Get Ski Fit!

A week-long ski trip requires a fair level of fitness. Whether you’re an experienced skier slaloming your way down the slopes. Or a new skier trudging through the snow after an inevitable slip or two, you’re going to break a sweat.

Ski holidays are a big HIIT

With High-intensity interval training (HIIT) taking over the globe one gym class at a time. Interval training has never been more popular. Skiing is a subtle way to adjust your body to one of the more strenuous forms of working-out. Without realising how much effort you’re actually putting in. You’ll be swerving your lower-body spending your energy for minutes at a time manipulating the slopes, then resting your muscles on the way back up on the ski-lift.

Fitness away from the slopes

Mountain hiking is becoming a more popular way for guests to spend time away from the slopes. For many, it’s the best way to absorb the stunning views at a slower pace and (hopefully) spend less time face down in the snow. Hiking in the snow requires balance and power. Test your body in ways that walking on a flat terrain simply cannot.

Getting fit for the slopes

Doing a casual fitness regime a few weeks before your ski holiday is a great way to ensure you avoid injury and aren’t jumping straight into the deep end.

1. Clever cardio

Most people spend a fair few hours a day on the slopes. So having the stamina and the power to push through the day is imperative. It’s recommended that you aim to test your cardio for around 30minutes – 1hour a few times a week but protect your knees! Protect your knees? Try to avoid jogging and swim or spin instead – having healthy knees on your ski holiday is vital.

2. Perfecting the posture

As you can imagine, good balance and core strength is the base for being a successful skier. Having good balance can be the difference between smooth slope runs and spending your time digging your way out of the snow. You don’t have to attend “yoga for beginners” classes. But practising a few of the postures and techniques will definitely help you stay on your feet when on the slopes.

3. Lifting the load

You’ll spend most of your time on the slopes digging yourself out of deep snow or whizzing down them in a squat position. So, building up muscle strength and conditioning is a fantastic way of protecting yourself from injury. The lower-body is arguably the most important but don’t forget your arms. When you’re picking yourself up from the slopes or navigating a sharp turn on your skis, you’ll need that upper-body strength.

4. Stand and stretch

2000m up a mountain really isn’t the best place to pull your hammy. Make sure you stretch before and after your workouts, AND before and after the slopes. If you want to survive the whole week and ski most days, you’ll need to be limber.   We hope this helps you best prepare for the slopes. If you’re new to skiing and are struggling with what to pack in your suitcase, check out our What to take ­blog for information. Or if you’re ready to book check out Sunweb deals.