One of my absolute favorite things to do in the winter is ski. I love skiing. I had my first lesson when I was 4 years old. There is nothing that compares to being on the mountain. Even after tearing my ACL (the first time – while skiing), I could not wait to get back on the slopes.
I am ITCHING to ski. I missed ski season last year and, since having kids, I don’t get to go as often as I would like. But that’s OK. My kids are getting to the age where they can learn to ski. And hopefully, they too will fall in love with it.
We’re going skiing next week and I’m really excited. The only thing is that I haven’t really done anything to get in shape to ski. Oops.
I know that it’s unrealistic to think that I’ll get in shape to ski in a week, especially since I’ve been sick recently. But I know how important it is to have strong and flexible legs. Skiing can put a lot of strain and stress on your legs, particularly the knee joint. The last thing that I want to do is hurt my knee again.
This week, I’m going to work in a few good yoga sessions to work on my flexibility and stamina, including poses like High Lunge, Low Lunge, Warrior I, Warrior II, and Chair pose as well as hip openers like Pigeon and Lizard pose.
Most importantly, I’m going to focus on leg exercises to build strength and to get my legs ready to ski. In addition to knee strengthening exercises, I’m incorporating this circuit into my workouts this week.
Lunge with Rotation
Make sure you’re only rotating at your waist
Step Downs
You want to make sure that you keep control of your knee during the movement – make sure your knee stays in line with your foot and doesn’t roll or wobble inward and make sure that you hips stay level.
Hopefully, these exercises will prevent me from being a total disaster on the slopes!
And yes, I’m going to be careful and I’m going to wear a big honking knee brace. I’m going to take it easy and ease my way back into skiing, at least initially and then we’ll see 
Do you ski? How do you prepare for ski or snowboard season? Where’s your favorite place to hit the slope?
Disclaimer: I do not have any official training, certifications, or degrees in fitness. The views I express are mine alone, based on my own experiences. Always talk to your doctor or a trained professional before starting a new diet or fitness plan.
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I don’t ski, but this is a great workout for anybody who want great leg strength. Pinning!
Debbie @ Live from La Quinta recently posted..Weekly Training Recap: La Jolla Half Marathon Week 2
I love skiing! I lived in Colorado for 10 years (my sister still lives there) I worshiped the slopes, now that we are back in SoCal I must make a trip up to Mammoth. Have a great time!
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted..Book Review: Think Like Zuck
i just learned to ski this year and – holy cow! i didn’t realize it would require SUCH different muscles than anything else in my life. great idea to build some strength ahead of time! even if it’s just a week, i bet it’ll help ya!
lynne @ lgsmash recently posted..Life: January / February Goals
I am a wimp among wimps and don’t like to ski (I’m a control freak and don’t enjoy the feeling of not being in total control).
Tried it once and too scared to try it again….but I know that I should.
Melissa Burton recently posted..Sounds of Saturday – Beautiful Colours
Jealous! We were planning on snowboarding last week but then we had a freakish warm up and rain. The conditions are horribly icy even with snow being made. Boo!
Great workout! Squats and lunges are perfect for conditioning for skiing. Hope you have a blast! Just stay out of the moguls!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Mid Winter Classic 10 Miler Race Recap
I LOVE to ski. It’s the one thing I miss about winters in New York.there were ski resorts within 30 ,miles of any direction. To be honest, I rarely do specific workouts to prepare me for the mountain…. I usually end up quite sore by the end of the day because of it… Haha.
This is a great workout to get anyone ready to hit the slopes!!
Charlotte recently posted..Do You Want to Be The Next Oakley Women Brand Ambassador?
I have never been skiing in my life. I HAVE been tubing, which was really fun. I’m one of those people who “loves the snow” for about 30 minutes. Then I’m ready to head back for hot chocolate!
Maureen recently posted..A SUPER Weekend!
I don’t ski and have never tried it. One of my bosses daughters is a competitive skier and she travels all over (she’s young, preteen). On her team is a young women who is an elite athlete training for the Olympics. She’s currently ranked in the top 10 in the US. But…I don’t know her name. That’s the extent of my skiing knowledge.
Your workout loojs great even for a non-skier!
Carli recently posted..Shaving It Off #5bythe5th #13in2013
i cannot ski for the life of me. I’m the girl that FALLS at every stop. But i love this workout, so i’ll pretend i’m going. K?
lindsay recently posted..Ebb and Flow Friday
TAHOE HERE I COME!!
Ive never ever skied either…
Miz recently posted..Strong is NOT the new SEXY (my thoughts)
I’ve. Never. Skied. What a travesty!
Kat recently posted..Motivational Monday – Featured Sneakers #17
I’ve only water skied. And there’s nothing that prepares you for the bizarre muscles you use LOL. Funny how when you do a new activity everything hurts in a new place. Love the donkey kicks with weights and the crossovers
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..5 by the 5th February
Never, ever skied in my life, and probably never will because 1) no snow where I live and 2) I’m scared.
So excited for you to get back on the slopes!
Alison recently posted..Dear Nutella
I haven’t been skiing in years but want to so bad!! Maybe next winter
That workout looks awesome!
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family recently posted..Scenes From The Weekend
Thanks for the workout! Ive only beeing skiing once and it was forever ago..I want to go again, I remember it being a blast!
Sara @ fitcupcaker recently posted..Tabata & Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites
I love to ski, but sadly I don’t make it out very much. My prep pretty much includes me just remembering how to get to the mountain in one piece;).
Michelle recently posted..The Power of Prep
Forever skiing in the past and as long as the future will let me.. Am a flatlander that vacations in Red Lodge Montana and is proudly mistaken for a local!!! Year round training to ski hard and fast for as many days as possible each season. Jump squats, split squat jumps as well, along with hamstring curls (ball/TRX), plank, push ups, swim, bike, run all adds to the power house and legs of steal to get after/over/around whatever gets in front of me.. : ) Ski fast and safe! Have a great winter!
Those are great suggestions. Thanks Jill! We had a great time skiing. And isn’t it great when you’re mistaken for a local??
Such a great post! You’re so right that skiing can place a lot of stress on the legs and knees… smart to be prepared going in. It’s been so long since I’ve done downhill skiing. We did a lot of cross country skiing in upstate NY which I loved! Skiing is such a great way to embrace winter!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..Fueling for Performance
Sigh. I wish I loved skiing! I don’t mind x-country, but just not a downhill fan. That said, I am going w/ the family and neighbors on an annual trip at the end of the month. We always call it my one and done trip for the year! Anyhow, maybe I should try your workout to help get myself psyched. Enjoy your trip this coming weekend!
misszippy recently posted..Super Bowl
I have never been skiing! Would you believe it? I really, really, really, really WANT to go someday though.
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..“I Will Endure” Cardio Workout & Super Bowl Drop Out
Have a blast!!! I’m jealous! I’ve never been skiing. Just snowboarding a few times, I love it though!!!
Jess recently posted..February goals
I love all your pictures – it reminds me that I’ve missed 2 weekends in a row on the slopes, including the best conditions of the year last weekend. Doh! I don’t really do anything special to prepare for the season, since I’m typically running and/or triathlon training. Always ready for action!
Heather @ Better With Veggies recently posted..Final Meatless Mondays from A-Z Reveal {Round 1}
I.Love.To.Ski!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are you going?????? Enjoy the leg burn, at least they’ll stay warm
My playground was the Canadian Rockies, and my friends and I took so many ski trips together, I miss those days! I haven’t been skiing for a while, I so miss it, but when it snows inconsistently here in Scotland, it makes it difficult. We’re hoping to get out to Austria or Switzerland in April for a ski trip, I’ve always dreamed of skiing the Alps!
Have fun!
Danielle recently posted..Going vegetarian…. temporarily
We were out in Lake Tahoe. Love Tahoe. I hope that you get out to the Alps. I’ve only been skiing there once – when I was in college and studying abroad in Europe. Have fun!
I don’t ski – every year I think about it and then I don’t – perhaps a bucket list item for me (if I could get over my dislike of cold!)
ilene recently posted..This Ain’t My First Rodeo
Christine,
Those are all great exercises to prepare your legs for skiing. I would add in an isometric move; at the end of your ball wall squat set, hold in the squat position for as long as you can. When skiing, you’re often having to crouch down for longer than a few seconds at a time!
Happy trails!
Tamara recently posted..Bloggers love positive feedback | blog comment love roundup
Thanks Tamara for the suggestion. Yes! wall sits are a staple in the “prepare to ski” routine. I often forget how much my legs can burn when crouching down while skiing!
I started skiing 5-6 years ago when I started dating my boyfriend (he’s been an amazing skier all his life). I’m still not fantastic at it, but I really do like it!
I tend not to “prepare” for skiing except for stretching. And then I usually do a ton of stretching after skiing for the day. My most recent trip I hurt a lot less than usual, likely because I’d been more active in general (i.e. running, other workouts). Being more used to all that physical activity definitely prepared me!
I have been itching to ski too! I haven’t gone in way too long and we have had so much snow lately! I really need to change that!
Thanks for the great workout!
Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food recently posted..The Monday After
I’ve never skied before!!! I always wanted to when I was younger but I played basketball and never had any free time to go for a weekend! And then the same thing in college. And now I’m just scared to try. UGH. Maybe you could teach me surfing in the summer and skiing in the winter! =)
Michele @ Nycrunningmama recently posted..18 Miles + Super Bowl Fun
beautiful! I have never been skiing!
Heather recently posted..Trip Recap January 2013
I have never been on a pair of skis. That is a crying shame since I am so close to Tahoe, right? I’m too fragile. I would break EVERYTHING.
I have never skied and I am not sure if I would like to give it a try. I would probably ski if there would be a change to do so near where I live, but I would have to go on a ski trip, and that is just not what I would want to spent my money on, due to the fact that I don’t know if I would like it.
I LOVE downhill skiing, but haven’t done it in a few years. I’m already planning to ski in Utah next Christmas, though! I’ve never done much specific training for it, but I bet the kettlebells class I often take would help, now that I’m a little older & may need to be more careful with my knees.
Arah recently posted..Luminary Loppet
I haven’t been skiing since my senior year in high school. I used to go a lot as a child and teenager. I think I’m becoming a chicken in my older age. I want to get my girls out on the slopes so I better start facing my fears. Maybe we’ll start with tubing?
Kristen recently posted..Connecting Through Music
Tubing scares me! I feel like I’m more out of control doing that. I’m getting more scared as I get older too. Watching J and E ski – they’re fearless. Wish I had more of that!!
This is awesome!! Wish I did these before my first ski trip this year, would have helped me a ton! I’m going to try this workout soon.. thanks
Megan@ Run Like a Grl recently posted..Abs Are Made in the Kitchen: Nutrition for Abs By April
You know I love to ski!! But it’s true– the first couple times back on the slopes just burn! Every season I try to prepare and without fail, my quads and butt are on fire within a few runs. But, the stunning views always make it worth it!
Colorado Gal recently posted..Haiti: Taking the Orphanage Kids to the Beach
I love to ski but don’t get to go skiing very often. I think you will be fine – but you might rediscover some new muscles!
Coco recently posted..Hellhound, Maple Pecan Porter, And Edamame Hummus
I definitely rediscovered some neglected muscles