Joe Howdyshell (left) on a race day too cold for jean shorts.
We all have out deep meditative moments inside the pain cave known as the skin track. On one spring day, I had two questions alternating in my head between wheezy borderline hypoxic breaths. The first, “should I have been training more this season for big spring missions?” and second, “who is that dude in the jean shorts crushing up in front of me?”
Then I met Joe Howdyshell and both of these questions were answered.
Probably a more helpful question for the reader is, “Can interval training that my real athlete friends use directly apply to my more casual but still grueling endeavors in the mountains?” Last month, US Ski Mountaineering Association Team Coach Joe Howdyshell said yes during his primer on late summer ski fitness. We got good feedback from readers which told us this early season fitness business is one folks are interested in. So, in the spirit of exchanging the summer bulge for that fit ski touring svelte, here’s an episode from the Totally Deep archives where Howdyshell gets even deeper into early-season training how-tos.
One of Joe’s main takes: training can, and should, be fun (hence the jean shorts). Another: training plans aren’t just for pro athletes. Even if you only have a scant 6-7 hours a week to train, with the right program, you too can move quickly and efficiently in the mountains. In this episode, he gives specific interval tips you can start tomorrow as well as ideas for training plans. He also shares tales from the International Ski Mountaineering Federation World Championship in the Dolomites and the dangers of too much early season stoke.
So have a listen and don’t let this season get away from you before it starts. Also, check out Summit Endurance Academy for more info and Joe’s training plans.
How to change your summer fitness into winter time fun.
Team USA at the 2017 World Championships.
From this podcasting photo it might seem like the training information is going right in one ear and then out the other…
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While most of the WildSnow backcountry skiing blog posts are best attributed to a single author, some work well as done by the group.
