Ski Season Preparation

with Peak Pilates & Physiotherapy

With the beginning of the ski season comes the excitement of launching ourselves back on to the slopes, but few of us take time to consider if we are really ready for the demands of skiing and often aim to hit the slopes hard, taking off from where we finished the previous season.

Skiing is a demanding sport that requires flexibility, strength, cardio fitness and balance. While we cannot prevent all injuries, improving these areas can make a big difference to enjoying the snow.

Aim to incorporate a variety of activities in the off season, to build cardiovascular fitness. Injury risk increases significantly as we fatigue; so, the fitter you are the longer you can ski. Ideally, we need some weight-bearing activity such as running or the cross-trainer to help build on the strength for the repetitive nature of the sport – but including swimming and cycling will help. Core, glutes and quads strength are essential. Your abdominals help stabilise your back and pelvis and provide the base off which your gluteal muscles work. Functional core training like Pilates, Body Balance or TRX will provide the power to drive you down the slopes.

Quad strength is a given: they provide important support to the knee and, as we all know, it tends to be these that are exhausted at the end of a long day. Try dropping into a ski-based squat and holding for 60 seconds as a quick test of fitness!

Snow is unpredictable. The quicker your reaction times to a changing surface are, the more protected you will be when hitting that sheet of ice. BOSUs, swiss balls, wobble boards all help with this.

Stay safe on the slopes this season and most of all HAVE FUN!

Melanie Bennett Peak Pilates, Millwater