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Race Recap: Vert180 Skimo Race

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“Oh great, now I get to be beaten by two people wearing tutu’s...” - Peter Knight
“Oh great, now I get to be beaten by two people wearing tutu’s…” – Peter Knight
The Vert180 is the annual season opener for the Canadian Skimo Calendar. While the setting may not be spectacular alpine peaks, there is no shortage of energy that descends on Calgary Olympic Park the first weekend in December.
Eighty-five racers toed the line at Winsport in Calgary on Saturday in three categories: solo, 2 person teams, and 4 person teams. Racers had 180 minutes to complete as many of the 150m ascent and descent laps as possible. The course was slightly different this year, climbing with skins almost to the top, then a bootpack to the top of the chairlift followed by a descent to the start/ finish area. As always the race involved less technical elements but a lot of mental strength as you lap again and again for three hours.
12308073_10153679918696335_2757319877308095034_o
Great to see some new faces making the transition into skimo!
Prior to the start of the race, National Team members held a clinic that started with a presentation by Melanie Bernier on the history of skimo racing, what the sport is all about and the race scene in Europe. The 10 athletes and their instructors then headed outside and practiced transitions; tips for race transitions but also useful tips for the backcountry. Strides and movement efficiency were discussed and kick-turns were demo’d and practiced.
As expected, National Team members Travis Brown and Peter Knight started the race hard with Melanie Bernier and Steve Sellers giving a strong chase. The laps took their toll, however, no-one could quite match Travis’ 18 total laps. Peter and Steve both finished with 17 laps (Steve placing well despite a ski lost into the trees during botched top-transition).
Hot dog!
Hot dog!
On the women’s side there was no surprise to see Melanie Bernier in good form, giving the boys a run for their money spinning 17 laps. The race for second and third was a bit more spread out with Kylee Ohler completing 16 laps and Michelle Roberts finishing with 15. Many impressive results by recreational back country skiers trying the sport for the first time. In addition to the elite spandex racer crew, there were 3 split boarders, tutu clad competitors, someone dressed as a giant hot dog, competitive rivalries between MEC teams, competitors from age 16-60, lots of high fives and laughter.
On the junior front, Marcus Zamzow got in 6 laps in 1.5 hours. A dramatic improvement over his race effort last year. No one pushed him for the victory. There were some other good efforts on pretty heavy gear!
Results HERE
The stoke is high as the snow is falling and people are getting geared up for the next four races on the Canadian circuit! Next up in Canada is the Castle Mountain Ski Mountaineering Race on Jan 9/10. This weekend, racing continues in Crested Butte with the Irwin Guides race cancelled due to lack of snow. Instead a vertical and ‘make-up’ individual race will take place at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
12347884_10153246900160233_671854468609854052_nIMG_2433Thanks for Steve Sellers, Kylee Toth, and Melanie Bernier for contributing words and photos.
 

Skimo Training Locations Series: Diamond Head Trail – Squamish BC

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The idea of this series is to highlight a local skimo training zones. Not the big, rad lines in the backcountry that you go to for huge missions, but the day in, day out, reliable training spots. It could be on piste or backcountry but it’s where you go to crank out intervals or hone your descending.
For our first in the series, we have my local training spot: Diamond Head Trail in Garibaldi Provincial Park outside of Squamish.

BC's South Coast and Garibaldi Provincial Park. The Diamond Head Trail is accessed from Squamish.
BC’s South Coast and Garibaldi Provincial Park. The Diamond Head Trail is accessed from Squamish (bottom left).

Where is it?

Garibaldi Park spans a big chunk of the Coast Mountains between Squamish and Pemberton. Near the southern end, it is accessed via the Diamond Head Trail.

What makes it special?

The Diamond Head Trail/Red Heather area gets some of the biggest snowfall in the region. That also means in North America.
The big old cedar trees, that line the ten feet wide trail, tower over you while you skin and heavy snow stacks high on the branches giving it a serious wintery feeling. By mid-winter, when enough snow has fallen, the switchbacking road can be short cut on the descent, through the trees for an excellent run back to the car. This trail is also the beginning of bigger adventures and provides access to the Elfin Lakes Cabin (20k round trip), Atwell Peak (the volcano that looms over Squamish) and the Garibaldi Neve Traverse (a beautiful high alpine traverse from Squamish to Whistler).
While I’ve spent lots of days skinning on the road, it has also been the start of some epic days in the alpine.

Interval training and Lactate testing on the Diamond Head Trail.
Interval training and Lactate testing on the Diamond Head Trail.

Where is the trailhead/parking?

Drive through Squamish (60km north of Vancouver, BC) and turn right off Highway 99 at Mamquam Road. Pass Quest University where the road turns to dirt. Turn left onto Garibaldi Park Road and be prepared to chain up. Parking is at the end of the road.
» Google Map directions.

What are the rules?

Chains may be required if the road has not been plowed recently or if there is ice. Winter tires don’t cut it and this is ranger enforced on busy weekends. If you get stuck because you didn’t put chains on, expect a hefty off-highway towing bill.
The trail is always open and is frequently quite busy on the weekends but quiet during the week. There is no significant avalanche danger below the Red Heather Cabin though it is the backcountry so dangers always exist.

Nightime interval training on the lower Diamond Head Trail.
Nightime interval training on the lower Diamond Head Trail.

What is the local training group?

There are no organized training groups in Squamish but expect to meet a bunch of other skiers looking for quick access to the backcountry here. Check the Garibaldi Skimo Club on Facebook to connect with other light and fast inclined people on the Coast.

What workouts are best to do here?

The low angle road and usually well buffed surface makes it perfect for fast intervals. Doing 2x 10min of 30sec on, 30sec rest is great for lactate tolerance and technique development. Once you’ve finished your workout, there are nice north facing slopes off Round Mountain (also called Paul Ridge) that hold some great powder!
Stay tuned to SkinTrack and the Training Zone Series for more of the best training locations around North America and beyond! Got a zone you would like us to showcase? Leave us a comment below and we will get in touch!

Skinning on the upper road with Garibaldi and Atwell Peaks in the background.
Skinning on the upper road with Garibaldi and Atwell Peaks in the background.
Good skiing can be had on the North facing slopes of Round Mountain in good avy conditions.
Good skiing can be had on the North facing slopes of Round Mountain in good avy conditions.

2015 Wolf Creek Classic Race Recap

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Scott Simmons and Marshall Thompson leading the charge at the 2015 Wolf Creek Classic. Myke Hermsmeyer Photo.
Scott Simmons and Marshall Thompson leading the charge at the 2015 Wolf Creek Classic. Myke Hermsmeyer Photo.
Carnage at Wolf Creek! Myke Hermsmeyer Photo.
Carnage at Wolf Creek! Myke Hermsmeyer Photo.
This weekend marked the opening skimo race of the 2015-2016 North American calendar. Held at Wolf Creek, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, 75 racers turned out (including a strong contingent from the U.S. Army and National Guard) for a lung burner of a race.
The course featured almost entirely skin track ascents with technical switchbacks, a couloir, skiing along a knife edge ridge, and five ascents to sufficiently challenge the competitors.
Temps were hovering around 1 deg F (-17 C) at the start line. As usual, the race started aggressively with Scott Simmons and Marshall Thompson leading the charge. A chase group, including Teague Holmes and Jon Brown, formed and applied pressure but could not close the gap while the leaders battled hard and stayed tight.
A smaller women’s field was still strong. Sara Kadlec, Catherine Richmond, and Stevie Kremer traded around for the top three spots with Kremer suffering a dramatic crash mid-race, accompanied by skin issues.
During the late stages of the race, Simmons pulled away from Thompson to finish with almost a minute lead and Holmes rounded out the men’s podium. On the women’s side, Kadlec took the win with a significant lead over Richmond and Kremer.
Stevie Kremer booting with failing skins at the Wolf Creek Classic. Myke Hermsmeyer Photo.
Stevie Kremer booting with failing skins at the Wolf Creek Classic. Myke Hermsmeyer Photo.
Of great note is the 7th place finisher, 14-years old Quinn Simmons, racing on his dad’s retired gear. It is safe to say we can expect big things from this athlete in the next few years!
Check out the next COSMIC Race at Irwin Backcountry Lodge on Dec 12th and the first event on the Canadian calendar coming up Dec 5th at Calgary Olympic Park and as always stay tuned to SkinTrack.com for updates and recaps!
Thanks to Joe Risi, Teague Holmes, and Myke Hermsmeyer for the info on how it all went down and be sure to check out Myke (on his website or Instagram) who graciously provided the excellent photos.

‘Crossing the line to familiar, and many new smiles, I remembered why I toe in to the line and pin it. This sport is a total blast with damn rad folks!’ – Teague Holmes

Results: HERE

Mount Baker: Early season ski trip report

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Last weekend brought a nice dump of snow to the Pacific Northwest. Rainier was forecasted to get walloped and further north, we got a decent amount of snow as well.
A few brave souls explored the alpine as the snow was still falling on Sunday but I didn’t get out until Tuesday. It was worth the drive down to Mount Baker (or Kulshan) and I was able to start skinning below tree line. The lower glaciers suffered significant losses over the hot summer and, despite the snow, were still heavily crevassed making skiing a bit limited.

Salomon S-LAB X ALP 20 Backpack review: Day-pack for Fast and Light Travel

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Quick overview:

salomon-x-alp-20-pack-main

  • Usual full price: $150 USD
  • Weight: 560 g (one size)
  • Volume: 20 L
  • Pros: versatile, durable, spacious
  • Cons: weight, bulk, single flask holder
  • Suitability: ‘citizen’ skimo racing, ski mountaineering day trips, summer alpine climbing/scrambling

Bottom Line:

A good all around ski mountaineering and adventure day-pack for fast and light travel.

Photos:

Product description and How we tested it:

The Salomon X Alp line is Salomon’s foray into serious mountaineering equipment and uses some innovative ideas from their top athletes. The X Alp 20 pack is one of the most interesting pieces in the line and worth checking out for any ski mountaineer.
Salomon worked a few interesting features into the pack. First is the back-side zipper. This isn’t particularly critical in a race environment when you are never opening your pack but in training or on an adventure day, it is more useful. I originally figured this was a bit of a gimmick but in practice this allows you access to your pack at times when it might be beneficial not to set it down – for example, when straddling the snowy summit of a peak or reaching for a water bottle midway up a 4th class ridge.
The ski carry system (a lasso type) is removable. It is essentially girth hitched to small loops on the pack but still works as a robust system. When you finally pack away the skis for the season you can remove the extra straps and use your pack for summer adventures. The upper ski carry (lasso) strap also functions as a rope strap in the summer (see photos above.)
The shoulder strap flask pocket allows quick access to fuel and liquids but is only on one side. I’d prefer that both straps had a pocket as it would be possible to carry a second flask up front when the ski carry was not attached. Similarly, the right hip has a zipper pocket that is useful for carrying food or a camera. The left hip belt could be equally equipped.
Like most skimo packs, the X-Alp includes a separate crampon compartment. However, the compartment is extra padded which, while being slightly heavier, prevents the crampons points from pressing into your back. Furthermore, unlike other skimo packs, the crampon pouch has a full zipper to keep your crampons absolutely secure inside.
I’ve been most impressed with how spacious the bag seems. This may partially be due to the extra long zipper but compared to other 20L packs (the Dynafit RC20 for example) it fits more gear – it seems to be more comparable with a pack like the Dynafit Broad Peak 28L. Climbing in the Tetons, I was able to carry a rap line, helmet, spare clothing, and a liter of water in my pack without having to strap things on the outside (though there is a spare set of clips on the pack body to attach a helmet).
Overall thoughts: The X-Alp 20 shouldn’t be considered a pure race pack though it will function in that purpose. It is better served as an adventure pack for ski and climbing days where light and fast features are valuable.

Pros:

Equally effective as a skimo pack and summer adventure pack. Large capacity. Secure ski fix. Durable.

Things to be improved:

It is slightly bulky but this likely just comes with the features. It also appears to be more resilient to abrasion than most race packs. I would prefer a second shoulder flask holder and a removable zipper pouch on the waist belt.

Naked Running Band review: Simplicity meets functionality

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Quick overview:

naked-running-band-5

  • Usual full price: about $39.00 USD
  • Weight: 66 g size V (size 5)
  • Pros: Simplicity, Function, Fit, Comfort, Breathable
  • Cons: None really
  • Suitability: Trail, mountain and road running for up to 2h (training and racing)

Bottom line:

The Naked Running Band is arguably the most minimalist yet functional piece of gear you will ever own.

Photos:

Product description and How we tested it:

When I first learned about the product I didn’t know what to think of it as it seemed too simple. On the other hand, it sure appeared useful enough for my shorter runs. Now, after couple of months of use, with over about 20 outings and one trail race, I can conclude that I really recommend it for all runners.
Being a designer myself (although in the digital world) this product reminds me of a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

The band is dead simple – it is made of a stretchy mesh-like fabric, features 4 independent pockets and simple jacket/shirt holder non-slip bands on the back side. The pockets can securely hold any of these items snugly around your waist during your runs: flasks, smartphone, energy bars, banana, gels, car keys, sun glasses, head lamp, credit cards… Of course, you can’t fit all of these items into the band at once but 4 or 5 are not a problem.
After measuring my waist, I figured out I needed size V (in Roman numerals). Since then the band fits great and became my regular companion on local trails around Vancouver. I don’t use it for all of my short runs, as some times I don’t take anything with me at all, but when I need to carry some water, my phone, and perhaps an extra upper body layer for the downhill then I slip on the Naked Running Band.
One thing I was somewhat questioning at the beginning was whether the band wouldn’t bounce too much while running downhill or on the flats. So far this has only happened to me when I loaded it with many items but even then quick reshuffling smoothed the ride well enough.
Another aspect I questioned was whether I will actually use it that much. It’s obvious the running band isn’t designed for full day outings unless you have plenty of drinking water along the way, however, I find myself using it about once every 2-3 runs so plenty enough to justify it in my gear box.
As for carrying a smartphone, the band works very well but you will need to slip it inside a small zip-lock bag (if you don’t have a water proof-ish cover) to prevent your sweat from getting to it.

Pros:

  • Works very well for what it was designed for
  • Fit and comfort are great
  • Can also be used to supplement your running vest/pack during very long outings or when racing an ultra
  • Made in USA (unlike 99% of such products)

Cons / What can be improved about this product:

I have only two suggestions that I believe can make this great product even better:

  • To make the inside panel of the back pocket (the one touching the runner’s back) from water proof material as my shirt hanging on the outside of it got a little wet when I was sweating heavily on a climb in hot weather.
  • My second suggestion is to perhaps provide a small water-proof bag for car keys or a phone along with the band. (My car opens only with a remote so I am always try to make sure the keys stay dry.)

Product Specs:

  • Materials: 4-way power mesh band
  • Sizing: 6 sizes, from 25 to 36 inches measuring your waist just at the navel

Online stores that carry Naked Running Band:

New Skimo Gear for 2015-2016 Season

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La Sportiva Sideral 2.0
La Sportiva Sideral 2.0
It’s that time of year when all the manufacturers are coming out with the newest products. Here we want to give you a quick overview of what is new this season. Frankly, it is a relatively quiet one, with very few truly new products. Several companies have given current products some big updates however.
The biggest change of the season is in skimo racing bindings. Weight continues to be shaved off despite new ISMF regulations that require race bindings to have manual locking mechanisms (pulling up on the toe piece to lock in). All the major brands now have a competitive (light weight) binding with a manual lock.

La Sportiva

No major changes to the La Sportiva ski line but the citizen race/ski touring boot – the Sideral – has been update to the 2.0 version. It features improved buckles (borrowed from the Spectre model) and an updated sole that offers compatibility with Tech, Frame and Trab TR2 binding systems.

Dynafit

Dynafit continues to improve its ski running line with the retail release of the 2.0 version of the DNA Race ski, boot, and Low Tech Race binding.

Dynafit Low Tech Race 2.0 Binding
Dynafit Low Tech Race 2.0 Binding
DNA 2.0 ski (and PDG 2.0) – The new DNA ski is 40 grams lighter than the black DyNA thanks to its carbon construction. It is also shaped a bit differently (similar to the Cho-Oyu or Denali shape) compared to previous version, while retaining the same dimensions (99-65-80) and turn radius (20m). The PDG 2.0 adopts the same shape and shaves 25 grams off its predecessor.
DNA Boot (PG RC-1 2.0) – Last year, Dynafit stepped away from their DyNA race boot and began licensing the Pierre Gignoux Morpho 400 as their RC-1 race boot. The 2015/16 DNA Boot is an improved RC-1 with a new color scheme (green and pink to match the skis) as well as an improved sole (way better than the RC-1!), and a new upper cuff strap system. Probably, it will be pretty difficult to find much stock in the US but if you find yourself in Europe it’s much more common over there.
Low Tech Race 2.0 Binding – With ISMF regulations requiring a race binding toe that does not auto lock, the Low Tech Race has taken an TLT Superlight toe piece with locking lever and trimmed it down to the essential material, pairing it with a Gignoux plastic heel piece to create a lightweight (around 100g) binding with a removable crampon attachment.

Plum Race 99 Bindings
Plum Race 99 Bindings

Plum

Race 99 Binding – This is an exciting entry into the game from Plum as the lightest all-metal binding on the market at a scant 99 grams. Mount these on any of the lighter skis and you might find yourself needing to add weight to meet the ISMF minimums! We got a chance to check them out at the 2015 Pierra Menta in March and at the Plum factory in Annecy, they are pretty cool!

Fischer

While racing the World Cup last season, Eric took mental note of all the broken skis that he saw throughout the year, and there were lots! The yellow Fischers topped the list but it looks like they have worked out the issues this year with their new Alp Attack Carbon skis. It has the same design as the (older) yellow version with a new construction and top sheet.
Race binding – Fisher is moving away from ATK as their bindings manufacturer and adopted the Dynafit Low Tech as its own re-branded binding for this season. Using the same toe as the Low Tech described above, it is slightly heavier with the older version Low Tech heel (metal rather than the current plastic Gignoux heel). This unit is likely much more durable for day-to-day use.

Fischer Profoil Skins
Fischer Profoil Skins
Profoil skins – Not really a skimo race quiver but worthy of a mention. The Fischer Profoil skins are just a thin sheet of plastic with no natural or artificial hair. Fischer claims the skins are just as effective climbing, have as good glide as mohair, but due to the material they literally can never ball up with snow (when wet to cold conditions occur). They cannot be trimmed and are only able to be used on a ski of a certain width (to allow room for a certain pattern on the base), but with their light weight and low bulk they could be especially useful on an ultra-wide ski.

CAMP Speed 2.0 Helmet
CAMP Speed 2.0 Helmet

CAMP

Speed 2.0 Helmet – CAMP is responsible for some excellent skimo accessories including their Rapid Racing Pack and their Race 290 crampons, and have now improved their venerable Speed helmet to be slightly lighter and with a new retention system. The Speed 2.0 helmet is comfortable for racing and does not to conflict much with sunglasses or a light light hat.

Ski Trab

Gara Titan binding – Ski Trab’s new binding comes in at just over 100g (slightly less than Dynafit Low Tech 2.0) and has all the required features plus a new design that allows the tech toe to close without coiled springs on the wings. Being completely new on the market, it may require some testing of the concept but it’s a possible worthy alternative binding.

Petzl Rad System
Petzl Rad System

Petzl

Rad Line – This is a special 30 meter, 6mm diameter ‘hyperstatic’ cord that can be used for rappelling and for glacier travel. The cord is pre-packaged by Petzl with three lightweight screw-lock carabiners, a double-shoulder length sling (can be used as an anchor or improvised harness), a micro traction (rope capture pulley (for a crevasse rescue), and a Tibloc (for rope ascent), all in a fancy Petzl bag.
The Rad Line is basically a ready-to-go ski mountaineering kit. Perfect for glaciers in the North Cascades, or Chamonix, or dropping into gnarly lines in the Tetons. Pair it with a thicker 30m lead line for harder terrain or use a skinny pull rope for 30m rappels.

For now, that’s all we have for new 2015-2016 skimo gear. We will have some more in-depth reviews of all of the above products soon! If we’ve missed anything, please give us a shout in the comments below or via our contact form.

Skimo Training Series: Training tips for September-October

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September marks change of seasons in North America and Europe. One minute you are suffering through the heat of summer then the next it is end of the month and the first snow is dusting the high peaks. During the upcoming weeks, there are a few things you can do to help get ready for ski season.

Eric Carter and Melanie Bernier getting in some early "skinning" mileage.
Eric Carter and Melanie Bernier getting in some early “skinning” mileage.

1) Start mimicking ski movements

Most of us have been running, cycling, or rock climbing all summer so it’s time to start working again on specific muscles for skinning and skiing.
Those with a big road climb in their area can break out the roller-skis. If you aren’t willing (or don’t have a big climb close by) to go to that level of training dedication then uphill ski walking is a good alternative. Find some hills that are steep enough to force you into a walk and use ski poles to push off with full extension in your elbow.
By getting those unused muscles in your back and legs moving, before the snow flies, you will have less soreness to start off when you finally put real skis on your feet.

2) Introduce intensity into your training

This time of the year is a good time to start including intensity training into your weekly routine. Skimo races are frequently at or above lactate threshold pace so Tempo and Threshold work early in the season is key. Start gradually with shorter intervals at lower intensities but work your way towards long interval sessions that mimic climbs in a race.
One of our favourite workouts is the Uphill Hour:
Following an easy warm-up, hike with poles or roller-ski uphill at Tempo pace for 45-60 minutes. Finish with an easy cool down.

3) Plan your race calendar

By October 1st, most race dates are usually decided or you at least have an idea of when your goal race might be since most events have stable dates year to year.
Check SkinTrack race calendar (coming soon), the USSMA calendar, and the ISMF World Cup schedule. Analyse where you need to drive or fly and start planning how far in advance you need to be there. Someone travelling to Utah or Colorado, or even to race Mezzalama in Italy, from near sea-level in Boston or New Hampshire should have very different acclimatization plans than someone that lives in Crested Butte.

How to get ready for a skimo season?

If you have more questions about how to get ready for the upcoming season, check out our skimo training manual – it is full of specific advice on fall intensity sessions and tips on how to plan your race season.

Copying Kilian Jornet is Likely Not Ideal for Our Performance and Health

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This article is not only for mature and young athletes but for their parents as well.
Without a doubt, Kilian Jornet has been the most influential figure in endurance mountain sports over the past decade. I don’t know anyone that hasn’t been inspired by him at least a bit.
There are videos, and stories, showing Kilian winning a stacked World Cup ski mountaineering race and smashing a field of well-known ultra-runners only few weeks later, despite a five-month long break from running. In between, he is skiing up and down Mont Blanc for breakfast. I mean, how can you not be inspired?
I am a fan but I want to bring attention to couple of points that I think the general athletic public is perhaps not aware. In recent years, I observe many mountain/endurance athletes mimic Kilian’s training and I think, such copying, can likely do more harm than good to us in terms of long-term performance and more importantly health.

If we can think of Performance (personal goals) and Health as consequences of the four factors in blue then we can see that health is more important than performance in the long run because it directly affects many aspects of the whole training process. (But pretty much everything is linked together whether directly or indirectly.)
If we can think of Performance (personal goals) and Health as consequences of the four factors in blue then we can see that health is more important than performance in the long run, because it directly affects many aspects of the whole training process. (But pretty much everything is linked together whether directly or indirectly.)

Kilian versus Us: Physiology, Training, Recovery, Resources

I am not trying to pick on Kilian here, I am simply using him as an example because he is arguably the most decorated endurance athlete right now and he is a man of extremes. If you are getting inspired by him then that’s all great, and know I am as well, but perhaps keep the following points in mind when increasing your training loads.

Physiology

There is no doubt in my mind that Kilian Jornet is a freak of nature. He regularly dominates elite fields in two different mountain sports – ski mountaineering and running – in events ranging from 20 minutes to 40 hours! He seems to recover crazy fast and is never injured.
This could be due to the fact that the two sports still have long ways to go in terms of competition evolution, or that his physiology is that much better that he might not need to be racing at 100% to achieve many of his wins. Most likely, it is a combination of both.
Whatever the case, I am fairly certain that if Kilian was a road marathon runner, or a professional cyclist, he would be top 10 in New York Marathon, or Tour de France, perhaps even win.

Training

As athletes, we respond differently to different types of training programs but there are some general principles that work quite well universally. We should shape our programs based on the demands of our goal competitions as the best performance gains are made when a training program promotes the desired adaptation effects in a long-term sustainable manner.
The above means that if you want to run ultras then you will need to spend lots of time running long miles, but if your goal are 1-3 hour races then your training needs be quite different – less overall volume, frequent high(er) intensity sessions, etc – to provide you with the most benefits for the time spend.
Kilian Jornet seems to be somewhat spared of these training specificity rules. No matter how many hours of training, combined with unprecedented vertical climbing he does, he is still arguably the fastest when the race is longer than 20 minutes. According to his website, Kilian trains 20-35 hours over 7 days a week, pretty much year round. He averages around 1000 hours and 550,000 vertical metres annually.
For you and me, raising our training volume anywhere close to his levels, even for few weeks, it is very likely to set us on a path of over-training and health issues such as joint problems, muscle imbalances, hormonal and immunity imbalances, and others.

Recovery

Ability to recover well and fast is crucial to successfully improve your performance. Quality and speed of your recovery allows you to do more in training and to have an edge in competition.
Given all of the above, it’s clear that Kilian Jornet’s body must have an exceptional recovery ability. This allows him to train and race more than almost anyone in the world, and all without getting injured! I am not aware of any other athletes that push(ed) their bodies so much, for so many years, and haven’t been sidelined with an overuse injury even for couple of weeks. Will he pay the price later or he is physiologically just so superior?

Resources

With physiology, training, and recovery building on each other, we need to also consider resources when comparing ourselves to Kilian.
If you ever seriously focused on improving your performance, even for a short period of time, then you likely discovered that not enough recovery time and quality easily erodes your efforts. I believe, for most mountain athletes, this ultimately comes down to resources expressed as money and time. Between work, training, and other commitments there simply is not enough time for proper recovery on regular basis, and no money for some quality methods such as massages, physio, etc.
I don’t think Kilian is rich but he certainly has more time – to listen to his body, to take care of it, to relax his mind. He has worked hard to arrange things this way but for most of us this is not possible so it should be taken into consideration when setting up our training plan.
Killian is a full time professional athlete and at any time he isn’t training he is recovering. He also has a great support network – this also fits under the resources umbrella.

Kilian versus Us: Long-term health

Professional athletes get paid with an understanding that they are trading their bodies for money but even they still hope the trade-off won’t have serious consequences.
As amateur athletes, junior racers, or parents, we should consider future consequences a little bit more, especially, given the fact that we don’t have the same recovery resources available to us.

Bottom line

With everything said throughout the article, I don’t want to discourage you from challenging yourself, but I hope I was able to illustrate why you should be thinking of the size and the kind of the impact your training and activities will have on your performances and health. Kilian is using his talent to its full potential, and that is very inspiring, just don’t forget he is a bit special 😉

Report: 3rd Annual SkinTrack Summer Training Camp

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Over the last weekend (Sep 4-6, 2015), we hosted the 3rd annual SkinTrack Summer Skimo Training Camp, with activities based around Whistler BC.

As close to revealing himself as it gets.
Trevor as close to revealing himself as it gets.
The camped kicked off at Escape Route, a local outdoor store in Squamish, with a presentation by a local steep skier and Dynafit athlete Trevor Hunt (@coaststeepskier on Instagram).
Forty skiers turned up while Trevor gave an exciting presentation where he highlighted five local steep descents including the North Face of Atwell and the Ledge.
His presentation sparked some interesting discussion and questions ranging from gear (he uses Dynafit TLT6 boots on Denali skis with Expedition Bindings) to how he copes with fear.

Saturday

Eric Carter leading just before cramps got best of him 20 seconds from the line.
Eric leading just before cramps got best of him 20 seconds from the line.
The core training camp group met in Whistler Village where a few of us competed in the first ever edition of the Whistler Valley to Peak running race. The race was 20km with 1800m of elevation gain climbing from the village, up mountain bike trails and service roads, to finish at the peak of Whistler via the beautiful High Note trail.
Eric Carter came second but was very close to winning until cramps got best of him just metres from the line.
Those not racing opted for a slightly less gruelling option of running the Signing Pass trail to High Note to cheer for the racers. After lunch on the deck in Whistler, we returned for some recovery time in Squamish and a BBQ dinner with the group.
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Couple of non-racers enjoying the beautiful views and weather.

Sunday

Despite a dreary weather forecast for Sunday, we opted to head into the alpine and hope for the best. Parking at the Rainbow Lake trail-head in Whistler, we headed up the trail with an ambitious plan of a high alpine traverse over Rainbow Peak to connect two valleys and form a perfect loop.

We crossed two glaciers in the process.
We crossed two glaciers in the process. Second and fourth here are Adam Campbell and Nick Elson, arguably the two fastest 50-150km runners in Canada.
Luckily for us, the weather held. We jogged the trail to the beautiful Rainbow Lake and then started climbing scree slopes and rock slabs to reach the Rainbow Glacier. Snow fall from several days prior had covered the glacier ice giving it a nice clean coat.
Part of our group marveling over nature's ability to create mysterious creations.
Part of our group marveling over nature’s ability to create mysterious creations.
By descending the NE side of the peak and shoulder, we linked up with the recently completed beautiful Skywalk Trail – a new addition built by the Alpine Club of Canada Whistler Section. Skywalk led us down Nineteen Mile Creek and after 6 hours, 30km and 1800m of vert we were back to our cars!

Thank You

We’d like to say thank you to Trevor Hunt, Escape Route, Dynafit and as well the athletes who attended the training camp. We can’t wait to do it again next year!