If you want to enjoy your best ever ski season and get the most out of it, then you should work on getting your body in shape before you even strap on your ski boots and pat on your giro ski helmet. A fitter body will help your endurance on the slopes and minimize the chance of injury and accident.

Skiing is a particularly demanding sport and you need a combination of aerobic fitness and muscle control to do it well. If you go skiing without working on your body beforehand, you might be more likely to get sore muscles and be in pain or even experience injury.

The most difficult part of preconditioning your body for an excellent ski trip or season is getting started. You may have to be strict on yourself at first, but if you get into a routine with the exercise it will soon become a habit and you will easily stay on track.

To get in top shape for skiing you need to work on both your cardio fitness and your muscle strength. A balanced program will combine aerobic fitness and a muscle workout routine in the weekly schedule. Cardio activities that will boost your fitness and endurance include cycling, swimming, jogging, roller blading and jump rope. You can also use some of the machines such as the cross-trainer and ski machine if you are a member of the gym.

You should do cardio around three times a week. If you have not been doing much exercise prior to starting, you should take it easy and gradually build up your endurance. Do not go too crazy at first or you will end up with sore or torn muscles and put yourself off the whole experience. Set yourself goals and gradually increase the goal posts. You can strap on your black sport watch and use it to measure your time or your distance.

As well as getting aerobically fitter, you should also incorporate muscle training into your exercise program. When you have stronger muscles you will have more control and balance on the ski fields and be less likely to injure yourself. Muscle areas to target include calves, hamstrings, shoulders and back.

If you plan your ski preconditioning and get into a routine with it, then you will be guaranteed a fantastic winter season free of sore, tight muscles and injury.