The best exercise to prepare for ski season - BOSU Skiers!

Well, I don’t know if it’s the “best,” but it is phenomenal for developing better balance, greater lower-body and core strength, and solid knee and ankle stability. 

We call these BOSU Skiers. 

Equipment needed: a BOSU ball.

Coaching points: 

  • To get on the BOSU, press one side down with your foot, then step onto the other side and balance yourself. 

  • It helps if you can put a hand on a wall or hold onto something sturdy to get onto the BOSU safely. 

  • Crouch into a skier's tuck - knees bent, sitting back, chest and head out over your feet. 

  • Press one side of the ball down slowly, keeping your chest up, shoulders, and hips pointing “downhill. 

  • Then press the opposite side down, allowing the other side to rise, while keeping your tuck position.

  • Everything above your hips stays immobile, and you do all the work from the hips down.

  • Add some challenge by shifting your weight slightly forward onto your toes and pressing the toes down into ankle flexion. 

  • Then do the opposite, all while keeping your upper body in the same position and staying balanced on the ball. 

I do these as an accessory exercise with my lower-body strength sessions. I typically do sets of 15 on each side. Oooh, the burn! 

Hope these help get you ready for some downhill, and, if you’re not a skier, help with your balance and lower-body strength. 

What’s your favorite exercise to get ready for ski season? 


Paul Reilly