Getting in Shape

    Imagine yourself cruising down a groomed run carving elegant turns with your new shaped skis. In the distance you see two symbols, a blue square for a left turn and a black diamond for a right turn.

    Without hesitation you steer to the right. The pitch becomes steeper, the snow is un-groomed, and there are trees, lots of trees. You stop momentarily, pick a line, push off, and tighten your turns as you begin the descent.

    Many skiers would have taken the left fork with the gentle groomed slope. Some skiers reach a plateau in their ability and find it difficult to advance to the next level. This doesn't have to be.

    The keys to unlocking your true potential lie in your mind and body. When you are mentally prepared and physically fit, the goal of becoming an expert skier can be realized.

Be Strong to Ski Strong

    Expert level skiing is more demanding on the knees, thighs, hips, abdomen, and back so preseason preparation is the norm. In short, you need to be strong to handle the rigors of expert skiing.

    Your ski fitness routine should include:

• Ski stretches to improve your flexibility and mobility
• Ski exercises to build muscle strength in the legs and core
• Jumping exercises to enhance your power and foot speed

Ski Exercises

    Warming up prior to stretching, ski stretches, and ski exercises are all covered in the training course entitled Skills of the Expert Skier. Lessons #2 and #3 are entitled, Ski-Specific Stretches and Ski-Specific Exercises, respectively. The ski exercises are geared to building flexibility, strength, and endurance in the muscle groups used in alpine skiing.

Skiing Fitness

    Try to begin your ski fitness program at least two months prior to your first day on the slopes. The good news is that you don't need a lot of money to finance your program. To get started the first year, all you need is a rug, runners, and an hour a day.

    One approach is to do stretches and strength exercises the first day followed by stretches and jumping exercises the next day and so on. By alternating your workouts you can reduce the time spent each day and give the different muscle groups a chance to recover.

    The training course will consist of sixteen online lessons to help downhill skiers become expert skiers. If you wish to see a complete overview of the course, click the Course Info button.

For those on tour....

    If you prefer, you can continue the tour and view information about establishing the right mind set for expert skiing. If so, click the Next button. To return to the previous page, click the Previous button.