Ep 7. The Strength Skiers Actually Need

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan take a high-level look at strength interventions for skiers and endurance athletes. They discuss how strength training has evolved from old-school approaches—like static core routines and generalized lifting—to a more modern, individualized method rooted in movement quality, stability, and sport-specific needs. Andy shares how his early strength coaches from football and rugby backgrounds shaped his holistic philosophy: build athleticism first, then translate it to better technique and performance on skis. Brian brings in his experiences from biathlon coaching and reflects on his own journey from basic lifting to incorporating functional movement and targeted interventions.

Together, they break down the five key strength categories—general strength, max strength, power, velocity, and core—and explore how each can be periodized over a season depending on athlete age, training background, and goals. They also emphasize the importance of identifying and addressing individual weaknesses through functional screening, especially for young and developing skiers. The conversation is filled with practical tips for incorporating strength without a full gym setup, including ideas for playground workouts, band exercises, and core-integrated plyometrics.

Listeners will come away with a better understanding of how to build strength plans that actually intervene—that is, strategically support each athlete’s path to better skiing. Whether you’re a coach writing plans for high schoolers, a developing athlete unsure where to start, or an elite skier refining your program, this episode is a valuable resource on blending strength with ski-specific movement and long-term development.

Studys referenced:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9179959/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320315019_Strength_training_improves_double_poling_performance_after_prolonged_submaximal_exercise_in_cross-country_skiers