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Get ski fit in Chamonix
Prepare your body for the upcoming ski season
Winter is coming... We can all feel it: days are shorter, mornings colder and rain brings a light dusting of snow on Chamonix's highest peaks. It's time to start thinking about preparing your muscles and, more importantly, your joints for a full week of skiing - or a full season for those who are lucky enough.
Some of us just can't wait for winter to arrive and, while we imagine all the fresh powder carves we'll be sketching on the slopes of Chamonix in a couple of months, we can start to get ready for the physical hardship we'll subject our body to during a week of full-on skiing during the day and full-on cheese munching during the night.
The focal point of any comprehensive ski fit workouts are obviously our legs and less evidently our core. But it's not only the muscles we need to make stronger but also our joints which suffer the most when skiing. Our best allies are the usual suspects: squats, lunges and sit-ups. Combining them with movement is a great way to work our stability and balance, for example mixing squats with box jumps.
Cardio and stretching are also vital. Cycling is a great way to build up your fitness while making your legs stronger and avoiding strains on your knees, hips and ankles, so is swimming. Stretching, on the other hand, is essential to increase your flexibility and avoid injuries, why not try out yoga these next few months to increase your elasticity? For a more detailed set of exercises, check out our ski fitness guide.
Always warm up when starting your day on the slopes or, at least, do a few easy runs first before hitting the reds and remember to stretch afterwards, your legs will thank you! You can even book a massage or an evening at the spa to soothe your sore muscles.
Never forget that skiing and snowboarding are extremely demanding sports and that injuries are very common on the slopes. Take it easy at first, give your body plenty of rest and, at the first sign of pain or discomfort, visit a physiotherapist.
If you want a comprehensive set of workouts to strengthen your skiing muscles and joints we recommend you sing up for SkiFit. This online programme comprises a series of exercises specifically devised by the team of physiotherapists at La Clinique du Sport in Chamonix to avoid skiing injuries. It's widely available via their website and mobile app so that you can keep fit for winter wherever you are. And if you use the code SKIFIT2017 you'll get a 20% discount!
