[hafjell]

Went for the first skin of the season yesterday and was pleased that the off-season running program helped me shave a few minutes off of my go-to 2,000′ local loop. Conditions weren’t perfect either so I think I avoided over-training.
The one drawback: I was getting very tired from poling even at a nose-breathing pace. What can I do now that I’m in-season to improve my poling strength?
Thanks for all the wisdom here and the podcasts. Just listened to the intro to skimo podcast and wonder if a similar one is in the works for ski mountaineering (slower pace, lower cadence, heavier pack, etc.)

Topic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on November 29, 2020 at 2:18 pm #47588

It is probably not a strength issue.

Arm endurance training is challenging for most people due to the lack of equipment. First choice: Get out often skiing, both touring and XC classic skiing will help this. Next: Concept 2 Skierg. Next: An old Nordic Track. Often found at garage sales at give away prices. I have even bought just the poling/arm trainer from a NT off eBay for something less than $20 and mounted it on a wall for poling simulation. Next summer and especially fall take you poles on your mountain runs and use your arms too to get you up the hills.

No plans for a ski mountaineering pod cast but the principles of training for all these uphill sports are similar that hopefully you got some useful info from that one.

Scott

[Jason Shumaker]

Jason Shumaker on November 30, 2020 at 8:47 am #47634

More legs, less arms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on December 9, 2020 at 7:06 am #48032

Mmm… I have to disagree with “more legs, less arms.”

More legs, more arms would be better. If you can be quadripedal, why not take advantage of it?

[tomC]

tomC on October 28, 2021 at 8:13 am #58538

This might sound silly, but one thing I’ve started doing on my longer runs/ Z1 work is finding a couple fist sized rocks and carrying them in my hands and moving my arms as if they have poles in them. I figure it’s a bit heavier than actual poles and I can toss them when I don’t want them.

[dcgm]

dcgm on November 4, 2021 at 7:18 pm #58831

Semi off topic, how do you guys rate the C2 skierg as a low-impact cross-training modality for running/hiking/scrambling relative to e.g. the rower, C2 bike erg, or Airdyne bikes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on April 15, 2023 at 11:52 am #77197

Finding a few fist-sized boulders, holding them in my hands, and moving my arms as if they were holding poles is something I’ve been doing on my longer runs and Z1 work. Since I can chuck them when I don’t need them, I reason that they are a little heavier than actual poles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on June 20, 2023 at 4:54 am #78948

Given the absence of equipment, arm endurance training can be difficult for most people. The first option is to go skiing frequently; both touring and XC classic skiing will aid in this. Skierg Concept 2 will follow. A former Nordic track is the next. Garage sales frequently provide these items for dirt cheap. In order to simulate poling, I have even purchased just the poling/arm trainer from an NT off of eBay for less than $20. Bring poles and use them on your mountain runs next summer, and especially in the autumn. You can also use your arms to climb hills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on June 21, 2023 at 4:22 am #78966

There are no plans for a ski mountaineering podcast, but since the training concepts for all of these uphill sports are the same, hopefully you learned something from that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous on June 23, 2023 at 10:24 am #79000

Finding a few fist-sized boulders, holding them in my hands, and moving my arms as if they were holding poles is something I’ve been doing on my longer runs and Z1 work. Since I can chuck them when I don’t need them, I reason that they are a little heavier than actual poles.