Winter is definitely here, for most of the nation anyway. I have put together a short list of exercises that may help build the strength and endurance needed for the next time you hit the mountain. Skiing and snowboarding are both a great lower body workout and require a great deal of muscular endurance as well. There are several muscles targeted while performing these enjoyable winter activities. The hips, hip flexors, ab and adductor muscle groups (in and outer thigh muscles), quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and triceps are among the main muscle groups used.
I used to live in Keystone, Colorado and have spent “many of day” sitting in the hot tub after a long day of riding. Honestly, I wished I had trained the specific muscles required so I could have decreased or even eliminated the muscle soreness. By training these muscle groups, you will be able to ski or board longer, faster, and enjoy the fresh snow and the best scenery that nature has to offer.
The exercises listed below are intended to increase muscular endurance and I recommend performing them in a circuit training style of work-out. A circuit consists of moving from one machine or exercise to another without stopping or resting in between sets. I recommend using a medium weight while performing two to three sets of 20 to 30 repetitions. I also recommend performing this workout at least two weeks before you hit the snow.