Downhill skiing is one of the great thrills of outdoor winter life. People love this sport for the exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping ride down.
Preparing In The Off-Time
Get ready for the season with an indoor cross-country skiing machine. Cardiovascular conditioning is essential as well, so any aerobic workout will help, preferably one that includes some full-body training (such as boxing) or uses hand weights. Strength training can be helpful, especially for the lower body. Try squats, an exercise that works the quads and hamstrings.
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Another useful activity is jump roping, which requires you to coordinate your hands and legs in the same way you would when skiing; plus, it has aerobic benefits and can be done anywhere. Also try in-line skating, which involves the same kind of balance and coordination as skiing.
Physical Benefits
Skiing can improve muscular strength and endurance. It can be a tough workout, particularly for the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteus muscles, but also for the calves, abdominals and triceps. Skiing can be a good aerobic activity. The bigger the mountain, the longer the runs and the greater the exercise benefit.
Other Advantages
Skiing can help improve balance, coordination and agility. Serious exercisers can share the same mountain with beginners, because most areas have different ski runs for various levels. It’s the ultimate family activity, because individuals can do their own thing during the day but still meet up for lunch and dinner.
Ski resorts usually have excellent learning opportunities for either one-on-one or group instruction. Classes are a good idea for beginners, because skiing with an instructor means they won’t end up on a part of the mountain that’s too difficult for them.