Herringbone Hell - Make a weakness a stRength

You cannot get good at something you do not practice. In cross country skiing one of the primary skills that is seldom practiced at full speed is the herringbone. Yet an efficient herringbone is a critical skill for classic races that have steep hill sections.

Herringbone skill deficiencies are observed across the spectrum of the skier population from recreational beginners all the way up to World Cup skiers. For a competitive masters skier who participates in classic races regularly, it is not uncommon to get caught behind a group of otherwise accomplished skiers on a steep herringbone hill, where the group is moving at a snails pace up these usually short sections. Adding to this severe pace reduction is the fact that, due to a high degree of technique inefficiency, many of these athletes are out of breath or "gassed" at the top of the hill and then have difficulty getting back up to race pace. It is clear that these skiers have not fully developed their herringbone skills, yet herringbone sections can play an important role in some races.

It is also important to point out that snow conditions can make an otherwise stride-able hill or DP hill section into a long herringbone. A recent example that we experienced was on the largest climb on the "B" loop at the 2019 World Masters Championship in Beitostolen, Norway. In the 30km/45km classic race, more than 12 inches of snow fell overnight and although the grooming team did an outstanding job at getting the tracks ready for the race, the course was still soft. Unfortunately, given the amount and type of snow that fell there was no way that (even utilizing multiple passes with the Pisten Bullies) the significantly soft skiing conditions could be avoided. Therefore, what occurred during the race was that the normally stride-able, 0.5km, 12% grade "B" Loop climb became a 0.5km herringbone, even for the best skiers. Between the soft conditions, the punchy pole track, and the numerous skiers on the loop, the deck turned to "mashed potatoes" while most of the track was obliterated by skiers herringboning over the track. The result was a "death march" of skiers slowly making their way up this section of the course.  Early on a few skiers with proficient  herringbone skill were able to slip by on the margins in a fast, efficient, narrow herringbone or a "Klaebo Klomp." But the overwhelming majority of skiers in the race were unprepared for this (or any) herringbone. For those skiers with sufficient herringbone skills, this situation presented the opportunity to catch, pass, or put significant time on other competitors. For those without such herringbone skills, what was a three-minute stride-able climb became a four to five-minute slog and exhaustion at the top. 

With an efficient herringbone this climb might take about 30 seconds longer when compared to striding and so for those without sufficient skill, several minutes were “lost” – minutes which typically represent the difference between a podium and a top-10 finish for a masters competitor. For younger skiers in more competitive fields, the lost time could mean the difference between a top-10 and a mid-pack finish. This is why we argue that it is important to be skilled in herringbone and to be prepared to efficiently attack herringbone sections in cross country ski races.

It's a tough, but enjoyable, session because you will quickly see improvement in your herringbone – just with a single session. We call it "Herringbone Hell,", but with skill development it will become "Herringbone Heaven!" Add this workout to your selection of regular intensity sessions, and you will soon find herringbone to be an asset and not a liability. And, at your next race, you may find yourself out on the margins of the track in herringbone sections actively passing your competitors with an efficient, fast herringbone!