Top Tips For How To Prepare For Your Ski Holiday In Morzine

Taking steps to help prepare for your ski holiday will make all the difference. Regardless of whether you’re heading to the mountains for the first time or you’re a seasoned skier, you’ll need to do a good amount of strength and fitness preparation to make the most of your trip. Skiing is a physical activity and uses a lot of muscles not often used in normal day to day life. Therefore ensuring you have a good level of fitness as well as some core strength before your holiday will be a real advantage.

Naturally there is no substitute for actually skiing so if you have the opportunity to get to a dry slope or an indoor snow centre before heading to the mountains then this will be advantageous. However we know that not everyone has that option so with that in mind, we hope the following information will help you prepare.

We have split the key areas we think will help the most into three sections; cardio, strength and flexibility.

Cardio

A person of average weight would burn around 476 calories skiing, so working in a little cardio before your trip isn’t a bad idea if you want to stay on the slopes for longer. Running or swimming are great options to get your heart rate up and to start getting your overall fitness up ready for the slopes.

Strength

Skiing requires balance and core strength, especially when you’re carving down mogul-strewn slopes, your skis bumping this way and that. Pilates or yoga exercises are a great place to start, but if you’re unfamiliar with them then focus on core strength exercises to improve your ski fitness. Try the exercises below a few times a week prior to your holiday.

Leg Lifts – You can do this exercise flat on your back, so you avoid spending too much time in the same position on your holiday.

Lie with your back flat on the floor
Then, keeping your left leg straight as possible, lift it as high as you can go.
Count to 15 and then lower it slowly.
Do the same with your right leg and then repeat.

Squats – You should also strengthen your legs and prepare your knees for the skiing position. Squats can help:

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart
Then squat, keeping your back straight and looking ahead. Important to ensure your knees are positioned above your ankles. If you can’t see your feet it means your knees are too far forward and you’re in the wrong position.
Do this about 20 times, or as many times as you feel able.

Spider Plank Crunches – For this crunch, get in the plank position, on your hands (or elbows) and feet with your legs and back straight.

Lift your right knee up towards your shoulder, as far as it will go, and place back down.
Then, do the same with your right.
Do each leg ten times.

Flexibility

To keep your skis straight as you handle the corners, you’ll need flexibility as well as strength. Again, both yoga and Pilates are great for improving your flexibility. Here are two simple exercises you could try.

Toe Touch – The most basic stretch out there, but for a bit extra, tuck your chin into your chest before you start stretching down – just make sure you take it slowly.

Alternate Toe Touch – Stand with your feet a shoulder width apart

stretch out your arms and bend over with your right hand aiming to touch your left foot then rotate across to touch your right foot with your left hand.
Touch each toe ten times, stand up,
Take a break for 30 seconds
Repeat 5 times.

Spine Twist – Sit on the floor with your back and your legs out straight.

Cross your right leg over your left and bring your knee up to your chest, so that your right foot is on the floor beside your left knee.
Twist your upper body to the right, using your left arm to push against your raised leg.
Hold for ten seconds
4. Then do the same with your left leg.

Building these exercises into your weekly routine for a few weeks leading up to your holiday will help you prepare for your ski holiday and make the most of your time on the slopes. We hope it helps. If you’d like to see our exclusive range of luxury self catered chalets and apartments in Morzine then please click here.