Train like an Olympian

(AFP PHOTO DDP/JOCHEN LUEBKE)

The Winter Olympics are about to begin and Andrew Hooge, a physical trainer at University of North Carolina (UNC) Wellness Center and founder of FitSkiing.com, shows how to train your core like an Olympic skier with three simple exercises.

Hooge offers a disclaimer that you may not qualify for the Olympics but with so much fresh powder in North America, incorporating these exercises, 20-minutes a week "will help strengthen your core and allow you to ski more powerfully and efficiently on the slopes".

Core Workout?Band-Torso Rotation: 3 sets of 12-15 repetitions at a moderate to heavy intensity at a moderate tempo (rest 30-45 seconds between sets) http://www.fitskiing.com/Articles--Videos/Ski-Exercises/Core-Exercises/Torso-Rotation-with-Resistance-Band.aspx

Band-Low to High: 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at a moderate to heavy intensity at a moderate tempo (rest 45 seconds between sets) http://www.fitskiing.com/Articles--Videos/Ski-Exercises/Core-Exercises/Band-Low-to-High.aspx

Fit Ball Hip Extension: 3 sets of 8-15 repetitions at a moderate to heavy intensity at a moderate tempo (rest 30-45 seconds between sets) http://www.fitskiing.com/Articles--Videos/Ski-Exercises/Core-Exercises/Fit-Ball-Hip-Extension.aspx