Last weekend I spent in Christchurch,  which is a major city in the South Island of New Zealand.  It’s a city with a heart, having lots of activities and fun available right in the city centre each weekend.  There was a huge igloo shape sitting in The Square.  Inside was an ice-rink providing fun for young and old.

It wasn’t enough for my son and me though.  Flying in with an early morning arrival time we picked up a pre-booked rental car and headed for the mountains.  Hoping to ski at Mt Hutt we were a little disappointed when looking up snow conditions on my son’s new Google phone we read that Mt Hutt was closed due to inclement weather.  Porter Heights was open so hoping it would remain so we drove on.

The long winding unsealed road up the mountainside was a little scary to drive but once at the snow base area the sight was amazing.  Soft powder everywhere; moderate temperature and as this was a club ski field only recently turned commercial there was very few people.  Numbers increased during the day but friendliness and consideration of other skiers and boarders regardless of their ability was apparent.

Kea, New Zealand alpine parrot, were interesting to watch.  They are curious, intelligent birds who have almost no fear of humans so they sit on your car pecking at edges of paintwork or rubber, or demolishing your windscreen wipers right before your eyes.  I was told they have a habit of rolling stones down the iron roof of mountain huts and so keeping trampers awake at nights.

Still recovering from flu/chest infection I didn’t really enjoy my ski lesson but I had a wonderful time watching others especially my son, Brad, who skis with such a natural talent he looks as though he was born with skis attached.

This website is all about Vibration Training and so you might wonder why I am writing of my time in the snow – Vibration Training is used by many skiers, boarders and others who spend time on the mountains as part of their lead-up fitness program.  The” basic squat”, “super-squat” and aptly named “ski-the-slopes” positions give incredible leg strength and endurance and so prevent fatigue and the aches that are often felt the day after skiing.  The “pelvic stability” position strengths the core and aligns the body; push-up and other positions build muscle strength in the upper body.

It’s all good news for snow sport enthusiasts and for casual trips to the mountains.  A regular Vibra-Train customer recently took a week’s holiday in Queenstown, N.Z. and spent almost all week on the mountain skiing.  She told me that she enjoys skiing but usually feels very fatigued after her first day on the mountain.  This year, however, she didn’t have any aches or fatigue and she attributed this to her three times weekly Vibra-Train sessions.  She is one of our customers that pushes herself hard and remains in perfect position throughout and now she’s reaped the benefits.

I also had no muscle fatigue in my legs, just bruises on one shoulder and the opposite knee from falling heavily. I’ll be heading to the indoor SnowPlanet facility for more practice before I ski again!

• Previous Entry: Basic Rules for using a Vibration Machine – Part 2
• Next Entry: Office Equipment