Do you think of starting a marathon without having done some warming-up exercises? It is the same for skiing! Going into the cold when you’re cold is dangerous for your body and you risk spoiling the rest of your stay. Start your day by warming up your thigh muscles and calves, very much used in your descents. Warm up your back and neck. Once you’re warmed up you can welcome the slopes!
Your muscles have suffered during the whole day. To avoid muscle pain the next day and a difficult night think of stretching after taking off your skis. The après ski can wait some more minutes for you.
In the evening, before dinner, do some muscular exercises. Your abdominal ceinture is very important to avoid serious falls.
Sleep is the key to recovery. Even if you party until the early morning, if you want to ski without accidents the next day, plan a 7-hour sleep to repair your muscles and nervous system. Fatigue on the slopes is dangerous for you as well as for other skiers.
Don’t forget to drink enough. When you’re cold and you’re having fun you can forget to drink. Plan some sips on each lift ride.
You are responsible for the skier beneath you. It is up to you to leave a secure distance and overtake by leaving enough space.
You have the right to go fast but you can only do this if you know how to stop quickly and if you are capable to adapt your route in a fraction of a second.
When we ski once a year we sometimes have the tendency to let the skis out of control from time to time. Attention: you must remain in control of your direction for every second because an accident happens fast.
Don’t go down a red or black slope if you are a beginner. You risk having a serious accident or cause injury to skiers other than you.
On a cableway, always lower the protection bar and secure yourself to not get off until the panels indicate you. Warn a service agent if you have difficulties descending or if you accompany a child.
This is an important protection. By protecting your head, you assure to not sustain a serious shock to the head, same with a significant fall.
Skiing with thick gloves let you maintain your body temperature but mostly to protect your fingers. If you come to fall and a skier could not avoid you completely, if you are not wearing gloves, his skis could cut your fingers.
When you go skiing with the family make sure there is always an adult below and up. Let your kid wear colorful clothes so you can see them from afar.
The off-piste slopes are ungroomed and unmarked slopes. The ski insurances don’t cover off-piste accidents. You put yourself in danger by exposing yourself to an uncontrolled landscape without being under the supervision of the responsible of the ski domain.
Don’t put others in danger by getting your senses limited. That would be very irresponsible.
It’s the most important meal of the day. Don’t do a winter mountain activity without having eaten well.
This is your break during the day. Profit by eating well, not too much and to rest well.
This will help you to recover during the night and bring you strength for the next day. Don’t skip it and don’t eat lightly. Vegetable soup is not enough for winter sports!
Think of taking granola bars or cookies with you to consume when feeling tired during the day.
The most important is to don’t eat too much and to not eat poorly. Eat enough sugar. Crozets and raclette have the necessary sugars to make your body function well. Eat fibers, proteins and vitamins to stay in shape.
To be sure not to be too warm or too cold, wear 4 items: under sweater, sweater, jacket, and waterproof parka. You can take off layers according to your body temperature.
It protects your ears from the icy wind on the slopes. Get a polartec one and be sure that it covers your ears.
Go for a woolen scarf for cold days or synthetic one for mild days. Ski with your neck exposed and you catch a cold for sure.
They protect you from the cold, humidity, falls and skis of other skiers. Choose one from Gore-Tex.
Forget cotton, it doesn’t breathe and doesn’t dry. Think of synthetic fabrics or natural wool. The point is to keep your body dry.
