The Ski PT's Pre-Season Workout
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You’re an Adult Living a Busy Life. Skiing Is Part of Your Identity. Here’s the Pre-Season Routine I’d Do If I Were You.
Greg Louie, The Ski PT holding Atlas 80 skis.
Ski season is almost here. With work, family, life, you’re busy. But skiing isn’t just another activity. It’s part of your identity.
Last year, I broke down the concepts behind preseason training: strength, power, agility, and endurance. This year, I’m giving you a practical routine for home (or in the gym) to get your body ski-ready by day one!
These workouts aren’t easy, but they are time efficient and you’ll see significant improvements in your skiing compared to if you did your usual “ski yourself into shape” strategy.
Workout 1 – Strength & Power
This Strength & Power workout builds the foundation to stay stable on uneven terrain and the explosiveness to react quickly when conditions change.
Do this for 5 rounds (approx. 15–20 min):
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Sissy Squats – 10 reps
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Reverse Nordic Eccentrics – 10 reps
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Forward Lunges – 10 each leg
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Single-Leg Sit-to-Stand (from a chair) – 8 each leg (alternate R and L)
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Rest – 1 min
The Ski PT
Workout 2 – Agility
Sharpens your balance and coordination so you can move with control through bumps, trees, and tight turns.
Do this for 5 rounds (approx. 15–20 min):
Squats with Unweighting at the Top or Jump Squats – 10 reps
Rest – 10 sec
Double Lateral Hops (over a line) – 15 sec
Rest – 10 sec
Skater Jumps – 10 each side
Rest – 10 sec
Mountain Climbers – 10 each side
Rest – 1 min
The Ski PT
Workout 3 – Endurance
Keeps your legs from quitting, letting you ski from first chair to last.
Do this for 5 rounds (approx. 15–20 min):
Bodyweight Squats – 15 reps (start and end in a squat hold, 2-sec pause at the bottom)
Wall Sit – 30–60 sec
Side Plank – 20 sec each side
- Copenhagen Plank – 20 sec each side
The Ski PT
Final Note
It’s important not to skip any of these workouts because each one builds a different piece of ski performance. If your schedule is packed, don’t stress. You can stack them on back-to-back days and still get the benefits.
For more tips from me, read The Ski PT's Training Tips Start Your Season Strong
Want More?
Legaski Club
This 3-part routine is just the start. If you want more preseason and in-season resources designed specifically for skiers (including pre-season checklist, my top 10 in-season drills, and injury-prevention strategies) — join the Legaski Club Free.
You’ll get access to my full library of training resources to help you ski stronger, stay confident, and reduce your risk of injury.
Join the Legaski Club Free Today →
Me with my Atlas 80s!
What The Ski PT Skis:
Credit - Greg Louie
The Author: Greg Louie @the_ski_pt
Greg Louie, aka "The Ski PT," is a Seattle-based physical therapist with a niche for helping skiers stay strong, recover smart, and shred with confidence. He also volunteers as a PT for the U.S. Ski Team, lending his skills to keep the pros ready for action. He regularly posts tips and tricks to his Instagram where you can find advice to manage injuries and perform better. Thanks to the wonders of online tech, Greg sees clients from all over, making it easy to work with him no matter where you are. If you need help with anything, start by scheduling a call with him.
Off the slopes, you'll find him cheering on the Washington Husky football team, serving at church, and pretty much anything that involves the outdoors and sun!
Why Trust the Renoun Reviews Team?
Renoun Skis Reviews team has over a decade of ski design and manufacturing experience, and decades of combined ski-industry experience ranging from certified PSIA ski instructors to shop technicians, racers, and coaches. We also have a deep passion for and love of all things skiing. The team utilizes this experience to provide unparalleled reviews that dive deep to help guide your purchase for just about any ski-related item and help inform you of any ski-focused tips and tricks about maintenance, on-hill performance, and even the best places to enjoy your Après-Ski. Through written and video content, the Renoun Skis Reviews team is here to help inform you on all things ski-related.
Our team curates recommendations based on an intensive research and review process and leverages our unique expertise in the industry. A product must be exceptional in quality and have unique features to qualify for consideration in our review process. For all tips and tricks, all advice is based on on-hill and ski manufacturing knowledge, as well as intensive research to ensure accuracy and help skiers like you stay informed.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at info@renoun.com.
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