Skiing is fast growing as the most popular family sport. While relatively safe, injuries do occur.

If you are a beginner, it is three to five times more likely that you will be injured on the slope than competent skiers. Women and children may be at slightly higher risk to overall injury than men. However because of the high speeds at which most men ski, men are more likely to suffer from sever knee sprain and muscle fatigue.

Also men, particularly in the 20 to 30 age groups, sustain more serious head and neck injuries than women.

“I’m fifty years ahead of my time,” Joe claimed – and he was right. Sixty years ago Joseph Pilates was using the mind body elements of his method to enhance his skiing performance.”

Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.

Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.

This picture of Joseph Pilates with his skies on says it all. Notice the basket of the right sky pole and how it is strategically placed on the shadow of Joe’s head. A little subliminal message from Joe about the mind body connection Pilates has truly returned to life and entered the mainstream of Skiing fitness.

2010 Olympic Gold medalist Hannah Kearney of the U.S. Ski Team and 2010 and Canada’s 2010 silver Olympic medalist Jennifer Heil uses Pilates Core exercises to train to be the best in the world.

24 year old Jennifer Heil of Canada talks about how she trained to win her 2006 Gold and 2010 Silver Olympic medals – ” I do a lot of Pilates. I love it”.

Core strength is the No. 1 most important thing. Because that’s where the control comes from as you ski the moguls. You have to be able to react really quickly to get back on track.

Skiing Exercise – Everything I do in terms of my strength – even my leg strength – is core-oriented.

“Whenever I do squats, it’s on a balance board. If I’m doing lunges, it’s on unstable ground. So that always brings in the component of having to use my core for control. Of course we do old-fashioned abs work too. But in general, it’s more functional training.”

”I used to avoid the gym like the plague because I was intimidated. The River Valley Club that sports a complete Pilates Studio and 15+ Pilates classes a week has played an important role in Kearney physical Skiing fitness.”

“The River Valley Club has provided me with all the tools I need to rehab my injuries successfully and complete structured workouts from my strength coach.”
“A special thank you to the River Valley Club for helping me get the most out of my training/Skiing Excercise.”
Hannah Kearney