2 replies to this topic

[girlracer]

I'm going to be getting back on the slopes this winter and I want to be as ready as I can. The muscles I have need to be up for the challenge as much as I am mentally.
I haven't been skiing since my accident 6/7 years ago, so I have no personal experience with SitSkiing yet...

I've signed-up with a winter sports team and I'll be trying a DualSki. What I really don't want happening is being told I need to work more on strengthening my arm muscles, so the gym is my new hang-out place!

For those of you who SitSki, what muscles do I need to work on and in what ways?
As I imagine I'll be falling quite a bit... Any balance exercises to suggest?

Thanks!

[qman]

really good question.

you are dead right, that being as strong as you can will significantly improve your ability to ski, your enjoyment of it, and most importantly your resistant to injury.

i have been sitskiing for 2 seasons and both seasons i did strengthening program leading up 6 -8 weeks.

depending in your function. arms, shoulders, core, back, etc. you want to have the most you can. Some of the strongest sit skiers i have seen have been t4-5 and even some tetras are super strong mono skiers. the seating support and technic varies, for different levels.

Some higher levels use straps from the seat over there shoulders to help activate the edging in the ski in the absence of core muscles.

standard weights etc are good, but i found pilates type stuff to be super good for balance and core. Also would sit on the floor and throw and catch a medicine ball which is really challenging for balance.

Enjoy.

[mellowgator]

racergirl,

i love to ski and go every year. i usually go to snowmass. we tried crested butte this year but my teenaged daughter like to go where there are lots of other teenagers.

i swim to stay as strong as possible. i'm a quad like you and the one thing that usually gets tired is my grip from holding on to the outrigger. they do have a way to velcro the outrigger to your hand. this may work well for you. i opted for holding the outrigger but this is what i'm used to.

i usually ask for the strongest skiier. i've had instructors who took me up the half pike and it's a blast. one thing i notice as i age is that the mogels which i used to love jolt my neck a bit much now. i still do them but i pay.

the best way to get ready is to work out your arms and grip and balance as best as possible. if you goto a good program you'll have a blast.

mellowgator