Whether you are a snow bunny or a hot dog on the slopes, skiing taxes the body in ways that can leave you mighty sore at the end of a day's run. Just like a football player has to prepare for the football season, skiers have to properly prepare for the ski season. They would be foolhardy to hop off the chair lift and expect their body to respond with ease to the challenges of the hill. Knee strains and tears are especially common because skiing requires pivoting motion that stresses knee ligaments. The best way to protect the knees is to strengthen the muscles and tendons that surround them.
Resistance exercises that isolate the quadriceps and hamstrings are crucial.
Skiing involves the lower legs, too, so you will want to target the calf muscles as well. Equally important are the back and abdominal muscles, since they are working double time to hold your body upright when you ski. You not only want these muscles strong, but flexible, too. Tight muscles are vulnerable to injury and cannot move through their full range of motion. If you start now, you can get into shape for your favorite winter sport.