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  • 8 Benefits of Alpine Skiing for Endurance Athletes

    It is that time of year when endurance racing is winding down and the first dusting of snow is hitting the high country in Colorado. Some endurance athletes avoid alpine skiing (I used to be one of those people), while others use the sport to complement their endurance endeavors.

    I am now someone that uses the sport to complement my endurance sports. Additionally, I have coached many endurance athletes that are also alpine skiers. Alpine skiing provides benefits to triathletes, mountain bikers and cyclists. Here are some of those benefits:

    1. A physical and mental break from primary sport(s)

    It is well known that cross training in the offseason can provide a beneficial break from the rigors of swimming, cycling and running. When it comes time to begin training for a primary sport again in the spring, you can return with renewed enthusiasm.

    1. Proprioception

    Proprioception is a sense that provides information about various body parts in relation to each other and the surroundings. It is the ability to initiate and control body movement in space and time. Making split-second decisions about when to make turns and where all body parts need to be in relation to the turn, the mountain and conditions can help all sports, particularly mountain biking. Perhaps more critically, proprioception is essential to daily living and can decline as we age, leading to more falls and loss of independence.

    1. Adductor and abductor work

    Cycling and running motions are primarily moving the legs forward and back, or in the longitudinal plane. Skiing works the legs from side to side and away from the midline of the body, engaging the adductor and abductor muscles. More strength in

    1. Balance

    Skiing requires balance, which is essential for all endurance sports and life. Balance should be part of your strength training routine, year-round.  

    1. Core

    A strong core is necessary for turn initiation and completion in alpine skiing. Continuing to use core muscles in a slightly different way than in endurance sport training is great cross training and complimentary to the primary sports of swimming, cycling and running.

    1. Interval training (cardiovascular, strength)

    Riding a chairlift is the perfect recovery from the physical activity of skiing. Depending on your ski skill level and the type of terrain you ski, the work intervals can be quite intense.

    1. Aerobic work

    I have my athletes wear heart rate monitors while skiing and they are often surprised at how much aerobic work they get during a day of skiing. I watch effort levels of ski days and will often adjust other sport activities to prevent overtraining. More on this in the next column.

    1. Activity time (3+ hours)

    When the weather is cold, wet, or snowy, many endurance athletes find themselves on indoor trainers or treadmills. These sessions are typically two hours or less. A day of alpine skiing can be four to six or more hours. This kind of activity time is seldom achievable for athletes living in cooler locations.

    These on some of the benefits of alpine skiing for endurance sports. Now you might be wondering, “How do I structure my endurance training to accommodate alpine skiing?" That is covered in the next blog.



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