Downhill Skiing

To properly address skiing as a fitness activity, we need to speak separately about standard downhill skiing and cross-country skiing, which are vastly different activities. Today we'll focus on downhill skiing -- the kind that involves mountain lodges, hot toddies and ski lifts. We'll save cross-country skiing (and the great overall workout it provides) for another time.

One of the two most important things for any skier to do is stretch properly. As I've said before, stretching is always best done when the muscles are warm, so don't just go out into the freezing cold and start grabbing for your toes.

Stretch before you hit the mountain, while you're warm, and definitely do a lot of it after your runs. Remember, warm muscles are pliable and less likely to be strained. Cold muscles are brittle and are more easily injured.

The other most important thing is to remember the following: Quit before you're tired. Almost 90 percent of all accidents happen on the last run of the day. The end of the day also means the worst lighting (harder to see the bumps and icy patches) and the bumpiest snow.

Couple this with tired muscles, overworked brains and low energy, and you're asking for trouble. So take a tip from stand-up comics and "leave them wanting more." There's always tomorrow.

You have the option of buying or renting equipment. It's a no-brainer: rent. If you're a beginner, you'll discover what works and doesn't, what you like and don't like, and you won't be stuck with an expensive purchase that you'll outgrow once your skills improve.

And don't be fooled by some super salesperson telling you that you'll never get anywhere without the best equipment. Tiger Woods can beat anyone using a baseball bat for a club, and great skiers can do black-diamond runs with two barn doors tied to their feet. Equipment is never a substitute for skill and experience. As a renter you have two choices: renting in town and taking the equipment to the mountain, or renting at the mountain site. If you're a real beginner, I recommend the latter. If you encounter any problems with your equipment you can just take it to the pro shop and have it fixed or replaced. Since you'll want to focus on things other than faulty equipment (like skiing down the mountain!), this is the better option for now.

I'll be back next week with more on skiing. See you then!

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