Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site vax1.fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!hplabs!tektronix!uw-beaver!fluke!lowell From: lowell@fluke.UUCP (Lowell Skoog) Newsgroups: net.rec.ski Subject: Re: Exercises? Message-ID: <1124@vax1.fluke.UUCP> Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 19:47:19 EDT Article-I.D.: vax1.1124 Posted: Mon Aug 19 19:47:19 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 23-Aug-85 08:12:31 EDT References: <1080@homxa.UUCP> Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 26 As several people have mentioned, a classic skier's exercise is to sit against the wall with the legs bent ninety degrees. This stengthens the thighs, and I think it also strengthens the knees, lessening the chance of injuries. The thing that bothers me about this exercise is that there are some variables, particularly the friction at the wall and floor surfaces, that greatly affect the difficulty of the exercise. Unless you always do the exercise under the same conditions, it is hard to tell if you're making any progress. As an alternative, I have tried crouching in a downhill racer's stance, away from the wall, and holding that position for a few minutes. About the only variable here is how much you bend your knees. I am not a physical trainer, so I don't know if this exercise is as valuable as the other one. It seems to work the seat and back muscles more, however. Another exercise that I hate (but do) are back arches. You need a bench or something similar that you can lay down on and hook your heels. Lay stomach down with your upper body hanging over the end of the bench. Put your hands behind your head. Bend at your waist, lowering your head and shoulders, then lift back up, arching your back. Start out very easy or you could get real sore. This exercise is miserable, but it keeps my lower back from getting hurt during early season mogul skiing. Lowell Skoog Seattle, Washington !fluke!lowell