long New England winters by enjoying the fresh mountain air and I started skiing more often.
Let me note that I was by no means a great skier, I was a recreational skier that would dip into the trees on occasion. I’d be fatigued by the end of each day. At the time I was definitely classified as a weekend warrior. I loved it.
However, I made a few mistakes that I now recognize. I never warmed up before jumping on the mountain. I never stretched after my ski day. I also didn’t realize the value of overall strength and flexibility.
Fast forward to 2008 when I was ready to make a change in my career and I chose to move to a ski town “for the winter”. (I’m still here 12 years later…)
At 39 I found myself living at the base of the mountain with a season pass and my mornings free to hit the slopes. I skied a lot. But I STILL did not warm up and stretch 90% of the time. And I knew better! I soon realized this was common, especially among the Weekend Warriors over 30!
One spring day that first season I tweaked my back at the end of my ski day. It happened on a trail I skiied often but it was the end of the day and I probably pushed it by taking that one last run. As a fitness coach with years of training, education and practice I knew what I needed to do. I just wasn’t doing it. As a result, I was now sidelined for the rest of that ski season nursing my back injury.
It is no coincidence that I began to use my time to create my fitness business. One of the first programs I designed at Killington Boot Camp was “Winter Sports Conditioning”.
Core strength and flexibility are so crucial for any recreational athlete. The warm up is such a valuable preventative measure to avoid injuries and it is so often overlooked. I definitely learned that one the hard way.
Whether you are an avid or recreational skier you would benefit from a simple warm up. Specific strengthening and lengthening drills will help you excel and enjoy!
It’s made a difference for me and many of my clients will say the same!
My “words of wisdom”for today: Don’t forget the warm up and remember to stretch at the end of your day! and do some core strenthening…it will help avoid injury, you will ski better and be stronger!
