Does cycling alone do it ... or is more strength training req'd for skiing? - Page 5

Maybe one day when I get too old to just go skiing, I will need a training regime. 

However, if you do nothing all summer and then suddenly spend a full day doing high-g turns, you won't be able to do your best the following day.  Your body needs to get used to it.  Ski vacations are expensive, and you don't want to spend them on "rest" days.   When I was young it didn't matter, but I was in great shape.  Now I find it's better to work up to it by spending a few afternoons skiing before spending a full day, though sometimes I do start out full day full speed, and rest the next day; I don't think I would want to have to rest on a ski vacation though.

As to biking as training, as has been said, it's not enough as heavy bike training does weird things to your body, like lowering your bone density.  Your body adapts to what it has to do.  Skiing is the best training for skiing.  If you need extra strength and endurance to withstand that last compression at the end of the DH, go do some squats, but I prefer skiing through some compressions. 

As a training for good conditioning, you need to add a weight bearing exercise.   A little weight lifting, or even just using your body weight creatively in exercises would be a good complement to biking or swimming.

Training is required for world-level competition, not for recreational skiing.  If you want to be competitive with the guys on the WC, you will have to train; if you just want to have fun skiing, forgetaboutit.

But Ghost, not everyone gets to ski as much as you.  For many people each day on the hill needs to count.  And furthermore, not everyone can get the conditioning that you are talking about quickly.  What I am suggesting is similar to my experience at Crossfit.  Intensity is a big part of the WOD but for me, my conditioning coming into Crossfit was too low to be able to approach "intensity" - it takes time.  Skiing can be, and at least for me, actually is a high intensity activity.  Without a foundation of fitness I may never get in shape.  Training in the off-season yields big benefits for me.

I believe that skiing incorporates and requires a broad range of physical preparedness,  That's my take.  Fitness: agility, strength, endurance, they all add up when I go out for my first day at Killington.  Without that base the day is just not as fun and it's a lot shorter.

This type of training has allowed me to keep up with my ski buddies and to stay out longer - ski a longer day.  I am  notorious for breaking down - sucking wind and later in the day cramping out.  A four hour day is a full day for me, but I am now able to ski 6 to 7 hours.  A week straight of skiing is not likely, the level of fatigue requires a day off.  Before, back to back days were not good - day 2 was pathetic.

Training/conditioning is all relative.  A guy who drops 35 lbs before the season starts is probably going to see a difference.  Some people need more, some people are born with big strong legs.

To the question of cycling,  There is likely to be huge benefit from an activity like that.  My point is that it ought to include more.  But look at any serious biker and you will see trim and strong athletes.  That will help on opening day.

The original question was whether biking is sufficient to condition one for skiing and what supplemental exercises might be required.

We have delved into all sorts of personal exercise preferences and criticisms of these preferences, but it depends on the individual, and the choices of supplemental preferences are myriad.

Biking, whether road, mtn, unicycle, tricycle can't be bad and since it's NOT skiing, will NOT be sufficient, but cycling will be on the PLUS side.

Other forms of exercise, hiking, wt training, roller-blading, chasing your wife/gf around the bedroom, or others are also beneficial as fitness plays a big role, and the choices are infinite....power- eating/drinking also helps as this works out the arm and stomach muscles.

Nick Farats

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfp158 

 

, chasing your wife/gf around the bedroom,

 

 

 

If done both at the same time ,this will yield the greatest training effect

I don't think fitness is the limiting factor for most skiers. It's more of a skill sport than a strength sport. 

I'm not strong enough to ski top to bottom, but I'm OK with that. I don't think I would ski at a higher level if I was more fit. I would get a few more runs in. Big deal.

I start walking uphills and balancing on a large ball w/ 1 foot. It helps but age never stops. Tele is right it's more skill than fitness.

i disagree. I tore my achilles cuz i was out in the heavy powder one weekend with no  co conditioning behind me and it really sucked and it could have been avoided with some correct excercise. Especially as you get older expert skiing requires some minimum level of fitness or it's a gamble.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

I don't think fitness is the limiting factor for most skiers. It's more of a skill sport than a strength sport

Fitness allows you to acquire the skills for ANY sport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfp158 

Fitness allows you to acquire the skills for ANY sport.

Luckily I've already acquired skiing skills, so you can keep your fitness. I don't need it.

Aren't you the guy who made a fortune racing bicycles? Who are you, or is it a secret?

Quote:

Originally Posted by natrat 

 

i disagree. I tore my achilles cuz i was out in the heavy powder one weekend with no  co conditioning behind me and it really sucked and it could have been avoided with some correct excercise. Especially as you get older expert skiing requires some minimum level of fitness or it's a gamble.
 

Older skiers need to avoid bindings that hold their boot heels down. Sorry about your injury. Perhaps others can learn from your mistake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by natrat 

 

i disagree. I tore my achilles cuz i was out in the heavy powder one weekend with no  co conditioning behind me and it really sucked and it could have been avoided with some correct excercise. Especially as you get older expert skiing requires some minimum level of fitness or it's a gamble.
 

You should try skiing at the indooor joints.  I hear they're all air conditioned and none of them have deep powder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by natrat 

 

i disagree. I tore my achilles cuz i was out in the heavy powder one weekend with no  co conditioning behind me and it really sucked and it could have been avoided with some correct excercise. Especially as you get older expert skiing requires some minimum level of fitness or it's a gamble.
 

I guess it depends on how out of shape and inactive you are.  For me, other recreational activities like swimming, biking, canoeing, hiking and playing frizbee at the beach is enough. 
 

pdiddy right out the blue box please. how do you not how to quote......

like for instance I quote ghost and instead of writing inside the blue box, and making it hard to read and quote for the next guy Ill write out the blue box.

example A

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost 

I guess it depends on how out of shape and inactive you are.  For me, other recreational activities like swimming, biking, canoeing, hiking and playing frizbee at the beach is enough. 
 

yes it depends.

was that so hard......
 

he only has 82 posts, it takes a while.  I still don't get it

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

I don't think fitness is the limiting factor for most skiers. It's more of a skill sport than a strength sport. 

 

I'm not strong enough to ski top to bottom, but I'm OK with that. I don't think I would ski at a higher level if I was more fit. I would get a few more runs in. Big deal.

Many skiers are not in great shape.  And many of them can ski longer, both between rests and length of day, than I can.  Some people need more training and for some, like me, skill comes into play.  The way that I ski is fatiguing and that is a problem with my skill.

But overall, great conditioning will really help a good skier get more bang for the buck.  It will help you in the bumps and on gnarly terrain.  It will help with hiking to earn turns.  It will give you something to back up your athletic skills.

Reminds me of going for air from a bump and being late by about 5 feet

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

 

I would get a few more runs in. Big deal.

In those few runs you might even learn something to improve your skill....altho if you are already skilled-out, well....not all of us are!

Nick F.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfp158 

In those few runs you might even learn something to improve your skill....altho if you are already skilled-out, well....not all of us are!

 

Nick F.

You know, you always hurt yourself on the last run, so it's good to avoid them if possible. He definitely has the right idea. ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorm57 

....  Based on some of the responses in this post, I have modified my training regimen a bit to now include added strength training ... squats, leg curls, etc....

Leg curls are to ski or snowboard cross-training roughly what biceps curls are to golf cross-training:  Unless you have a specific imbalance that you are working with a PT or very good trainer to correct, probably worse than worthless.

If you have limited time, I'd still say MTB would do you better than hitting the gym, but deadlifts in the gym would be much better than leg curls for most people.  (For a great posterior chain workout on a MTB, learn to manual and to bunnyhop on flat pedals -- you will feel like you got a deadlifting workout.  Likewise learning to pump a flatland figure eight will give both a great core, and great posterior chain, workout.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorm57

...

Overall a great discussion ... thanks for the comments and the 'snappyness'

Nice conclusion  as we’ve jumped the shark with all this.  Clearly some wish to excel and some seek to just get by.  A simple readers choice with the advice offered to date.    

Nevertheless; reading those usual curmudgeons and Eeyore’s around here post their typical negative energy is something to ski quickly past   so...Fonzie…take it away:

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonDenver 

Quote:

Nice conclusion  as we’ve jumped the shark with all this.  Clearly some wish to excel and some seek to just get by.  A simple readers choice with the advice offered to date.    

 

Nevertheless; reading those usual curmudgeons and Eeyore’s around here post their typical negative energy is something to ski quickly past   so...Fonzie…take it away:

 

 

Hilarious.

Go Fonz

PS BushwackerinPA,

I'm going to go ride stand up now and run some hills, OMG!  misinformation, misinformation, misinformation!!!  (quoting BushwackerinPA),

I've been reading "Breakthrough On The New Skis" by Lito Tejada-Flores, and have really been enjoying it. He has a web site with a collection of articles he's written over the years, one of which is entitled "Let me count the ways…to get in shape for skiing".

jc-ski, thanks for the link.  I've always loved Lito and like the idea of walking on a 2X4 to work on balance.  Simple idea, but a great one.