Skiing as form of cross-training?

Yes, cross country skiing can be quite helpful.

No for downhill.

I agree that XC skiing is a much better aerobic substitute for running, but it unfortunately lacks the thrill provided by downhill. Also, carving your turns downhill provides very good benefits to your core and hip muscles that neither running nor XC-skiing seem to replicate. If you were carving alot, then that is probably why your hips are sore.

Since I run 5-6 days/week (~30 mpw on average), I don't find very much extra benefit or enjoyment from XC-skiing. So, this time of year I'm typically running 5-6 days/week and skiing downhill 1 or 2 days/week. For me, they are complementary activities.

What you're asking is squatting for 5 hours an acceptable running substitute.

Let me think....

Probably, but then again you're skiing on what those west of the Continental Divide consider a foothill, so maybe not.

dunes runner wrote:

Yes, cross country skiing can be quite helpful.

No for downhill.

I agree- no for downhill skiing but yes for snowboarding. Snowboarding is a power workout for your legs and hips.

downhill is ok wrote:

I agree that XC skiing is a much better aerobic substitute for running

Cross country skiing takes considerable strength per body weight, the more the better.

Soreness does not imply effectiveness. No, downhill skiing is not good cross-training for runners.

Ski bum wrote:

Anyone out there use skiing as a form of cross-training? Or don't the two mix very well?

In HS and college I used running as a form of offseason cross training. If you have to ask whether your downhill qualifies as cross training for your running then it probably doesn’t. Green and blue runs the whole family can enjoy aren’t a workout. It’s freezing your a$$ off on what passes for a mountain in the northeast so you can spend time with your kids.

Exshredder wrote:

Ski bum wrote:

Anyone out there use skiing as a form of cross-training? Or don't the two mix very well?

In HS and college I used running as a form of offseason cross training. If you have to ask whether your downhill qualifies as cross training for your running then it probably doesn’t. Green and blue runs the whole family can enjoy aren’t a workout. It’s freezing your a$$ off on what passes for a mountain in the northeast so you can spend time with your kids.

Your post made me laugh, because it is so true in my case. I live on east coast and will take random weekend trips out to the various Pocono 'hills' or to Greek Peak (near Cortland NY), and sometimes up to Vermont if I've got a 3-day pass. I also got two teenagers, and the only time they seem to note my existence anymore is when we are skiing. Luckily we know how to dress warm and so rarely "freeze our a$$es off."

Anyhow, I've been running and skiing my entire life, and always thought a day of downhill was decent cross-training. Of course you get more benefit out of pushing yourself on black runs, but don't discount the amount of effort it takes to keep picking up your kids on the blue and green hills when they are learning.

The amount of clothing that goes into recreational skiing on the east coast is just plain daunting to me. I don’t have kids but I went on a family ski vacation to VT a few years back. I had skied GS in college in a Rocky Mtn state and was wearing my old wknd gear. Husband and two in-laws were first timers so we hung out on the bunny hill. Sweetjesus I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold in my life. I ended up skating up the hill whenever they took the lift just to regain circulation. They probably thought I was showing off but I didn’t care. I wanted to keep my toes and fingers.

I grew up on the slopes of VT in the winter. When we found ourselves without money, we'd go without lift tickets and run up the mountain with our gear in hand. No better exercise than that, seriously. It was such fun evading the ski patrol. If you can withstand VT's icy/freezing conditions, you can ski anywhere.

malkali wrote:

I grew up on the slopes of VT in the winter. When we found ourselves without money, we'd go without lift tickets and run up the mountain with our gear in hand. No better exercise than that, seriously. It was such fun evading the ski patrol. If you can withstand VT's icy/freezing conditions, you can ski anywhere.

Agreed. Plus the snow is challenging. What you guys ski on most days we call crud back home and like to avoid. But yeah, back when I was young and eager, if you were willing to hike up to it or do the 2-car relay thing, you could ski almost year round.

malkali wrote:

I grew up on the slopes of VT in the winter. When we found ourselves without money, we'd go without lift tickets and run up the mountain with our gear in hand. No better exercise than that, seriously. It was such fun evading the ski patrol. If you can withstand VT's icy/freezing conditions, you can ski anywhere.

We used to go to Mount Snow all the time or Killington in VT after they closed for the season, hike up, and ski moguls. The staff there could care less at the time.

Years ago, I was also on the academy at Mount Snow. One of the workouts we commonly did was running up a slalom course in ski boots with one ski and skiing down through the course on one leg. Run up again and switch off to the other foot. That workout was as hard as any workout I ever did as a runner!

Otherwise, downhill skiing didn't really benefit my running much other than helping strengthen my hips.

Just don't fall while downhill skiing, a torn ACL will really make you spend time cross-training!

Honestly, I am sure it probably happens but I can't remember many ACL injuries like you see in sports like soccer. There were quite a few broken bones out there. We were always pushing ourselves to the extremes.

I had broken ribs, cracked my head open, and other gruesome injuries when I used to race and free ski. It's why I never introduced my kids to the sport!

otter wrote:

Honestly, I am sure it probably happens but I can't remember many ACL injuries like you see in sports like soccer. There were quite a few broken bones out there. We were always pushing ourselves to the extremes.

I had broken ribs, cracked my head open, and other gruesome injuries when I used to race and free ski. It's why I never introduced my kids to the sport!

My dad tore both ACL’s one year apart, but my parents had me grow up skiing anyway. Other than some torn muscles, I came out unscathed. Looking back at the stuff we did, I think it was dumb luck. I’ve gotten hurt running more than I ever had racing. Could be the extra 2 decades under my belt...

It's interesting that I get plenty of unsolicited and unqualified advise concerning running and my knees. But no one mentions my skiing which has claimed both ACLs and a terrible meniscal injury.

Anyway, I am slowly recovering from a hamstring/glute issue following downhill in November. No specific injury during but it flared up shortly after.

I've never considered downhill a cross training exercise for any sport. With the exception of acres ski and the beer mile

Wow - just checking back since the original post and surprised to find the number of responses. Thank you all for the comments. At best, it sounds rare for a runner to use downhill as a source of regular cross-training. My legs feel back to normal now after skiing on Friday. Given my kids' growing interest in skiing, I'll be back on the slopes again soon.

Cross - yes. Downhill - no. Learn to skate ski. It is a great workout and great fun. Put your kids on the slopes while you hit the Nordic trails.

You ran up a mountain in ski boots? You basically created the 4% shoe!