Stretching

buttrapinpirate

buttrapinpirate

Member
So I've heard all kinds of conflicting information as to what to do in order to properly prepare for skiing/any physical activity. I was wondering in part because I just might win most inflexible contest of the year, I mean my hands don't get within a foot of the ground when I stretch (yes, I measured) so it would be beneficial for me to learn how to stretch to not only gain flexibility, but to prevent injury on the mountain.

Spark Notes: What do you guys do to stretch that works for you that gains flexibility and possibly injury?
 
Thanks, but I was more wondering what you did to stretch, not just stretch. Also I suppose some added frustration is that I stretch a LOT (30 mins a day) and I don't gain flexibility, so whatever I'm doing isn't working. Any techniques?
 
haha... yoga is for the boys who need to get really flexible (Homos) Go into martial arts they stretch the shit out of you and you actually learn something.
 
Yoga

Normal stretches:

Sit on the ground, put your feet together and make a diamond, push your knees to the ground with your elbows

Put your feet straight out in front of you, bend as much as you can at the hips, reach for your toes. It'll hurt if you aren't flexible. Keep going even if it hurts

Super models

Lots of quad stretches

Deep lunges(Imagine you are sitting in a chair with one foot over a knee. Move the leg thats touching the ground all the way back, and move the bent one forward, but do it on the ground. Keep your back toes on the ground, pushing them down)

Do these daily. Should help a bit.
 
Thanks. I will have to try more dynamic stretching I think to improve flexibility. Has that worked for anyone? Also does anyone think stretching right before skiing makes them more injury prone? I'm leaning towards that because my knees feel sloppy when I do
 
this. I had the same "problem" as you. I did this for a solid month and a half and then I could reach the ground with my palms, with stretched knees.

Just do it everyday and hold it for atleast 40 seconds on each leg. When you get to the point where you can actually reach your foot with your hand, try and reach with the other hand too, and keep your knees flat on the floor.

Another good one is: Sit on your butt, legs straight infront of you, hands on the side next to your legs and then try to put your head on your knees, with straight legs and knees flat on the ground.
 
definitely makes you much less injury prone. the looser your muscles are the less likely they are to get pulled, and the less likely you muscles are to pull the less likely your joints/ligaments are to tear or whatever else joints and ligaments do. if you are stretching your knee ligaments when you stretch, you're doing something wrong...
 
Yeah just make sure you warm up before stretching do some jumping jacks leg swings whatever. You may look funny but you'll stay healthy
 
What get you really lose is if you go for a nice run or bike just do some leg cardio, then just run through a set of stretches, touch you toes (just reach down) then cross each leg over and stretch down, legs apart stretch to each side then down the middle, grab your right foot with your left hand and stretch backwards (other side too) then get on the ground and stretch your hips and thighs. On hill i just sit down and touch my toes legs apart each side just some basic quad, calf, and hip stuff to stretch out. Defiantly good to stretch before you go on hill especially on a cold day.
 
I watched Eric Pollard get off the lift last fall, and go straight in to the old stretching with ski's on routine that you would probably make fun of your parents for doing. I would say that's quite telling.
 
Yoga is good. Fuck the haters. Also consider taking a tumbling class (gymnastics). They get you stretching and strengthening everything and you learn fun stuff that also helps with skiing.
 
tumbling classes are the best thing you can do for your actual air awareness especially if you have access to tramps too

dynamic stretching before skiing and tumbling, static afterwards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top