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Travel reports reveal that family ski holidays are on the rise. Many people have taken advantage of two great years of snow in Scotland – and they’re making the most of their new skills to head overseas for skiing adventures in Europe.
Although skiing is considered a pricier option for holidays it does offer huge value for money in terms of quality time together and outdoors fun and exercise.
But skiing can be exhausting! Even a day’s skiing or snowboarding on the slopes at one of Scotland’s five ski resorts will leave you with aching muscles for a week.
So imagine how you may feel during a full-on week of skiing in the Alps or the Pyrenees. That’s why the sensible skiing family tries to become a little more "ski fit" before heading off on holiday.
Why Is Skiing So Tiring?
On average, in one day of skiing you’ll spend at least two hours in total descending a range of slopes. Some of your day will be spent ascending in cable cars and chairlifts, but you may also face hundreds of metres of climbing on muscle-zapping button tows.
Added to this, you’ll be outside and at high altitude for the entire day, which is physically and mentally exhausting.
The muscles that you use for skiing – the thighs, calves, back, abs, upper torso, shoulders and arms – will rarely have such a thorough workout.
There are many reasons for getting into shape before you hit the slopes.
For fun: Skiing with lots of aches and pains is no fun. Being fit for skiing before you go on holiday will put a smile on your face from day one to day seven.
To avoid injury: A flexible and toned body is less likely to be damaged by the exertions of skiing.
For more fun: The fitter you are the better your stamina will be – and the longer you will be able to ski each day.
To save money: Why spend lots of money on a ski holiday if you can only ski for two days, before collapsing in exhaustion?
So, you’ll have a better skiing holiday if you are fit for skiing. Start on these exercises a couple of months before your skiing trip.
Cardiovascular exercise: The best way to get fit for skiing is to ski. You could head along to a dry ski slope or an indoor snow slope. Another similar sport is Nordic walking. There are a number of Nordic walking providers in Scotland.
But the chances are you’ll need to rely on other sports, such as walking and running. Aim to walk briskly or run for a total of a couple of hours each week, including several hill sections. Push up the hills, so you are using your leg and butt muscles more than usual.
Strengthening: Spend 15 minutes twice a week doing:
Also check out ThinQ Fitness for Anna’s Ski Fitness video or Pierre's Ski Workout.
