Balance boards

Hi,

Has anyone used a balance board to try and improve their skiing? If so, did
it help?

thanks

Bob

I think it's just different, and more
specific to downhill skiing than XC.
OTOH, I have been using the book The
Steady Ski by Doug Garfield, and I
recommend it. It's mentioned here

http://www.jenex.com/newproducts.html
and other places.

HTH,
Erik Brooks


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Creasote"

To: "Multiple recipients of list
NORDIC-SKI"

Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 1:15
PM
Subject: Balance boards


Hi,

Has anyone used a balance board to try
and improve their skiing? If so, did
it help?

thanks

Bob

I've used a balance board and find it has helped a lot. The board I
use is asymetric, in that it allows more tilt in the same direction
that your ankle allows more tilt (eversion), and less for inversion.
This seemed a vast improvement compared with standard issue boards.
After some time on it, you really notice a difference in your gait,
even just walking around town.

My gym (YMCA) has acquired one of those "core strength" type
of boards, a wobble board, which is basically a board with a
hemisphere attached to the bottom. I was messing around with
it wondering if it would be a useful
training aid. Balancing on one leg on its center
seemed like a good way to work both balance and all those
small muscles that stabilze the ankle. There must be
other interesting balance drills you can do with one of these.
And it doesn't require acrobatic talent to use it. - Bob

Forget the balance boards, you all have or have access to physio/swiss
balls. Just stand on one of them. Then once you can balance, start
swinging your arms in diagonal fashion. Once you've mastered that go
with double poles. I hear that Sara Renner does squats holding a
medicine ball while standing on one of these balls. And someone on
the Canadian team can run, jump, and land balanced on one. Of course
its best to practice in a quiet secluded basement to avoid the
embarassment when you lose your balance and crash. But once you've
mastered it you will be the coolest person in your gym, guranteed.