by: Erich Wilbrecht
Training for Masters and Recreational Nordic Skiers
The snow is melting and spring is on its way! Time to start running, biking, hiking and climbing and see amazingly how quickly the local thoughts turn to summer sports! If you’ve had an active winter you should have a good base of cardiovascular fitness, and now it’s time to focus on becoming fit for the upcoming spring/summer season. Goal Setting, Training Schedule and Choosing the Right Equipment is the perfect start for training this summer!
Goal Setting:
It all begins with a simple goal, which is never simple, of course, but may read something like this; “Finish in the top 25 of my age group in the Boulder Mountain Tour”. OK, so there’s a goal, now ask yourself this- is it realistic? Are you reaching too far, or not far enough? For instance, “get out of bed and drink coffee” is also a goal, and it may feel empowering to check off another item on your “to do” list, but is it underreaching?
Goals are an amazingly powerful tool, as they begin a transformative process that engages your mind first, which is what you need to change before you can change your body. So, now armed with a goal that is realistic, reaching a bit, and ultimately fun, you can now create your training plan.
Planning your Training Year.
Nordic skiing can be divided into roughly four seasons, Spring, which is a time for recovery, travel and fun. Summer/Early Fall, training begins, but often in sports not related to skiing, like trail running, mountain biking, climbing, and not water-skiing.
Lastly, the current transition season of Fall to Early Winter, perhaps the most critical time for the Master Skier. The goal now is to reintroduce your body to the specific motions and demands of skiing. The best way to accomplish this is to roller ski or pole bound while running, mixing in a few specific strength workouts along the way.
Training- Roller-skiing
First, start with a great pair of roller skis that suits your fitness level and your local road conditions. The V2 98SL Roller Skis are an affordable option for anyone getting started! If you are more experienced and train on both paved and unpaved roads then check out the V2 Aero XL 125S or V2 Aero XL 150S Roller Skis. The 125 mm wheels on the XL125S perform exceptionally well on hard packed dirt roads and uneven pavement surfaces. The 150 can negotiate rougher terrain because of the larger wheels and is better for heavier skiers. In addition to choosing the right roller ski for you, it is also important you are well equipped with additional pieces of equipment....
-helmet (one used for biking will do well),
- thin gloves to save your hands from blisters or road rash
-aluminum ski poles
-carbine pole tips and a diamond stone sharpener to go along with the pole tips.
Call Skinny Skis customer support or shop online for equipment recommendations and take advantage of the current free shipping and mounting with any V2 roller ski and binding purchase.
For recommendations on roller ski workouts, View Roller Skiing Workouts >
About the author;
Erich Wilbrecht began Nordic skiing in Jackson Hole at the age of 16 when he moved to Wyoming from the Midwest. With a background in cross-county running he took quickly to the sport and in his 30 year racing career he skied for Dartmouth College, the U.S. Biathlon Team, and the Fischer Factory Team. Along the way he has skied in the NCAA Championships, 5 World Cup Biathlon Teams, the Albertville Olympics, and every major ski Marathon in the US, and several in Europe. He is North American Biathlon Champion and multiple Biathlon (summer and winter) Champion. Erich lives in Jackson Hole with his family, and has worked for Sotheby's International Realty as a broker for 15 years. He still enjoys racing -especially when some young punk implies that he’s too old to go fast! – helps with clinics with Skinny Skis and Toko Racing Service. If you have questions about training, please contact him at erich.wilbrecht@sothebysrealty.com.