J2Ski group holiday to Tignes January 13th 2013

I am going to make a serious effort now to get fit for this ski holiday. I didn't like the way my legs ached after a day in the snow dome.

Over the years I have evolved a way of getting myself fit for ski-ing which suits me. Some people go to the gym, or join spinning classes, or whatever, but I hate gyms etc.

So, what I do is a lot of hill-type walking (about 6 miles each time), and run short distances building up to running about a mile, and also do the exercises in my 'Fit to Ski' book by Dr Steve Ingham.

This book has exercises specially tailored to ski-ing, which will improve your stamina, strength, and stability if you diligently carry them out. So, there are exercises to stretch your muscles (which improve your range of movement), those to improve your balance (so you don't fall over so much), and some to improve muscle strength (like squats etc.) so you don't have to spend so long resting in the cafe or at the side of the piste. And they suggest you do cardiovascular workouts like running, twice a week as well.

I have found that when I do the exercises in this book my ski-ing improves amazingly! And I also reckon there is less chance of me injuring myself. The way I see it is that if I can't do the balancing exercises etc. in this book when I'm standing on my feet on the floor, then I am never going to be able to make the same sort of movements when I'm on skis and it's far harder :lol:

Ideally I should make the effort to stay fit all year, but somehow this never happens :cry:

But if I start now I should be OK as it's an 8 week program and I will be ski-ing in Tignes 8 weeks today :D

Finally - I'd like to say that I'm not insisting on everyone else in the group doing all these exercises. That would be pretty extreme! This is my own exercise program and others will have their own ideas about how much/little exercise they need to do to prepare for this ski holiday.

You sound very determined Ally. we will all admire your progress...from afar ....

All I'm hoping is that the pre-breakfast group callisthenics plan gets forgotten.
:cry:

Andy, early morning callisthenics in the chalet sounds a very good idea. I wonder how big their living room is ... Well done for thinking of it. 10 Brownie points for you :thumbup: :wink:

This is what Wikipedia has to say about it:
Calisthenics when performed vigorously and with variety can benefit both muscular and cardiovascular fitness, in addition to improving psychomotor skills such as balance, agility and coordination.

Groups such as sports teams and military units often perform leader-directed group calisthenics as a form of synchronized physical training (often including a customized "call and response" routine), in order to increase group cohesion and discipline.

And don't forget I won't be letting anyone off the 6 a.m. cold shower :wink:

Daved - I'm quite sure you're a lot fitter than me already :D

OK - so the day structure goes something like this .....

05.45 alarm reveille bugle call (on terrace).
06.00 cold showers - all in room 7
06.30 callisthenics on terrace
07.15 dress for breakfast
07.45 arrive for breakfast
08.15 leave breakfast, return to individual rooms and change into ski gear.
08.40 rendezvous ski room - collect gear etc.
08.50 depart for first lift.

08.55 group splits as some go back to get forgotten lift pass, gloves, goggles, skis etc


09.10 OA puts on skis at top of first lift and anounces he has a problem with boots/skis/goggles etc etc and returns to chalet promising to catch up with group later.

:thumbup:

sounds about right to me Andy....

Well I'm just doing the skiing & leave the boot camp activities to those who wish to out perform us recreational skiers, a sort of group within a group -)

we could organise a breakaway group?
a sort of anti-group group?