Winter Tips

It’s cold, but you have some options. Check out some of the options below to give you that fix, but also to keep you in line to make progress even during your down time.

Cross Training (Specific ideas to make it work!)

There are lots of other sports that can be very beneficial to your waterskiing, but moreover it may be important to participate in sports that work your body in very different ways than waterskiing. For athletes as backyard hobbyists, it is important to have balance in your fitness in order to prevent injury and create a well rounded body. Skiing can cause certain parts of your body to become over-developed and therefore make you more prone to injury. Try some of the followng sports to really have a chance to stay in shape but give your body a little bit of a different workout than your average ski set.

Basketball	Tennis	Racquetball	Hiking	Snowskiing
Running	Biking	Swimming	Climbing	Snowboarding

There are countless others, but these are a few of my favorites. Just take the time to have some fun and do things a little differently.

Hit the Gym (How to make the most of it!)

Once again, it is important to work muscles in ways that they aren’t worked in waterskiing and to work body parts that don’t often get what they need from watersking. For example, we use our backs a lot in slalom skiing, so be sure you work your chest and abs extensively to balance your body out. IT is important to create overall fitness first then start to focus on your waterski muscles as you start nearing the pre season.

One thing that I have found to be very valuable is my trainer. Find one and make sure he or she understands the sport in which you participate. Make them sit down and watch some video of you skiing and show them a video of someone who you would like to ski like…this way, they can help you accomplish your goals.

If you are interested in getting a training program from my trainer, please e-mail me and I will pass your info on to her.

Drills, Drills, Drills (these can be done in a drysuit if necessary)

If it is too cold to drop at the ends, ride some jumpers or do some basic drills on your slalom that won’t beat you up or put you in the “cold drink.” Check out the rhythm drill at www.waterskitrainer.com/news.php to see a light and easy way to keep some of your rhythm in the off-season or maybe even create some that you didn’t know you had. Also, you could try to do some pullout drills working on moving effieciently without ever having to compolete a wake crossing or without truly beating yourself up.

Seek Heat and Instruction (I think I remind you guys of this one every year…partly to help you, but also to shamelessly plug the various options I have available)

So you knew this one was coming…Go find the heat. I have a couple of places I will be coaching over the winter, Ski Paradise in Acapulco, Mexico from December 1st-December 22nd. For info go to www.skiparadise.com. I will also be coaching for the entire month of January in Chile and I am taking students form the states down there as well. Email me for more info. I also have a chance to take a group to Costa Rica to ski with myself and Jim Kilsdonk. No dates are set, but if there is enough interest, I will take a group down to his place. Shoot me an e-mail and let me know if you have interest for sometime at the end of February or first of March. LAstly, there’s Ski Crossover which is only a snow ski trip, but geared for alpine junkies who love the liquid version as well. Checkout www.ski-crossover.com

IF you don’t do one of these trips, please do something…stay in touch with it.

Play the ski videos over and over and over

Whether it’s Momentum, Edged in Water, or West Coast Slalom, keep your eyes on the screen and keep the waterski blood coursing through your veins. Email the shop to order one of these great videos.