Simulation and Taper
Weeks 7-8.
What happens in Phase 3
The work is done. These two weeks are for sharpening and proof. Strength volume drops, race-pace exposure gets sharper, and you connect ski, stations, and carries into race-style combos before closing with the benchmark. Less volume does not mean doing less; it means doing exactly enough to arrive fresh and fast.
Your weekly structure
Race-style ski-and-station combos with short, clean ski touches, lighter strength, a recovery and mobility day, and the final benchmark simulation on Week 8, Day 5. Keep your intensity sharp and your volume low.
Week by week
- Week 7: Sharpen your simulation work and shed unnecessary fatigue. Rehearse the ski-to-station handoffs so nothing feels new on test day.
- Week 8: Retest, taper, and close with a race-style benchmark. Improve your ski split from Week 1 while holding station quality across the simulation.
Intensity and RPE
Race-pace touches at RPE 8, everything else easy. This is the one phase where holding back is the work. Resist the urge to test yourself before the retest.
Tips for Phase 3
- Trust the taper. Fitness is not lost in two lower-volume weeks; freshness is gained.
- Rehearse your ski-to-station handoffs so the transitions feel automatic.
- On benchmark day, pace the opener you know you can hold, not the one you wish you could.
What comes next
Line up the test with the benchmark protocol, then compare against your Week 1 numbers. Revisit the program guide to plan your next block.
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