Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or ski hiking – which is your winter sport?

Would you like to be one of those people who immediately goes to the slopes the first time it snows? Then this story is definitely something for you. Because here it's all about winter sports that delight the masses. If you don't know exactly which winter sport you might like, the first part of our story will help you. If you're passionate about skiing but don't know exactly how and where to start, we've collected 5 tips for you from a real professional athlete. So: put on your ski goggles and go!

Get out of the hut and onto the slopes!

First of all, let's take a look at the different types of skis. We'll also look at what requirements they place on you so that you can find the right winter sport for you.

Classic descent – ​​the piste adventure

Strapped on your skis and taking the lift up – we all know it: the classic downhill ski . As a beginner, you will probably make long turns and stay on slopes that are a little more comfortable. Advanced riders usually move a little faster and don't take a day's break, even in fog or light snowfall. There are different types of skis that you strap under your feet - the classic downhill ski is the alpine ski .

You will notice how strenuous skiing is after you come down a slope for the first time as a beginner. A little preparation is necessary so that your snow adventure doesn't end earlier than expected. We'll talk about this in more detail later in this story. The ImmunFit° Tropical rod and the ImmunFit° cube from Dextro Energy* provide a little push in between. This way you supply your body with carbohydrates that are directly available to it. The various vitamins and folic acid it contains also help your immune system°.

Ski hiking

Are you a big hiking fan and often find yourself in the mountains in your free time? Then ski hiking could be exactly your thing for the cold season! This sport is particularly suitable for you if you have already built up a bit of fitness - for example through hiking in the summer. It is also an advantage if you have already had some experience in downhill skiing, because when ski touring you do both: hiking and skiing down the slopes . But don't worry, you can go on a hiking tour on skis even without much prior knowledge or endurance training. There are numerous group activities for beginners where a guide will show you easier routes. This way you can slowly get to grips with this sport. Vitamins, magnesium and trace elements – all of this gives you new energy for your ski hiking tour. Another tip: Energy* Gums from Dextro. Portionable, practical, tasty – for quickly available carbohydrates during your tours.

Cross-country skis

When it comes to cross-country skiing, for a change we don't go down the mountain, but rather we move along a straight path . Cross-country skiing is also particularly attractive for beginners because you don't need a lot of experience. Cross-country skiing is also a demanding workout that challenges many different muscle groups - in addition to your fitness, of course. Cross-country skiing is a classic fitness sport.

The routes used in cross-country skiing are called trails . Similar to downhill skiing, you can train your fitness while cross-country skiing on trails of varying difficulty. Beginners in particular should use the groomed trails.

Physical benefits from skiing

Before we get to practical things, we would like to introduce you to Conny from #connyontour ( @c_o_n_n_y___ on Instagram). She is a tourism specialist, business economist, marketing project manager, social media expert and outdoor content creator. She was on skis for the first time when she was in kindergarten and is still an integral part of the slopes in winter.

Her favorites are alpine skiing and ski touring. The latter is similar to ski hiking. When alpine skiing, she likes to heat up on freshly groomed slopes when the caterpillar tracks have not yet set in. Ski touring in open terrain has a very special appeal for #connyontour because the descent must first be "worked out" after climbing the mountain using skins under the touring skis.

Below she has answered a few exciting questions for us and put together 5 tips for beginners about skiing as a sport and the level of fitness required.

What do you train while skiing?

All of the muscles in your legs are put under a lot of strain when skiing, so it's worth training these muscles beforehand. The back muscles absorb a lot and of course the hips have to play along. In my opinion, skiing is also brain jogging because you have to react suddenly and quickly to many situations and consciously control your body.

Thanks to skiing, I stay fit over the winter! Rest periods are also very important, but of course it helps if I stay physically active over the winter and then start hiking again in the spring.

Skiing is more than just a physical sport

I always have a liberating experience when skiing. Just the thought that I would have to walk the whole route in summer and be back in the valley on skis in a fraction of the time pushes me internally.

I enjoy being able to enjoy nature, especially when ski touring. Especially on nice winter days, I would love to be outside all the time despite the cold. Nature can really immerse you in another world. At the same time, nature can also challenge us, especially when the weather is not so good and you as an athlete want to be out and about in all weathers. I have found that I perceive the nature around me much more intensely when I am on tour alone. I just concentrate on nature and myself. That's very good for me.

Connie on tour! Our influencer only knows one limit when skiing: the sky.

5 tips for beginners when skiing from our professional Conny

Now your passion for skiing has taken hold and you would like to get started straight away? Then quickly read through Conny's tips for beginners so that you are well prepared for your new hobby!

Tip #1: Increase, step by step

In order to make good progress, it is crucial not to under-challenge yourself when skiing or hiking as a beginner. When you feel like you're ready to run a longer distance or tackle a steeper slope, don't stick with the usual, easy way. But the same applies the other way around: don't start straight away with the black slope or a 100 kilometer hike. If you're not ready for it, it's only one thing: dangerous. You are putting yourself and possibly others at risk. Here too, find the golden mean and take small but steady steps towards progress.

Tip No. 2: It is best to consult a ski instructor for skiing technique.

In order to learn the correct technique, it is advisable to get an experienced teacher at your side right from the start. This means you can't rehearse wrong movements, but rather learn the right movements from second to first and get immediate feedback if something doesn't fit. This also gives you security when you venture onto more difficult slopes. And of course you also protect others, because after all, you're not the only person hurtling down the slopes. Once you know how to behave correctly on a ski slope, the fun can begin!

Tip #3: Don’t lose heart.

Every beginning is difficult - this also applies to beginners when it comes to skiing. It's normal that it doesn't work straight away. But don't let that stop you. Just get back up and start again. This is sometimes easier said than done, but in this case it will be well worth it! There will be a moment when your skis will feel like a part of you and something will just click. And this moment gives you the strength and motivation to carry on and stay on track.

Tip No. 4: Ski training before and magnesium after.

Especially when it comes to skiing, it is so important to prepare properly. After all, for downhill skiing, ski hiking and cross-country skiing, you need at least a basic level of fitness and a few muscles so that you don't feel exhausted on day two. A good preparation for this is ski gymnastics . This way you build up a little stamina and also prepare your muscles for the challenge in the snow. It is important to start sufficiently early.

Magnesium helps you after exertion by supporting electrolyte balance, muscle function and protein synthesis so that you can get back on your skis soon ¹ . Take a look at our endurance products with magnesium and much more. By the way: To support the immune system, you can pack ImmunFit° direct - it fits wonderfully in your ski jacket.

Tip #5: Learn together

Do you know other people who would like to try out a new type of skiing or who have just sat in the ski hut without ever going up the slopes? How about you team up? Because learning together is simply more fun. You can motivate each other together and laugh together when someone nails it to their four letters. This way you're more likely to stay on the ball. And if you don't know anyone, you can easily register for a beginner's course. Not only will you get to know a new sport, but you'll also definitely get to know a few like-minded people.

*contains carbohydrates

°Vitamin B6, B12, C, folic acid, zinc, selenium and iron each contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

°Vitamin B2, B6, B12, C, folic acid, magnesium and iron each contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

¹ Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance and normal muscle function and protein synthesis

 

A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important.

 

PHOTO CREDITS

all pictures: # connyontour