|
|
Nordic Trac Pro Ski Exerciser - Usage tipsOct 19 '10 (Updated May 12 '11) Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Sport and Outdoor
The Bottom Line A good low impact workout machine. Works upper and lower body at once. If you're patient and get used to it you'll find it very helpful.
I've used my Nordic Trac Pro ski exerciser for over a month now and feel like I can share some information to others. It's hard to find good information on the internet about it. Other than videos of people falling off trying it the first time. This is a exercise machine that takes an hour to get used to, some coordination and patience at first even if you are very athletic and young. There are some semi-funny youtube video's of people falling off of a Nordic Trac. They simply don't know how to use it but are video taped jumping on for the first time and trying to use the ropes and ski's like a pro. The ski machine actually does a pretty good job mimicking cross country skiing. I purchased a used one with light wear for just $30. If you try, you can find a good used machine for less than $100. I could have purchased another one for $70 that looked like it had never been used. The Nordic Trac Ski machine seems solidly built and can take a lot of use. I was impressed with how little floor space it takes up. Pro's 1. It's a near zero impact workout; Doesn't hurt the joints as much as a treadmill. 2. I think it would be a great exercise machine for people with flat feet. 3. Doesn't take any electricity to run. 4. It's small, especially width wise and even folds up. 5. Uses much less floor space than a treadmill. 6. One person can carry it and can be moved and folded down easily. Would fit in the back seat of a car. 7. Many report using their machine for years (5-13 years +) without breakdown. 8. It's easy to get a good workout. If you want to get your heart beating quickly this is a machine that can do it. That is after getting past the learning-to-use stage. (see my Usage Tips below to help you get started.) 9. It's semi-quiet but isn't noise free. Con's 1. Takes at least 1 hour to train your body to use the ski's safely. 2. Takes another 30 minutes to use the ropes and ski's together. 3. Takes roughly 5 hours of usage to progress beyond beginner usage. 4. Works some big muscle groups but not all. You should incorporate some other exercises outside of this one, such as weights. Usage Tips 1. Set the hip pad to bump you around the belt buckle area. 2. Get on the ski's while holding the handle bar with both hands. 3. If you've never used a Nordic Trac ski exerciser, then you'll need to get accustomed to the ski movement before using the ropes so you won't fall off the machine. I'd suggest only shuffling your feet, while holding the handle, the first 60 minutes of usage before even trying the ropes and the ski's simultaniously. Hold on to the small handle in front of the cushion with both hands. If you put in 15 minutes the first day, and another 30 the next day, then you won't be using the ropes until the 3rd day of usage. 4. Once you are comfortable with the ski motion you can begin slowly using the ropes along with the ski's. Be careful, and take your time. The first minutes you could fall off until your body becomes accustomed to it. It took me about two, 30 minute sessions to get used to the ropes while moving my feet in the ski's. I've not had any balance and coordination problems since, but I nearly fell several times the week I used it. 5. After a week of usage you should be using the ropes and ski's together very well. Adjust the ski machine to have a bit of an incline, and increase the difficulty with less worry of falling off. 6. Keep the balls of your feet or toes on the ski at all times. At this point, you can can begin to do a slow almost jogging like motion and get your heart beat up. Your heals will come up higher on the ski's then at a walking pace. 7. Remember to always warm up before jogging, even on the Nordic Trac, by shuffling the ski's at a walking pace for at least 5 minutes before going faster. A walking pace and stretching will warm up your ankle and leg muscles and reduce the probability of achilles tendon injuries and other injuries. You don't want an achilles tendon injury so warm up regardless of whether you jog or use the Nordic Trac or any other exercise equipment. 8. Adjust the flywheel tension as you desire. The tension is easily adjusted in front of your legs around knee level on the Nordic Trac stand. When I was getting used to the Nordic Trac, I set the flywheel tension, to near 0. Now I have the tension at a 3 or 4 and three months later I'm at 6. This tension will affect your workout level and heartbeat. 9. Adjust the rope tension as you desire. Probably lower is better the first 2 weeks. Get your muscles, brain and body balance used to the gliding ski motion. 10. The old advertisements from the 1980's when this machine came out, appear to show fitness model's making very long and rapid leg movements on the ski machine. Perhaps that's an advanced technique but I only shuffle my feet a normal walking type distance at the moment. 11. If you find that you can't go more than 5-10 minutes without wanting / needing to stop or are out of breath, then you should reduce the flywheel and rope tension significantly and or go at a much slower pace. It would be good for you to go 15, 30 or 45 minutes during a workout, so adjust your level so your body can make it. If you're patient and consistant, then you'll eventually build up muscle to do harder and longer workouts with ease. 12. After you are comfortable with using the Nordictrac, change your exercise routine to take most of your weight off the ski when you move your foot forward. But keep your toe in the ski toe pads and the ball of your foot on the ski. This will increase your speed and make a smoother workout as well. I hope this has been helpful to someone. Get fit!  |
| Read all comments (1)|Write your own comment |
|
Ads by Google
|
