Spring has sprung, and for many ski racers, the season has wrapped. But for the elite competitors—from Mikaela Shiffrin to your local podium crushers—the next season starts now. The best improve their ski racing in the off-season too.
First thing is first—congrats on your ski racing season! No matter how it went, you put in a lot of work. Pat yourself on the back. Then set your sights on December 2024—it’s time to get back to work. The best ski racers are doing these three things right now—are you?
Reflect and Refuel
Ski season is a whirlwind. When races are over and sunny days outnumber ski days, take a moment to reflect on your season. Reflection helps solidify what you’ve learned and fuels your off-season goals.
Turn off your phone and find a quiet place to spend an hour reflecting on these questions:
- What went well this season? (What can we celebrate?) Name at least three specific things; even the worst season will have pieces worth celebrating.
- What could you improve? Name at least three specific things. Remember, we don’t have a time machine—focus more on causes than outcomes.
- What did you learn that you want to carry into next season?
- How would you rate your mental and physical health this season? Rate and reflect on mental and physical health separately.
- What’s the most important thing you’d like to focus on next year? This should be specific (not something general like “winning”). Something specific can drive your goals through the off-season.
- Driven Mind has more helpful reflection questions
Reflection helps you mentally close the book on the 2023-2024 season. Take a well-deserved mental break for at least two weeks. Pursue other interests and let your mind recharge. Sleep often sparks new insights (“sleep on it!”), the same goes for a break from ski racing. You’ll return refreshed and ready to grow.
End-of-Season Ski Equipment Prep
Before you pack up your tuning bench, prep your skis for the summer! Whether you have summer ski camps coming up or will spend six months off skis, your future self will thank you. Well-maintained skis, bindings, and race suits are essential to ski racing success and are well worth the time investment. Follow our guide to post-season equipment care for a productive afternoon.
Plan Your Summer Ski Training
There’s a summer training plan to fit everyone! Spend some time crafting an off-season training plan now to make it a no-brainer through the summer months.
Schedule Ski Camps – Are you wondering if summer skiing is for you? A great way to test summer skiing is to make the American ski racer’s pilgrimage to Mount Hood. Check out our favorite summer ski camps, and prepare with our guide on what summer ski camp is really like.
We love summer skiing because it allows you to train without any pressure from an upcoming race. You get to focus on ski racing techniques and tactics for a week or two.
Have fun with Cross Training – Because ski racing is so complex, there are many sports to cross-train with. Cross-training is excellent for improving overall fitness and adds fun and play to your training. Grab your sneakers, mountain bike, or climbing gear and get out there!
Get On a Dryland Training Program – Simplify the off-season for yourself and commit to a dryland training program now. Connect with your coach to see if they already have something developed for the team. Your coach may also be willing to help you put a program together. There are lots of great resources on the internet as well!
Congrats on finishing your ski season! On to the next…
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