If you’re a skiier, you’re probably like me in that you’re constantly looking for the sliver of difference that will propel you down mountains faster without tiring you out any more than normal.  I’m still pretty young (mid-20’s) right now, but I already know there isn’t any ‘best’ ski fitness workout.  I’ve found that this is because no ski exercise routine could possibly encompass all three of the core areas every skiier needs to work on.

First, you need to work on aerobic endurance.  This is less important for downhill and alpine skiing, but very important for cross country skiing.  You need to have good lung capacity that can take in oxygen quickly, and you need a strong heart to keep your blood pumping when under physical exertion. Therefore, you need to incorporate a good bit of aerobic exercise such as running, hiking, and power walking into your workout routines.

Second, you need to work on strength training.  Obviously, your legs are the most important part of your body when you are a skiier, but so is your upper body.  You’ve got to have a strong back, a well-developed abs core in addition to strong quads, hamstrings, biceps and chest muscles.  Improvements in these body areas can best be accomplished by weight training exercises using either dumbbells, free weights, or workout machines.

Finally, you need to work on balance and agility.  This is especially important for alpine skiing.  You need to be good at staying upright on your skis while avoiding obstacles, turning, and shifting your weight on a regular basis.  Balance comes with practice, and there are a lot of simple exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home.  In addition, you can spend time off-season doing cycling, roller blading, and even roller hockey.

So, as you can guess, given the three core areas of ski fitness, you can’t simply have one ski fitness workout that addresses every need.  You can have several ski exercise routines in each area that you combine into an overall workout PLAN.  On this site, I plan to share some simple strategies you can use to become a better skiier with greater stamina for the big downhill runs!