Miami Ultraskate is about a month away and many of us are in "training mode." While this race is somewhat intimidating to new and veteran riders alike, it doesn't have to be! Preparation is key for those with a goal in mind but you can also just wing it and have an unforgettable experience. We spoke to a few accomplished riders in the community from around the world to get their perspective and some tips for surviving the big push.
Lena Meringdal - Melonenkacke Longboards - The Netherlands
# of Ultras, Personal Best at Ultra:
150 miles in 2019 without any training. Didn’t know what I was doing back then xD just skating for fun!
Best Training Tip For Ultraskate:
Probably my best training tip is: Have fun doing sports and don’t take yourself to seriously! From my perspective I skate best when I’m having fun:)
Anyways this was my training for 2022 (where I couldn’t participate due to a covid infection I had shortly before). Probably the best you can do is Constant training. Doing 1-2 big skates of 4-6 hours a week. Have a calm day after big skates. Have some smaller faster paced skates for the rest of the week. When not feeling like skating do a different sport like cycling/ Footbiking/ running. Do separate muscle training especially for core aswell!
Also a good tip is: Get to know your board before the ultra, so that pumping and pushing technique is really dialed in for this setup.
Top Tip For A New Ultraskater:
Hahaha what everyone will tell you: keep it calm. The real race begins in the night, so don’t over do yourself before. Also probably my best training tip for training counts here aswell: have fun and don’t take yourself to seriously!
Favorite Food on Raceday:
Food is highly personal. I love to eat “muftis” made by my local backery Töllerei. It contains different kind of nuts, seeds, grain etc. it’s a real energy boost:)
I always keep these items with me on raceday:
My phone with a lot of music on it.
Hydration vest
Some food
Most memorable Ultraskate Moment:
Probably the complete 2022 ultra where I decided to support the skaters participating. I skated with my MelonenKacke Cargo longboard filled with lots of bananas, bars and a lot of water for the skaters. This cargo longboard was a fun project of my company “MelonenKacke” that is specialized on high performing ldp boards (check out MelonenKacke on Instagram or MK Longboards on Facebook). Helping out skaters and putting a smile on some faces by skating a completely stupid heavy cargo longboard was very fulfilling to do:) What was really fun (and I probably wasn’t allowed to do this as I had to take it really calm from my doctor. So don’t tell him ;)🤫) was skating a lap with the 300 mile train on this fully loaded cargo longboard. That was fun! Even though it’s heavy, once it’s in movement and rolling you can keep the speed quite well:)
Miles Kipper - Minneapolis, USA
# of Ultras, Personal Best at Ultra:
3, 241
Best Training Tip For Ultraskate:
Train in the dark and the cold, embrace the suck.
Top Tip For A New Ultraskater:
You don't have to go fast to go far
Favorite Food on Raceday:
I run on Tailwind.
I always keep these items with me on raceday:
"Anti Inflammatory Meds"
Most memorable Ultraskate Moment:
Last year, Stefan Gransow and I got in a serious late night battle for the Clyesdale. It ended up being 5 or 6 hours of suffering I'll never forget. That man is a competitior for sure.
Mathieu Bon - Strasbourg, France
# of Ultras, Personal Best at Ultra:
7 ultras, 289 miles
Best Training Tip For Ultraskate:
Don't think of training, just ride and enjoy, preferably on 50+km trails
Top Tip For A New Ultraskater:
Eat a lot and don't ride too fast from the start
Favorite Food on Raceday:
Bananas for energy / Small roastbeef sandwich for morale boost
I always keep these items with me on raceday:
GPS watch to keep track of my progress + Tylenol tabs
Most memorable Ultraskate Moment:
Seeing the beautiful sunrise on the Homestead Speedway that gives mental strength to hold on for the last couple of hours
Titus Francis - New York City. USA
# of Ultras, Personal Best at Ultra:
3 ultras, 207 miles
Best Training Tip For Ultraskate:
Just skate consistently and good nutrition
Top Tip For A New Ultraskater:
Don't worry about keeping up with anyone else, just find your pace and go as far as you're comfortable going
Favorite Food on Raceday:
Sandwich
I always keep these items with me on raceday:
Pickles, music
Most memorable Ultraskate Moment:
First ultra when we skated in torrential downpour
John Fisher - Race Around The Rock, Ecolite Longboards - Texas, USA
# of Ultras, Personal Best at Ultra:
1, 219
Best Training Tip For Ultraskate:
Cross train and ease into training to prevent overuse injury
Top Tip For A New Ultraskater:
Tailwind isn't the only option. Try stuff.
I always keep these items with me on raceday:
Salt stick pills and water on my person always.
Most memorable Ultraskate Moment:
How popular my hammock was. Bring one. And meeting so many great people IRL.
Scott Ziegler - Thane Travel - Miami, USA
# of Ultras, Personal Best at Ultra:
3 Ultras, 152 mile high score
Best Training Tip For Ultraskate:
Giving yourself proper rest is important. Last year I overtrained and I think it messed with my sleep cycle. I try to crosstrain by using a bike or going for a SUP ride once a week. Too much repetition/alone time is bad for the brain so riding with others and changing up routes is clutch.
Top Tip For A New Ultraskater:
Don't be intimidated and don't take it too seriously. Yes, it's a 24 hour race and some people take it very seriously. But it's truly up to you how hard you want to go. You can go out and skate a few hours and still have one of the best experiences of your life. Just being on the track is pretty unforgettable.
Favorite Food on Raceday:
I'm constantly snacking. Over the years, Crustable PB&J sandwiches have become a fave. Fig bars. Post race, I'm all about taking a whole pizza to the dome.
I always keep these items with me on raceday:
I'm super weird about gear, If I have the wrong socks on, I feel off. However, the number 1 thing I will not leave home with out is Squirel Nut Butter anti chafe balm. Two years ago, I had to quit the race because of a chaffing issue. Never again. I usually bring a massage gun and foam roller too.
Most memorable Ultraskate Moment:
Seeing Joe Mazzone break the world record and immediately proceed to take a nap on the track was pretty memorable. I've never seen anything like that in my life. Eduardo splitting his helmet is another one.