Training Block

Feeling the pinch of the World Championships and Pierra Menta coming up soon, I've been training lots of Long Slow Distance, back to back days, all long days.  I have to admit, great skiing as well.  Ty Petrusic, Jeff Van Driel, and myself have been skiing in Steep Creek and the Whistler Backcountry for the past few days.

(Photo Left:  Ty Petrusic Skiing Off Russet Ridge)

We've had great snow conditions, stability being fair, but cold deep snow.  These conditions making long days of training easy to concentrate on, without getting bored of skiing up and down the same areas while solo.

My training block that I am using is based on Pierra Menta style events, which is designed to teach my body to recover and repair itself after a big day, and be ready for the next few consecutive days.  I've thrown in two sessions of Intervals and/or Race Pace training throughout this block.  With all of these days I've also had the opportunity to begin easing into a more restricted nutrition plan, and test a few fueling regimes.  With every day of training motivating me more to train more, as well as this interview that Stano Faban had with Peter Svatojansky, the preparation for Europe is getting more exciting.

(Photo Right:  Ty Petrusic skinning up to ski Chute 56 in the dark)

Long Slow Distance really is the base and structure that holds all of ski mountaineering training up.  It creates speed, as they say you have to go slow to go fast, with some (not too much) speed work.  There is no such thing as a free lunch,  as Mark Twight would say, and he makes a strong point.  So for everyone stoked on Interval training, take it easy, go for the entire day and ski more.  You know you're doing something right if your coming out of the mountains with a headlamp!