Train with the U.S. Ski Team: Heavy Half Squats
Here's a good in-season, low stress exercise to power your turns
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Ernie Reimer, USSA’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, and U.S. Ski Team alpine athlete Julia Ford take you through a step-by-step introduction to Heavy Half Squats at the USSA’s Center for Excellence training center, in Park City, Utah. Julia says each turn presents her with three alternatives: “Go faster, crash or slow down.” She chooses the “go faster” option, and says the Heavy Half Squat helps her increase power out of her turns. The Heavy Half Squat develops hip strength but reduces the muscular stress of the more demanding full squat by reducing the range of motion. This makes the half squat a popular in-season strengthening exercise.
