| SKIING is a sport that is hard on the body, | | | | lower half of your body for skiing and they |
| particularly as we tend to indulge in short | | | | have the advantage that they can be done |
| bursts of a week, or two weeks, writes Simon | | | | anywhere. To increase resistance, perform the |
| Moyes. | | | | exercises with dumb bells or other weights. |
| | | | |
| No matter how many sports you participate in, | | | | Leg lifts, which involve lying on your side |
| or how regularly, skiing is a sport that | | | | and slowly lifting your leg up and down, are |
| needs dedicated preparation in order to make | | | | another good exercise. They help strengthen |
| the most out of a week away. | | | | the whole of the leg area and are also very |
| | | | useful for building up the hip muscles - |
| Although many forms of exercise will | | | | stronger hip muscles will help give more |
| stimulate some amount of muscle | | | | support to the back and knees when skiing. A |
| strengthening, if you are planning a trip to | | | | good tip, if you want to increase resistance, |
| the slopes, it will pay dividends to | | | | is to wear your ski boot. |
| incorporate specific strengthening exercises | | | | |
| into your regular exercise routine. | | | | And before hitting the slopes remember to |
| | | | warm up thoroughly. Most skiing injuries |
| In the gym, the resistance machines, for | | | | could easily be avoided if a little time had |
| example stairclimbers and cycling equipment, | | | | been spent loosening the muscles and joints |
| can be used to great effect. The weight | | | | and increasing suppleness. Stretch the |
| machines are also useful, but make sure you | | | | hamstring, groin, calfs and lower spine to |
| exercise through the full range of motion to | | | | ensure that the worst you get from any falls |
| ensure that joint flexibility as well as | | | | is a face full of snow! |
| muscle strength is exercised. | | | | |
| | | | Happy skiing. |
| Squats are also an ideal way to prepare the | | | | |