Are you ready for ski season? Consider a fitness self-evaluation

Have you wondered how fit you are?  Would you like a clear sense of your weak areas?  How about a way to work to strengthen a weak area?  Here are a couple ways to do a self-evaluation of where you stand.  A couple months before your ski season starts is the best time to check out your status.  But it's never too late to check.

This fitness test is generic full body strength test.  It is a straight forward test based on six exercises.  A goal is given for each exercise, together with suggestions if the number of repetitions for the goal is too hard or too easy.  I can do a lot better on all of the exercises after 2.5 years of working out much more consistently all year round.  Could do most of them without too much extra effort after the first year.

Five of the exercises can be done at home if you own a stability ball (Swiss ball).

1. Single leg squat
2. Pushup
3. Side plank
4. Inverted row - requires a low bar
5. Single leg hip raise with back on stability ball
6. Stability ball plank

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/ultimate-fitness-test

Of course, the question you are really wondering about is whether or not you are ready for ski season?  Check out the self evaluation designed by Bumps for Boomers.  Bumps for Boomers is based in Aspen, CO.  Their focus is on skiers over 50 who want to keep skiing for another 20, 30 years or more.  You can check out how ready your legs, arms, and core are for common movements on the ski hill.  Takes about 20 minutes.  The emphasis is on areas related to common ski injuries, such as a knee or shoulder due to a fall.