Simo-Viljami Ojanen, coach of Electrofit, a company offering both individual and group training in Finland, says that in the summer, recreational skiers should focus on developing the qualities that they don’t have time for during winter. Summer is a good time to focus on developing, for example, strength and core, among other things.

Nowadays, skiing has become more demanding, and the amount of upper body work has increased, which is also reflected in recreational skiing. That’s why Ojanen points out that taking care of strength levels often shows in winter in skiing capacity.

“For many, gliding on a single ski is challenging when strength levels and balance are insufficient. Single-legged strength exercises are a good prerequisite to developing skiing techniques. It is not realistic to expect that one can excel in gliding in one ski if it is challenging to do, for example, single-leg squats or deadlifts at the gym.”

“While some may find it difficult to get themselves to a gym environment, it would be desirable to master at least a few basic exercises. It’s not beneficial to go to the gym to do whatever, but to challenge oneself and develop there as well.”

If one tends to ski too fast in the winter, Ojanen recommends focusing on developing the low-intensity training phases during the summer season. It is easy to do low-intensity exercises such as walking, hikes, and bike rides during the summer.

“Among recreational skiers, the low-intensity fitness is often a bit weak, so the main focus should be on light training in the summer. If you want to improve something, you should do it several times a week.”

Although low-intensity training is a good foundation, Ojanen says it would also be good for recreational skiers to do intensity training in the summer too.

“As we age, we get slower, our strength levels decline, and our oxygen uptake drops by a millimeter every year. Yes, those are certain qualities that everyone is happy to look after already for one’s overall health. It is not worth dragging your every step and going slow because you will get slower anyway.”

According to Ojanen, a common mistake that many recreational skiers repeat is that they always train in the same way. A recreational skier who is not a full-time athlete can sometimes feel overloaded for reasons outside of sport, which is why Ojanen suggests that it makes sense to vary the training according to one’s life situation.

After a hard day at work, Ojanen states that it is not wise to push yourself too hard but to ease up the training by listening to your feelings. When the life situation allows it, it’s also good to try more intensive training weeks.

“I understand that sport is significant for many people, but sometimes you should also have lighter weeks. It’s wise advice that while you are resting, you are getting fitter.”