Powder days are almost here – are your muscles ready to hit the slopes? An important part of being properly prepared for ski season and minimizing injury is to get in shape before the season starts. Strength, balance and endurance all play a big part in your peak performance – and  all of which can be easily incorporated into your regular fitness workout routine.

If you’ve got a ski vacation planned this year, the time to start training is today. A little time in the gym now will pay big dividends later. This week Future Fitness shares its five favorite links for pre-ski fitness workout routines that can help get you in shape:

  1. U.S. Freeskiing Workout
    No one works harder to get strong for skiing than the freeskiing athletes who are looking to prove themselves at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Skiing magazine offers a six-move workout created by U.S. Freeskiing team coaches that you can do at the gym to help whip you into powder worthy shape.
  2. Five Strengthening Moves for Winter Sports
    Whether your passion is downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or cross country, Self magazine shares five moves that can help you build the strength, balance, and endurance needed for any snow sport.
  3. The Five Step Ski-Prep Plyometric Workout
    Want an extra edge on the slopes this winter? Men’s Journal suggests practicing these five exercises two times a week to quickly build strength before the start of this year’s season.
  4. Doctors on Call: Come Off the Mountain in One Piece
    Play it safe! Dr. MacGillivray for Men’s Health magazine explains how the right preparation and gear — as well as some quick thinking — can help keep you injury free all season.

So get to the gym – preferably one of Future Fitness Centers‘ convenient New Jersey locations! All the effort you can make before you go skiing will benefit you many times over. If you are in shape and feeling great when you hit the slopes, you’ll be able to ski longer, feel less tired and enjoy your skiing a whole lot more.