Do not waste a short ski season and even shorter holiday to build your physical fitness. Skiing or snowboarding requires much more preparation than just the purchase of equipment. Without adequate physical fitness you will quickly  lose both your strength and control of skis. All day long spent on a ski slope is hard physical work and we should prepare our bodies for this effort before the first snow falls.

If you want to be adequately prepared for the ski season, you should walk, run, ride a bike and roller-skate all year round. If you live in the mountains, my advice is: Try to walk fast on the rocks and ditches. While climbing the stairs in the city block of flats, do not use an elevator, you’d better walk up the stairs. Thanks to it you have a chance to strengthen the muscles which will work on a ski slope.

Four characteristics of a good skier:

• Strength and stability - On the giant slalom, a skier, during his rally, deals with five times as much strength than his body weight. To withstand such loads, he needs  huge muscle strength. As a skier is often in the low position at high speed, his muscles are forced to work isometrically (the tense in the muscles is maintained for a few seconds). Strength also helps while skiing in diverse area such as ground faults and in various snow conditions (hard, compact or wet snow).

• Coordination - An efficient and good skier can maintain balance in any situation and also in crisis. It is necessary for a skier to make the adjustment of his position to various conditions in a controlled way without the use of excessive strength. Strengthen calf muscles, buttocks, hamstring,  quadriceps and torso muscles and your coordination will be much better. Good coordination elements also mean quick reflexes and sense of rhythm.

• Stretching - Before entering the ski slope, after a long drive or sitting over a cup of tea in a restaurant, your muscles are always a bit stiff. To avoid injury, before the ski season improve joint mobility and flexibility of muscles and ligaments. Stretching it is a process which requires more time than a few days before holidays. Give it more time in exchange for reducing the risk of injury.

• Endurance - Efficient blood circulation and respiratory system alleviate the effects of overtraining and tiredness. You can enhance your endurance roller-skating, jogging or playing basketball.

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Get rest!!!