Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles; site hpfcms.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!qantel!hplabs!hpfcdc!hpfcla!bill From: bill@hpfcla.UUCP Newsgroups: net.rec.ski Subject: Re: Orphaned Response Message-ID: <23600004@hpfcms.UUCP> Date: Tue, 10-Sep-85 17:35:00 EDT Article-I.D.: hpfcms.23600004 Posted: Tue Sep 10 17:35:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 15-Sep-85 11:37:45 EDT References: <1080@homxa.UUCP> Organization: 10 Sep 85 15:35:00 MDT Lines: 66 [edible line] Here's a few that I gleaned from "Skiing" magazine, and from a health magazine my wife brought home from the office where she works: * the "back-against-the-wall" exercise mentioned several times already. Once you have mastered (i.e. feel reasonably comfortable doing) 3 reps of 1.5 - 2.0 minutes against the wall, then cross one leg over the other, and reduce the time back to one minute for concentrated work on each leg. (Assuming 20 seconds rest between each rep). * the "jump-over-the-cinder-block" exercise - also previously mentioned. 2 minutes of hopping (high and fast) is the goal for each rep you do. * along the same lines as the second one above, use some kind of tape to form a hexagon with a 36-inch diameter (use a circle with a 36-inch diameter as a guide, then tape a hexagon over it). Stand in the middle of the hexagon, and quickly hop from the center over one side of the hexagon and back to the center again. Continue around the hexagon, hopping over each side and back to the middle before continuing to the next side. Again, hop high and fast. The goal is two minutes per rep, but also CONTROL and ACCURACY. This develops your ability to turn/maneuver in non-standard angles. * stand at one end of a fairly long room; face the wall. Get down into the "pike" position (squat down until your thighs are parallel with the ground; lean out over your legs until your chest touchs the tops of your legs; stretch your arms out in front of you - good luck!!). Now walk backwards (duck-walk style) the length of the room, taking care to remain in the pike position. When you reach the other end of the room, duck-walk forwards back to your starting point. One rep. For additional balance work, stretch your arms straight out from your sides, and then straight out behind you, as you repeat the exercise. * lunges - stand with feet together and hands on hips. Pick a leg - any leg. In a slow, smooth, continuous motion, step forward with the chosen leg (a long step - about 2.5 - 3 feet), bend both legs until the thigh of the front leg is parallel to the floor, and the knee of the rear leg is touching the floor, and return to your initial, feet-together stance. Keep hands on hips throughout. O O O | | | | --> | --> |__ --> back to position 1 | / \ | | | / \ __| | 1 2 3 Be sure the motion is smooth and controlled, using only your legs to lower and raise yourself. I get started on these at least 3 months before I anticipate skiing. The beauty of these exercises is that they can be done at home with little equipment. I also have a program of weight-lifting, aerobics, and conditioning classes that I maintain throughout the year, but these require a spa membership (or a LOT of money for equipment!). Paul Beiser (an earlier responder) is correct: it's MUCH better to suffer in groups!! Bill Gates Hewlett-Packard Corporation Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com