Cross Country Skiing

How could long distance road biking develop my skiing performance? 

How long distance road biking can boost skiing performance

So you're asking about long-distance road biking and how will that help you develop your skiing performance. When you say long-distance road biking, there's a range to that. So I'm gonna assume you mean like mortal long-distance road biking, like you know 50 to 100 miles. There are those people who will go bikepacking like across the continent or something. That's different. But so if we're talking distance road biking in the range of like call it three to eight hours, that can be useful for your cross-country skiing. That can really help build your aerobic base in a very low-impact way. And that's sort of the sum of it. If you are focused on cross-country skiing, you're gonna need more than just road biking to really excel in the sport. Some of the things that you're missing on your road bike are like weight-bearing exercises that will help with bone density. You're missing agility and any sort of multi-directional movement and upper body strength. And so those are some of the things you're gonna want to do in addition to your road biking if cross-country skiing is one of your goals. You also may want to consider upper body strength and weight-bearing stuff even if cross-country skiing is not one of your goals because bone density matters as you get older. Have fun!

Long-distance road biking can help build your aerobic base, but it should not be the only form of exercise you use to prepare for cross country skiing. You also need strength and agility exercises, as well as weight-bearing activities, to improve your performance in the sport. Additionally, these activities can help with bone density, even if cross-country skiing is not a goal.

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You're asking how long-distance road biking can benefit your skiing performance. When it comes to long-distance road biking, there's a range of distances involved. Assuming you're referring to distances like 50 to 100 miles, this type of biking can be beneficial for cross-country skiing. It helps build your aerobic base in a low-impact manner. However, if you want to excel in cross-country skiing, road biking alone won't be enough. You'll need additional exercises like weight-bearing exercises for bone density, agility and multi-directional movement for overall mobility, and upper body strength. These are important elements to consider alongside your road biking if cross-country skiing is one of your goals. Even if skiing isn't your focus, it's still worth considering upper body strength and weight-bearing activities for bone density as you age. Enjoy your pursuits!

Cycling: The Fun Cross-Training Secret to Better Skiing

Cycling, I love cycling. Road and mountain and a little cyclocross, cause that's fun too. How does it make you a better skier? Ultimately, fitness is fitness. And you know, if you're not trying to train for the world cup or like at that level of skiing, it can be a grind to do 11 months of ski training for one month of racing. So anything that keeps you interested and excited during the off season, like cycling, is a great thing to do. It's also a really good way to build some volume without having too much of a like impact on your skeletal muscular system. So you can put in a ton of miles on a bike and the training is the same, your cardiovascular system doesn't really know the difference, but you're not gonna be as beat up in the end. You probably wanna do more of your cycling in the summer, spring to summer, and come fall, you're gonna wanna be a little more specific doing a little roller skiing, a little more time in the gym, some running. And the other thing to look out for with cycling is to maintain your bone density with some weight bearing exercises. So other than that though, it is a great way to quote unquote cross train because actually I hate using that word. There's no such thing as cross training. Training is training. So enjoy riding your bike because it is fun.

Cycling can be a great way to stay fit and not get too beat up while still putting in a lot of miles. It's important to keep up with weight bearing exercises as well, and enjoy it!

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Cycling, whether it's road, mountain, or cyclocross, has had a positive impact on my skiing. Firstly, fitness is fitness regardless of the activity. If you're not training at an elite level, it can be challenging to remain engaged and motivated during the off-season of skiing. Cycling keeps me interested and excited during this time. It also allows me to build endurance without putting excessive strain on my musculoskeletal system. The cardiovascular benefits are similar whether you're cycling or skiing, but cycling tends to be less physically demanding in the long run. It's advisable to focus more on cycling during the warmer months and transition to more specific training like roller skiing, gym workouts, and running in the fall. Additionally, it's important to incorporate weight-bearing exercises to maintain bone density while cycling. Overall, cycling serves as a great form of cross training, although I prefer not to use that term because training is training. Ultimately, enjoy riding your bike because it's fun and contributes positively to your overall fitness as a skier.

What sports do you recommend for young skiers during their off season?

Get Creative: Off-Season Activities to Boost Young Skiers' Skills

What sports do you recommend to young skiers during their offseason? Skiing is delightful because it's such a generalist thing, especially at the junior ages. So really anything that gets them outdoors and active is what you're looking for. Whether they want to play soccer, go mountain biking, cross-country running, totally fine. It's getting a little specific depending on the age. You know, I wouldn't push them into it if they don't absolutely love it. But yeah, literally anything. Orienteering is a great one that gets them out in the woods. Personal favorite of mine. They can do some road biking, like lacrosse, hockey if that's available. It's important that they don't just do straight direction sports, right? You don't want them just doing like track and cross-country and road biking because they're not really working on their agility and overall athleticism then. But the key thing is that they're having fun because that's why kids do the sport and that's why they're involved in it. I think especially below age 14, there's not much need for much roller skiing. So I would say that's not worth doing.

Young skiers should participate in any activity that is fun and gets them outdoors, like soccer, mountain biking, cross-country running, orienteering, road biking, lacrosse, hockey, and track. However, it's important to also mix in activities that work on agility and athleticism.

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For young skiers during their offseason, I recommend engaging in a variety of sports and activities that get them outdoors and active. Skiing, especially at the junior level, allows for a broad range of options. Whether they choose to play soccer, go mountain biking, try cross-country running, or even participate in orienteering, anything that gets them moving and enjoying the outdoors is suitable. It's important to consider their age and not push them into activities they don't genuinely love. They can also explore road biking, lacrosse, or hockey if available. It's beneficial for them to engage in sports that require different movement patterns to develop agility and overall athleticism. However, the most important factor is that they're having fun because enjoyment is what motivates kids to participate in sports. Roller skiing may not be necessary for those under age 14 and can be skipped as an offseason activity.

Alex Jospe answers your Cross Country Skiing questions. See all the advice Alex Jospe has and get answers to your own Cross Country Skiing questions.

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Alex Jospe is an American cross country ski coach at Stratton Mountain School, with a background in a variety of endurance sports. She is an avid outdoorswoman and advocate for women's sports.