sports


conditioning


conditioning SPORTS SERIES


Winter sports holidays are more fun when you’re fit, says Kath Hudson – so help your members ensure they can hack the pace on the piste


HIT THE SLOPES A


nyone who has suffered the agony of being out of condition on the slopes, limping back to the


apartment at the end of the day with muscles screaming, is likely to jump at the opportunity to take part in a ski fit training programme. Getting fit for skiing means less risk of injury, more stamina, fewer aches and pains in the evening and a lot more fun – all of which represents a great opportunity for fitness operators and equipment manufacturers alike.


targeted workouts Suppliers have already recognised this market and there are several pieces of kit now available which are perfect for building ski/snowboard fitness. Based on the same mechanics and


The Concept2 SkiErg was launched in September 2009 to help prepare people for the piste


january 2010 © cybertrek 2010


electronic monitoring systems as the Concept2 indoor rower, the Concept2 SkiErg was launched in September 2009. It helps to build strength and endurance by working the entire body in an effi cient, rhythmic motion, using the poling motion integral to Nordic skiing techniques and generating a range of resistance similar to that found on the snow. Able to build strength in the upper body, core and legs, as


well as delivering a challenging aerobic workout, the SkiErg is therefore ideal for use in ski fi t programmes. Gordon Seaton trains the British


Biathlon Team – a sport combining cross-country skiing and rifl e shooting, and which demands high levels of fi tness and immense upper body strength from its participants. The SkiErg has become a key part of the team’s training regime. “The SkiErg has fi lled a gap and


defi nitely has its own niche. It’s given us a whole spectrum of controllable exercise regimes for double poling,” explains Seaton. “It can cover the whole range of exercise: gentle, a long mid-effort session or short, sharp, hard intervals. It’s very effective in building upper body strength, which is really important for cross-country skiing but also for downhill skiing. And it’s excellent for rehabilitation needs.” Meanwhile, Precor’s Adaptive Motion


Trainer (AMT) provides a full body workout and, as it adapts to the natural movement of the body, can be used to focus on specifi c muscle groups. Deep lunges can be made to tone and build the glutes, with short strides for calves – areas that skiers need to concentrate on. Technogym’s Crossover and Cardio Wave are also great pieces of kit for ski/


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 45


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