It’s funny to see what motivates people
to exercise.
She
also has her AASI (American Association Snowboard Instructors) Level 1 Certification
in Snowboarding.
CSCUSA:
What jot down of physical preparation should people be doing to get ready for ski
season?
JP: A lot of people forget
about core strength.
They lift weights to strengthen their legs and upper
bodies and neglect their core.
Having a strong core really pays off during ski
season.
What types of exercises can people do to strengthen their cores?
JP:
There are lots of exercises that people can do.
‘Planks’ is a good exercise for the
core.
To do this exercise, you balance on your elbows and toes and stabilize
your body above the ground.
It’s certainly easier for
me to keep up my form with planks.
People also forget about strengthening
their backs.
Are there any good quad and hamstring exercises that you would recommend?
Closer to the season people should add fast-twitch aerobic exercises to their
workouts.
(Fast-twitch means muscles that help you with short bursts of
energy.)
Skiing is quick and then you get on the chair.
Going hard with aerobic
exercises is good, and then rest.
That is more like how skiing really is—short
bursts of a lot of energy.
The week before going skiing should be
a lighter week.
Otherwise, you may get too tired while skiing because your body
is worn down from your workouts.
Flexibility is really important.
When people get tight, that’s bad.
People
underestimate stretching before skiing.
There
really should be an emphasis on warming up in the morning.
JP: People should drink lots
of water when they go skiing.
When it gets cold, your body needs to burn carbs to stay warm.
Your body
doesn’t digest heavy foods as fast, which can work to your advantage.
Combine
fast and slow digesting foods so you have energy when you need it.
Having a
good base of health and exercise of course helps too.
Should first-time skiers take a lesson?
What about people who have been skiing
for a while?
you’ve got the option to’t ski in a gym!
Beginners should definitely take a lesson.
They will
have a more successful day and be less tired.
Even an hour or two can help an advanced skier quite a
lot.
