Fall Skimo Prep Guide
...because winter is coming
Hot damn, my book is here. It’ll make you better at training. Get it.
Also, I still have some coaching spots open:
I have three different programs for the winter and beyond:
THE REGULARS: I’m looking for a 1-2 fired up peeps with endurance goals who want to get fit as hell. $500/month. More information HERE.
ELITES: I’m looking for one male and one female skimo racer whose goal is to be top-10 (or higher) at USA Skimo Nationals in the next three years (or similar level in your country). This will be a discounted rate ($300/month), and may include small other tasks depending on the athlete (maybe some social media posts, or podcasts interviews about your training, etc.). More information HERE.
GHOST: I have a supporter who wants to FULLY sponsor a young (18-25yo) low-income high-level athlete for a year. NO financial costs to that athlete. No strings, no sponsor demands. Just don’t waste their money. More information HERE.
At less than 9600’ it’s probably still hot, but here in the high country I’ve seen snow on the peaks already, and it’s currently 39F. SO, it’s time to start at least thinking about thinking about skimo (I know, that’s a mouthful).
Here’s a list of things for you to do to make sure you have the best skimo season possible.
Take a fucking break
No, seriously, unless you’ve been sitting on your ass all summer (which I highly doubt), you should probably take at least a week to…well…, sit on your ass. This break is going to do several really good things, like increase your energy, make you a little antsy to get back at it, let any lingering bone or tendon issues make healing gains, etc. Trust me, and take a little time off.
Check on your gear
Skis: Are there any cracks? How are the bases looking? How are the edges looking? At the very least, you should probably plan on getting them tuned. If they’re in good condition, are they the skis you want? Do they fit with your goals?
Bindings: Check all the screws, are any of them loose or stripped? Are there any cracks in the binding? Are they working properly? If they’re in good condition, are they the bindings you want? Do they fit with your goals?
Boots: Check the cuffs for cracks, check the liners for holes, check the buckles/cables/etc for weaknesses. Check the soles, are they still whole? Then click into your bindings. Are they still working well together? If it’s pretty hard to get into the bindings it’s possible that the boot is too worn! The bindings don’t really wear out, but the boot inserts (the metal hole thingie the binding pins go into) can wear out, and the sole material by the toe can wear out which makes it hard to trigger the binding to close. If they’re in good condition, are they the boots you want? Do they fit with your goals?
Skins: Holy hell, is there any plush left? Does the glue look like a fucking holiday wreath? Do you have enough pairs (at least two, probably more like 5)? Do they fit your skis? Are they the skins you need for your goals?
Poles: Are they still in good shape? Are the baskets still whole? Are they long enough?
If they’re in good condition, are they the poles you want? Do they fit with your goals?
Helmet: Dear lord, people, if your helmet is more than 2 years old, get a new one. Helmet only work if the foam in them is still in good shape, and that only lasts a couple years. And if that helmet has taken a single big impact like falling out of your bag onto the pavement, or lots of small hits, like falling out of your bag from lower onto pavement, then you need a new fucking helmet! Just do it.
Backpack: How are the straps? Everything still holding together? Is the ski carry system what you want? If it’s in good condition, is this backpack appropriate for your goals?
Clothes: I’m generally not a fan of getting new shit just to get new shit (who am I kidding, I always want new shit), so I try to limit myself to buying new shit when the old stuff pisses me off. Go through your training and racing gear, and remember if anything pissed you off at the end of the year. A zipper that’s fucked? A jacket that doesn’t breathe? A pair of pants that are a little too right now? And while we’re at it, is it the right shit for the job? Do you need a race suit (I know, nobody NEEDS a race suit, but damn they’re handy if you’re actually racing)?
For all of this gear stuff, I first recommend trying to find a local shop to take care of yourself. However: if the local shop doesn’t have what you need, don’t buy bad shit from your local shop. If they don’t carry what you need, support them how you can, but dear god don’t half-ass your gear. If you don’t have a shop that has what you need, there are some great online gear stores like Cripple Creek Backcountry or Skimo.co that carry pretty much everything you need, and also have stores that you can go into if you’re close enough. While both Cripple Creek and Skimo.co are online, they’re also small businesses that invest heavily into the sport and give back a lot, so please support them!
Start thinking about your season!
While a lot of the calendars aren’t out yet, it’s good to start thinking about whether you want to focus on some of the long shit like the Grand Traverse or the Power of Four, or if you want to get fast through some of that National Cup series, of if you want to chase some series points through one of the local state/regional series’.
Here’s some good sources to find races:
Train for all of it, damnit!
Once you’ve taken your break, it’s time to start getting ready for those races or objectives. Don’t forget that skimo is three parts! Of course you need lots of fitness, but it’s pretty crazy how much time you can lose on the transitions and downhills. So make sure your fall training includes indoor transition sessions (you should be able to go from skiing to skinning in under 40 seconds), and heavy squats and deadlifts in the gym to get ready for skiing!
Hike with Poles
You probably haven’t spent much time this summer hiking on super steep terrain with proper length poles. So, go do that! Don’t switch everything over all at once, just add 1-2 hours of hiking per week each week for a few weeks. And if you’re some kinda special, get on some rollerskis!
All good stuff in here!!
Thanks for the heads up.!!!
And thanks for the stoke.!!! LETS GO!!!