Strength and Conditioning for the Downhill Skier (Part 1)
Temperatures are crisp, leaves are falling, and there is a scent of winter in the air. Die-hard skiers are making plans to head to the mountains over the next few months. In order to maximize your performance on the slopes and minimize injury, you need specialized ski preparation. According to US Ski Coach J. Karlsson, to ski with great intensity, the...
Strength and Conditioning for the Downhill Skier (Part 2)
When I am training downhill skiers, I make sure to address the following components to ensure a successful and fun ski season: Strength: Renowned sports physiologist Steven Plisk describes how elite downhill skiers have “exceptional strength in the extensors of the foot, leg, thigh, and trunk” (1). These skiers also tend to be mesomorphs with dense, powerful muscles and bones, as...