Anyone visiting Portillo, Chile in late August might find themselves there at the same time as the Austrians. If this happens, go downstairs to the fitness center and watch how they train. Observe the ski conditioning workouts favored by Hermann Maier and the rest of the Austrian ski team. They make good use of the stability ball.
You can also open any ski-related magazine and find articles about stability ball workouts performed by Bode Miller and other elite athletes. Its unique appeal for skiers is based on its unpredictable nature and ability to enhance dynamic balance.
Just as a perfect turn on the slopes depends on clean technique, the movement path of a stability ball depends on proper alignment and correct form. This is in sharp contrast to traditional weight training machines, whose pulley systems run on a pre-determined track. Even groomed-trail skiing does not guarantee a predictability. Enjoyably unpredictable experiences require dynamic balance.
What to Look for
The words "dynamic balance" are the keywords that should describe any ski fitness video or class. While yoga poses and other types of exercises enhance static balance, skiing involves balance in motion. Stability ball ski workouts emphasize the transitional balance that occurs from one movement to the next. This fluid transition between turns is a distinguishing quality of beautiful skiing.
If you need to purchase a stability ball for your ski fitness workout, keep in mind that they come with sizing charts that are determined by your height.
Although they cost a bit more, the burst-proof balls are more durable. And, while most stability balls come with a small inflation pump, you might want to invest in a bicycle pump. The smaller pumps do work, but they can be time consuming; by the time you finished blowing up the ball, you feel as if you've already had a workout.
Common Pitfalls
A stability ball ski fitness video or class should be taught by a certified fitness professional who is also a skier. The instructor should be able to explain how a specific stability ball exercise relates to a specific skill on the slopes.
The ski conditioning class or video should be progressive. Just as you would not ski a black diamond on your first skiing experience, you should not be advised to perform an advanced ski fitness exercise the first time that you try a stability ball workout. The class or video should also offer modifications for the more challenging ski conditioning exercises. Beware of classes and videos that present dangerous exercise option that have little relation to skiing.
Standing on a stability ball has been known to cause injuries. It is not functional for good skiing. When you're on the slopes, it's the skis that should be moving; not the ground beneath you.
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