Sometimes the difference between victory and defeat is fractions of seconds. For the average recreational runner or skier, however, daily massage might be considered excessive. But it does feel good. Little evidence exists to prove that massage can make you a better skier, or runner or tennis player. I attend the American College of Sports Medicine's meeting every spring, and I can only recall a few studies attempting to link massage with performance.
Results seem mixed.
I have had both good and bad massages. One therapist at a cross-country ski resort in northern Minnesota once beat upon my body as though he were cracking walnuts with a hammer. You're more likely to avoid such problems if you do get an AMTA certified massage therapist. You'll get a better massage if you can direct the therapist's attention to any problem areas. As a runner, I usually instruct my therapist to concentrate more on the legs.