🚀 go-pugleaf

[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