The Importance of Fitness Testing
Fitness testing season is right around the corner, and this is your child’s chance to jump in, see where they’re at, and track their progress like a real high-performance athlete. It’s not about being the fastest or strongest — it’s about showing up, trying hard, and watching those numbers improve year after year.
North Zone Testing takes place at U of A Butterdome on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM — open to U14+ https://www.alpinepoints.ca/events/#5821
South Zone Testing takes place at CSI Calgary (Markin Macphail Centre), October 25 for U14s and October 26 for U16 & FIS, with 2-hour time slots assigned on October 23. https://www.alpinepoints.ca/events/#5855
Testing helps athletes connect effort to results. When they can see their improvement from one season to the next, it reinforces that hard work truly pays off — and that progress isn’t random, it’s earned. It also gives coaches a clear picture of what each athlete needs. Instead of guessing who needs what training, testing provides objective data that allows us to train smarter, not harder. Just as importantly, it plays a huge role in injury prevention. Many ski-related injuries are caused by imbalances or fatigue, and testing allows us to identify potential issues before they become setbacks. The more consistently we test, the better we can support each athlete’s long-term development with confidence and care.
What’s really exciting is that your child will be part of something bigger. The tests administered are modelled after the famous Norwegian “Ironman” test, originally introduced from the U.S. and then refined in Norway by sports scientist Rob Reid, a benchmark now used by the world’s top alpine racers. Canada has adapted that same philosophy into our national system through the Alpine Canada Fitness Testing Protocol, allowing us to collect standardized data from U14 all the way to the World Cup.
The scores recorded now will help set the benchmarks for future generations of Alberta athletes. This isn’t just testing — it’s the start of a performance journey they’ll be able to look back on with pride. Let’s get them on the board!
Cites:
https://ltad.alpinecanada.org/uploads/documents/ACA_Fitness_Testing_Protocol_-_final_draft.pdf
https://skiracing.com/this-is-not-only-a-test-the-norwegian-ironman-was-born-in-the-usa
North Zone AP Event https://www.alpinepoints.ca/events/#5821
South Zone AP Event https://www.alpinepoints.ca/events/#5855