Here’s a scary thought/tip: Keep lifting weights year-round.
Yeah, even during your seasons to keep the “umph” and “pop” you want, you can’t rely on the sport itself. Human-power sport reps are too low-effort, too high-cadence by’n’large. Gotta keep hittin’ the weights year-round.
I used to think I could get by lifting weights in the “offseason.”
First, there is no offseason. Second, we need the extra umph. I mean, if that’s what you want.
Basically, in XC ski season, weights help you keep power. Just skiing probably means a slow loss of power as you gain endurance. Sure, you can do power-jams, etc. But that’s nothing like a dose of power-lifting. OK, it’s close, but what if you don’t live near hills? Heck, there’s no natural resistance around here where I live, anyway. I needs the weights.
Like, I noticed my lower back getting weak a couple weeks ago. I haven’t done crunches in a month, since snow flew. I’ve been skiing every day instead. Doublepoling is crunchy, right? Not like crunches! Skiing alone doesn’t work the abs enough to protect the low-back. Do the calisthenics! Keep it up! Now that I’m back crunchin’ I feel more stable in the low-back.
Nothing stays! Use it or lose it. It’s not “you.” I’m not fit. I’m only fit if I work out. It’s my work that counts. We don’t “have” fitness. We can’t “get” it. If we work out we’re fit. Different workouts for different aspects of fitness. Just skiing around and doing bodyweight exercise doesn’t give as much power as lifting does. And just skiing around doesn’t work your whole body even though it really seems like it. It works more than any other exercise, right? Well, it misses some things. So if you want some extra, do what it takes.
Same probably goes for bike season. Sure, biking keeps your legs strong. But keep doing the squats.
