BNS News

A few tips to consider as you lay down your plan for training and the winter that is only a few weeks away.  If you haven't done it already, sit down and spend 20 minutes making a plan for this winter.  You'll find it makes a big difference. 

• Plan. Establish goals and plan specifically how to achieve them. Plan long-term and break the plan into smaller and smaller blocks, with each block having specific goals. Have a plan for your daily workouts, pre-race routine and race strategy. Once you have a plan, all you have to do is execute, there is no need to figure out what to do and it becomes harder to procrastinate. This gives you confidence and stability in your preparation.
• Get Specific. We're at the point in the year where training should develop a ski-specific focus to make the transition to snow quick and easy, so put ski-specific motions into your workouts at least 2 or 3 times each week.  Ski-walking/bounding with poles, rollerboard, rollerskiing, pull-ups, dips and stretch cords are all simple ways to incorporate skiing into dryland training.
• Strength & Rollerskiing. Balance & Strength are two of the biggest weaknesses in most North American skiers. Core strength is vital because it holds the body in position and provides a stable platform for the extremities to push. Rollerskiing in the summer and fall dramatically improves balance and specific strength.
• Technique. It's hugely important, but should not take away from other training. Spring and Summer are the best times to work on technique. Focus on a single element in short bursts, then once you have mastered that isolated issue, move onto the next.
• Listen to Your Body: Rest. What you do immediately after workouts and during the rest of your day is at least as important as your workout. Eat well, hydrate, sleep and adjust training to correspond to the demands and stresses of the rest of your life.