Every four years there comes along a great display of athletic excellence; the Winter Olympics. Cheering for athletes and country bring a sense of patriotism that might be lacking at other times. The ability of these athletes is certainly nothing to scoff at, but sometimes they make it look too easy, leaving some to ask the question; can I do that?

While making the Olympic team is not an easy feat, looking and performing like an Olympian is accessible to everyone. Skiing has become one of the more anticipated and glamorous sports in the winter Olympics. The athletes are celebrities in their respective countries.

Even though skiing needs snow, training to be a skier can be done year round. Getting a personal trainer is a good place to start a training regimen. Be sure to find a coach that understands the ins and outs of skiing and what body parts need to be worked out to get the best out of your skiing experience.

It is true that Olympians use the best of the best alpine skiing equipment. The reason they use this equipment is because at that level, small differences in equipment matter. At a recreational level it is important to realize that even the best equipment will not make up for bad fundamentals.

Off season training can be broken down into five steps. The 1st step is flexibility. The main parts of the body to focus on for skiing are the hamstrings, the hip flexors, and the torso. Taking a class like yoga can be great if motivation is difficult for you.

The second step is coordination and balance. Coordination and balance is necessary if you want to spend most of your time on your feet and not on you bottom. Jump rope, one-legged dips, and running bleachers can be great exercises to increase balance and coordination.

Step 3 is strength. Muscle growth in legs and trunk is key, with some moderate work on the upper body. Strength training helps to prevent injury and increase athleticism. Strength helps to control flexibility.

The fourth step is speed. Timing is a crucial component of skiing. Moving laterally with agility is very important. If you can’t control your speed, your skis will be controlling you instead of the other way around.

The 5th and final step is endurance. Cardiovascular exercise will increase endurance so that skiing the day away is enjoyable instead of difficult. To get the best results, vary the intensity of the aerobic workout.

While most people know they won’t be the next Picabo Street or Bodey Miller, everyone who enjoys skiing can benefit from these training techniques. Conditioning year round will improve athleticism, help prevent injury, and improve technique. Any skier, whether aiming for professional or just recreational, can become better and have more fun if they condition off season.

Tags: athletes, training, winter olympics
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