This is the minimal plan that we recommend for those who are at the early stages of Skimo racing and have a goal of competing in short-duration (sub 4 hour) Skimo races. This 16 week pre season plan progresses gradually but will require considerable effort to complete. It is primarily a dry land based program so that you can hit the snow in good shape and is also for those who do not live close to snow. The endurance workouts can be done on snow if you have access. It is not for a novice as it starts off with over 6 hours of required training per week and peaks at 10 hours per week. The program starts with building basic endurance and general strength. After 8 weeks there is an increase in the aerobic intensity. Finally, there is a taper period leading into the first race.

This plan has proven successful for beginner to intermediate Skimo racers who use it properly to compete at regional levels. It is not designed for those already well trained in Skimo or mountain running. If you are winning local races or are competitive in National or International level events this plan will be too basic for you.