About

Skimo School is a resource for skimo racers looking to improve their training and racing. Whether your first race or your 50th, Skimo School provides clear, practical guidance on how to train and compete effectively.

This site covers everything from training principles and race tactics to technical skills. It's designed for athletes who want to approach skimo racing with a modern, structured system that maximizes performance while avoiding wasted effort.

Who's behind Skimo School?

I'm Scott Semple. I skimo raced for six years, was a member of the Canadian National Team, and competed at the ISMF World Championships. Before that, I spent 14 years as an ice and alpine climber, sponsored for five by Black Diamond, SCARPA, Clif Bar, Adidas Eyewear, and others.

During my climbing and racing years, I had the privilege of studying endurance training under my mentor, Scott Johnston, co-author of Training for the New Alpinism and Training for the Uphill Athlete. His guidance shaped my understanding and became a key part of the foundation for Skimo School.

After racing, I worked for Scott at Uphill Athlete, coaching climbers, skimo racers, and mountain runners, and facilitating many personal bests. My goal with Skimo School is to take what I've learned—through reading, training, coaching, and much trial and error—and make it accessible to anyone who wants to improve at mountain sports, particularly skimo.

Currently

I am enrolled in the Hintsa Performance Coaching Course, with completion expected in June 2026.

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