7 Moves to Prep for the Ski/Snowboard Season

bright orange coat skier on untouched powder slope

It’s that time of year again. The mountains have received their first few dustings of snow. The thermometers are dropping. The chatter among friends is growing increasingly excited. Ski and snowboard season is just around the corner! 

Now is the time to start putting in some lead work. A pre-season conditioning and training program can maximize the amount of fun you have on the hill this winter. A little planning ahead of time can also help prevent injuries to make sure your season goes as long as the conditions allow.

When thinking about a training program for skiing or snowboarding, strength, power, balance, endurance and cardio are all important. For starters, you’ll want to focus on the muscle groups that are most important to performance: quads, gluts, hamstrings and core. Below is a series of exercises to help get you started along with some progressions for continued challenge. For each of these moves, aim for two to three sets of 10 to 20 repetitions, two to four times per week. You should feel moderate fatigue, and can build up to additional reps, sets and days as you are able to.

If you need a little extra help though, your physical therapist can be a great resource. After performing a comprehensive evaluation, they can help identify the areas that need the most attention and work with you to develop a plan to tackle the slopes this season.

Alternating Lunges

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Progression: Alternating Jumping Lunges

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Bridge with a Squeeze

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Progression: Marching Bridge

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Squat with Resistance Band

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Progression: Jumping Squat

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Plank

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Progression: Mountain Climber

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Side Plank

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Progression: Side Plank Clamshell

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Floor Clock

exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration
exercise demonstration

Burners

Our goal is helping you meet yours.

We look forward to helping you get the most out of your winter sports season. Our therapists are committed to the application of evidence-based treatment techniques to ensure you experience the best in rehabilitation and preventative care and see progress with every visit.

skiing on a sunny day

Blog Posts You May Be Interested In

silhouette of a runner with a pink sky behind
Athletic Performance
Struggling with heel pain during your morning run? Discover causes, treatment tips, and how PT can help you recover and get back on track.
Foot & Ankle, Running
a young baseball athlete mid-pitch during a youth athletics baseball game
Athletic Performance
Learn why experts in pediatric physical therapy, orthopedic rehabilitation, and sports medicine advise against early sports specialization.
injury prevention, Youth Athletics
Runners-Stability-Routine---Prevent-Injury-Improve-Performance
Athletic Performance
Ready to take your marathon training to the next level? Check out our video demonstrations of essential strength-building exercises.
injury prevention, Running, Strength Training

How can we help you today?

Quick Links:

How can we help you today?