Last year, in an effort to create a standardized workout that could be easily replicated and repeated, national team coaches presented the concept of the “U.S. Pace Project.” The concept is straightforward: a shift away from time-based intervals to distance-based, centered around repeated laps of a 5-kilometer course. This familiar distance is key. In a call in July, Matt Whitcomb, U.S. Ski Team Head Coach, and one of the creators of the project explained that:...
Want to fine tune your V1, skate climbing, or the amount your legs can tolerate in a given ski workout? This year's Climb to the Castle champion Mary Rose has the workout for you: a Level 4 uphill rollerski interval session she did while training at low altitudes on the East Coast.
New research shows that in long ski races, an athlete's speed slows slightly lap by lap, but heart rate and other physiological indicators increase as the effort takes its toll. This typical pacing strategy appears superior to starting slow and drastically increasing speed later in the race. We tested a case study using data from 2015 World Championships.
It happens all too often. Inexperienced skier takes off from the start of a distance race as though it is a sprint qualifier, only to struggle through several more kilometers. Will Sweetser, competitive programs director at the Maine Winter Sports Center, has a workout that encourages athletes to take an honest look at their individual ability and find a sustainable pace for every distance.