Preparing your skis:
Ideally, your skis already have a layer of summer storage wax on them from the spring. This protective layer serves the purpose of protecting them from damage while in the garage, basement, or shed. It also helps to seal in moisture and prevents bases from drying out. To have your skis ready to go when the trails open, you’ll need to scrape this layer off, brush, and apply a layer or two of fresh glide wax that matches what you expect early season conditions to be. After scraping and brushing the fresh glide wax, you are ready to go.
Preparing your body:
There’s no getting around it: Nordic skiing can be hard work. The best way to prepare your body coming into the season is to develop a series of cardiovascular and strength exercises that you can perform at least a few times per week to build a base of fitness. Fischer's SKILETICS® Program is an excellent resource for developing this routine. They provide expert advice from athletes and coaches to develop skiing-specific workouts that are designed for summer and fall use. Activities like running, bounding, cycling, and roller skiing are all great ways to develop or increase fitness.
The bottom line:
Spending a little bit of time in the fall preparing your skis and your body for the upcoming season will make those first days on snow feel so much sweeter. Your skis will be fast, and you’ll feel stronger and fresher. Fischer’s training resources are an excellent place to start. If you’re looking to make the move to racing, finding a coach or formal training plan is a great idea, too.
