Help me to not embarrass myself when I go skiing this winter

[Anonymous]

Going to Austria for work in Dec or Jan, and the people I'll be with are big skiiers so I'm sure we'll go one day. However, I haven't been skiing in several years, and to boot I haven't really been working out much since before my pregnancy (baby is 8 months old, so ~17 months since I was working out consistently). I'm not concerned about not being able to take on the expert runs that my colleagues will be doing (I don't think there would be any expectation on their part that I could keep up with them, since they ski regularly and I do not), but I don't want to embarrass myself with a lack of stamina, etc. So... what should I do in the meantime to get ready? Getting to the gym is near impossible these days (working full-time and have little help from DH or anyone else outside of daycare hours), but if I arrange my time carefully I can probably squeeze in a short run during the day a few days/week, and I can do some exercise at home at night after DC goes to bed. Anyone want to suggest a workout plan for the next 2-3 months so that I can get myself into a little better shape? I'm thinking the bit of running plus some lower body exercises may be the way to go... but I could use some help putting a plan together. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I find that ice skating is a great way to build stamina in some of the muscles I use for skiing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that ice skating is a great way to build stamina in some of the muscles I use for skiing.

That's something I never would have thought of, so thank you! Where do you ice skate? Do you know of a place in Montgomery County? Do ice skating rinks generally have any open skate hours after 8pm? I might be able to swing occasionally if DH is home to watch the baby. How does it work at a skating rink - do you just pay per use (+ skate rental), or do you have to have some kind of membership?

[Anonymous]

Cabin John Ice Rink (near Montgomery Mall) is great.
You pay per session and can rent skates there.
Public skate schedules are on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find that ice skating is a great way to build stamina in some of the muscles I use for skiing.

That's something I never would have thought of, so thank you! Where do you ice skate? Do you know of a place in Montgomery County? Do ice skating rinks generally have any open skate hours after 8pm? I might be able to swing occasionally if DH is home to watch the baby. How does it work at a skating rink - do you just pay per use (+ skate rental), or do you have to have some kind of membership?

You pay per use unless it's something like the ice rink at the Chevy Chase club.

We're in Bethesda, and the closest ice rink to us is Cabin John, but I usually drive to Kettler in Arlington. It's a quick trip and their rental skates are really comfortable. They have evening adults only sessions. Not sure of the exact time since my kid is old enough to skate, so I just take him.

[Anonymous]

+1 on the ice skating.

There is also a rink in Rockville.

Do squats and lunges. Back agains the wall, like you're going to sit in a chair. Hold it for 20 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Lengthen times.

Check out ski forums for mroe advice.

--big skier (and Austrian. )

[Anonymous]

I was also thinking about ice skating, but only if you're already decent at it. I would do a bunch of elliptical at the gym, or if they have one of those ski machines.

[Anonymous]

Watch the knees with the lunges.

Some upper body weight training (light weights) is also a good idea. I find the schlepping around of skis and boots is more exhausting than the actual skiing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much, PPs!! I just looked at the website for the Cabin John rink, and it looks like they have adult or open skate times after 8pm several nights of the week. I totally want to go now!! It really sounds like fun to do something different for a change. Now I just need to get DH home from work early enough to make it possible more than once in a while.

To the Austrian skier - thank you! Squats and lunges were along the lines of what I was thinking, and the wall sits are a very good idea. I will start doing them tonight. Would deadlifts be of any help? I only have hand weights at home, but even unweighted the one-legged deadlifts left me plenty sore the next day when I was doing them in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was also thinking about ice skating, but only if you're already decent at it. I would do a bunch of elliptical at the gym, or if they have one of those ski machines.

I haven't ice skated in years either, so maybe I should check it out once and see if I can manage it ok? The elliptical is sooo miserable to me (I loved the treadmill at the gym for running, but hated getting on the eliptical), but I'm sure you're right that it would help. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watch the knees with the lunges.

Some upper body weight training (light weights) is also a good idea. I find the schlepping around of skis and boots is more exhausting than the actual skiing.

TOTALLY forgot about lugging everything around!! Thank you!! I was very much just thinking about lower body stuff, but will make sure I add in some upper body.

[Anonymous]

Agree with squats and lunges. And add cardio. The best thing about skiing is that, like golf, most people aren't very good! Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Meh. Just hind the sledding slope and go there. If you HAVE to ski then build up the muscles around your knees. Lots of horror stories with skiing and knee injuries.

[Anonymous]

Forget about physical conditioning, what are you planning to wear, both on the slopes and apres ski?

[jsr147]

Edited