Press Room

AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE SUGGESTS SPORTS-SPECIFIC TRAINING BEFORE HITTING THE SLOPES

Posted: Nov 20, 2002 in

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Nov. 20, 2002 – As the winter season draws near, many will stay active, healthy and busy by engaging in winter sports. Skiing is a favorite pastime of many, but can be physically challenging. The sport requires such skills as strength, endurance, balance and coordination. To keep Americans safe this holiday season, ACE suggests beginning a sports-specific training program.

“One of the problems with most winter sports activities is their seasonal nature. It’s not uncommon for people to go five or six months with very little physical activity, then jump back onto the slopes as though they are still in ‘skiing shape’,” said Dr. Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. “No matter what your sport or activity, you’ll enjoy it more and be less likely to get injured if you spend some time getting in shape for that specific activity.”

A sports-specific training program involves focusing on the various skills associated with a particular activity. It improves and increases cardio-respiratory endurance, muscle strength and flexibility. Depending on the sport, a specific program may maximize: agility, balance, coordination, power, speed and reaction time. Most sports require a mixture of these components, including skiing.

How to Start a Skiing Training Program

1. Perform wall sits to help build up the isometric strength needed for the tucked position in skiing.
2. Perform squats and lunges to help build lower body strength for skiing tough terrain like moguls.
3. Do crunches to work abdominals. It is essential in creating a solid “core” for balance and agility.
4. Use the slide for lateral training.
5. Perform one-legged squats to develop balance and strength.
6. Use a step-bench platform to improve power.
7. Try catching a bean bag as it drops off your forearm to improve reaction time.
8. Bounce a tennis ball with each hand simultaneously to improve coordination.
9. Create your own slalom and run between to improve agility.

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s Authority on Fitness, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation’s “workout watchdog,” ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world’s largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.org.