Ashleigh Lawrence
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm on the blue blocks.
Maybe we can have a little friendly competition to see which of us can get to the red blocks first?I'm on the blue blocks.
Maybe we can have a little friendly competition to see which of us can get to the red blocks first?
Since the Sweetspot helps the little muscles related to small adjustments for balance, my sense is that on-going practice can make a difference in the long run. Just a guess based on my experience with the BOSU to help with knee rehab last summer and fall. I didn't use the BOSU much during ski season. It's clear that I should start doing 5-10 min at least several times a week again in order to get back to what I could do in Dec. Seems like someone said that she felt it took several months using the BOSU to really have a major impact on her ability to balance. I've also found that there is a big difference between not falling and really being in balance. Being completely in balance means being able to stand more or less absolutely still with the Sweetspot for at least 20-30 seconds at a time.Is this a good device to use during the off-season, if I won't be able to alternate the "workouts" with actual skiing? Or is it better to use during ski season? I'm tempted to buy one, but not sure if it makes more sense to buy next year......
If you don't win a Sweetspot, consider what you are willing to pay for lessons . . . or new skis.I do wish I'd kept it up, though. And I wish I had a Skia, which would give me an excuse to put my pretty blue boots on, but right now that $75 (including shipping) seems like a lot of money.
Anyone heard of this? It's a new dryland training device that's supposed to help you improve your stance over your skis.
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Standing on books to rest in between balance drills is a great idea!I bought the SKIA trainer in July last year and used it a few times. However, I then used it for ~30mins a day for a few weeks before going on holiday in January 2013. The book suggests you develop your own training routine and I did a mix of static balances for 3 minutes, strteching (3 mins), 50 edging movements and 50 pivots. I then repeated these 3 times. I started on the green blocks and within 3 weeks was using the red blocks very successfully. I tried the black ones - they're much harder than the red - I'm not ready for those yet.
Did they make a difference to my skiing? The honest answer is I don't know. What I do know is that I am much more aware of fore/aft balance than I was a year ago - but that may also be because I've been doing fore/aft balance drills. I found the edging and pivoting exercise helpful.
On a less positive note I found the trainers very fiddly to use. The plastic is stiff and the straps do not fit easily inbetween the buckles of my Atomic boots (24.5). It is impossible to check that the blocks are in the right place once the trainers are on. Ideally you set them up once and off you go - but I bought them for both me and OH to use and it was too difficult to adjust them every day for both of us. He gave up!!
You are supposed to take the trainers off inbetween sets of exercices. I found this too tricky so used books to make a bridge to stand on so that I could get the 'rest' minutes in.
I'll certainly use them again - maybe I'll make it to the black blocks!
What can I say . . . Ski Divas are enablers, right?marznc, do you have a sales background? I bought this little device today.
Have fun on your travels!I am so psyched---as the winner of the Sweet Spot.
Thanks all for this thread, and all the info from MarzNC. I am motivated to practice (after I get back from travels in Czech Repub.)
I know I will benefit from practicing moves from my center. A fine way to spend the off season.
Want to try it out when I'm there in the summer!!! Just got back from a 10 day summer holiday training in Majorca, so I guess I'm ready for California now, lol.marznc, do you have a sales background? I bought this little device today.
That's quite the testimonial. Maybe I'll fool around on the Bosu tonight, because when I did that last year I did notice slightly better proprioception. But it sounds like the trainer is a nice targeted tool.