Skiing benefits?

[montage]

I know tyler hamilton started cycling to help his skiing - but does skiing benefit cycling? Common sense says yes it does as it is the same muscles. Anybody wish to shed more light?

 

[BigonaBianchi]

....definatly an option up here today

 

[montage]

Not a sniff of snow down here on the south coast!
Infact - going out right now!

 

[ianrauk]

Skiing is rubbish

 

[twowheelsgood]

Depends on the type of cycling. I would say for general cycling, skiing would tend to concentrate too much on strength rather than endurance.

Skiing is fab. Only people who are too crap to do it would say it's rubbish.

 

[montage]

You can't be too crap to hate skiing though - even first timers enjoy it (99%)
Though chair lifts at -12 degrees C is a tad unenjoyable.

I need some strength training anyhow, got the endurance just not the strength on the hills

 

[User482]

I find that falling off my skis hurts a lot less than falling off my bike...

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Are we talking downhill or cross country skiing?

Generally, it's cross country skiing that is considered to be one of the best 'cross training' activities for all sorts of sports. It combines fantastic aerobic demands (often at altitude) with the use of the legs, arms and core muscles, together with a low impact.

There is a big cross over from cross country racers in the winter to mtb racers in the summer in the Nordic, Finnish and alpine countries.

 

[montage]

Well this will be downhill skiing.
Im no serious skiier, this will be my 5th week. Luckily I shall be using it as a rest week after thrashing out the phys this week, but just keen to know if the use of the muscles in downhill skiing contemplates those used while cycling.

 

[Cathryn]

Skiing in all kinds is a fantastic fitness builder. Speaking personally, it kills your thighs, so I would imagine it builds them up during the week which could help your cycling. It def helps cardio vascular fitness, unless you indulge in fondu, wine and endless lard...which I also do.

Skiing does tend to dent your cycling training if you break you leg, so be wary!

 

[ChrisKH]

Depends on the type of cycling. I would say for general cycling, skiing would tend to concentrate too much on strength rather than endurance.

Skiing is fab. Only people who are too crap to do it would say it's rubbish.

Skiing is rubbish.

Never been, but after three knee surgeries, I don't think it would be a good idea. Always fancied snowboarding though, being an ex-skateboarder.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Cross country skiing would be good for cycling, and cycling is good for down hill skiing. However, the skiing leg action (similar to skating at lower skiing levels) does not directly translate to cycling.

 

[jay clock]

even when i did less cycling I still never had problems with leg muscles skiing (compared with non cyclists).

Now i do lots of cycling (and swimming and running) I found I am supremely fit for skiing and had energy to spare, plus no pain of any type.

 

[Globalti]

In ski touring long sustained climbs on skins at altitude are good for cycling muscles, endurance and cardio-vascular fitness. Langlauf is excellent for all muscles and especially cardio. Downhill skiing builds strength in the legs but I have found my legs are stronger for skiing since I took up cycling again 22 years ago - cycling has benefited my skiing more than skiing has benefited my cycling, if you see what I mean.

 

[Dayvo]

I think that having skied for many years and enjoy the high-speed schusses on steep slopes has helped my handling skills and to find the right line when cycling down big ascents.

Obviously whilst skiing, you´re almost never going to encounter something coming up the other way, so I think you need to have a better concentration on a bike than a pair of skis.

Cross-country skiing, as someone pointed out, is probably the most complete, all-round cross-training you can do, and will probably benefit anyone, regardless of their chosen sport(s).