01.24.2023
One of the best ways to train for long ski trips is to pull tires. It can be done anywhere, anytime, and the tire will quickly become your best training partner!
Building your body into an endurance machine is not done overnight!
Long trips on foot and on skis require a well-adapted training program starting well in advance of the planned expedition. Any kind of long-term training will come in handy, but there is one model in particular that stands out in the crowd. Then it's just a matter of finding a steep gravel hill or a forest path and setting off. Here you will find some tips on how to get started!
The gear you need
Turn up at your local tire dealer and ask nicely if you can get some used tires or go to your local junkyard. There is usually no problem, problably you will get them for free or very cheap. Try and choose several tires with different weights, you can adjust the weight as needed during training.
Use a metal drill and drill holes in the tires where you want to attach either ropes or eye bolts. The advantage of rope is that it doesn't come loose under the vibrations when you pull, but the disadvantage is that it eventually gets torn to shreds.
Attach the rope or eye bolt to a carabiner, and the carabiner to a tow rope. At the other end of the rope you put a new carabiner, wich you attach to your pulk/sled harness. If you do not have a harness, you can simply use a backpack, just make sure it is the type with a hip belt. You dont want a back injury while training.
The rope between the sled and the harness should be approximately 2.5-3 meters of 6-7 mm diameter static rope. This is long enough to tie the knots in each end, and in addition make two attachment knots for an elastic rubber band on a part of the rope - this will make the pulling more comfortable (see photos for clarification).
You will also need a rope for your harness or backpack - this should be the same type of rope as the pulling rope, and be about 1.5-2 meters long. Tie it to each side of the harness or backpack, and let it hang in a bow behind you. Here you clip on the carabiner from the pulling rope connected to the tires.
We recommend using poles when you pull tires, this way it will be as close to pulling a sled as you can get. A full body workoutl Start with an easy load, and choose heavier tires or several tires as you get stronger. The easiest is to start on a flat gravel road, but pulling uphill will be more efficient in the long run. If you want to train for the hardest terrain, it is even possible to pull the tire(s) on a forest path with roots and rocks, this gives an extra challenge as you work up in your training. The more tires and steeper hills the better - but don't overdo it either. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.
