Winter is here! It’s time to dust those skis and ride those mountain slopes. But... what’s that? Your calves hurt after skiing? Don’t let that stop you from enjoying your time on the slopes. You can easily solve your aching calves in many ways.

Much like cycling and running, an avid skier is easily susceptible to similar injuries like sore calves, DOMS, and sore feet. However, it can be avoided if proper steps are taken before and after the activity. But, before all that, why do the calf muscles hurt in the first place?

Why Do Your Calves Hurt After Skiing?

Skiing demands quite a bit of leg work, especially the calves. The simple explanation for the whole sore calves after skiing is because it overworks itself to maintain stability.

Studies have shown that skiing requires forefoot control.  This naturally stretches and contracts the calves to its optimum levels.  When it is done for prolonged periods, it can lead to severe stress in the calf area. If the activity is done without stretching, there is a good chance you will experience cramps as well. Soreness after skiing, especially in the calf area, indicates Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) setting in.

There are several reasons for leg pain after skiing. Some of the common ones are poor flexibility in the calf area, ankle stiffness, weak muscles, and even poor boot set up.

Here’s a few solutions that could help ;

Immediately After Skiing

Firstly, never pack up as soon as you finish skiing. Always make sure you do a good stretch before packing up. Additionally, hydrating and taking in protein within 30 minutes after the activity is important. Although you don’t feel the effects immediately,  this routine helps in the long run.

A good cool down, as mentioned above, helps the body to flush out the lactic acid and stretch out the muscles. The hydration and protein intake helps in muscle repair, which reduces soreness.

A Few Days After Skiing

Recovery after skiing does not stop there. You must follow up with massages, ice application, a good diet, and light active recovery sessions. One of the best things you could do is try and increase flexibility and do light strengthening exercises after you have recovered.

This is where the SPRYNG muscle recovery tool  comes in handy . It is a quick and easy compression wrap that uses  pneumatic pressure pads. All you have to do is set it to your liking and the patent-pending wavetec graduated pressure pattern will do the rest. The revolutionary pattern mimics the skeletal pump of the calf muscle, removing pooled blood, lactic acid, and allowing the flow of oxygenated blood.  This reduces the time taken to recover.

Technical Adjustments and Workouts

If you are looking for a definitive way on how to stop calves hurting after skiing, then it is best to start with the equipment, and the workouts you do.

Firstly, the equipment. Most ski equipment comes with adjustable boots. Remember that your body anatomy is unique, which may require you to adjust the DIN settings of the ski boot. Keep in mind that this is a process of trial and error, since it depends on how flexible and strong you are. Over time these settings may change.

Secondly, the workouts. If you are planning on skiing in a competitive space, or even if you are just starting up, make sure you prepare for it. This entails you to plan your workouts accordingly. Consult a certified ski coach for this purpose.   They would look into your current skill and fitness levels and design  the optimum schedule. A good workout plan will not only reduce calf soreness after skiing but stop it altogether!

There you have it. Some simple tips to reduce sore calves after a skiing session, and how you can avoid the pain completely.