When Your Ski Gear, Ski Technique And Ski Lessons Don't Help You Ski Better - Are You A Robot Skier?

     Many expect their ski gear, specific ski instruction, advanced ski techniques and/or ski lessons to help take their skiing to the next level. If you exhausted all the above mentioned variables and you are still stuck at the same skiing/riding level, where do you look next?

     Skiing and snowboarding involves a series of complex movements all lumped together. The physical demands that are placed on the body are so great, that if you are not conditioned for these demands -- then the best ski equipment in the world won't help you! That is where you have to start looking at investing some time in training your body for the slopes.

      Skiing and riding requires activity from the entire body. From a training stand-point, one should train by activating the entire body so as to have the most transfer into life and true function as much as possible. However, many exercises and programs still attempt to train the muscles in isolation, which to the body is "unnatural." Not that there is anything wrong with that, since your training is dictated by your goal. However, if your goal is to "winterize" your body and help your on the snow performance, then sitting on a bench and doing preacher curls is probably not the best exercise (unless you are talking about apres ski!).

      In an ideal world, your training should help your body solve complex movement problems, so that when you encounter them in real life...your body already has the solution. Remember, your body adapts to how you train it. If your training is slow and rigid then that will be what your body learns and that is how it will move. Conversely, if you want to be fast and explosive, then you will need to introduce those variables into your program. Another important variable is your exercise selection. Think about what kind of exercises you do, whether at home or in the gym.

     Are most of your exercises done in standing (like many activities) or are you lying on your back, stomach or sitting in a machine?

Here are some ideas on selecting exercises that can enhance your movement vocabulary:
Exercise in standing (single leg too!).
Move in alternating patterns as well as single limbs (one arm or one leg). 

Introduce different speeds (slow to fast).
Combine exercises together (its like multi-tasking for the body).
Move in a variety of planes (forwards, backwards, sideways, diagonal, etc.).
Don't forget to rotate (rotation is vital for human movement and performance).
      When you condition and train your body to handle the demands of the slopes, not only will you experience performance gains but you will also lessen your chances of injury. This "insurance policy" is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you can get many more turns on the mountain -- for many years to come!

     Lastly, when looking to advance our skiing/riding level, you can never go wrong with upgrading your body. After all, your body needs to last your lifetime. You can buy new ski equipment when it gets old or breaks down. Unfortunately, you can't get a "new you!" Although, with the proper training, you can create a environment to help bring out the best of what you already have. This way, when you decide to pick up new skis or boots, or try some advanced ski techniques or get into some ski lessons...you will be able to get the most out of each and every turn on the slopes.