What off season sport best simulates skiing?

[loafer89]

I love to ski, but unfortunately summertime gets in the way. I find that whitewater kayaking is the best substitute for skiing in alot of ways. A class II-III
river can offer alot of oportunities for playing slalom with rocks, eddies, waves and holes. I also feel like I am gliding down a wide open slope. At least it is one way to play on melted snow

I have kayaked and skied a few times in the same day in Vermont and in Connecticut, that was the best of both worlds.

What does everyone else do to pass the summertime?

 

[bvibert]

What does everyone else do to pass the summertime?

I wish I could say I did lots of Hiking, Biking, and Kayaking... I do those things occasionally, but the norm is sitting on my ass gaining weight while thinking about skiing...

 

[Vortex]

Well MR. negitive here. Nothing comes close for me. I hike and boat. Thats Fun , but no replacement for my addiction. Good thread though. My problem with reality

 

[loafer89]

I guess that alot of people kayak/run whitewater, because most people that I have come across while on a river, ski as well.

I played golf for quite a few years at Killington in the springtime after skiing, but I just never really fell in love with the sport + it can be just as expensive as skiing is .

 

[dmc]

Mountain biking is the closest on land...
You have to proactivley look for lines - stay centered and ride some of the same terrain...

Also trail running reminds me of skiing..

Wake boarding is the closest on water...
For obvious reasons...

 

[skijay]

Lift serviced mountain biking.

You get to ride the same chair as you do when you ski. The ride to the summit is just a little greener and warmer and same on the way down.

 

[hammer]

I thought I read somewhere that rollerblading was the closest to skiing, but I've never done it...

 

[pizza]

I thought I read somewhere that rollerblading was the closest to skiing, but I've never done it...

Rollerblading is actually really good - the motions are similar, it'll teach you to stop leaning back because doing so on a rollerblade will put you on your ass.

I run. Because nothing is better for losing weight than running. Nothing.

 

[hammer]

I run. Because nothing is better for losing weight than running. Nothing.

Yuck...I hate running, but I do need to shed a few pounds...

 

[dmc]

I run. Because nothing is better for losing weight than running. Nothing.

Yuck...I hate running, but I do need to shed a few pounds...

I hate road running but I've gotten into trail running..

 

[Talisman]

[quote="pizza
I run. Because nothing is better for losing weight than running. Nothing.[/quote]

Actually, expending more calories than you ingest is better for losing weight than just expending calories.

I will say that running seems tougher on the body than biking, kayaking or rollerblading.

 

[pizza]

Actually, expending more calories than you ingest is better for losing weight than just expending calories.

Ok, nothing helps you expend more calories than you ingest better than running.
According to my heart rate monitor, I go through 700 calories in a 35-minute run..

 

[Sparky]

I have to go with rollerblading here. I mountain bike and kayak, and I can see the benefit that both of these activities would have, however I don’t think anything can match rollerblading for simulating skiing. I have been rollerblading for exercise and ski technique for 8 years now. I get between 900 and a 1000 miles in every year and it has definitely helped with my skiing technique as well as conditioning. I posted this in a similar thread, I think it fits here as well.

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.

 

[snowsprite]

The closest to skiing in terms of fun factor might be horseback riding or riding a rollercoaster. I suppose jumping off tall things w/a parachute would rival the rush, but my husband is reluctant to encourage me to do that lest my insurance coverage become void. :wink:

As far as the exercise factor...I would say biking and hiking long distances does the same for me as skiing. Except when I really think about it I ski about 6 or 7 hours on a normal ski day (minus an hour for lunch). I think I might get kind of bored simply biking or hiking for that long. That's why I hit the gym more in the summertime, to make up for the lost activity on the weekends.

Sprite

 

[dmc]

As far as the exercise factor...I would say biking and hiking long distances does the same for me as skiing.

I think of mountian biking more from a balance standpoint...
When you mountian bike through the woods you need to be proactive and keep your eyes down the trail(just like skiing)
You need to use your balance to stay centered while moving in and out of trees(just like skiing)
You also need to find your line(just like skiing)

 

[eatskisleep]

Downhill Mountain Biking without a doubt. It is awesome. Picking your line while flying thorugh the woods and stuff. Here are some pictures I have from Attitash:

Trail work has been done at Attitash as well as the ladders being rebuilt. SOme pictures of the stuff can be found on the Attitash forum on www.hcor.net. The trails have been cleaned up nicely. Go to Attitash if you like Tight 'n Tech stuff...

 

[skibum1321]

I don't think that any sport comes close to "simulating" skiing. I do however think that mtn biking is one of the best from an all around perspective. I'm talking more about xc mtn biking, rather than downhill, because it not only helps balance but also builds leg muscles and cardiovascular strength on the climbs. It actually takes more balance to go up the hills than down because its alot harder to balance your bike at really slow speeds.

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

I use the "Skiers Edege" but it may get one in shape but it is not the real thing....kind of like kissing your sister...and my sister is ummm hot...ok i admit ed it but she is still my sister.....

 

[ALLSKIING]

I love the skiers edge...

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

I love the skiers edge...

allski, is tht a pix of you
nice unlocked hip.....you race?