Inline Skating is Training for Ski Racers

No one would disagree that high-performance alpine ski racing requires all of an athlete’s strength, agility, and cardiovascular fitness. To that end, ski racers across the country are experiencing the value of training by incorporating inline skating with the Rollerblade Skate to Ski system. Cross-training that can replicate on-snow training is especially valuable during the off-season or when access to the slopes is not possible. Rollerblade is working with clubs, coaches, and athletes to advance ski racing performance through its innovative training program. 

The Skate to Ski Program

Rollerblade has partnered with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and the National Ski Patrol to develop a world-class, off-snow, cross-training program for ski racers. The Skate to Ski program has created a progression from basic to advanced designed to improve technique, balance, agility, fitness, and core strength.  The Skate to Ski training App offers videos that build the foundational skills needed to cross-train on skates. Many of the drills are taken directly from proven ski training drills used by the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the U.S. Ski Team.

As the training program expands throughout the country, it’s notable that two-time US Olympic Downhiller, World Championship medalist, and ELITEAM founder Doug Lewis is witnessing the Skate to Ski training program benefit his athletes and has become a strong advocate. “The Rollerblade Skate to Ski program is the most ski-specific off-snow program you can do. Not only does it train ski-specific movements and patterns that translate into better skiing, but it will increase your agility, strength, mobility, and cardiovascular capacity.” He noted that productive time off the snow is critical to maintaining fitness and strength throughout the year.

All levels of ski racers are seeing the benefits of inline skating

From current and retired U.S. Ski Team members to up-and-coming junior athletes, having fun inline skating can be an integral part of dryland training. Current U.S. Alpine Ski Team member Isabella Wright is just one of several Ski Team members incorporating skating into their off-season training program. “It provides a lot of leg strength and balance. It feels similar to skiing as you roll side to side and it is fun”. She continued: “It’s just great for glute strength while engaging your hamstrings and quads, but it also just makes training at a high intensity a lot more fun than sitting on a stationary bike. It has been helpful for me to be able to leave my doorstep and skate around my neighborhood.  It’s a challenging workout.”

For Wright, the social aspects of skate training are important.  “Alice Merryweather and I went to Mammoth last spring and would skate for several miles. We had so much fun with it; she started a breakfast skate with my other teammates.” She described other group events that feature inline skating: “I don’t know if you’ve heard of “PC [Park City] ladies? We get a group of women together, and inline skate around the park or Main Street. It’s been a fun summer Thursday night social experience for all of us”, Wright concludes. 

Former U.S. Ski Team member Brennan Rubie enjoys inline skating as a part of his workouts and believes it is something you can go out and have a lot of fun with, stating: “It’s just a great way to stay active and get outside.” Now retired from the World Cup competition, Rubie is introspective about skating post-retirement. “Now that I’m retired, skating has held a couple of different places in my life.  When I’m not on skis, it’s something I do that feels like I’m doing my favorite sport and I work on ski-specific thoughts. Skating helps me achieve improvements in the offseason, so when I get back on skis, it’s like I never left.”

Like the professionals, junior skiers are experiencing tangible improvements from incorporating skating into a training regime.  One such athlete is second-year U16 skier Sam Hambsch of Woodstock, Vermont.  Sam is a member of Okemo Mountain School (OMS), competing as part of the Vermont Alpine Racing Association.  For two years now, Sam has been working with his OMS coach Chris Hurka and Rollerblade partner Myles Cotter-Sparrow to implement the principles of the Skate to Ski program during the off-season.  “I can’t say enough about the overall program. Chris spent time with me in the off-season working on turn initiation and pole planting”, Hambsch stated.  He also credits Hurka for his knowledge and ability to articulate how inline skating relates to skiing: “Inline skating uses the same muscle groups used in alpine skiing. Chris provides specific drills and exercises. The required coordination of turning, timing, and pole planting can be practiced using inline skates year-round.”

Cotter-Sparrow, who has now worked with Sam for two seasons, recalls their first sessions together: “Our first session on skates, he was able to apply his ski technique skills while improving timing and body position.  The better your body and technique awareness becomes, the faster you can improve.”  He said, “As ski race athletes, we are mastering our sport through repetition. Sam could get that repetition in the summer without traveling to find snow.  Spending a few hours on skates is like spending the day on the snow.”

Hambsch recounts his first-hand experience with Cotter-Sparrow and support from Rollerblade: “I was fortunate that Myles from Rollerblade took an interest in supporting my development and in-line skating technique. He came and skated with me dozens of times and gave me encouragement and pointers on technique.”  Working together, he used integrated ski-specific drills and plenty of repetition that resulted in Sam more quickly climbing the ranks. He was reflective on the improvement he saw in his ability: “Most importantly, I feel like I’m developing as a skier while focusing on skiing well.”

Spreading the word

Cotter-Sparrow works across the country to introduce the Skate to Ski training program to clubs, ski academies, and summer camps.  He explained that typically Rollerblade is contacted by clubs and academies to host demonstration clinics.  Athletes, coaches, and parents attending the clinics leave understanding the importance of quality equipment and safety while learning specific drills designed for ski racers. Sparrow-Cotter added: “Rollerblade wants to get skates on the feet of athletes and coaches. We want to give skiers the tools and support to help them reach their potential.”