What is a good pre-season downhill skiing workout?

Question

I love to go carving down the local hills and Lutsen Mountain in northern Minnesota, but every time I go out, I get sore. This winter, I am going to be going out west to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and I don't want to have to stop every ten turns to rest. Mainly I feel it right above my knees. What is an entertaining and inexpensive way to get in-shape?

Answer 1

Running if you are still able, like Willie, my knees won't let me run.  Biking and hiling are good exercises, but you wanted some fun also. Get a partner that you enjoy holding in your arms and go dancing every night. 3-4 hours of dancing will force you to be on your feet and in balance the whole time. It gets your body moving and flowing with the music. Skiing is a dance with gravity and snow.  Since you were trying to build endurance, it is important that the exercise be a continual one, it need not be strenuous, but you must be able to last for several hours.  10 runs is a decent workout on a big mountain.  That might be a days skiing at some areas.

Answer 2

run, stupid

Answer 3

Biking will help. I mountain bike at least 5 miles, twice a week. It's less impact on the knees than running, and if you throw in some hills or even flat trail or grassy terrain you will get some aerobic exercise in too.

Hiking will help too, but you need to throw some weight in the backpack.

If you have in-line skates, that will help too. It works different muscles than hiking and biking, plus it is more of a toning exercise. Biking and hiking will add bulk to your quads, skating usually doesn't unless you add some weight training to your routine.

I don't think running is bad, but it's no fun for me. I haven't ran any distance of signifigance since 1992.