Endurance Unlimited Season 4 Ep 12 — Training for World-Class Skimo and a Leadville MTB 100 Podium with John Gaston
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Dec 14, 2022 John Gaston, U.S. ski mountaineering champion and Leadville 100 podium finisher, balances elite SkiMo and high-altitude mountain biking. He talks about discovering SkiMo after injury, training year-round with high volume and targeted intensity, summer prep that led to his Leadville result, strength routines, and juggling family life with running an outdoor apparel brand.
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How A Back Injury Launched A World-Class Skimo Career
- John Gaston discovered ski mountaineering after a back injury and a viral film, then bought old rando gear and dove in despite poor technique.
- He transitioned from a freeride skier to an endurance athlete over many years and only believed in investing in structured training around age 29.
Unexpected Tune-Up Race Sharpened Leadville Performance
- Two weeks before Leadville Gaston unexpectedly raced the Snowmass 50 as a tune-up and found it sharpened his technical descending and pack-racing comfort.
- That race likely prevented overcooking and helped him handle chaotic fast group riding at Leadville.
High Annual Volume Beats Constant Intensity At Altitude
- Gaston targets very high annual volume (about 1,000 hours) because he responds better to volume than to high-frequency intensity.
- Living at 8,000 ft shapes his training: he can sustain huge volume but only a few high-intensity sessions per week at altitude.