Are you planning to ski this winter? Do you want to have a blast in the powder snow in our mountains?
No problem, but are you physically ready? Indeed, skiing, especially in powder and off-piste, is a sport that is quite demanding both cardiovascularly and muscularly. Don’t think you can arrive on our slopes without at least a minimum level of physical fitness, you wouldn’t enjoy it, and worse, you would take unnecessary risks. It is very common to see vacationers having an accident on the third day of their holiday. Why do you think that is?
Quite simply an accumulation of fatigue and a relaxation of vigilance (mental and muscular). On the first day of skiing, you’ve just arrived, you want to make the most of it. On the second day, you haven’t explored the entire ski area yet, so still going all out. And on the third, you are exhausted, but you love skiing so you go back out, and snap, the silly accident! We even advise less sporty people to take a half day of rest on the third day.
To avoid all these inconveniences (and at least some soreness), a good physical preparation for skiers is necessary. It should preferably be done at least 1 to 2 months before your stay, or even much earlier for people with poor fitness. It simply consists of some muscle strengthening exercises that will primarily target the lower muscles (thighs, calves), the back, and the abdominals. But also improving breathing through regular practice of an endurance activity: jogging, long walks, cycling…
You can find several articles dealing with ski preparation and equipment on the Haute Savoie tourism site: skier preparation
