How to get fit quick for ski season!

Hey Newschoolers fam. Its getting to be that time of year again. Cool mornings and changing leaves can only mean one thing: Winter is coming. Hopefully you have been preparing your body for ski season at the gym or at home. If you have been a couch potato during COVID (understandable), it is still not too late to up your fitness game and try to reduce injury risk for this upcoming season.

Lucky for you, I am providing an outline for how you can increase your endurance, strength and flexibly during the next few weeks to improve your base fitness levels. There are three aspects of fitness you can improve during the weeks preceding ski season: leg strength, cardio endurance, explosiveness (jumping). Lets all do our best to try to make it through the season as healthy as possible.

The workout split

I am providing a 4 day workout split for core and leg strengthening with agility and endurance days included. Strength training will be broken down into light/heavy “push” and light/heavy “pull” days. Light days will be 10-15 reps per exercise while heavy days will be 1-5 rep maxes. Core training will also be included. Endurance training will focus on high intensity interval training which is more applicable to skiing. Jump training will focus on multi-directional jumping. Here is a break down overview. I have provided some video overviews for most of the exercises listed but you can easily find good sources on Youtube for additional questions.

Warm up:

Dynamic warmups are important before any workout to improve mobility and stiffness before adding weight to the bar. Try out these lower extremity dynamic warmups.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv7hO3iFslN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAEmGSlfSb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9abGWshZhh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Day 1:

Squats, Split Squats, Reverse Nordics: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFj9FJDFY18/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Core Workout: https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/974036/Stronger-Core-for-Skiing

Day 2:

How to deadlift:https://www.instagram.com/p/CEDQS4UjueW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sumo style: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFXa32CjHTj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Single Leg Deadlifts: https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/974037/One-Kettlebell-Single-Leg-Deadlift

Single leg Bridges: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fepMklEk8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Day 3:

Calve Raises: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9YLNp9lC0J/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Core Circuit: https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/974036/Stronger-Core-for-Skiing

Day 4:

Barbell Bridging: https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/974038/Barbell-Glute-Bridge---Deadlift-Accessory--Invictus-8-Week-Strength-

Nordic Curls: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Lun11FoH3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Conclusion:

It will be very important to not do too much too quickly. Start with body weight exercise and add weight as tolerated. Perform with good form and seek a trainer or physical therapist to teach correct form. Muscle soreness should not last more than 2 days for an appropriate intensity. Try to progress this split for 8 weeks for weight and speed used for jumping and endurance circuits. Lastly, this is an educational post and all above information should be used for entertainment purposed only. Medical advice should be sought by trained medical professionals.

References:

Steidl-Müller L, Hildebrandt C, Müller E, Raschner C. Relationship of Changes in Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Characteristics over One Season, Biological Maturity Status and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Ski Racers: A Prospective Study. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020;17(1). doi:10.3390/ijerph17010364

Stöggl T, Schwarzl C, Müller EE, et al. A Comparison between Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing and Indoor Cycling on Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Response. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. 2016;15(1):184-195. Accessed September 25, 2020. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=113400385&site=eds-live