Brains
Hitting the slopes is something every skier or rider dreams of each season and there are times when our bodies do not have the strength or stamina to stay out on the mountain as long as we want. It is the adage that our brains want us to do something, but our bodies are telling us ‘N0.’ Every skier or rider has probably hit that wall when their legs and body just cannot keep going and they have to take a break. It is something that no person wants to feel when they are on the mountain when all we want to do is keep skiing, but our bodies are telling us to stop.
There are some stretches and exercises that can be done before hitting the slopes that can help you stay out on the mountain longer. Feeling confident while you are skiing or riding is so important and no one likes it when they feel their legs may give out at any moment and they will crash or get injured. Greg Louie is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and specializes in ski exercises and physical therapy for people who have been injured and want to get back on the mountain. He recommends doing some simple exercises that you can do in the lodge or even the parking lot that will help make your day on the mountain last longer.
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If you look around a ski resort and watch skiers and riders getting ready to hit the slopes, it is rare that you ever see any of the warming up or stretching. It is something of an oddity because when most people do any other exercises or sport, they almost always stretch and warm up before doing the activity. How many people go out for a run and do not stretch before they hit the track or road? Skiing is a form of exercise and anyone who has been on some steep terrain, backcountry skiing, or moguls knows that it can be really hard on the legs. Our muscles need to warm up and be properly stretched before we hit the slopes and that will promote a longer day on the mountain and mitigate the chances of injuries.
Most people’s idea of warming up for a day on the mountain might think that stretching is the best thing they can do before hitting the slopes. However, doing the right type of stretches and exercises is key to making sure that your body is ready for the mountain. Your tendons and muscles around your joints should be ready to go and stretching them out can reduce their elasticity and therefore increase your chances of knee injuries. Doing exercises that mimic the motions while skiing to warm up those tendons and muscles around your joints is key, Louie said.
These stretches and warmup drills can be done in the lodge or parking lot, take less than five minutes to complete, and are worth the time to do. Anyone who has felt their legs burning after a long day on the mountain or has been injured while skiing knows the importance of stretching and warming up. It does not take that long to do, but so many of us decide not to do it and that can lead to a season-ending injury. Taking the five minutes to stretch and warm up could be the difference between having a great day of skiing or being taken off the mountain in a sled by ski patrol. Hopefully, more skiers and riders will think about the importance of warming up properly before they hit the slopes.
