Sports Science

A knee-support idea Michael Decker doubted helped launch Opedix. Discover how curiosity, biomechanics and on-snow testing shaped the directional compression base layers available through SYNC Performance.

Strength is only part of alpine skiing performance. Rowmark’s Science Corner examines how the nervous system helps athletes access, regulate and apply force under demanding conditions.

Eirik Hystad Solberg climbed to 15th on the World Cup slalom start list after growing up far from Norway’s major ski centers. Solberg and sports science director Robert Reid explain the training culture behind his rise and Norway’s demanding Ironman test.

Why do young giant slalom skiers lose speed while elite racers seem to carry momentum effortlessly from turn to turn? This coaching article explains how energy dissipation, line choice, depth, pressure management and clean turn release influence speed and efficiency in giant slalom.

Steve Ilkiw and Michael Colley are helping reshape athlete development through the Athlete Action Plan, a framework that prepares athletes for success both in sport and beyond.

How elite ski racers manage vibration, force, and stability—and why strength alone isn’t enough for performance.

Fitness testing in alpine ski racing can improve training decisions, track adaptation, and support athlete development when coaches use data with context. This article explains how Skills Quest-Fitness helps programs apply standardized testing effectively without overinterpreting results.

Off-season training builds more than strength. It develops the balance, rhythm, and force control that young ski racers rely on when skis hit snow. Learn how movement, play, and strength work together to create better skiing.

Eccentric strength training helps young alpine skiers develop the control, stability, and power needed to perform at their best. By focusing on the muscle’s lengthening phase, it builds strength safely, improves joint stability, and enhances energy absorption—crucial for skiing’s high demands. When integrated into youth programs, it becomes a powerful foundation for long-term athletic development.

VO₂ priming helps ski racers unlock faster oxygen uptake and stronger endurance during high-intensity runs. By performing a brief, high-effort warm-up before competition, athletes enhance blood flow, improve oxygen delivery, and sustain power through longer, more demanding courses—gaining a critical performance edge when it matters most.

Ski racing pushes muscles to their limit, demanding both explosive strength and endurance. Fatigue builds as energy byproducts like phosphate and potassium disrupt muscle contractions, slowing reactions and reducing control — especially late in a race when injuries are most likely. With the right mix of endurance, strength, and recovery training, athletes can fight these effects and stay strong from start to finish.

Strength alone doesn’t win ski races—endurance does too. Alpine racers face intense forces every turn, but without the aerobic capacity to fuel their muscles from start to finish, strength breaks down. Building both endurance and power through volume, skill work, and targeted training is critical to reaching the podium.

You don’t have to wait until winter to train your mind for ski racing. In this article, performance psychologist Dr. Jim Taylor explains how athletes can build focus, confidence, and mental toughness in the gym—rep by rep—just like they build strength and endurance.

In a very special episode of the Skiing is Believing Podcast summer series, Matt Garcka and Alan Rigg welcomed renowned sports psychologist, Dr. Jim Taylor to express the importance of mentality and psychology across sport, and particularly ski racing. Tune in!

Video can transform athletic performance—but only when used correctly. In this article, Ron Kipp explains how the brain processes video, why watching the wrong movements reinforces bad habits, and how coaches can leverage neuroscience to create lasting improvement.

The purpose of this article is to discuss the different opinions regarding the validity of early sport specialization as opposed to diversification, specifically the effect these two methods have on injuries, motor development, skill acquisition, and social and psychological aspects.

Now that you’ve decided to go to summer camp, how do you optimize your improvement? Start by developing a plan based on your objectives and goals. These should come from you, the athlete, not just from your parents. Meaningful progress only happens when you reach for goals you’ve set for yourself.

Photo credit: Eliteam Doug Lewis What do you think is the best strategy for training