Time to get equipment ready !

Tony,

Interesting "subject" and very delicate,,but since we are on net and I can not see you,,,,may I ?

The weight factor is important ( not for social reasons) in skiing since with the use of modern '"shaped" skis you need to use hips and core body parts more "dynamically" !

If you have a chance to read, "Ultimate Skiing" or just watch great skiers on You Tube doing fast tight "carving type" effective turns,,you will note how the hip is crucial ! More fat = less reaction time to follow ski! That core area ( hips, thighs, stomach areas) acts like a pendulum ( please technical experts not here ). Typically men have "grey fat" in stomach area which takes a long time to get rid of !

Slower,,,no Tony you will be a "mean skiing machine" with a more "trim" physique.

The trick is not to go on those "diets cycles" where you deprive yourself of all the goodies. Just lower portions, breads, pastas and do as Mac Dave does,,,,,,well not those 1,0000 squats !!!

That Tony is VERY impressive. Your weight loss is a bit too quick, but I do know that once you set the eating life style, then confidence breeds confidence.
Weight is an important factor. I know that you have increased your ski weeks, and as age catches up, then knee and hip injuries may kick in. Keeping a light body minimises the impact.
It does sound as though you have modified your thoughts, in that you have previously stated that you do not exercise for skiing. With the weight loss, you are in a really good position to gain physical strength. Mobility is an important factor, ~ having strong core strength allows you to maximise on mobililty. Maintaining mobility decreases the risk of injury.
You will not be disadvantaged for speed. The key on speed is being able to control the speed, and that needs strength on the turn.

ADMIN ~ that is 500 per leg! My sports scientist says that it is important to maintain equilibrium on leg power, so equal exercise splits! It only takes the time of 50% of the TV news.

Good on ya Tony, thats a great effort, now I need to see if I can do the same :shock:

The idea was to lose weight FAST. I dont want to go on a permanent diet or particularly adjust my eating habits, but I have simply gone on a meal replacement diet (Cambridge) which provides vitamins and vital requirements for the day, and I have been having one low calorie meal a day as well. Its not been particularly nice, but it has made me appreciate food more, and understand the importance of water in the diet, and how easy it can be to cut out things like snacks, choccy and booze.
My plan was to lose 1.5 stone before the end of Sept (when I go on holiday for 10 days) and then maintain that weight and get fitter once I am down at it.
I appreciate the importance of being reasonably fit to ski, and have been fit enough to be able to ski what I have wanted to. However, this is a lifestyle thing as in my early 40's and continuing as carefree as I was, trouble lay ahead. I was hardly fat, but I was over weight.
I now am thinking ahead to the ski season, and with the lighter body I intend to work harder generally on getting and remaining fitter. I dont intend to turn into some nutter who goes running 10 miles a night and spends 2 hours on the weights. But I certainly feel a hell of a lot better a stone lighter.
Lets see how I get on today, as I'm going for a session at Hemel on the snow.

Yep I'm on a low fat diet ...... gently gently, cutting out snacks and I have just now to increase the exercise levels :evil:

Ps I'm only on day three, but not too hungry, I have just made some Pea and roasted garlic soup and it tastes ok as well.

Fitness is useful, but for skiing longevity and safety, strength and mobilty figure much higher. The problem is maintaining Str + mob, tends to be time consuming.

Dave Mac is dead right. I find functional training works well; you might find these links useful:

http://skiracecoach.blogspot.com/
http://skiracecoach.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-03-15T15%3A09%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7
http://web.me.com/kvkayak/skiracecoach/Articles/Entries/2009/12/2_Functional_Strength_%26_Conditioning.html

You have all missed the most important "ritual" to prepare your self for skiing!

Now sit down,,promise NOT to laugh while you read this since this is very serious !

You must do following in October;

1. Find largest walking in freezer and ask to stay in for at least 2 hours.
2. Sit on cold meat while wearing shorts
3. Put on as many layers of clothes you can,,then rush to bathroom at last second to,,,,
4. Driver slowly for 5 hours ( anywhere) as long as it is raining or hailing. You must follow a 18 wheeler going also 60 km/h.
5. Fill blender with ice ( ice again ),,,hit the pulse button with NO cover on ! Let icy spray hit face and allow ice to melt on face !
6. Clip a ski lift ticket to jacket collar, then get on motorcycle/truck/trailer and go fast enough to make ticket flap in your face!
7. Place ski boots in freezer for 2 days. Then put on all ski pants, bend over for two hours trying to put boots on !
8. Find nearest curling/hockey ice rink. Put on ski boots and try to walk around for two hours on ice!
9. Place a small angular pebble in your shoes. Then pour in shoe 1 cup of crushed ice ( chilled,,not stirred) Put shoe on,,then using a C clamp begin to turn screw ! Stop only before you faint from pain !
10. Take old ski goggles. Tape lenses. Put on goggles while carrying skis and now try to hit everyone around you ! You must not peek for at least 30 minutes !

11. On a cold windy day,,,rent a crane. Get an old chair and have crane lift you 10 meters up facing the wind ! After 30 minutes ,,ask operator to swing boom about !

12. Put on ski clothing and go to nearest park ( where there is sandlot) ! begin to fall left and right
the toughen hips and thighs! If proficient in this phase,,now begin to fall fore and aft ! If possible try to swallow sand in the fore falling position !

13. Drink 3-5 liters of water! Put on several layers of ski clothing and clip zippers for that "spot" !
Place hands in a cold 2 liter jar of water ! Wait until,,,,,,well just wait !!! Then as fast as possible rip open that zipper !!!!

14. Find a building that has at least 15 levels ! Put on ski boots and carry skis up stairs! As other person meet you,,swing skis around ! Three points if you hit their heads. 2 points if you hit their torso. 1 point if you miss !

Now for the final one !!!

Take an old pair of skis! Nail them 44 cm apart on a wooden floor ! Put on ski boots and get on skis ( you must put bindings on 13DIN value). Now carve skis on floor,,trying to pull out skis from floor!


I am sure others will find other such "preparations"

PS,,,these suggestions were given in part to me by Zack LLoyd my personal ski trainer !