Fitness for Ski Instructor Training: Session 1

Welcome to the first training session of the summer. The aim of these sessions is to help you prepare physically for your ski instructor training. We gave you Monday off but do not get used to that. This is the first session of a 5-week programme just to build a bit of a base level fitness. We will be posting 4 sessions a week for the next 5 weeks. We will be posting them on the evening before the day we suggest you perform the workout. DO NOT work at a weight that forces you to compromise your form or sacrifice range of motion or tempo.

Fitness for Ski Instructor Training: Session 1

Before we go any further let’s just get some technical jargon out of the way.

Reps

Reps are short for repetitions. Repetitions define the number of times to perform an exercise. For example, you do 12 squats, then stop. The 12 squats you perform are considered 12 repetitions. If you curl the dumbbell 15 times, then you have completed 15 repetitions of biceps curls. We may ask you to do as many reps as you can in a set time or specify the number of reps we want you to perform

Sets

Sets refer to how many times you will repeat that exercise for the set number of repetitions. For example, you do 12 squats and rest. Then you do another 12 squats, rest, and then another 12. You have now completed three sets of 12 reps.

1RM

1RM stands for one Rep Max. This is the maximum amount of weight you can lift for a single repetition in any exercise.

Aim of Session: Lower Body Strength

Warm-Up

5 Minutes of dynamic body weight work with an incorporated active stretch.

If you are after some guidance of what to do have a watch of this video.

Ski Instructor Training – Main Resistance Training

Box Squats

Perform 10 Sets of 2  Reps at 54% of your 1RM. Rest 60 seconds between sets.

A demo video for the Box Squat an exercise in this fitness for ski instructor training blog

 

Try and return from the bottom of the squat to standing as powerfully and fast as possible. If you are unsure of your 1RM but know roughly the max weight you can perform 10/8/7 reps for then use this calculator to get a rough idea of your 1RM.

Single-Leg Glute Bridge

Perform 3 Sets of 8 Reps. Rest 60 seconds between sets.

single-leg-glute-bridge

 

Pistol Squat

Perform 4 Sets of 10 Reps. Rest 60 Seconds between sets.

Please watch the technique video for this VERY closely and select the right variation of pistol squat for your current level of ability.

A video showing how to safely include pistol squats as part of your training regime for ski instructor training

 

Ski Instructor Core Stability

Side Bends – Perform 3 sets of 6 reps. Rest 60 Seconds between sets. See this video for technique

Supermans – Perform 3 sets of 12 reps. Rest 60 Seconds between sets. See this video for technique

Russian Twists – Perform 3 sets of 8 reps. Rest 60 Seconds between sets. See this video for technique

Cool Down

Full body stretch and foam roll.

Is your Fitness ready for ski instructor training with our Level 1 & 2 courses?