When it comes to ski touring and splitboarding, most people immediately think about avalanche safety, gear choices, or dialing in their transitions. All of that stuff matters, but there’s another piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked: your aerobic base. Building a strong aerobic foundation might not be as flashy as buying new skis or riding steep lines, but it’s one of the most impactful things you can do to make your days in the backcountry more enjoyable, safer, and longer lasting.

What Is an Aerobic Base?

At its core, your aerobic base is your body’s ability to efficiently use oxygen during lower-intensity, longer-duration efforts. Think of it as the engine that powers all the uphill travel we do in the backcountry. When you’re skinning for hours, breaking trail through deep snow, or steadily climbing toward a summit, you’re working aerobically.

The opposite end of the spectrum is the anaerobic system which favors high intensity, low duration efforts like sprinting or chasing your much more in shape touring partner…

The aerobic system fuels you by burning fat and carbohydrates in the presence of oxygen. The stronger your aerobic base, the more efficiently you can move for longer periods without redlining your heart rate or relying too heavily on your anaerobic system (that burning, out-of-breath, lactic-acid zone). For ski touring and splitboarding—activities built on sustained climbs & long days - this base is everything.

Why It Matters in the Backcountry.

If you’ve ever felt like your legs turned to cement halfway up a climb, or you blew up on the skin track trying to keep pace, that’s usually a sign that your aerobic foundation needs some love. Touring days are rarely about quick, sharp efforts; they’re about stacking hours of steady, moderate work. The better your aerobic base, the more efficiently you’ll move uphill and the fresher you’ll feel when it’s time to actually ride down.

A strong aerobic engine also means recovery happens faster. In the backcountry, climbs and descents aren’t isolated events—you might climb and ski multiple laps in a single day. Without a foundation, you might be smoked after just one. With it, you’ve got the endurance to keep stacking laps, to stay sharp when your decision-making matters most, and to enjoy the whole day instead of just surviving it.

If you’re looking for a structured way to build that endurance before winter hits, check out our list of training plans.

Safety and Decision-Making

One benefit that often gets overlooked is how fitness ties directly to safety. When you’re gassed, your mental sharpness drops. That’s when poor decisions sneak in—whether it’s choosing to push into sketchy terrain because you don’t want to reroute or ignoring some tell-tale red flags. Building aerobic fitness reduces the chance you’ll find yourself at that breaking point where fatigue starts driving the bus.

It also gives you more margin for error. Imagine you need to reroute because of changing avalanche conditions, or the group decides to add another lap, or someone needs a hand because they’re struggling. With a strong base, you’ve got the extra energy to handle those changes without putting yourself or the group at risk.

Efficiency Equals More Fun

Touring is supposed to be fun, not a sufferfest. With a strong aerobic capacity, you’ll find yourself moving at a pace that feels sustainable and enjoyable rather than grinding it out. You’ll be able to chat with partners on the skin track instead of gasping for air. And when you reach the top of your line, instead of collapsing and questioning your life choices, you’ll actually have the juice to transition quickly and get stoked for the descent.

It’s not about becoming a super athlete—it’s about making your time outside more rewarding. The stronger your base, the more you’ll want to go back out for longer tours, bigger objectives, or multi-day trips because you know your body can handle it.

If you’re not sure how to structure that kind of training, we’ve put together multiple plans for both ski touring and split boarding.

How to Build Your Aerobic Base

The good news is that building an aerobic foundation doesn’t require fancy equipment or a complicated program. It’s all about consistent, lower-intensity training over time. Here are a few simple ways to start:

Long, Easy Sessions: Aim for longer workouts at a conversational pace—think hiking, running or biking where you can still talk without gasping.
Consistency Over Intensity: Three or four steady sessions a week are far more effective than the occasional all-out effort.
Zone 2 Training: Many athletes talk about “Zone 2,” which is that low to moderate effort level where your heart rate stays controlled. It’s not glamorous, but it’s where the magic happens. Many consider this to be working at a “conversation pace”.
Touring Counts: Don’t forget that time on skis or a splitboard is one of the best ways to build specificity into your training. The more days you can get out at an easy, steady pace, the stronger your base will become.

Respect the Process

One thing to remember: building an aerobic base is about restraint as much as effort. It’s tempting to push hard all the time because it feels like that’s where the progress is, but aerobic development thrives on staying in that easier zone. Many people overdo intensity and underdo base work, which can lead to burnout, injuries, or hitting a plateau.

I like to think of it like laying the foundation of a house. You wouldn’t start putting up walls on shaky ground. A big, wide aerobic base gives you the platform to layer on strength, speed, and intensity later if you want. But without that foundation, everything else is less stable.

Final Thoughts

Ski touring and splitboarding are endurance sports disguised as adventure. We chase powder, summits, and good times with friends, but the reality is that most of the day is spent moving uphill. Building your aerobic base means you can do that more efficiently, with more safety margin, and with more energy left to enjoy the descents you worked so hard for.

It’s not the sexiest part of preparation, but it’s one of the most impactful. A solid base turns big days from something you merely survive into something you thrive on. So whether you’re planning quick dawn patrol laps or multi-day hut trips, give your aerobic engine the attention it deserves. Your legs, lungs, and stoke levels will thank you later.

And if you’re ready to start training now, check out our full library of ski touring, splitboarding and big mountain freeride plans. With all of these plans, you simply buy once and own it for life meaning that you can use them to train season after season.

Slow & Steady: The Benefits of Building an Aerobic Base for Ski Touring and Splitboarding