Good morning Nicol.
Sidea deals with equipment dedicated to athletic preparation. All our questions will therefore focus on this subject, especially on the so-called dry training.
1- Summer is certainly the period for training without skis. How do you divide up your athletic preparation during the season?
Physical preparation for us skiers is the key to expressing ourselves at our best on skis. I usually set my seasonal goals on which to modulate my preparation and loads for reaching my peak performance in the races I have scheduled on the calendar. After the post-season regeneration period, I start dry preparation with strength work and aerobic training sessions during which I include specific work depending on the season. Approaching the competition season, on the other hand, I generally effect specific recalls of what was the summer work block alternating with ski training. For functional training as of this year I can count on Sidea equipment to train at home with specific loads and equipment, while for aerobic activities I often use my Pinarello racing bike.
2- During the winter period, when skiing is intense, do you keep your strength levels up with some weight training sessions or do you stop?
During the competition period, I effect strength training sessions with loads that I modulate depending on races and retreats with the national team.
3- About a year ago you recovered from a pretty serious injury. Some misfortunes sometimes have a positive side because some athletes, thanks to rehabilitation, learn to prepare themselves more effectively from the point of view of athletic preparation, what has this experience taught you?
First and foremost, this experience has allowed me to become aware of all the muscles that are involved in athletic gestures and more. After last year’s injury, I worked on rehabilitation during the first four months, alternating this type of session with physiotherapy sessions. After that, the re-training phase was important, as well as the strengthening work aimed at the gesture on skis, which allowed me to better internalise the way I performed various dry exercises.
4- In terms of athletic preparation, which exercises do you think give you the best results?
I believe that the results are the fruit of targeted and balanced programming, just on new stimuli and a lot of variability. Dynamic circuit exercises in unbalanced situations are very effective on me, as well as strength exercises to withstand the loads we then find when cornering on skis.
5- In dry training you almost always try to reproduce the motor patterns used in skiing, also creating situations. Is there an exercise that you consider particularly suitable for this?
There are various exercises in unbalanced situations that can be declined in this sense, both free-body and with loads. For instance, I am comfortable doing them with the Sidea weighted vest.
6- Gate exit: everyone is aware of an orderly and explosive exit need. What do you do to train the starts?
I do different types of work aimed at explosiveness and reactivity, in short I get active well thanks to an exercise routine.
7- Athletic preparation in skiing is complicated, focusing on strength, speed, mobility, proprioception. Do you find GHR a useful and practical tool for performing exercises? For example, exercises dedicated to the core and the posterior kinetic chain (Glutes, Hamstrings and their synergists)?
I have used GHR and would recommend it to anyone because of the wide range of exercises that can be performed with this multifunctional tool, which allows the muscles of the posterior kinetic chain to be developed. You can also perform core stability exercises and even stretching with the same tool. A must-have!
8- Still in terms of physical preparation for competitive skiing, what is, in your opinion, one tip you feel you can give to a young athlete?
I would always advise you to rely on qualified technicians and trainers who first help you learn the correct execution of the exercises to prevent injuries or possible overloading, and then to increase the loads according to your individual athletic maturity respecting your own limits and capacity.
9- Is there any secret in your training that you can reveal to us?
In my opinion there is difference in the way and the vision you have of things, in the passion, enthusiasm and commitment you put into what you do.
Thank you Nicol, good luck for next season
