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Message from the Director
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Last quarter I mentioned how excited I was starting my long voyage learning tennis. In April, I attempted another sport I had never experienced– Snow Skiing. Although I have actually trained a number of people to prepare for ski season, I had only seen snow twice in my life. A cousin of mine who lives in Colorado insisted on giving me some instruction. Walking in the boots and carrying your gear to the lift was a workout in itself. The view and feel of the snow against my
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face as we were transported to the top of the mountain were both refreshing and relaxing. It was breathtaking to see the sun peering through the mountains as it was snowing. My tranquil experience came to an abrupt halt as we hopped off the lift. On the mountain, I was frequently cued to keep my skis turned in and “to climb up the mountain” as I actually descended it.
I did not expect it to be as physically challenging as it was. In order to prevent injury, a skier must be in good cardiovascular condition and have good muscle balance (e.g. quadriceps as strong as hamstrings.) Those who have had previous leg injuries, especially knee, should focus on a specialized strengthening program several months before they ski. I find the elliptical machine and slide board excellent cross training tools for skiing. My final thought is that skiing is quite possibly one of the most invigorating sports around (always keeping in mind that this comes from a Florida native who is still very much a skiing novice).
Dyan Quesada MPT,ATC
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