Good balance is an essential component of skiing and should form part of your pre-season training routine.

In the month before your ski trip try brushing your teeth standing on one leg. It’s a great exercise that will not only improve your ski performance but may even help you live a little longer.

According to the UK’s Medical Research Council, 53-year-olds who could stand on one leg for ten seconds with their eyes closed were the most likely to be fit and well in 13 years’ time. However, those who could manage only two seconds were three times as likely to die before the age of 66.

In addition, Dr Yasuharu Tabara, associate professor of genomic medicine at Kyoto University in Japan found that “the ability to balance on one leg is an important test for brain health.”

So there you have it, skiing (and/or standing on one leg) is not only good for the brain but will also help you live forever.

Spin Zhira/skiing

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I’m not a doctor, physiotherapist or personal trainer. In fact I have hardly any qualifications at all. It’s totally on you if you decide to follow these tips, nobody forced you. While we’re at it, I should also tell you that skiing is a physically demanding activity which could result in an elevated heart rate, feelings of euphoria, injury or even death. On the other hand, life is a time limited activity so it’s a good idea to live it well and sometimes be a little reckless, although that’s down to you as well. Nobody, especially not me, forced you to go into the mountains and have fun.