The summer training season is coming to a close for Yukon cross country skier Emily Nishikawa who will head to Europe at the end of November to get her competition season started.

For a member of the Canadian ski team, the summer is not the time to relax after a busy winter on the snow.

“It’s been busy,” said Nishikawa who was reached in Canmore, Alta.

“Training went really well. Training in the summer is the most amount of volume.”

Primarily training out of Canmore, which is where the national cross country ski team is based, Nishikawa said there was a big focus on technical training which will go a long way in helping her this season.

It was long days for Nishikawa this summer.

“With the focus on volume training it’s at a lower intensity but with multiple 3-4 hour sessions a day,” said Nishikawa.

“Biggest days went up to five hours a session.

“Volume training works on the cardiovascular system so it is a lot of roller skiing and is very technical.”

With the race season looming ever closer Nishikawa said the focus of training has shifted toward a higher intensity.

“It’s now about getting faster and getting it translated to racing,” said Nishikawa.

In August, she had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand.

“It was nice to be able to do three-weeks of training on snow,” said Nishikawa.

Once the race season is in full swing there is less time for practicing which makes the summer imperative to achieving the desired results.

“This summer was about evolving technique,” said Nishikawa. “There is always something to improve. I am always evaluating. We addressed the technique and it is encouraging to see the progression.”

When the season does begin Nishikawa said she will be working toward peaking for races in February and March.

“My first priority is to have strong results to set myself up for February and March,” said Nishikawa.

There will be no World Championship this year but there is a new event being held called Ski Tour 2020 held in Scandinavia. Ski Tour 2020 will be held over several stages between Ostersund, Sweden, and Trondheim, Norway.

The other event in March is the Cross Country Ski FIS World Cup season finale in Canmore.

“It is so lucky when you get to host a World Cup,” said Nishikawa. “You get to have family and friends come and watch you.”

Last year, Nishikawa saw good results regularly coming in the top thirty.

She said her goals for the season remain consistent with what they’ve always been.

“My goal is always to have a performance I’m proud of, where I put all the skills together,” said Nishikawa. “I never want to leave anything out there and when you cross the finish line be sure you gave it your all.

“Sometimes that means when you cross the finish line you just have to lay in the snow and catch your breath.”

Nishikawa said the competition level at World Cup races is always getting higher and that is what keeps her motivated through training.

“My competition has been training hard as well and a lot,” said Nishikawa.

“On those days it’s pouring rain and you are on the roller skis, you know your competitors are doing the same thing. It’s motivating.”