6 Best Ski Racing Dryland Training Equipment That Coaches Swear By
Gain a competitive edge this winter. Discover the 6 essential dryland training tools top ski racing coaches use to build power, balance, and speed.
That first "recommended equipment" email from the ski club can feel a little overwhelming, can’t it? Suddenly, your child’s passion for skiing has a shopping list filled with items you’ve never heard of. As a parent, you want to provide the right tools for success without turning your garage into a pro-level gym for a sport they might pivot from next year.
Choosing Gear for Your Young Ski Racer’s Goals
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You see your child’s eyes light up on the hill, and you want to support that fire. But before you start buying equipment, the most important step is to have a conversation—with your child, their coach, and yourself. Is your 9-year-old just having fun with their friends in a U10 program, or is your 14-year-old talking seriously about competing at a higher level? The answer dramatically changes what "necessary" looks like.
A coach’s philosophy is also a huge factor. Some programs integrate specific tools into their dryland sessions, making certain items a near-necessity. Others focus more on bodyweight exercises and general athleticism, especially for younger age groups. Always check with the coach before making a significant purchase. They know your child’s developmental stage and the team’s training plan.
Think of this as a progression. A young athlete’s needs evolve, and the gear should, too.
- Ages 7-10: Focus on fun and fundamental athletic skills. Gear should promote balance, coordination, and agility in a game-like way.
- Ages 11-14: This is often a turning point. As commitment deepens, you can introduce tools for building ski-specific strength and power.
- Ages 15+: The dedicated racer will benefit from more specialized equipment that hones technique and builds elite-level conditioning.
Remember, the goal isn’t to own every piece of equipment. It’s to strategically choose tools that match your child’s current needs and long-term athletic development. Sometimes the best investment is simply a good pair of running shoes and a jump rope.
Vew-Do Balance Boards for Core Ski Strength
Ever watch a top-level skier and marvel at how their upper body stays so still while their legs carve perfect arcs? That’s all core strength and balance. A balance board is one of the most effective, versatile, and frankly, fun ways to develop that stability at home.
Unlike static balance exercises, a Vew-Do board forces the body to make constant, tiny adjustments to stay centered. This directly mimics the feeling of staying balanced over your skis while navigating variable terrain and gate combinations. It builds the deep stabilizer muscles in the core, hips, and ankles that are the foundation of a powerful ski stance.
The best part is that it doesn’t feel like a chore. For younger kids, it’s a game to see who can stay on the longest. For older racers, it becomes a platform for more advanced drills, like squats or medicine ball tosses, all while maintaining balance. It’s a piece of gear that grows with your athlete, providing value from their first season as a U10 all the way through their high school racing career.
SKLZ Agility Ladders for Quick Feet Drills
If you’ve ever watched a slalom race, you know it’s a high-speed dance. That ability to move your feet quickly and precisely from edge to edge doesn’t just happen on snow. It’s developed through repetitive drills that train the brain and muscles to fire in perfect sequence, and an agility ladder is the classic tool for the job.
An agility ladder is inexpensive, portable, and incredibly effective. It’s not about building brute strength; it’s about developing neuromuscular coordination. Drills on the ladder teach an athlete to be light on their feet, make rapid changes in direction, and maintain rhythm—all critical skills for navigating a tight slalom or GS course.
This is a fantastic first purchase for any young racer. The drills are easy to learn, can be done in a driveway or basement, and provide immediate feedback. It’s a low-investment tool that directly translates to better performance when it’s time to click into the bindings.
Rogue Fitness Plyo Boxes for Explosive Power
As racers get older and more serious, usually around the U14 level, the focus shifts from just getting down the course to generating speed. The explosive power needed to push out of the start gate or drive through a transition comes from plyometric training. Sturdy, well-built plyo boxes are the centerpiece of this type of workout.
Plyometrics involve exercises where muscles exert maximum force in short intervals, like box jumps. This kind of training builds the fast-twitch muscle fibers essential for the powerful, athletic movements in ski racing. A set of stackable boxes allows for progression, starting with lower heights to perfect form and moving higher as strength and confidence grow.
Safety is non-negotiable here. This is not equipment for a young child to use unsupervised. Plyometric training should always be done under the guidance of a coach who can teach proper landing mechanics to protect joints. While a significant investment, high-quality boxes are a durable tool that can be used for general fitness by the entire family for years.
Ultraslide Slideboard for Lateral Endurance
Think about the primary motion in skiing: it’s a powerful side-to-side, or lateral, movement. Yet, most traditional exercises like running or squatting happen in a forward-and-back motion. A slideboard is a unique tool designed specifically to build strength and endurance in that crucial lateral plane.
Using a slideboard involves wearing special "booties" and sliding from side to side, mimicking the leg motion of carving a turn. This directly targets the glutes, hips, and quads in a way that few other exercises can. More importantly, it builds the endurance needed to maintain a strong athletic stance from the first gate to the last, fighting the leg burn that every racer knows well.
A slideboard is a more specialized piece of equipment, best suited for the committed U12 or older athlete looking to gain a competitive edge. It’s an excellent tool for the off-season to keep ski-specific muscles engaged and conditioned, ensuring they are ready to fire when the snow finally flies.
TheraBand CLX for Ski-Specific Resistance
Sometimes the most effective tools are the simplest. Resistance bands, and specifically the versatile TheraBand CLX, are a staple in a ski racer’s dryland kit for good reason. They are portable, affordable, and can be used to isolate and strengthen the exact muscle groups used on the hill.
The CLX’s connected loops make it incredibly easy to use for a variety of ski-specific exercises without needing separate handles. An athlete can anchor it to a door to practice pole plants, or loop it around their ankles for "monster walks" to strengthen the hip abductors that are critical for holding a strong edge. It’s perfect for activation drills before a workout and for injury prevention exercises focused on small stabilizer muscles.
This is a smart purchase for any age group. For younger racers, it’s a safe way to introduce the concept of resistance training. For elite athletes, it’s an indispensable tool for targeted strength work and rehabilitation. Every ski racer should have one in their bag.
Skier’s Edge for Simulating Race Turns
There comes a point for the most dedicated racers when they need to build muscle memory that perfectly replicates the rhythm and motion of skiing. The Skier’s Edge is the ultimate machine for this purpose. It’s a non-impact lateral conditioner that precisely simulates the carving motion of skiing, allowing an athlete to get thousands of repetitions without ever touching snow.
This is not a toy; it’s a serious training device. It builds ski-specific power, endurance, and technique by forcing the user to engage the same muscles in the same sequence as they would in a race course. It’s the closest you can get to skiing in your living room, making it an incredible tool for off-season conditioning and pre-season preparation.
Let’s be clear: this is a major investment for the highly committed, older athlete. It’s not something a U10 needs. But for the serious U16 or FIS racer who lives and breathes the sport, the Skier’s Edge can be a powerful tool for honing their technique and maintaining an elite level of fitness year-round. Given their durability and niche market, they also tend to hold their resale value well.
Building a Safe and Effective Dryland Routine
Having the right equipment is only one part of the equation. The most expensive gear is useless—or even dangerous—without a well-structured plan and a focus on safety. The goal of dryland training is to get stronger and prevent injuries, not cause them.
Always prioritize proper form over weight or intensity. It’s far better to do a bodyweight squat correctly than a weighted one with poor mechanics. This is where a coach’s guidance is invaluable. They can create a balanced program that includes strength, agility, endurance, and flexibility, ensuring your child develops as a well-rounded athlete.
Finally, remember that rest and recovery are just as important as training. For younger athletes, in particular, dryland should complement, not replace, free play. The best athletic development happens when structured training is balanced with the simple joy of running, jumping, and playing other sports. This builds overall athleticism and, most importantly, keeps the fun in the sport.
Ultimately, supporting your young ski racer isn’t about buying every gadget. It’s about making thoughtful investments in tools that align with their age, their coach’s plan, and their love for the sport. The best gear is the gear that gets used safely and consistently to help them become a stronger, more confident athlete, both on and off the snow.