Crossroads Fitness Blog

Leaves are falling and the days are getting shorter.  While some people see swirling leaves and experience drudgery, others anticipate their favorite winter activities drawing closer.  

It’s important for winter sports enthusiasts to perform specific conditioning exercises before hitting the snow and ice. After a spring and summer off season, muscles could need some time to adjust. And starting off the winter season with an injury would put a damper on the fun.  

Here’s a look at the specific conditioning to reduce the risk of injury and increase the performance and enjoyment of winter sports.

• Skiing and snowboarding:  Conditioning for these sports involves a variety of physical skills, including agility, balance, endurance, flexibility and strength. Muscular strength improves your ability to maintain control while skiing or boarding on uneven terrain. All the major muscle groups of the body, especially the core, are involved. Some exercises include a single leg squat or weighted quadriceps squat. Pilates or yoga offer a good compliment to muscle training to increase core strength, maintain balance and improve flexibility.
• Sledding: Some people underestimate the difficulty of even the most basic of winter sports. Sledding is often viewed as child’s play, but it’s a fun activity for all ages. Pulling your sled up that big hill is a fitness feat that often gets overlooked. Cardio endurance and leg strengthening exercises can prepare you for a day of sledding with the family. 
• Cross-country skiing: This is a great cardiovascular workout. Like most cardio-related sports, endurance training is a must. To prepare for this fun winter sport, train with your favorite cardio exercises appropriate for your impact level. The elliptical offers a great option for low impact and can be adjusted for almost every fitness level. 
• Ice skating: Balance is a really important factor in enjoying ice skating, whether it’s figure skating or hockey. Without balance, there’d be no skating. Depending on your level of expertise, flexibility also is beneficial. Graceful figure skaters and tough hockey players require agility and flexibility. Bosu balls offer a great training tool to warm up muscles while also improving balance. 

Winter could be the most awaited season of the year. There are so many activities in which to partake. Taking time to condition and prepare for the season ensures you won’t miss out on any of the winter sports that entice us, entertain us and keep us fit.

Playing in the snow or on the ice is beneficial to your health. Quality time spent in the health club now for conditioning will pay off when winter gets here in earnest.