Skiing and the Martial Arts

[Nancy]

I just found this forum--very cool!

I am a solid intermediate skier, only been skiing a couple of years and made good improvement this year. I've heard that some forms of martial arts can benefit skiers and I'm curious to learn more. I have taken kick-boxing by tai kwan do instructors and can see how that can help my balance. Is there something else I can do in the off-season to help improve my balance and other skiing-related skills? I'm good about working out (aerobics, pilates, lifting weights) so I'm not afraid to tackle something new.

Any advice? Thank you!

 

[ALLSKIING]

I just found this forum--very cool!

I am a solid intermediate skier, only been skiing a couple of years and made good improvement this year. I've heard that some forms of martial arts can benefit skiers and I'm curious to learn more. I have taken kick-boxing by tai kwan do instructors and can see how that can help my balance. Is there something else I can do in the off-season to help improve my balance and other skiing-related skills? I'm good about working out (aerobics, pilates, lifting weights) so I'm not afraid to tackle something new.

Any advice? Thank you!

Try the Skiers edge machine.I just got it a few weeks ago and it helps improve your skiing.

 

[Nancy]

I combed their website but couldn't find any pricing. Any approximate cost? It looks nifty!

 

[ALLSKIING]

I combed their website but couldn't find any pricing. Any approximate cost? It looks nifty!

Its not cheep..about a thousand.Try e-bay.

 

[Nancy]

Thanks!

Still hoping for some advice about the martial arts...I've heard that tai chi helps you separate upper from lower body movements which would help me enormously to prepare for next season (goal: moguls and steep stuff without having a heart attack).

Any experience with this? Advice?

 

[Ig ODC]

Martial arts is excellent for skiing. Balance and power is essential to both sports. Other things that are great: mountain biking--builds your lungs, legs and balance; working on a balance beam; trail running. Basically the best things for skiing involve endurance, strength and balance. I personally am not a fan of any indoor machine (running, skiing, biking) I think the best way to exercise is to get outside and do it, especially considering how important balance is to skiing, you don't/can't work on balance on indoor machines.

 

[ALLSKIING]

you don't/can't work on balance on indoor machines.

Sure you do. Have you used the skiers edge? Its all about balance. You also have to use balance walking or running on a treadmill.

 

[hammer]

Welcome to the forum, Nancy!

Are you currently taking classes in any "formalized" Martial Arts program? I wasn't sure what kind of program you were in or how long you've been doing Martial Arts (you only mentioned that you had taken kick boxing).

I've been taking Tae Kwon Do classes for over 5 years so I'm a little partial to that style, but I'd think that any Martial Arts style would improve balance, flexibility, coordination, and stamina (and if you stick with it for long enough, the benefits go beyond just physical conditioning).

I started skiing only 2 years ago, so I'm not sure if I would have done any better at skiing if I wasn't also taking Martial Arts classes...

The main thing about any other form of exercise, however, is to make sure you enjoy it -- for example, running bores me to tears so I've never been able to stick with it.

 

[Sparky]

.I have had some experience in Judo and I think it was very helpful in learning to maintain dynamic balance. However I think the best off-season activity for enhancing you skiing is roller blading. You can apply the same skills you use in skiing to blading, especially when you are rolling downhill. Turns on blades can be made the same way you do on skis. You have to stay centered with good stance and balance (or you on your butt in a hurry, and pavement is a lot harder then snow.) you roll the wheels on their side for edging, flex and extended your legs through the turn and point the skates in the direction of the turn with a rotary movement. I have to say here that roller blading is not a perfect match to skiing, but it’s the closest I have found.

 

[Nancy]

Hi all, thanks for the good input. No, I'm not formally taking any martial arts classes right now. I took kickboxing several years but discontinued when I joined the local Y. Unfortunately the Y only teaches cardio-kickboxing which is more about speed and sweating, less about form and movement.

It sounds like, at a minimum, any martials arts class or program won't hurt me and may have great benefit for both my skiing and overall health.

Keep the suggestions coming! My skiing REALLY improved this year and I'm willing to work hard in the off season so I can do better next year! Thank you!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Tai Chi is very good plus low impact...here is some info.

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Philosophy/Taichi/

 

[Nancy]

Cool and informative website, SRO--thanks for the lead!

I may, if I'm feeling REALLY brave, try inline skating. Lots of padding to start, for sure--something like a Michelin Man suit maybe?? I can see how the movements used in skating mirror some of those used in skiing.

Great help, all--thanks again!

 

[RuffusCorncobb]

Bicycling and Hiking

I find to improve your legs bicycling either road or mt biking will work great and if you use your gears properly it will be good for your knees too. Hikiking is also good for your legs. Hiking in the fall is great with the weather being cooler, no bugs and clear skys provide incredible views and comes just before the ski season so you can get in good shape to start the year.

 

[bigbog]

Nancy,
The Martial Arts are pretty much a prerequisite for skiing on the weekends in-bound...in New England(self defense-wise). You're not the only one going in on off-season balance-training.

 

[riverc0il]

I've heard that tai chi helps you separate upper from lower body movements which would help me enormously to prepare for next season (goal: moguls and steep stuff without having a heart attack).

i am not familiar with martial arts, but anything that helps with balance and especially upper/lower body seperation would definitely be helpful.

 

[Nancy]

Re: Bicycling and Hiking

I find to improve your legs bicycling either road or mt biking will work great and if you use your gears properly it will be good for your knees too. Hikiking is also good for your legs. Hiking in the fall is great with the weather being cooler, no bugs and clear skys provide incredible views and comes just before the ski season so you can get in good shape to start the year.

I've not done much hiking (mostly because I've no one to hike with!) so that sounds like fun. My legs are actually pretty strong from working out and weightlifting that I've done for years. But I suppose you can never have too much strength! Wish I could get interested in mountain biking but bad falls from my childhood haunt me! 8)

 

[Beetlenut]

For conditioning, swimming with short swimmimg-flippers is great for aerobic and ski-specific muscles. Helped me to move up a few notches in moguls and trees. Biking is also great for the knees.