Skiing (off Topic)

[[old] Annabassand]

Hi <br /><br />We have just booked a skiing holiday in Austria from the 31st December. This is my very first skiing holiday and I was wondering if any of you guys can give me some advice on how to get "fit" for this? <br /><br />I am relatively fit already, at the moment I am running 2-3 times a week and rowing 3 times a week. Often I also take a swim and a bike ride on days in between. <br /><br />How well does rowing and running prepare me for skiing? Should I be doing something else? <br /><br />/Anna

[[old] bmoore]

<!--QuoteBegin-Annabassand+Oct 7 2005, 07:06 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Annabassand @ Oct 7 2005, 07:06 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi <br /><br />We have just booked a skiing holiday in Austria from the 31st December. This is my very first skiing holiday and I was wondering if any of you guys can give me some advice on how to get "fit" for this? <br /><br />I am relatively fit already, at the moment I am running 2-3 times a week and rowing 3 times a week. Often I also take a swim and a bike ride on days in between. <br /><br />How well does rowing and running prepare me for skiing? Should I be doing something else? <br /><br />/Anna <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />If it's your first time skiing, then you're fit enough.<br /><br />I took my wife skiing about 6 years ago when were dating. She was a runner preparing for a marathon, but she had only skiied once before. Once she figured out how to ski, she would just keep going down the mountain. It was at a pretty slow pace, but her cardio conditioning was just fine, even with the altitude. After skiing all day, she went for a run.

[[old] Mark Keating]

I agree, your cardio conditioning should not be a problem. One part of your body that I can almost guarantee will be sore is your quadriceps, especially the morning after your first full day on the slopes. As a first timer, your legs are likely to be quite tense and you will likely spend a good part of your time snowplowing, which is fairly hard work if you're not used to it.<br /><br />Give snowboarding a try while you're there. I skied extensively for quite a few years then tried snowboarding one day and I will never ever go back to skis. I find it far more relaxing than skiing, far less stress and strain on the knees and easier to stay warm as well. Two tips - 1) take a lesson from a qualified instructor 2) wear a helmet - boarding is not as dangerous as people make it out to be, but the ground comes up at you far faster when you do take a spill.<br /><br />Good luck,<br />Mark

[[old] michaelb]

Concept 2 is from Vermont; skiing is always "on topic" in Vermont. <br /><br />I think rowing is the best cross training for skiing, because it builds leg strength and strength in the body core. I think the deep knee bend and full range of motion is also good for stabilizing the knee. I telemark, so strength and endurance in bending your legs is even more critical for tele skiing, but downhilling in bumps or on the steeps is also a lot of work on the legs. As a beginner (are you a beginner?) you will find your leg muscles get very tired at the end of the day.<br /><br />But skiing in Austria sounds fabulous to me.

[[old] Annabassand]

Thanks for the comments. Sounds good that I don't have to worry too much about my general level of fitness. I have just been rediscovering my old rolllerblades (4 wheels in line). I think the muscle groups used for skiing and skating are similar so I will try and get some workout with these<br /><br />/Anna

[[old] mpukita]

Anna:<br /><br />I (alpine) ski extensively and was a certfied Level 1 instructor (teach beginners), and I agree with what everyone has said. You'll have no conditioning issues, and I doubt you'll experience any altitude issues either. First time skiers try to compensate for lack of technique with muscle strength (hmmm, sounds like beginning rowing!), and you're sure to be tired and sore after a day on the mountain. I would HIGHLY recommend you take lessons. It will get you up the learning curve quickly. The better you ski, the less effort you exert.<br /><br />Where in Austria? I spent a week or so in Myerhofen last February, and it was a great trip.<br /><br />Regards -- Mark<br /><br />PS -- I am also a helmet convert of 5+ years. I would never ski ANYWHERE without wearing a helmet.<br /><br />

[[old] Annabassand]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Oct 9 2005, 02:37 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Oct 9 2005, 02:37 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Anna:<br /><br />I (alpine) ski extensively and was a certfied Level 1 instructor (teach beginners), and I agree with what everyone has said.  You'll have no conditioning issues, and I doubt you'll experience any altitude issues either.  First time skiers try to compensate for lack of technique with muscle strength (hmmm, sounds like beginning rowing!), and you're sure to be tired and sore after a day on the mountain.  I would HIGHLY recommend you take lessons.  It will get you up the learning curve quickly.  The better you ski, the less effort you exert.<br /><br />Where in Austria?  I spent a week or so in Myerhofen last February, and it was a great trip.<br /><br />Regards -- Mark<br /><br />PS -- I am also a helmet convert of 5+ years.  I would never ski ANYWHERE without wearing a helmet. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hiya,<br /><br />We booked an appartment in Zall am Ziller. It's supposedly one of the most snow safe places for a december trip. I plan to take a 2 hour lesson every morning on the holiday. As for the rest of the day: my friends have already been skiing for quite some time so I expect that they can give me a few hints if I really start goofing around <br /><br />I have just been renting some very short beginners carving skis. I am sure they'll make it easier for me to learn. <br /><br />/anna<br /><br />

[[old] mpukita]

Anna:<br /><br />Zall am Zimmer? Great. You'll have a great experience.<br /><br />Yes, shorter skis with a big sidecut will be best for you ... especially on the groomed hardpack I found in Austria. Much harder than what we ski in the mountain west US (Colorado).<br /><br />-- Mark

[[old] Annabassand]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Oct 9 2005, 08:36 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Oct 9 2005, 08:36 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Anna:<br /><br />Zall am Zimmer?  Great.  You'll have a great experience.<br /><br />Yes, shorter skis with a big sidecut will be best for you ... especially on the groomed hardpack I found in Austria.  Much harder than what we ski in the mountain west US (Colorado).<br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi<br /><br />No Zell am Ziller (Zillertal Arena) Hopefully we will have snow. I don't want to go skiing at Tux! Hardpacks? Auch! <br /><br />/Anna

[[old] Great Dane]

The one excercise that I find useful in preparing for skiing (skiing or snowboarding) is the wall sit. This was sometimes used in schools to measure kids conditioning - say 1minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes sitting. Its sitting (with the knees at a 90-degree angle) and the back resting on the wall. Try to build up endurance over time. <br /><br />Essentially this mimics the position you have skiing down the hilll. Sounds like you have good general conditioning and are quite athletic - so this would just condition the ski muscles. <br /><br />The next level up - that you see the Canadian ski team practice all the time - is the feet together and jumping side to side - generally over a small object like a broom handle or something. Keeping the knees and feet together and jumping side to side with the upper body pointing straight ahead. For increased difficultly you can raise hands - or hold light weights. What you are building here is ability to absorb bumps in the terrain and turn - useful for any skill level.<br /><br />Most importantly, is Austrian's like their germknoedels and nothing beats one on top of the mountain... ...so prepare for some great on-mountain food and drink!<br /><br /><br />Jealous...

[[old] Annabassand]

<!--QuoteBegin-Great Dane+Oct 11 2005, 03:52 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Great Dane @ Oct 11 2005, 03:52 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The one excercise that I find useful in preparing for skiing (skiing or snowboarding) is the wall sit.  This was sometimes used in schools to measure kids conditioning - say 1minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes sitting.  Its sitting (with the knees at a 90-degree angle) and the back resting on the wall.  Try to build up endurance over time.  <br /><br />Essentially this mimics the position you have skiing down the hilll.  Sounds like you have good general conditioning and are quite athletic - so this would just condition the ski muscles.  <br /><br />The next level up - that you see the Canadian ski team practice all the time - is the feet together and jumping side to side - generally over a small object like a broom handle or something.  Keeping the knees and feet together and jumping side to side with the upper body pointing straight ahead.  For increased difficultly you can raise hands - or hold light weights.    What you are building here is ability to absorb bumps in the terrain and turn - useful for any skill level.<br /><br />Most importantly, is Austrian's like their germknoedels and nothing beats one on top of the mountain... ...so prepare for some great on-mountain food and drink!<br /><br /><br />Jealous... <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks for the tips. I thought: The wall sit ha ha... how hard can it be? Big mistake! It's torture after a while... The jumps I need to practice. My ancles are a bit weak, so I think this is an excellent thing to do, but I have to be careful not to sprain anything - so I will start it off gentely. <br /><br />Take care<br />Anna <br />

[[old] ulu]

Anna:<br /> All of the recommendations you have for conditioning are excellent. I do not think physical fitness will be your problem. It is confidence, time on the skiis and the learning what the skiis do in response to your commands.<br /><br />Lesson 1:<br />Bend the knees, watch the trees, 5 dollars please<br /><br />Lesson 2:<br />Keep your hands in front<br /><br />Lesson 3:<br />Keep the skiis underneath you.<br /><br />If you can master these 3, you will have surpassed 90% of most downhill skiers.<br /><br />Jim

[[old] mpukita]

<!--QuoteBegin-Annabassand+Oct 10 2005, 12:07 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Annabassand @ Oct 10 2005, 12:07 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Oct 9 2005, 08:36 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Oct 9 2005, 08:36 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Anna:<br /><br />Zall am Zimmer?  Great.  You'll have a great experience.<br /><br />Yes, shorter skis with a big sidecut will be best for you ... especially on the groomed hardpack I found in Austria.  Much harder than what we ski in the mountain west US (Colorado).<br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi<br /><br />No Zell am Ziller (Zillertal Arena) Hopefully we will have snow. I don't want to go skiing at Tux! Hardpacks? Auch! <br /><br />/Anna <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Anna:<br /><br />Got it, know it, I'm just a bad type-er! (mis-spelling, sorry!).<br /><br />The key is to make sure you get to one of the little after-ski huts before the crowd at day's end. I have never seen anything like them in the US or Canada, where I usually ski. Those little party huts are the greatest idea -- have a glass of wine or beer, or two or three, apres ski, right there on the mountain, and go home at a reasonable hour, since they are only open for a few hours each day from near end-of-skiing to early evening.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.zillertalarena.com/en/winter ... etten.html' target='_blank'>http://www.zillertalarena.com/en/winter ... tml</a><br /><br />Outstanding! Plus, the people you will meet are wonderful. It's a great big world out there with lots of great people. Meet as many as you can!<br /><br />Regards -- Mark

[[old] Annabassand]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Oct 12 2005, 12:16 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Oct 12 2005, 12:16 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Annabassand+Oct 10 2005, 12:07 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Annabassand @ Oct 10 2005, 12:07 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Oct 9 2005, 08:36 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Oct 9 2005, 08:36 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Anna:<br /><br />Zall am Zimmer?  Great.  You'll have a great experience.<br /><br />Yes, shorter skis with a big sidecut will be best for you ... especially on the groomed hardpack I found in Austria.  Much harder than what we ski in the mountain west US (Colorado).<br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi<br /><br />No Zell am Ziller (Zillertal Arena) Hopefully we will have snow. I don't want to go skiing at Tux! Hardpacks? Auch! <br /><br />/Anna <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Anna:<br /><br />Got it, know it, I'm just a bad type-er! (mis-spelling, sorry!).<br /><br />The key is to make sure you get to one of the little after-ski huts before the crowd at day's end. I have never seen anything like them in the US or Canada, where I usually ski. Those little party huts are the greatest idea -- have a glass of wine or beer, or two or three, apres ski, right there on the mountain, and go home at a reasonable hour, since they are only open for a few hours each day from near end-of-skiing to early evening.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.zillertalarena.com/en/winter ... etten.html' target='_blank'>http://www.zillertalarena.com/en/winter ... tml</a><br /><br />Outstanding! Plus, the people you will meet are wonderful. It's a great big world out there with lots of great people. Meet as many as you can!<br /><br />Regards -- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks for the link. The map is excellent After-skiing is a must <br /><br />/Anna<br />

[[old] Rowingrunner]

you're in great shape, before I lost a lot of weight, I still was decent at skiing, but you're fine now