How to Practice Skiing Off the Water

Avid water skiers know that you can't train on the water during the coldest months of the year. Instead of getting lax during the off-season, you can perform off of the water exercises and workouts to stay in condition.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Join a gym. The first step in training off of the water is to improve your overall physical fitness. Mix up your gym routine with both aerobics and weight training. Utilize machines that simulate skiing, like the crosstrainer.
2. Improve your balance. Good water skiers know how to balance themselves well. Use a stability ball during floor exercises to work on enhancing your balance.
3. Use Pilates to become more flexible. Flexibility is another key aspect of a successful water-skier. Since Pilates focuses on increasing flexibility, it's a good way to train off of the water.
4. Take up traditional skiing during the winter months. Hitting the slopes during the off season is going to continuously work the muscles that are used during waterskiing.
5. Build up your stamina. Waterskiing is definitely a sport that is meant for the physically fit. Running and sprinting are good stamina building exercises.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to return to a less high intensity workout routine when you are training regularly on the water. You don't want to overwork your muscles while in season.
• Don't work on getting bulky during the off season. You can't navigate the waters easily with a big increase in muscle mass.