The day you winterize your boat does not have to be the beginning of the end. For some, sliding across snow can offer the same thrills as skimming across the water.
Similar Techniques
- Waterskiing and down hill snow skiing require similar techniques. And the same similarities hold true between wakeboarding and snowboarding. Both involve weight shifts and lateral movements requiring balance, and substantial pressure on the legs. Lots of water sports pros and recreationalists turn in their slalom skis and wakeboards when the winter chill sets in to hit the ski slopes to stay on top of their game.
Consider the similarities between skiing the slalom course on the slopes and skiing the slalom course on the water. Successful slalom runs require you to face your upper body down the course, both across the center line and around the turns. This means you turn your legs and hips at the waist without turning the upper body.
Similar Equipment
- The similarities between the two sports has become even more evident over recent years with the introduction of hardshell boots or bindings on slalom water skis. Their intention is to prevent ankle injuries and to keep the foot from slipping around in the boot. A hardshell has a benefit of increasing the control of a ski, however, there have been mixed reviews when it comes to hardshells on water skis. Have lessened ankle injures made way to more knee injuries?
Personal Experience
- I personally noticed my abilities on the ski slopes significantly improved following several summers of waterskiing and wakeboarding. Prior to my waterskiing years, down hill snow skiing was not a whole lot of fun. But I was amazed at how much more fun snow skiing had become after a few summers on the water. Everything just came more naturally. The confidence level had definitely risen, along with my balancing, cluing me in that there definitely were similarities between the two sports.
The Mental Game and Muscle Memory
- "Every sport at any level, becomes a sort of mental game. The higher the level the athlete is, the more intense and strenuous the mental aspect becomes. This is very true in the sports of waterskiing and snow skiing. Whether throwing misty 7's off a 30 foot table top or screaming across the wakes at 65-70 mph, the mental blocks and level of commitment are there in both sports," says About.com site visitor and competitor in the INT League, Jason Hutchins.
"Motion. There are some similarities from water to snow and vice versa. The most important to me is rhythm. In both sports rhythm is very important to keep everything flowing and staying clean.
Another element that pops into mind about the two sports is muscle memory. Both water and snow skiing are completed with a series of similar movements," Hutchins adds.
More on Cross Training
- Other similarities you may notice are the strengthening of the legs and lower back. Snow skiing and waterskiing are also similar in that they both involve edge control, which encompasses similar hip movement and compression of the lower body. And most of all, they are both FUN!
Have you decided to take a trip to the mountains for cross training? About.com Ski Trip guide has ski resort links for the United States, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Europe, South America, Japan, and South Africa.
Don't forget to check the snow reports before you go.
Some may argue the two sports are nothing alike, but most will agree that both will probably exercise muscles you didn't even know you had. Time for the hot tub!