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Race before you're ready.
The Skimo Survival Guide Tenets

Race before you're ready.

Your first race is research, not a report card.

· Scott Semple

anaerobic capacity training
Glossary

anaerobic capacity training

to increase the capacity to break down carbohydrates anaerobically

· Scott Semple

anaerobic capacity
Glossary

anaerobic capacity

the maximum amount of pyruvate that can be produced per second by glycolysis

· Scott Semple

A sketch showing smaller and smaller overlapping circles, the smalles of which represents skimo racing
The Skimo Survival Guide Tenets

"skimo" means racing.

Using "skimo" to mean ski mountaineering—or vice versa—flags the speaker as either: a non-English speaker, which is fine; or a beginner, which might not be what they’re going for.

· Scott Semple

A side-view photo of the toe of a skimo boot in a binding with paint marks near the binding inserts.
From Geek to Freak Tools

Paint your toes.

Save time in transitions. On your boot, mark the location of the binding inserts.

· Scott Semple

Trim your skins.
From Geek to Freak Tools

Trim your skins.

Almost all of the grip comes from under the heel.

· Scott Semple

Plan your attack.
From Geek to Freak Tactics

Plan your attack.

Decide where and how to apply your strengths—and make up for weaknesses.

· Scott Semple

Preview the course.
From Geek to Freak Tactics

Preview the course.

Redlining at a race pace is not the time to figure out where to go.

· Scott Semple

The serious athlete is neglected.
From Geek to Freak Tenets

The serious athlete is neglected.

A simple guide to "How to Run Your First 5K!" will always outsell an essential-but-dense tome like *The Lore of Running*. But training to survive short-term participation does little to maximize long-term performance.

· Scott Semple

Glossary

workout syntax

· Admin User

Glossary

periodization, reverse

· Admin User

Glossary

periodization, linear

· Admin User

Glossary

periodization, converging

· Admin User

Glossary

load, internal

· Admin User

Glossary

load, external

· Admin User

Glossary

aerobic capacity

The maximum amount of oxygen one can consume per minute. aka. "AeC"

· Admin User

Basic Human

Basic Mobility

· Admin User

Basic Human

Basic Duration

· Admin User

Basic Human

Basic Speed

· Admin User

Basic Human

Basic Strength

· Admin User

Basic Human

Basic Function

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Basic Human

Basic Routine

· Admin User

An illustration of an arrowhead with the three blades labeled for strength, speed, and duration
Glossary

converging periodization

a pace-specific planning method that starts at four extremes, trains them concurrently, and progresses each toward a goal event

· Scott Semple

A photo of a skimo racer exiting an upper transition
Technique

Exiting a transition zone 🛫

Regardless of the transition type, leaving a transition zone has a handful of common actions.

· Scott Semple

Technique

Boot to Ski ⛷️

· Scott Semple

A photo of a skimo racer entering a boot-to-skin transition, removing skis from their holster
Technique

Boot to Skin 🦿

Bootpack sections, especially in the sprint event, often end with more skinning. Transitioning from booting to skinning is the shortest transition and often only takes a few seconds.

· Scott Semple

A photo of a skimo racer just about to leave the upper transition zone
Technique

Ski to Skin 🦿

At the bottom of each climb, a skimo racer must switch from uphill skinning to uphill skinning and do it in less than 60 seconds to be competitive.

· Scott Semple

A photo of a skimo racer on one knee and holstering skis
Technique

Skin to Boot 🥾

Bootpacks are too steep to skin, so racers must switch from skinning to booting. With practice, a bootpack transition can be done in a few seconds.

· Scott Semple

Skin to Ski: Double Rip ‼️
Technique

Skin to Ski: Double Rip ‼️

After the final ascent, the change from skinning to skiing is unique. Instead of two single-skin rips, it's much faster to double-rip both skins and stuff the sticky mess in your suit.

· Scott Semple

Skin to Ski: Single Rips❗
Technique

Skin to Ski: Single Rips❗

At the top of each climb, a skimo racer must switch from uphill skinning to downhill skiing and do it in less than 30 seconds to be competitive.

· Scott Semple