Upper Body Strength

Although not as important as lower body strength, upper body strength is still important for skiers. Training your upper body muscles will give you the following benefits:

• Upper body rotational strength for tricks

• Injury reduction from falls by having stronger and more flexible upper limbs

• Strength for tricks such as hand plants

• Muscular balance

• General strength for everyday activities and other sports

The best functional exercises to achieve a stronger upper body involve a combination of pulling and pushing movements. Pulling exercises such as one arm rows will improve back and arm strength. Pushing exercises such as the push-up will help strengthen the shoulders, chest and arms and keep your overall upper body strength balanced.   

Here are some example exercises from our program Total Skiing Fitness - Functional Training for Skiers:

Stability Ball Push-Up

• Perform a push-up with your hands on a stability ball.

• Keep your abdominals braced and torso straight throughout the exercise.

• To make it harder, place your feet on a bench.

One-Arm Row

• Kneel with one knee and one hand on the bench and the other foot on the ground.

• Keeping your back straight and abdominals braced pull the dumbbell to the side of your torso and then slowly lower to full extension.

• You should keep your elbow tucked close to your body throughout the action.

• Do the desired number of repetitions and repeat using your other arm.

To start improving your skiing fitness, download our free functional training program:

Total Skiing Fitness - Functional Training for Skiers

For the complete exercise program designed specifically for skiers, download Total Skiing Fitness - Functional Training for Skiers. 

Total Skiing Fitness - Functional Training for Skiers is your complete guide to functional training for skiers including 12 weeks worth of exercise programs to get you in peak condition to hit the snow this season.

To download Total Skiing Fitness - Functional Training for Skiers, click here.