It’s no secret that increasingly more Lithuanians are choosing to spend their cold season holidays actively, by engaging in winter sports. Yet, some holidaymakers bring back home, instead of a gift,… an injury. According to experts, there are several important things that can help reduce the likelihood of injury, including the right choice of  ski clothing. So how do you prepare for skiing so that you don’t get overheated in winter fun?

Ski trousers, ski jackets and other ski clothing: choosing responsibly is the key

Ski clothing – ski jackets, ski trousers, etc. – are some of the most essential items for an active and safe winter holiday. The right ski clothing can not only help reduce the risk of unexpected injuries, but also, by taking into account the functional properties of clothing, help prevent the most prevalent cold season illnesses: colds and congestion. In addition, comfortable ski clothing allows to move freely.

AUDIMAS, the sportswear and active leisurewear brand that creates clothes for active people who want to enjoy an active, balanced and conscious life, offers its customers a wide and constantly updated collections of ski jackets, ski trousers, ski pants and other skiwear for men and women in a variety of different sizes, designs, and with exceptional functional features. AUDIMAS ski clothing is made from the highest quality materials sourced from Japanese manufacturers, which offer good water protection (20,000 mm) and air permeability/evaporation (20,000 g/m2/24 hours). AUDIMAS ski clothing meets a high market standard, with excellent resistance to harsh weather conditions and lightweight and soft clothing fabrics.

Importantly, in order to avoid unexpected injuries while skiing, it is also necessary to choose your equipment responsibly: special ski gloves, helmet and protectors.

Start preparing for skiing well in advance

Like for any other physical activity, you should prepare for skiing in advance. It should be remembered that any specific sport requires specific preparation. Skiing is no exception, even amateur skiing.

Dalius Romanas Barkauskas, a sports medicine doctor at the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Centre of the Medical Diagnostics and Treatment Centre, says that any active sporting puts a strain on the body, especially if we are used to spend most of our time immobile, for example, in sedentary jobs or passive leisure activities. For this reason, getting ready for a more active holiday, you need to prepare not only your suitcases but also your body. It is advisable to start engaging in physical exercises at least 6-8 weeks before your planned trip, says the expert. In addition to improving overall fitness, you should also focus on improving joint mobility and coordination when preparing for skiing.

Warm up properly before skiing

Once at a ski resort, there is no doubt that you want to get off the mountain as quickly as possible, but experts urge you to take your time and warm up.

Viktorija Ruzgutė, a physiotherapist at the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Centre of the Medical Diagnostics and Treatment Centre, points out that the risk of falling while skiing is very high, so you need to keep your body warmed up and flexible in order to avoid injuries to your ligaments, muscles or tendons. Warming up should be fast and dynamic, with full range of motion. Each exercise should be repeated 7-10 times on each side of the body.

Before embarking on the track, assess your body’s capabilities

  1. Ruzgutė says that in order to avoid unexpected injuries, it is important to objectively assess your physical condition and readiness to take on a higher-than-normal level of physical exertion. This is especially important for those who are planning to go skiing for the first time. When skiing or snowboarding downhill, the body is trying to balance itself when making sharp turns and to absorb the bumps on the slope, which puts a lot of strain on the knee and hip joints. Underestimating your body’s capabilities can lead to serious injuries.