Ski Training in November

November is a critical time, as it is the last month to get solid training in before the race season really begins to take off. It is also the month that the snow usually begins to fly and skiers start transitioning to on snow training. For those of us who roller ski in the off season, this shift can feel odd or different and can lead to some challenges in technique. When you first get on snow in November, it can be a great time to do lots of easy skiing and really start to dial in technique. The same goes for others that only ski once the snow falls, slow down your skiing and think about technique. Working on technique will only make the rest of the season's skiing easier, and you will most likely race faster. It can be helpful to take video of yourself skiing no matter what level of skier you are. There are tons of resources on YouTube to compare your technique or find drills to help you make changes.

In terms of training though the month of November, you want to look at it week by week. It is important to note, while this time is important it can also be a tricky time of year. The weather can start to turn and fluctuate between wet snowy days and warmer drier days. In my ski career, I've had to modify or shift a ton of workouts to fit the weather. It might be too icy and snowy on the roads to do roller ski intervals, so instead I have done a bounding workout. It is important to relax and be adaptable. A typical November might look something like this:

Week one: Unless you are lucky, most places don't have snow, so continue to dryland train; running, biking, and roller skiing are all great ways to get out there. A longer LV3 or threshold interval is useful to continue to improve that base fitness. You might want to keep the volume of training a bit lower this week so you feel fresh and ready when you get on snow.

Week two: Fairly similar to the first week but with a bit more volume. It can be good to do some shorter, faster intervals one day of the week and also still do a LV3 session another day.

Week three: A lot of times there is somewhere to ski by this point but it might not be perfect. You might be able to hop on some skis for some distance but the coverage might not be enough for intervals. If you are able to get on snow with ample coverage, remember to work on technique. If you are feeling tired and planning on traveling and getting in a bunch of skiing the following week, then it can be a good idea to take a little rest time.

Week four: This is usually a big week of skiing. A lot of people travel over Thanksgiving week to get on snow in places like West Yellowstone. This is an awesome time to get in lots of skiing with two training sessions per day. It can be an exciting time. It’s easy to get super jazzed about skiing and want to ski fast and hard. However, it is important to keep your distance skis chill as you are getting back into the on-snow feel. During this week, some shorter faster LV4 intervals might be appropriate if you are feeling great!

Every year the month of November is different so there isn't a one size fits all training plan. It is important to continue to put in training work through this month but also listen to your body and don't overdo it.

See ya out on the trails!