Ready for Winter? Part 2

(Editor's Note: Snow-capped mountains were a welcome sight this morning-perfect timing for the second in our three-part series - both video and written - on some useful training tools you can add in the dryland months to prep for winter skiing. Curious for more? We have a few spots left in our one-day clinic September 23rd to learn and practice workouts to incorporate into your training. Join us! We also have a ski prep training plan here.)

Now that you’ve begun your practice of ski-imitation training in the dryland season (see our first article on “Ski Walking”), you’re ready to move forward into moosehoofing. Whereas ski walking seeks to differentiate a hiking stride from a ski-specific motion targeting hip extension, moosehoofing takes that methodology a step further by adding dynamism, and it's a fun word to say.

Phase Two: Moosehoofing

The main point to keep in mind when moosehoofing is to not turn it into running; the foot should land forward on the heel to encourage a quick but powerful hip extension. If you notice yourself drifting into a running form with feet landing under the hips on the ball of the foot, stop and regroup to ensure proper technique. Without further ado, here's how to do it.

Example workout protocol: do an easy warm up for 10-20 minutes to a steep hill, then do 3x8 minutes of moosehoofing with 2 minutes recovery in between each one, then a cool down back home.