And John Atkins
Staying loose is as important as staying strong. Stretching develops flexibility, alleviates muscle soreness and helps with the prevention of injury. To reap the benefits of stretching, you need to stretch year-round, not just during ski season. As a bonus, you'll also build skiing power.
How To Do It Using a wide stance, bend on your left leg and extend your right leg, allowing your right heel to lift off the ground. Keeping your hands up and back straight, feel the stretch on your inner right thigh. Hold for 10 seconds. Do three repetitions on each side.
What It Does The Karate Lunge stretches the inner thighs and provides a strengthening stretch of the quadriceps.
Topper Hagerman and John Atkins, sports medicine consultants and former U.S. Ski Team trainers, run Topper Sportsmedicine in Vail, Colo. Have a fitness question? E-mail Topper and John at thagerman@skinet.com.
