August 20, 2011 (Czech Republic) – What will you be doing on the second weekend in January 2012? If you want to take part in one of the 45th annual Jizerska 50 competitions it’s time to post your entry.

As usual registrations started on July 1 and the lowest registration fees can be accessed until the end of September. N.B. We were completely sold out last year so make sure you get your starting bib! So far, interest is triple comparing to last year.

The menu for the 45th Jizerska 50 hasn’t changed: The main 50km race in the classic style will start on Sunday January 8, 2012. For less courageous participants there will be a 25km race. The opening will take place on Friday January 6 with O2 Bedrichovska 30 freestyle. There will be a children’s competition and a freestyle 4x3km company relay race.

For foreign participants we have prepared, in association with the travel agency CEDOK, several travel packages to help you with transport and accommodation. If you wish we can find you accommodation of your choice. You will find more information at www.cedok.com.

You can participate for free with the campaign Recommend and Race for free. The principle is simple: register two beginners who have never taken part in a Jizerska 50 race and as soon as they pay the registration fee, we will also put you on the entry list. The offer applies to three beginners – in this case one of them will compete free of charge.

We have devised for you a brand new system that will guide you through the whole registration process and all the competitions. Now you can also send in collective entries for all your friends or colleagues. If you wish to take part in more competitions (e.g. Jizerska 50 plus Bedrichovska 30), you can do this with a single entry.

Important information about payments: The registration fee must be paid at once after registration and it must be credited to the organizer’s account within 3 days. Credit card payments must be made at once as part of the registration process.

More info HERE http://www.jiz50.cz/en/?PHPSESSID=2fe248790ed1698782f56fabddf2ca23

August 15, 2011 (Snow Farm, New Zealand) – Olympic medallists and world champions battled against each other and adverse weather conditions on day two of the cross country ski racing at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

Despite the whiteout and poor visibility racing was fast and furious on the 1605m course for men, 1025m for women and 1km for IPC athletes. The event attracted cross country skiers from USA, Russia, Canada, Japan, Peru, Korea, Poland, Australia and New Zealand.

The first round format was time trials as athletes raced against the clock for a position in the next round. Semis and finals pit athletes head to head to determine the final placings, racing with up to four athletes was thrilling especially as they skied down the finish chute.

The women’s final was hotly competed, with the world’s current number one cross country skier Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) going head to head with twelve times FIS Ski Champion Natalia Korosteleva (RUS). The winner was determined by a photo finish. Kowalczyk pipped Korosteleva across the line with just eight hundredths of a second in it. Third place went to Maria Davydenkova (RUS).

Kowalczyk enjoyed the closely fought race even with the tougher conditions. “The weather was very different to yesterday and training this week. It was great to have a great race with Natalia, it was so very close,” she said.

USA dominated the podium with a first, second and third. Topping the men’s field Andrew Newell out-sprint team mate Kris Freeman in the final 200 metres. Simeon Hamilton finished third. Fresh from his win yesterday in the classic cross country racing Newell was pleased with the victory. “They were tough conditions today but made the race challenging. Cross country sprint is very similar to skier cross, only we have the uphills too, the tight finishes make it a real exciting,” said Newell.

New Zealand’s Andrew Pohl was the only New Zealand male to proceed to the semi finals, finishing in sixteenth position. In the women’s division Sarah Murphy achieved sixth place.

There were impressive performances from the adaptive athletes in the sprint discipline. In the women’s IPC field Japan’s Shoko Ota achieved her second first of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games, adding to her win yesterday in the classic racing. Yoshihiro Nitta (JPN) also made it a double, winning the men’s IPC division. Vo-Ra-Mi (KOR) was the sole sit-skier participating and takes gold.

100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games continues August 15 with the freeski slopestye at Snow Park NZ.

August 11, 2011 (Aure and Kristiansund, Norway) – For the first time, FIS Roller Skiing World Championships are taking place in Norway. Aure and Kristiansund are hosting the world’s best roller skiing specialists as well as some of the top Cross-Country skiers during the event which got underway on Tuesday, 9th August 2011.

A total of 19 nations are participating in the World Championships, which take place parallel to the traditional Toppidrettsveka, a four-day competition series in endurance sports where many top cross-country athletes participate annually. Several of the world’s best Cross-Country skiers are starting in Aure and Kristiansund this year. Besides Petter Northug, Marit Bjoergen and Charlotte Kalla who are competing in the Roller Skiing World Championships, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Curdin Perl will be at the start during Toppidrettsvecka together with Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA), Anders Södergren (SWE), Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA), Martin Koukal and Dusan Kozisek (both CZE). On the ladies’ side, the organizers expect world champion Therese Johaug, Vibeke Skofterud (both NOR) and Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN).

The World Championships program is fully packed from Tuesday until Saturday and it began with 10 km uphill mass start classical technique races. On Wednesday, the roller skiing specialists will fight for titles over 17 and 24 km long distance mass start free technique race distances. Thursday is a rest day in the Roller Skiing World Championships program. Meanwhile the other athletes will change to mountain bikes and race 35 km in the area surrounding Aure. Thursday will see a classical technique sprint title event on Thursday afternoon whilst Friday’s program is again fully packed with a 3 km running competition for the participants in the Toppidrettsveka, which is followed by a roller skiing pursuit race over 18 km. The roller skiing specialists have the championship relays on the schedule. The last titles will be decided on Saturday in the 200m sprint.

Tuesday’s opening race was fully controlled by host nation athletes. Oslo 2011 stars Marit Bjoergen and Petter Northug claimed gold medals in the opening race over 10 km mass start classic. Marit Bjoergen took the initiative right from the start. Only Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla and Sandra Hansson and Bjoergen’s compatriot Heidi Weng could follow the queen of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011. Marit Bjoergen claimed the title. Charlotte Kalla (SWE) won the silver medal having lost 20 seconds. Heidi Weng (NOR) rounded out the podium. On Wednesday, Kalla took the gold in the long distance race ahead of Weng.

In the men’s race, Petter Northug jumped right into racing action after the training camp in Oberhof (GER) and grabbed the gold medal. Northug climbed the last 1,800 m of the race at full speed to collect yet another world championship title, winning 15 sec ahead of the surprise silver medalist Ivan Marchenkov of Russia. Sweden’s roller skiing specialist Anders Svanebo claimed the bronze medal. In Wednesday’s long distance race, Northug claimed his second gold ahead of Svanebo.

Some of the world’s best Cross-Country skiers are participating in Aure and Kristiansund. Besides Petter Northug, Marit Bjoergen and Charlotte Kalla, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Curdin Perl will be at the start of Toppidrettsvecka together with Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA), Anders Södergren (SWE), Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA), Martin Koukal and Dusan Kozisek (both CZE). On the ladies’ side, the organizers expect world champion Therese Johaug, Vibeke Skofterud (both NOR) and Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN).

August 10, 2011 – Check out this educational video from the USSA emphasizing the importance of agility training for XC skiers. The video explains why the best skiers in the world are also some of the most agile, as well as how factors such as balance, speed, aggressiveness, and coordination are integral to overall agility. The video also breaks down how the USSA designs its rollerski test courses in order to determine athletes’ overall agility. Click HERE to view the video.

August 05, 2011 (Sun Valley, ID) – The campers took part in the Canadian Strength test on Tuesday afternoon. Everyone was on their game putting in solid efforts, as has been the norm for all of the sessions to date.  In addition to the strength test the skiers have taken part in a level 1 classic distance roll with a focus on double poling, The Harper Hill uphill running time trial,  a challenging agility course on skate roller skis, classic roller ski with technique exercises and a dryland movement session.

In the evenings presentations have included ‘Learning to Learn’, Optimal Nutrition for Athletes’, ‘Goal Setting & Drive’, and ‘Ski Technique’.

Doug, our camp chef has been cooking up fabulous meals for the athletes and coaches, making sure there is plenty of high quality food to sustain everyone through the workouts!

Today the group will head out for a ski bounding session at Dollar Mountain in the morning with an afternoon off to rest and recover.

August 03, 2011 (Snow Farm, New Zealand) – Cath, the British import/barista/manager of the Snow Farm, is just blasting the early 2000s hit “Beautiful Day” by U2. And I mean blasting it as she cleans up from another stellar lunch up on a high mountain plateau off Cardrona Road #1. It’s early August and for the 8^th or 9^th time (who can keep track at this point?) I find myself back at New Zealand’s South Island for a few weeks of winter skiing.

I’m no super-fan of U2, and the volume is extraordinarily loud – but it’s an apt choice by Cath. It’s as if Bono is here right now, along with Edge and decided to put saving the world, the groupies, and playing music aside for a morning to complete a great 2hr skate ski with us. It is a beautiful day out there – a damn beautiful day actually.

I clawed myself away from the Canadian Rockies at their finest on July 31^st (read: finally warm and sunny) and packed copious amounts of gear into a travel-worn duffel and flew South. Our men’s World Cup team – four members strong – and three staff traveled from all over Canada two days ago on an ambitious 20+ hours “on plane” odyssey to train our tails off on the skinny skis.

The Snow Farm and the Southern Alps are showing off. This morning’s conditions were exceptional. No wind, perfect grooming on the 40+km of un-crowded trails, sunny skies and temperatures just under 0 degrees Celsius. It doesn’t get any better than that.

I’ve experienced the New Zealand camp numerous different ways. Large group (like 25 Canadian ski racer big), mini-group, various coaches from various countries have joined us down here, famous team members like Beckie and Sara, hell – I’ve even rollerskied down here (don’t ask why), yet this year is a different vibe yet again.

The biggest change is the fact that no North American women came down with either the US team or our Canadian team – so flatulence, profanity, and all around boorishness is at a New Zealand camp high already even after a scant 16hrs in the country. Another change will great us soon – with dire consequences on the raspberry and strawberry jam supply – as a 14-member Russian sprint team and staff is arriving a few days from now, with Justyna Kowalczyk – the outspoken Polish strong-woman arriving later this afternoon to enjoy the great conditions.

What hasn’t changed is our 2011 luck with baggage. Of the seven Canadians down here, we are missing nine bags between us. None of our skis, poles, wax, wax table, some people’s personal duffels, etc… arrived in Queenstown with us yesterday. Thankfully the Yanks have been generous to their igloo-living eh’ speaking Northern neighbors (ie. us) so we were able to bang out a workout on snow this morning.

What’s been up since Hawaii you ask – to completely change the subject and disrupt the flow of this article? Training, training and more training. We came back to Canada and dusted a few more solid weeks with an epically large crew in and around Canmore and up at the Haig Glacier – our World Cup team joined by the entire development team and their respective staff.

Aside from challenges outside of our control (like TOO much snow on the Haig glacier the first week we wanted to head up there), things were good. It’s interesting to train with so many people and it was great to get to know so of the young guns better as well. It was fun, and we completed a lot of quality distance sessions as well as groupzilla intensity sessions out at various Rocky Mountain venues.

After more than a month of big(ish) hours behind me, I thought that I would have some chill time prior to coming down here to New Zealand – but Justin had other ideas, and the party kept on rolling – with a heavier focus on interval training. Babs and I did many a great/hard workout together to make use of the physiological changes that we got training at altitude for the past four weeks.

Which brings it full-circle back to the leather armchair where I am sitting and typing this right now while the 90s/early 2000s rock rambles on, the sun still shines on the peaks out the window and I continue to attempt to keep the old eyes open.

I will enjoy the skiing down here, and we are hoping the conditions remain this good. We’ll have some racing – as in previous years – in two weeks time, and other than that we’ll continue to just live life up on “the rock” as I’ve overheard the Snow Farm named.

Some cappos will be enjoyed in Wanaka I’m sure, and I’ll enjoy putting down some great days on snow. When it’s good down here it’s some of the best-ever skiing I do all year. For serious. Now, I just need my skis and poles and we should get ahead of the impending jam deficit and get Jacques to grab us emergency supplies (why do Russians love red jam so much? I don’t know – but they certainly do) of jam before Russia takes over the place.

Peace,

Dk.

August 03, 2011 (Sun Valley, Idaho) – The first full day of the USSA National J2 Talent Camp, sponsored by the National Nordic Foundation is in the books.  We have 42 charging young athletes here in Sun Valley and the enthusiasm is super high. Today we started off with a classic roll session with focus on Double Pole Technique. The local training environ is great for rollerskiing with miles and miles of separated bike paths surrounded by inspiring mountain scenery. Most skiers accomplished a 1:30 to 2:00 hour workout.

The afternoon was the standard strength assessment used at all of the USSA Regional Elite Group Camps. For many of these skiers, this camp is one of their first steps up the National Pipeline, so a session like the strength assessment helps give them some clear objectives on what to do in their training to build their fitness. It’s all about getting better, every day in some way.  Evening presentations included “Learning Strategies” and “Fundamentals of Skating”. Tomorrow we challenge the group with an aerobic uphill time trial on the local Harper’s Hill Climb. We could already see many of them getting psyched for a big effort. You know what we say; “If you are going to push your limits – PUSH HARD”

Thanks to all the sponsors, parents, skiers, coaches, equipment reps…everyone for all you do to help these kids improve.

Visit HERE during the camp to like (vote for) your athletes. Athletes will post “vote for me” to the Facebook/NCCSEF wall (and if possible post a picture of the camp) then ask their friends and team back home to “like” them. Top 3 Liked vote getters by the end of Camp will be awarded USST BD jacket or race suit and Toko HF wax. You must Like NCCSEF to nominate yourself or to vote.

This is our team!!!

Olivia Amber
Noah Andersen
Louisa Austin
Nichole Bathe
Ian Boucher
Catez Brams
Cully Brown
Gretchen Burkholder
Raylene Chew
Callan Deline
Evelyn Delong
Laurel Fiddler
Tyler Foulkes
Heidi Halvorsen
Hannah Hardenbergh
Ben Hegman
Gavin Hess
Erich Hoefler
Karsten Hokanson
Emily Hyde
Marc Jackson
Pete Karinen
Madison Keefe
Sarrissa Lammers
Katrin Larusson
Alex Loan
Sophie McDonald
Hamish McEwen
Dori McNeill
Sam Merrens
Anika Miller
Max Millslagle
Brooke Mooney
Hadley Moreau
Bria Riggs
Maile Sapp
Haakon Sigurslid
Zoe Snow
Keegan Swirbul
Evan Weinman
Logan Wiginton
Riis Wilbrecht
Maggie Williams
Marion Woods

August 03, 2011 – (New Zealand) – On Monday, August 1st in the late afternoon Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) with her coach Alexander Wierietielnym departed for a long journey – over 40 hours and more than 17 thousand kilometers.

The Olympic champion, Tour de Ski and World Cup winner heads to New Zealand.  ”Such a long trip is certainly not fun, but we will manage,” says coach Wierietielny.

The journey through Vienna and Dubai will end on the South Island of New Zealand. The Snow Farm is the final destination for Kowalczyk and her coach. The skiing resort is situated near Queenstown (only 55km), which is the largest city in the entire region having about 11,000 inhabitants. The Snow Farm lies at 1,500 meters above sea level and offers ideal conditions for cross-country skiing. There are a 55km of trails, as well as suitable accommodation for 60 people.

Wanaka, which is 35km away from Snow Farm, is the closest large community with more than 7,000 inhabitants.  The entire region is very popular ski resort in New Zealand.

In the Southern Hemisphere the winter season is in the full swing. Kowalczyk is not the only athlete heading “down under”. The U.S. Ski Team as well as Canadians are in New Zealand for training as well. The Polish ace will have to cope with a time difference, which is 10 hours between Poland and Queenstown.

”After three days we will cope with it and then it won’t be a problem. We have experience with time differences. Once we started in Canada, then moved to Japan and ended on Kamchatka. We know how to deal with it,” claimed Wierietielny.

Read more HERE.

August 02, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – After our big three week block of training with two stints on the Haig Glacier, most AWCA athletes were in need of some well deserved rest! This past week was a much anticipated rest week, I however spent most of it inside my tiny house, sleeping, and trying to recover from a cold I picked up last Monday. After pushing the body so hard for so long, my immune system was pretty weak. Sometimes things like this can be a blessing in disguise however.

Instead of taking off on the motorcycle and camping for the week, I was sleeping in Canmore (definitely the better recovery choice of the two, although not nearly as much fun!). One of my biggest weaknesses is saying yes too much, and cramming way too much into a short period of time. I have been guilty of this over the past month.

After house/dog sitting, watering plants and cutting grass for neighbors, going through a transition into my new job, and still trying to stay on top of my training load, my body had had enough. It shut down at the perfect time though, and as of today, the start of our next training block, I am back into the regular swing of training. For this next training block however, my number one priority is recovery. We have three big weeks ahead, plus a 10 day camp in Whistler, and if things on my end are anything like last month, I won’t make it to the second week!

July 29, 2011 – Skiing is like baking. Well, at least the way I bake. Let’s say my training plan is like a chocolate chip cookie recipe. Leniency is really important, otherwise the cookies are too dry, too soft, too sweet, or too salty. You need to vary amounts; less flour and more butter; use your judgement so the cookies turn out just right. And sometimes, plain old chocolate chip cookies are boring, so I like to throw in something different; craisins, walnuts, coconut, whatever I’m in the mood for.

Like I said, being on the glacier gives you a lot of time to think. Long runs, the daily 45 minute hike, and 2 hour skis means a lot of alone time. Over the past 2 weeks I’ve done almost 40 hours of training. I am getting tiiiiiiired. Next week is a rest week though, and I’ll have time to recuperate.

Here are some pictures from this week:

July 27, 2011 – US XC Ski Team star Kikkan Randall is also in the fast lane without her skis as she won the inaugural Run for Good 5K in Anchorage with a time of 17:06 this past weekend earning $1,000 for her efforts reports the Anchorage Daily News. David Kiplagat won the men’s race and all proceeds benefited the Anchorage Boys & Girls Club – read more HERE.

Results (brief)

Women

1. Kikkan Randall 17:09
2. Hallidie Wilt 17:58
3. Leslie Varys 17:58
4. Monica Ross 18:17
5. Lauren Fritz 19:06
6. Emma Bohman 19:23
7. Jenette Northey 19:23
8. Tammy Weaver 20:34
9. Rachel Roelle 20:37
10. Bailey DeSaussure 20:39

Men

1. David Kiplagat 14:55
2. Jerome Ross 14:58
3. Jake Moe 15:37
4. Ryan Davis 16:20
5. Matt Novakovich 16:35
6. Mason Huffman 16:45
7. Jeff Heuseveldt 16:46
8. Max Romey 17:05
9. John Farr 17:10
10. Andrew Richie 17:11

July 25, 2011 (Sun Valley, ID) – The 2nd annual National J2 Talent ID camp is set to take place August 1-8th in Sun Valley, ID.  The top 22 J2 boys and top 22 J2 girls in the country (14-15 year olds) have qualified to attend this camp through selection from their best two races from the 2011 USSA Junior Olympics last March.

This camp is the first national step up the U.S.S.A. development pipeline and is designated a Level 1 Project within the NCCSEF’s funded/fundraising Pillar Projects.  Originally the brainchild of Rick Kapala, SVSEF, the collaboration from regional coaches and continued support from NCCSEF (National Cross Country Ski Education Foundation) and USSA (United States Ski and Snowboard Association),  have enabled this camp to continue on after a very successful inaugural camp in 2010 hosted by Michigan Tech. This year’s site at Sun Valley offers a spectacular setting for athletes with great roller skiing, hiking, training facilities, lodging and other fun adventures nearby!

Participating athletes will be provided with an excellent week of dryland training alongside their J2 peers.  The camp will have 2 to 3 athletic training sessions per day and will also provide participants with up-to-date information on nutrition and health management, current international ski technique, goal setting, and training planning and execution.  All sessions have 3 goals: 1) Help athletes understand various physical and technical skills need to succeed in the sport 2) Provide the athletes with appropriate training stimuli 3) Afford the staff an opportunity to assess the abilities of the athletes.

The camp is staffed by an array of Coaches including Bryan Fish-USST, Rick Kapala – Camp Director and Head Coach of the SVSEF Program, Janice Sibilia – NENSA Director of Competition Programming,  Ali Deines- Head Coach Jackson Hole Ski, Josh Smullin & Eric Pepper-Head Club Coaches from RMD, Nancy Fiddler – 2 Time Olympian, Multiple US National Champion and now Mammoth Team Coach, Dan Simoneau – 2 Time Olympian, Multiple US National Champion and Nordic Director of MBSEF. This staff is supplemented with 5 collegiate coaching interns from across the U.S.

NCCSEF will invest $3,000 in funding this year to help offset the camp costs, while USSA is donating coaching staff time, all of which help to ensure some of the top coaches in the country will be guiding these young athletes.  The NCCSEF exists to raise money to support key Pillar Projects in the Nordic skiing disciplines of Cross-Country and Nordic Combined. These Pillar Projects, such as the National J2 Talent ID camp, are specifically chosen to facilitate consistent long term athlete progression up the USSA Development Pipeline from local to international stardom.

The biggest developmental hurdle facing young American Nordic racers is gaining consistent access to quality coaching, training, and racing experiences.  Unlike their European counterparts, America’s top athletes are spread throughout our vast country and live an ocean away from the center of Nordic racing in Europe.  Providing the next generations of U.S. Nordic athletes affordable and straightforward access to a progression of international quality experiences, such as this National J2 Talent ID camp, represents our nation’s greatest development opportunity and funding need.

Follow all the National J2 Talent ID Camp action HERE or at NCCSEF on Facebook.

Starting August 1st join the National J2 Camp Facebook contest by liking your local J2 Camp participants to help them podium and win USSA/USST Swag.

For more information on NCCSEF, and to make your charitable contribution to the Pillar Projects click HERE.

July 21, 2011 (Victoria, Australia) – While many people in the Northern Hemisphere are at the beach, the ski racing season in the Southern Hemisphere is kicking off. The FIS Cross-Country Continental Cup will launch it’s competition season on July 23-24  at Falls Creek in conjunction with the Australia-New Zealand Cup (ANC).The ANC cross-country races move to New Zealand for the second stage at the Snow Farm and return to Perisher Valley in late August 2011. The series will conclude at Falls Creek (AUS) on August 27 with one of the first popular races of the season, the Kangaroo Hoppet.

“There has been interest from some international teams and athletes, including Estonia, Switzerland and the USA, however athletes from overseas are more likely to attend the ANC races in August at Perisher Valley, when they can compete there one weekend and in the Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek the following weekend,” says Finn Marsland from Ski & Snowboard Australia.

In addition to the Australia-New Zealand Cup kick off this weekend, Falls Creek will host the Australian Nationals with the classical sprint on Saturday, July 23rd and the distance free technique races the following day.

Last years’ ANC was dominated by local hero Callum Watson who collected 386 points to beat compatriots Ben Sim and Chris Darlington. On the ladies’ side Australia’s Esther Bottomley was the superior athlete with 590 points and edged out her teammates Aimee Watson and Belinda Phillips to take first place.

For all upcoming competitions in the Southern Hemisphere, the athletes can count on good conditions with record cold weather. Falls Creek reported last week excellent snow conditions with 55 km of groomed tracks.

July 20, 2011 (Szcyrk, Poland) – The 2011/2012 ladies’ Ski Jumping Continental Cup season started with victory by the Junior World Champion Coline Mattel yesterday in Szcyrk (POL). The 15 year-old French athlete impressed with jumps of 103.5 metres and 100.5 metres and captured the victory with a total of 238.4 points. “I’m very satisfied with my jumps today. I really like the hill and the organization of the competitions”, stated Coline Mattel after her success.

As the runner up Sara Takanashi from Japan beat the rest of the competition. The leader after the first round, scored 237,4 after both jumps whilst Slovenian Maja Vtic completed the podium as third with 236,8 points.

The ladies’ Continental Cup series that includes eight competitions in summer this year, will continue in Zakopane next Friday. In August, competitions in Germany at Bischofsgrün and Oberwiesenthal are on the schedule before the summer season will conclude in Trondheim, Norway on 10th and 11th September.

July 19, 2011 (Sognefjell, Norway) – The final week at Sognefjell has seen the training hours increasing steadily for almost everyone. Occasionally a coach has stepped in and “suggested” an afternoon or morning off. With great trails right out the door it is pretty easy to keep at it, so now and again the voice of reason needs to be heard.

We have been lucky with the weather. There has been a little rain now and again, but no wind and no downpours. Lot’s of broken cloud and as much sunny and clear as cloudy. The grooming has been superb. The picture of Sunday, the 26^th of June’s morning workout shows that pretty well. The picture is of the climb on the west end of the trail with the massif of Fanaraken and its hanging glacier in the background.

It has been fun running into Norwegian kids we skied with in Sun Valley at Spring Series and sharing some time on the trails here. Our older skiers have taken full advantage of the other teams here and of our Swedish friends who have kept a fun amount of intensity and spark in the training. From a coach’s point of view it has been rewarding to see how much improvement happens and sinks in simply when kids ski behind better skiers…less talk, more action and it works.

This has been an exceptional trip and thanks go out to all the participants and their families, to Matt Johnson, BMA’s former Asst Coach and the new Program Director for The Utah Nordic Alliance, Erik Nilsson, the team captain/mgr for Team Ex Spirit from Sweden, Gustav Eriksson from the Swedish Devo Team, and Raamund Munhjeld and the crew at the Sognefjell Hytte in Lom, Norway. This was the eleventh year of the trip and may well have been the best. Everyone’s contribution to the mix is very much appreciated.

Submitted by Pete Phillips, Head Nordic Coach – Burke Mountain Academy

July 18, 2011 (Anchorage, Alaska) – “And remember…if a grizzly charges you, lay down and cover your head and neck. If it’s a black bear…do your best to fight back”. These were Erik Flora’s last words to us before beginning our afternoon run today. Welcome to Alaska! Sadly, the bear warnings are for real – Kinsey Loan (APU) got charged by a grizzly AND kicked by a moose all in the past few weeks. No worries though – she’s tough as nails and is fine!

One of the first things I found out when I arrived off the plane in Anchorage yesterday was that our coach, Matt, was locked out of his apartment. Not due to a mistake, but due to a moose and calf sitting right outside of his front door munching rhubarb. Awesome! Today, my moose count reached 8.

I’m psyched for this all-girls training camp where the USST, APU, Canada, and other girls from around the country are joining up for a some serious training. We’ll start on dry land, and then take a helicopter to the Eagle Glacier for a week of on-snow training. In JULY! Cool beans.

Today we all got together at Kikkan and Jeff Ellis’ house for a pancake lunch and a whole lot of yelling and anxious nail-biting as we watched the Women’s Soccer World Cup Final. I was totally bummed for the U.S. when Japan beat them but it looked like a really good game with some incredible skills and sportsmanship.

Also, Kikkan has this totally awesome cutout her mom made. It’s larger than life!

And most importantly – the USST Women’s Video Challenge has been PHENOMENAL!!! I said I was going to post all the videos here but there are actually too many to be able to put into a single post! So here’s what’s going down. The USST women are going to watch all of them and figure out who won the challenge, and when we do I’ll post the top results. But for now I’m going to put up 5 video links every day. Please enjoy and get fired up to train!

More to come tomorrow!

Here’s the video from the CXC women:

Here’s the video from the Stillwater Nordic Ski team:

Here’s the video from the APU women:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75wK7k8dW-A&feature=player_embedded

Here’s the video from the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club girls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJtbKUq6NVU&feature=player_embedded

Here’s the video from the SMS ladies:

July 17, 2011 (Truckee, California) – Not satisfied with merely skiing well into June, past the Solstice, and into the summer, Auburn Ski Club hosted the First Annual Summer Team Sprint Nordic Race on July 3rd, 2011. With lots of snow left on the ground, courtesy of Mother Nature and this year’s Auburn Ski Club “Glacier,” and the grooming wizardry of ASC Training Center’s Bill Clark, 30 ecstatic skiers were able to compete, ON SNOW, in a Team Sprint format over the 4th of July weekend on Donner Summit near Truckee, California. It is safe to say that this event is the first on-snow competition of the 2011-2012 season in the United States.

Site of the 2005 and 2009 Junior Olympics, Auburn Ski Club’s snow totals are traditionally huge, but this year’s near-record-breaking totals and chilly Spring weather has enabled grooming well into the summer. And the skiing has been surprisingly good – even when the nighttime temperatures haven’t even dipped past 40F, the snow has been setting up well and the sliding is fast for hours.

The beneficiaries of this Nature’s Bounty has been, of course, the local Junior contingent, who continue to train hard to prepare for next season’s racing. But also enjoying the great skiing has been a group of college skiers from New England, out west training for the summer and enjoying the traditionally exceptional weather that the Sierra Nevada has to offer. Skiers from Bates, Middlebury, Williams, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Bowdoin have been living with local families and training with Bates Assistant Coach Martin Benes, a former Far West Nordic Junior and Coach.

On Sunday, Junior Coaches Ben Grasseschi (Auburn Ski Club) and Jeff Schloss (Sugar Bowl Academy) organized the first-ever Summer Sprints, with participants skiing a 700 meter preliminary time-trial loop on Auburn Ski Club’s trails. Even though it’s summer, the competition was hotly-contested, with just seconds separating the finishers. Phil Tosteson (Williams College) was the fastest pre-lim racer, finishing in a blistering fast 1 minute and 23 seconds. He was followed closely by a couple of Bates College skiers, Lucas Milliken (1:25) and local favorite Alex Hamilton (1:28).

In the Women’s division, Far West Nordic’s Annika Taylor (soon to be a New Hampshire Wildcat) posted the fastest time of 1 minute and 42 seconds, followed by Caitlin Curran (University of Vermont) and Sugar Bowl Academy’s Cassidy Cichowicz.
After a brief break, skiers were organized into teams of 3, with an attempt to even the teams out by skier speed. All the skiers raced 3 non-consecutive laps around the same course, with a fierce head-to-head competition occurring throughout the pack.

There was no “going easy” in this event, with everyone wanting bragging rights for winning the first race of the season. The day’s finale was won by a team comprising of Williams College skier Casey Jones, with two of Far West Nordic’s fastest J2 Boys, Dylan Syben of North Tahoe and Sam Zabell of Sugar Bowl Academy. The final leg was hotly contested, with the winners barely eking out the victory over Bates College’s Nate Fuller, Canadian Alpine skier Dom Garand (Burke Academy), and Incline Village Junior Brandon Herhusky

Most importantly, there was an ear-to-ear grin on every face, copious amounts of sunscreen was applied, lots of bare skin exposed to the Sun’s rays, and an unique experience for all who attended this first race of the 2011-2012 Nordic Season. No word has been mentioned as to whether an August race is planned, as the Auburn Ski Club organizers are keeping mum as to the life expectancy of the new “glacier.”

Results HERE.
Photos gallery HERE.

July 15, 2011 – Finnish cross-country skier Matti Heikkinen found some time in the middle of the training season to talk to FIS Cross-Country News about his training year. Heikkinen’s season last winter was highlighted by a gold medal in the men’s 15km classic at the Nordic World Championships in Oslo.

Matti, when you were young in fact you started with a different sport?
Matti Heikkinen: Yes, I played (Finnish) baseball until I was 14. But I was not really good at it so I quit.

Why did you choose cross-country skiing?
MH: I was always attracted to an individual sport. I like the freedom, which you have. It goes hand in hand with the responsibility that you have for yourself. It is something totally different from team sports.

What would you do if you were not a professional cross-country skier?
MH: Well, I think I would not do any other sport at a professional level. I would be studying and then find a normal job.

After your gold medal in Oslo you said you hoped it would change Finnish cross-country skiing for the better. Have you seen any positive effects from your victory?
MH: I really have. I noticed that some people have changed their attitude and some things related to our sport got better. I’m really happy about that.

How has your training year been so far?
MH: I struggled a lot at the beginning of the off-season but now I have the feeling again which you have to have in training and my preparation is in full swing.

Where have you trained so far?
MH: I have been training mostly in Jyväskylä. Our first joint training camp of the year took place in Sognefjellet and the second one was in Vuokatti.

Have you changed your summer training?
MH: This year, I have had some more hard training workouts than I had this time last season. It didn’t show yet at the Aateli Race where I finished 9th. The running part was OK, but at this point it’s important to focus on aerobic workouts and other basic things. Toni Roponen is still my coach and he takes care of my training program. I’m taking things step by step.

What are your training plans for the rest of the summer?
MH: I’m going to carry out my own a training camp in Ramsau in July.

How did you celebrate midsummer?
MH: I did not take part in any big parties. Midsummer celebrations were calm for me.

Besides training you also study. How is it going?
MH: I make progress step by step. Cross-country skiing is my priority. Last year I didn’t take any courses, but I haven’t yet decided if I would do more studying this year.

July 14, 2011 – With the masses heading to the beach, cross-country skiers are busy getting ready for the new season. When they want to spend some training hours on skis in summer they basically have two options – ski on a glacier or use an indoor skiing facility.

Indoor Cross-Country Skiing Facilities
TheDNA Ski Tunnel in Vuokatti/Sotkamo (FIN) that opened in the spring of 1998 was the first Cross-Country tunnel in the world. The inside air and snow temperatures are normally between -5 and -9 °C, but can be dropped to -18 °C if needed. Skiers from all over the world train there. The tunnel is 1.2 km long and includes curves and climbs. When there is snow outside there is a connection from the tunnel to the outdoor tracks and biathlon stadium. The first-snow track outdoors opens every year on 10th October. But there are varous indoor training facilities in Finland including ski tunnels e.g. in Helsinki, Paimio or Jämijärvi.

In June 2006 the first ski tunnel was opened in Torsby, Sweden. The tunnel follows the natural topography of the land, so the 1,3 km long skiing track provides skiers with a varied route, including a total climb of 25m. The arena has also an indoor biathlon arena. The shooting range has 6 individual ranges. The Swedish Cross-Country national team frequently uses the Torsby ski tunnel.

Since 2009, Central Europeans have the possibility to use a ski tunnel in Oberhof, Germany. The 14.5 million Euro project includes a 1.9 km long Cross-Country track with up- and downhills up to 12 % incline with a total climb of 25m. In June 2011, a new part of the tunnel was opened, which includes four shooting ranges for biathletes.

Glacier Skiing
Glaciers offer a second option where to ski on snow in summer. Many professional Cross-Country teams go to Ramsau, Austria. Dachstein, Styria’s highest mountain offers good skiing conditions all year round. In the altitude of 2,700m you can find up to 15km of tracks in summer.

In Italy Passo Stelvio is the main destination. Open from end of May until November Passo Stelvio is one of the biggest summer ski resorts in Europe. There are three loops prepared, which cover a total of 12 km. During the winter Passo Stelvio is closed due to snowfall, so the opening of the road marks the beginning of the summer skiing season in the area.

July 4, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – At the recent Cross Country Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Canmore, AB, the following individuals were recognized for their contributions to the sport of cross-country skiing. Congratulations to this year’s award winners! Thanks to all for their outstanding support for our sport over many years.

Firth Award  2011
Presented to a woman who has made a longstanding outstanding volunteer contribution to cross country skiing in Canada. Established in 1985 to honour Sharon and Shirley Firth.

– 2011 Winner: Ms. Susan (Sue) Holloway, Ottawa ON
(Nominated by C. Ramonat and Women on Skis Committee)

Sue was a competitive cross country skier in the 1970`s to present. She continues to be an active volunteer in our sport with active involvement in organizing workshops, multi-sport workshops and conferences, she is a key speaker at Women on Ski Events and Fast and Female Events, a leader for the Jack Rabbit program and club volunteer. She is the first Canadian to compete in both Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year! (1986). Sue was an Olympic silver and bronze medalist in 1984 – women`s canoe sprit K2, K4 500 m. She was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1986.

Dave Rees Award 2011
Awarded to any man or woman who has made a long-term, outstanding commitment to the sport of cross country skiing in Canada at all levels (local, regional and national) and in any of the many ways in which volunteers or professionals give of themselves to our sport. This award was created in 1989 in recognition of the outstanding contribution by Dave Rees to cross country skiing in Canada.

– 2011 Co-Winner Mr. Reiio Puiras, Thunder Bay, ON
(Nominated by Cross Country Ontario)

Reijo Puiras is both an athlete and a builder. He is one of the leaders that developed Thunder Bay as a major cross country ski area in Canada. He developed the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre in 1975, sharing his perfectly groomed trails and lodge complete with sauna, showers and kitchen with the ski community. He was a major force in attracting and hosting the 1990 World Junior Trials, 1991 Canadian Masters Championships, 2006 Ski Nationals, 2011 World Junior Trials and many annual events. He has mentored race organizers and officials over many decades. The Lappe standard is stamped on every competition. Reijo is an Olympian (1976) and national cross country skier from the 1970s as a local, provincial and national champion. He was inducted into the Thunder Bay Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

– 2011 Co-Winner Mr. Dale Swanson, Calgary, Alberta
(Nominated by Cross Country Alberta and Alberta World Cup Society)

Dale Swanson is a leading visionary in providing private sector support (financial and lobbying) for cross country skiing, establishing the Nordic Advocate Guild as a private sector group which contributed to the 22M expansion of the Canmore Nordic Centre and has provided financial support to many athletes. He always steps up to the plate to help host key races in Canmore (Race chief to Race secretary), and is a “super hero” Canadian ski fan at major events, decked out in his Canadian Flag regalia.

Volunteer Of the Year Award
Presented to any man or woman to recognize significant achievement in the regional or national development of cross country skiing in Canada.

– 2011 Winner: Mr. John Stephenson, Yellowknife Ski Club, NWT
(Nomination by Kevin Hodgins, Yellowknife Ski Club)

John is a tireless quiet volunteer, active in the local club to sustain trails, programs, fundraising and hosting major events (e.g. Arctic Winter Games). John has been a volunteer for Nordic skiing since 1974–2011 ongoing… A few highlights are below.
• Grooming and trail improvement, organizing trail grooming workshops 1987-ongoing
• Jack Rabbit Youth Leader 2004-08
• Fundraising 2000-2010…ongoing
• Official: Chief of Course for Arctic Winter Games (1990-2008), W Canadian Ski Championships

– 2011 Winner: Mr. Gerry Rideout, Newfoundland and Labrador
(Nominated by Judy May, CCNL Executive, Cornerbrook Newfoundland)

Gerry is a club builder par excellence and active and tireless volunteer in hosting major events in Newfoundland. He is often considered Newfoundland’s “Mr. Cross Country Ski” Since 1984-ongoing.
A few highlights are below.
• Club Executive Positions: 1984-ongoing President Menihek Nordic Ski Club
• Officials: 1984 ongoing Chairman or Asst Chair of Canada Cup Races, Great Labrador Loppet, World Cup, Canadian Races
• Ski School Programs and Jack Rabbit programs: 1986- ongoing
• Builder and Fundraising: 1989 and Pisten Bully groomer acquisition , Chair of Canadian Masters Cross Country Ski championships, Expansion Project to upgrade facilities in 2007-2010 and fund raiser over $800,000 raised for new trails and Menihek Nordic 2008 and 2009. Winner of Pitcher Plant Award 1993.

Media of the Year 2011
Awarded to an individual, a newspaper publisher, television station or scribe in social media who has effectively highlighted and portrayed athletes in our sport, and or our sport in a positive and
exciting manner, continuously throughout the year or at one significant event (e.g., National Championships, Olympic Games).

– 2011 Winner: Mr. Anton Scheier, Ottawa, ON

Thanks to Anton who provided ongoing current media clips, commentary and facts on every major cross country race of this season, rising early to post information in a very timely fashion. This was picked up by the international FIS organization. Toni’s passion and dedication for the sport is reflected in his many years of writing training materials and media news clips for the sport of cross country skiing.
.
Sponsor of the Year 2011
Awarded to the sponsor or supplier who goes beyond the scope of their sponsorship agreement with CCC by making a significant commitment and support to the sport and to the National Ski Teams.

– 2011 Winner: Haywood Securities Inc.

Haywood Securities Inc. has been a sponsor of CCC since 2002 with ongoing monumental contributions to Nordic skiing ever since. They went beyond their solid financial support to plan and support a celebration in Canmore (Paint Box Lodge) of national skier Devon Kershaw’s medal successes at this year’s Tour de Ski. Ron Blanchard, President of Haywood Securities Inc. flew in to extend personal congratulations. They arrived again in Oslo to celebrate the men’s team sprint World Championship Gold Medal (Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey) and to extend congratulations to the whole team, coaches and support team. They continue to host dinners, events, and media advertisements of the sport. Sincere thanks to this company for their outstanding support.

July 03, 2011 (Finland) – The long and complicated STT doping case came to an end this past week with the guilty verdicts against former skier Jari Rasanen and former coach Pekka Vahasoyrinki for lying during an investigation into doping on the Finnish cross-country ski team in the 1990s as reported in USA Today.

Rasanen was given a 12-month suspended sentence for failing to tell the truth about the use of doping while Vahasoyrinki was given a 9-month suspended sentence. It is not known at this time whether or not they will appeal the verdict. Two other defendants, Jari Piiranen and Antti Leppavouri, were acquitted of the same offence.

The investigation involved a libel case against the Finnish news agency, STT, brought by the defendants who claimed that a 1998 story by reporter Johanna Aatsalo and editor Kari Vaisanen was false. The two were found guilty of libel and originally received suspended prison sentences that were later revoked for fines upon appeal.

This brings to a close one of the long and sordid chapters about doping in cross-country skiing. This story includes the positive tests of six skiers at the 2001 Lahti World Championships and the loss of four medals, the admission of skiers Mykka Myllyla that he used EPO, another admission by national level xc skier Sami Heiskanen, and the positive EPO test result of Kaisa Varis in 2003.

The positive tests in 2001 in Lahti ushered in the first big steps forward in the fight against doping in xc skiing. Up until that time there had been no real testing or even will to test, in a sport that was ripe for the use of EPO and blood doping – and full of rumours of “dirty” athletes.

These results were followed in 2002 by the positive results at the Olympics in Salt Lake City for the use of EPO by Spanish skier Johann Mulhegg and Russian skiers Olga Danilova and Larissa Lazutina. The latter two positive tests resulted in Beckie Scott moving from a bronze medal to her rightful gold medal in the 10km women’s pursuit race.

Since that time there have been many more positive doping tests in cross-country skiing. As a result we have seen a drop in the formerly powerful Russian team and a rise in the North American teams from Canada and the US who are now able to compete on a much more level playing field than was possible in the 1980s and 1990s.

Doping has not been fully eradicated from cross-country ski racing and it likely never will be. However, there is much more testing and attention being paid to doping by sports governing bodies like the IOC, FIS and WADA. This means that young skiers with talent and the motivation to work hard have a much better chance to compete and succeed at the highest levels of the sport.

Catching more people doping can be seen as a black mark for a sport, but I don’t agree. The more skiers that are caught the better the sport will be in the long run.

Having coached internationally during the 1980s and 1990s I believe that this era was the so-called black mark for the sport of cross-country skiing. Doping was rampant at this time and no one was caught. Skiers not doping at this time had little or no chance to succeed. Looking back at this time it makes the results of athletes like Pierre Harvey and Bill Koch even more impressive.

If you look at the results from Finland since 2001 you can see the impact of the increased vigilance against doping. The Finnish results dropped sharply after 2001 and have stayed relatively poor until recently. Even now they do not have the steady top results that they had in the 1980s and 1990s under coaches like Pekka Vahasoyrinki.

Most of their best results from the late 1980s and 1990s were by skiers who were caught doping in 2001 and it makes you wonder just how long they had been doping before they were caught. It is my hope that skiers and coaches who are tempted by doping in the  future will look at the results of trials like this STT trial and this case will be a deterrent for them to use doping to get ahead. Eventually the truth will come out because a secret is not a secret if more than one person knows about it.

Read more HERE.

July 02, 2011 – Just returned from an amazing Maui, Hawaii training camp. Yes you’ve heard that right, the Canadian Cross Country ski team had a training camp in Maui. We tried to combine some fun with hard altitude training and I’ll tell you – it was great.

During past ten days we surfed two days at sea/ocean level, camped four nights at 7,000ft/2,200m, and pretty much everyday rollerskied/biked/ran up the 1,0000ft/3,000m high volcano. Now we all wish we had more “surfing and relaxing at the beach” days, but training, as always, was our priority.

It was our first time in Hawaii – my wife and son came along – and we loved it. We checked out a few awesome places and I’m sure we’ll be back to see more sometime in future.

Training in Maui was very hot as you can imagine, but after about 6,500-7,000ft of climbing it wasn’t so bad. At the top of the volcano I would say the temperature was similar to Canmore right now. I had my best ever biking and rollersking sessions there.

The road that goes to the “TOP” is in great condition and we didn’t have any problems with traffic. Quite a few tourists and locals were amazed with those funny things that we simply call ROLLESKIS. 🙂

I also must point out that my good friend, Lenny Valjas, joined the team for his first summer training camp – this young and talented skier is a great addition to our squad.

Overall we all worked at 100% during this camp and the coaches and all of the support stuff did an outstanding job. Only because of them was this camp possible – a huge thanks to all of them…Justin, Eric, Joel, Scott, Louis.

Lots of training ahead, and quite a few camps to go, but Maui was a great way to start our summer training. In the next little bit we’ll ski at Sunshine and keep training in Canmore, till the next camp in New Zealand that starts at the end of the July.

SHAKA everybody!!!

More photos HERE.

June 30, 2011 (Park City, Utah) – John Farra, the USSA Nordic Director since 2008, has taken on a new challenge as the first Nordic director of the U.S. Paralympics high performance Nordic skiing program at the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). During his tenure the USA’s XC, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined teams amassed an incredible four Olympic and six Nordic Worlds medals while the NCombined team made history winning their first medal in the 86-year old sport.

“It’s bitter-sweet,” Farra told SkiTrax in a phone interview following the news.”The USSA has provided me a multitude of opportunities and experiences and I’ve learned so much and had the pleasure and privilege of working with so many great people from coaches, to officials, to event organizers, volunteers and club leaders – all passionate about the sport.”

On his stunning medal take Farra was quick to credit those before him that built the program he inherited. “Luke Bodensteiner and a host of great people spent 10 years building the program and then a group of top-notch athletes got the job done. It was great to be a part of it,” commented Farra.

He added that it wasn’t all a bed of roses as the teams were shut out at Oslo 2011 but he’s satisfied that a solid framework is in place and that bodes well for all teams going forward. “I’d love to be joining everyone in Sochi 2014 but I feel good about the systems and people we have in place. The bus will drive forward well without me and I know more success lies ahead for the teams.”

The USOC position represents advancement and presents new challenges for Farra as the decision was also a career move for him. “There’s a lot for me to learn in this new position as their first Nordic Director but it’s also best for me and my family at this point in my career. The USOC is not only higher up on the food chain but I’ll also be able to spend more time with my wife and two kids Lina [who just turned 10] and Hanna [almost 8 years old].”

In the official USOC release Farra commented on his new position. “I am excited to have an opportunity to work with the U.S. Olympic Committee and am eager to bring my experience and passion for Nordic sports into the U.S. Paralympic programs.  The position will provide me new professional challenges and goals as we aim to build comprehensive medal-contending programs for cross-country and biathlon.”

The big question now is who will fill Farra’s boots on the USSA team? “A director is not crucial,” Farra joked. “If everything is in place and you have a good system and good people the results take care of themselves. There are lots of great committed people out there and It’ll be fun to see who takes over – they’ll have a great team to work with as they build towards Sochi.”

Farra’s last day at the USSA is July 13 and he begins his new journey at the USOC on Aug. 1. We join the Nordic community in thanking him for his great work and wish him all the best on the road ahead.

John Farra Bio
Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, New York, Farra was on skis at the age of two and developed a passion for cross-country skiing thanks to the cross-country ski touring center that his family owned and operated.  Farra attended the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid before heading to college at the University of Utah where he was a part of and would later coach the cross-country ski team. Farra joined the U.S. Ski Team in 1990 and went on to compete at the World Championship and Olympic levels.  Farra was the Assistant Head of School at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid after retiring from competitive ski racing, then served as the Vice President for the Maine Winter Sports Center in Caribou, Maine for six years, before taking over as the Nordic Director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association in 2008.  The highlights of his tenure at the U.S. Ski Team were the 6 World Championship and 4 Olympic medals won by his cross-country, ski jumping and Nordic combined programs. Farra resides in Heber, UT with his wife Tess Miner-Farra and two daughters, Lina and Hanna.

June 27, 2011 (Park City, UT) – For the past five days I have been moving along in overdrive down in Park City for a series of tests and Rookie Camp. The first two days in town we spent the entire day in the US Ski Teams new central gym called the Center of Excellence. That place is amazing; it gets you fired up just walking in to the place! With pictures and banners posted everywhere of all the successful athletes, you can’t help but get instantly excited. Not to mention there are famous people everywhere doing the same thing you are doing, just getting some work done.

Starting day one, we kicked off with a series of treadmill tests, blood tests, concussion tests, and then the following day hit two more treadmill tests, strength tests, functional movement tests, physicals, dexo scans, body composition tests, and probably a few more that I can’t remember anymore. The schedule was tight with only two days and six athletes to get through, so I felt like a lab rat for a bit, just jumping from one thing to the next. In the mean time I was trying to fit in school work and some outside training, since the sun was seriously shining.

I have watched so many people do the max tests on the treadmill with rollerskis on, so I was anxious to complete my first VO2 max test, and rollerski on the massive treadmill for the first time.I was surprised. It was pretty easy to get used to the motions of skiing on a treadmill. At first it was hard to remember to keep your skis straight, but within a few minutes it felt natural like skiing on snow. We would warm up on a separate treadmill, sometimes with another person- and then for the testing period we would transfer over to the treadmill with all the tubes, computers and harness hook up. In order to ensure that we didn’t go shooting off the back when we skid to maximum effort, they would attach a harness to your back, which would catch you when you went to a point of no return. I only got to try this out once, as the other two times I just grabbed onto the bar in front of me when I felt I could go no further. It is a funny point to go to maximum effort, because most times in races you know you have to keep going and finish the hill, so you hold yourself back from going to that place where you can no longer hold yourself up.

You had a team of about 15 doctors and coaches standing around the treadmill with each test either pricking your finger for blood, waiting to catch you when you fall, holding your breathing tube, reading your heart rates, running the machine, or simply just cheering you on. I swear the rest of the athletes in the gym that were not nordic skiers were all watching, thinking us nordic skiers are absolutely crazy! With a tube stuffed in your mouth, you are not able to talk, so Matt Whitcomb would just stand in front of us watching our face expressions for pain, and cheering us on. It was really a neat thing.

The other tests were hard in a different way. Strength tests measured our jumping power, or various mobility muscles, our stability muscles, and a few other. It turns out, all of us nordic skiers need a lot of work in that field. The concussion test was hilarious, as I felt like I failed it before I even need to be tested for a concussion. The rest of the tests were good, and it was fun to get a baseline measurement to see where I will progress from here. I have never had the opportunity to make many of these measurements, so its great to have all of this as a resource to us now.

The following three days we attended a US Ski Team class session, otherwise known as Rookie Camp. In three days, I learned more important information than I could have imagined. There were 42 athletes attending, who have just this year been named to the US Team, so it was fun to get to know these other alpiners, snowboarders, mogulists and aerialists. I don’t know much about any winters sports besides alpine, so I had tons of fun learning about these sports and what they do for training and competition. Besides that part of the three days, we also got to meet all the managers and various people that work in different areas of the US Team. A lot of times we communicate with these people over the phone or email, but we never know them by face, so I enjoyed getting to put a face to the voice or name. We also had media practice, met some trustee’s, learned about USADA, learned about Nutrition, got to speak with some of the top athletes on the team, and hear their experiences, learn about US Ski Team marketing and fundraising, did some team building exercises, played some outdoors games, and simply learned about all the various resources offered to us when you are part of the team. Starting at 6:30 in the morning when we woke up, to about 9:30 PM when we would return to the hotel- we were on a role, one thing after another!

With most of us in training at this time of year, they wanted to take the smallest amount of our time, but educate us as much as they could, so it was a successful process- plus I got to know a lot of talented athletes just introduced into the team that will probably be super famous one day!

Park City was so nice when we were there, like 85 degree days, but because we were inside testing all day, or inside doing meetings for the majority of the day, I had limited time in the sun. Somehow I still managed to completely fry my shoulders during day one of rookie camp at our ropes course. When you become used to living in Alaska, you forget about sun screen sometimes…..

For now, I have a week of dryland training in town before taking my second trip up to the glacier for a week. One thing after another- there is really no way I could get bored doing what I do. It is great!!!

Hopefully I will have more pictures from Rookie Camp coming soon! In the meantime, check out these:

June 23, 2011 (Ostersund, Sweden) – U.S. XC Ski Teamers Kikkan Randall and Liz Stephen are back from their whirlwind 2.5-week training trip to Sweden where they hung out with the Swedish National Team for some fabulous dryland and on-snow training, including some cultural exchange while making new friends.

“Last year I trained for a couple of weeks in Norway during the off season and at the last FIS Athlete Council meeting I chatted with Anna Haag and Emil Joensson and they invited me to Sweden to train with their team,” Randall told SkiTrax on her return. “Liz was interested as well so things took off from there.”

Randall and Stephen logged some great dryland and on-snow sessions in Mora, Ostersund and Torsby where they checked out the ski tunnel. Ostersund, located in the middle of Sweden on Lake Storsjön, is known as Winter City (Vinterstaden) and has hosted several National and World Championships including the Nordic Games, a precursor to the Winter Olympic Games – read more HERE.

According to Randall Ostersund is an awesome skiing hub. “It’s like a mini-athlete’s village. Many of the country’s top athletes including lots of xc skiers live there so there’s plenty of ongoing activities and opportunities.”

“The ski tunnel facility in Torsby is uber-cool. You can be roller skiing in the morning and be on snow in the afternoon. The temperature inside the tunnel is a brisk -3 degrees Celsius. Gliding on snow during the summer there reminded me why I love this sport,” quipped Randall.

The duo were introduced to Swedish cooking along with attending Haag’s cousin’s graduation ceremony and are even more hooked on Scandinavia. “We’re stoked in Sweden,” added Randall. So how’s her Swedish? “You know as much as I’ve travelled around the world because of skiing I’ve only been able to pick up some casual phrases here and there because everyone speaks such good English.”

Look for a full report from Randall and Stephen on their Swedish escapades… meanwhile, the above pics should whet your appetite. Skol.

June 23, 2011 (Park City, UT) – I’m in Park City, Utah for some quality testing and Rookie Camp; where all the newbies to the USST get introduced to how the team works, how we can still take classes from Westminster College while traveling, and all that good “life balance” stuff that’s super important but usually gets overlooked.

In the last two days, I’ve done a battery of tests including three treadmill rollerskiing tests, which were cool but super hard and painful at the same time. The Center of Excellence, where we’re training, has a lot of cool stuff including a weight room, gym, skate park, trampolines, foam pit, recovery room with ice baths, a PT and medical center, and a lot of spin bikes and treadmills. Which is sweet, especially since two of those treadmills are giants that could fit about 6 runners at once… or a rollerskier. So we did two “near-max” tests, one classic and one skate, but I accidentally maxed out on my classic one because I started the next speed level and since the levels go for 4 minutes, I wasn’t able to say “stop” so I fell off the treadmill instead. Yep, I’m smooth! Below is the video provided by Dave Knoop (posted to youtube by Yuriy Gusev):

Some of the other tests we’ve done include a max VO2 test classic-style, a strength test, a flexibility test, a movement screening and physical, a body composition test, a baseline impact test in case we ever get a concussion, and tomorrow morning we’re getting our bones scanned to make sure they’re strong enough. Everyone working at the COE is super nice, motivated and helpful, and stayed positive through a long day of testing!

Although all the testing kinda wears you down, I think it’s a really good idea because a lot of it has to do with injury prevention and finding out what you need to work on and where you need to get more flexible, so you can adjust your training to train smarter instead of simply harder.

So tomorrow, Rookie camp begins and I’m pumped to meet all the rookies from the other sports!

June 23, 2011 – Check out this great video of Andy Newell, Garrott Kuzzy, Sam Tarling, Skyler Davis, Bryan Cook, and the rest of the SMS crew as they rollerski on some of the best roads in Vermont this summer.

June 19, 2011 (Thunder Bay, ON) – Whoohoo! NDC -Thunder Bay version 2011/2012 is out of the gates and heading towards what we all feel will be our best racing season ever! Things got rolling right after the May long weekend with our annual ‘Boot Camp’ – so called because coaches Eric and Timo use their boots to kick us into shape after spending the first months of spring getting chubby.

Actually, ‘Boot Camp’ mainly serves as an orientation for the new athletes, a refresher for the returning ones, and a chance to get our first solid training block of the season under our belts. This year, our inaugural camp consisted of a few baseline physiological tests, a ton of meetings, and 18 to 24 hours of training over eight days.

This season the team is bigger than ever: 12 athletes in total, and all of us were in attendance for our first camp. Some of us had to skip out on a large chunk of high school weeks before final exams! Good show! For the out-of-towners, like myself, returning to my home-away-from-home to start the new training season felt great. It was awesome to see the familiar faces from last winter all in the same place. After spending a good chunk of the spring relaxing at my folks’ place in Southern Ontario, it was nice to switch it up and be in the company of people who want to succeed in skiing.

There’s never a boring moment during boot camp. A normal day consists of a morning workout, an afternoon workout, and a meeting in the evening. There was a lot to go over. We had meetings to learn what is expected of an NDC athlete, we met our Integrated Support Team (IST), we went over how to attract and keep sponsors with Team Manager Amanda and special guest Adam Kates. But wait, there’s more; we met the board of directors, got started with our clothing and equipment orders, and were presented the tentative annual schedule.

For training we eased into the camp with zone 1 workouts for the first three days. One running, one ski walking, and another double pole rollerskiing. But on day four, things got way more serious. Hark! The daunting Critical Speed Test! The critical speed test is essentially a 4,000 meter running time trial, followed two hours later by a 1,000 meter time trial. We do this test on the 200-meter indoor track of the Lakehead University Hangar.

I can tell you up front that running around that track 20 times as fast as you can, and then another five times trying to go faster isn’t the most fun you can have running. Nonetheless, fun was had by cooking up friendly rivalries, setting PB’s, and pushing our bodies into the red zone. I am happy to report that the entire team is in better shape than ever even this early in the season. Nearly all of us set PB’s in the 4,000 meter which is surprising considering we haven’t done much serious training since December.

To recover from the critical speed test, some of us did nearly five hours of zone 1 the next day just because we’re so hardcore. We went for a wet rollerski in the morning and longish bike in the afternoon out to Reijo Purias’s house for a sauna and swim. Reijo, an Olympian and long-time supporter of the team, had some gruesome stories to tell about frostbite among other things. Ugh! Remember kids, frostbite isn’t worth the ‘cool’ look, nor should you take your chances below -20°C!

Another highlight of our camp was visiting one of our amazing sponsors and supporters, Fresh Air Experience. We had a chance to join Al Cranston and the Thursday night running crew for one of their runs. It was great to see so many positive and motivating runners. Thank-you to Fresh Air for all of your support and letting us come out and run with your group!

Strength Test!
That’s what we did the next day. At NDC – Thunder Bay, we do the normal CCC strength test; which is how many pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, box jumps, and dips you do in a minute with a minute recovery between each exercise. Except, we added a rather cruel twist: when you finish the test once, you get one measly minute of rest and then we did the whole thing all over again! Hey, Hey, Hey, Hercules! Needless to say, there was a lot of dizziness and nauseousness afterwards but that’s how it goes. A number of us scored PB’s in this one as well!

The next day we shredded some ski walking, agility, and soccer. That was fun and I got wet feet for like the fifth or sixth time that week!

The final day of boot camp was the Ouimet Canyon rollerski test. This one’s a doozy. Like the critical speed test, it is broken up into two segments. The first a 2.1km striding time trial with over 150 meters of vertical climb and absolutely no downhills. Twenty minutes later, we start the second segment is a 1.2km double pole time trial with 50 meters of vertical climb. The hill is so big and steep that it’s insanely dangerous to ski down.

Once upon a time Eric lost a nipple unadvisedly trying to defy this hill’s gravitational potential energy. We took rides down in the van. The PB trend that had already been established with the earlier test continued into the rollerski test. Way to go Team Traum!

Camp End – Idiot Jar
The conclusion of the rollerski test doubled as the conclusion of the camp. Unfortunately we had to say bye to a few team members who had to return home to finish high school or to work. But they’ll be back! In the meantime we can look forward to what will surely be a great season of training and racing!

Ahem! I would also like to take this opportunity not only to thank my personal sponsor Ski*Go, but also to announce publicly one of the team’s new implementations: the so-called ‘Idiot Jar’. The ‘Idiot Jar’s’ aim is to affect positive behavioral changes through adverse stimuli.

Basically if you do something deemed dumb enough, for example, if you forget to bring your shorts to the gym have end up having to borrow a teammate’s pair of sweaty ones or you say inappropriate things within earshot of an old lady, you have to put $1 into the ‘Idiot Jar’ AND bear the chirps of heartless teammates.

Through the act of having the put a dollar in the ‘Idiot Jar’ when we do stuff that negatively effect our training or is just plain dumb, we hope that together we will learn not to be idiots and instead be even smarter and more responsible! The ‘Idiot Jar’ will be kept it in the meat-wagon.

Below is a picture of a few team members posing in the streets of Thunder Bay. Thank-you to John Sims for the great shot! More to come…

June 18, 2011 (Finland) – Dr. Pekka Koponen, who last week said on Finnish TV that he purchased EPO for Jari Isometsa testified on Wednesday in the STT doping trial. This trial is for charges of perjury against four individuals – skier Jari Isometsa, and Finnish Ski Association officials Jari Piirainen, Antti Leppavouri, and Pekka Vahasoyrinki regarding their testimony during the libel trial against the Finnish news agency STT, founded in 1887, is an independent national news provider.

This libel trial stems from a story by STT that all four knew of doping in the Finnish XC ski team on or before February 1998. Koponen testified that he purchased EPO for Isometsa three times – twice at the Kemi University pharmacy and once at the Old Pharmancy in Haparanda, Sweden between 1998 and 2000. Koponen was allowed to use Isometsa’s name because he was making the purchase as a friend and not as his physician and thus would not violate doctor/patient confidentiality.

However, the court also heard conflicting testimony from two pharmacists from the Kemi University pharmacy reports the Helsingin Sanomat International Edition.

The first pharmacist, Heikki Pennanen stated that Koponen purchased EPO from him twice between 1996 and 1999. Before the first purchase Koponen called to the pharmacy inquiring about availability and price but said that he was waiting for payment before placing the order. He then called again to place the order and picked it up. Pennanen said that he paid 11,000 Finnish marks in small bills.

Pennanen felt at the time that the EPO would be used for doping and while he was prohibited in court from naming anyone due to pharmacist/patient confidentiality laws, he said he felt that the EPO would go to a “certain individual”.

The second pharmacist, Tuija Poutanen told a different story. She said that she answered the phone for the first call and passed it on to Pennanen. She also testified that someone else other than Koponen came to the pharmacy to pick up the EPO carrying a prescription from Koponen. She said that she gave the EPO to this person, who she could not name due to pharmacist/patient confidentiality.

She went on to say that there was another attempt to purchase EPO but it was refused because regulations had been tightened by the Finnish Medicines Agency (FIMEA) so that only specialized doctors could prescribe EPO and that Koponen did not have the necessary qualifications.

Most importantly she testified that these prescriptions happened in 1995-1996, not later as testified by Koponen.

This testimony is very significant because this trial focuses on the knowledge of the four accused of doping within the Finnish Ski Association before February 1998. This is the time that STT reported in its original story. The accused are being tried for lying about their knowledge of doping at this time. They won the original libel case and were awarded damages.

Both the prosecution and the defence lawyers are now trying to confirm the dates of the tightening of regulations by FIMEA. By Thursday there had been no answer to their inquiries.

The trial is now almost finished. The prosecution was to sum up on Friday and the defence on Monday. A decision is expected by the end of the month. The prosecution is asking for suspended sentences for the four defendants.

Read more HERE.

June 17, 2011 – The Canadian XC Ski Team is in Hawaii for its second off-season training camp. “We are going to be on Maui ten days doing altitude training on Haleakala volcano,” said Canada’s head coach Justin Wadsworth.

Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey, Ivan Babikov, Lenny Valjas, Chandra Crawford and Perianne Jones will carry out volume and intensity training. “We will particularly focus on long uphill climbing rollerskiing and good technique,” revealed Wadsworth.

The Canadian team gathered this month for its second off-season training camp. Kershaw, Harvey and Co. carried out the first one together with the U.S ski team at Mount Bachelor, Oregon. Both national teams praised good snow conditions and excellent joint training sessions.

Canada’s head coach Justin Wadsworth decided to go Hawaii because of June weather conditions in Canmore. “It’s a perfect time to get out of Canmore as June is the rainy season there. The locals call it “monsoon June,” he explained.

Cross-Country Canada team gathers every month for a team training camp that usually lasts two weeks. “The next one is going to be on-snow at the Beckie Scott Training center on the Haig Glacier just outside of Canmore. There we will have both our World Cup Team, as well as our Senior Development team focusing on distance training on skis,” revealed Wadsworth plans for upcoming weeks.

June 16, 2011 – Italy’s Simone Paredi and Guro Stroem Solli of Norway will try to defend their Roller Skiing World Cup titles from the 2010 season as the FIS Roller Skiing World Cup 2011 kicks off on 25th June in Bessans, France.

Paredi dominated last season’s series and collected 641 points. Runner-up Ragnar Bragvin Andresen of Norway lost to Paredi in the overall standings by only four points and will have a chance to pay back this year. Sweden’s Anders Svanebo occupied third place with 614 points.

On the ladies’ side Norway’s Guro Stroem Solli clearly dominated the World Cup standings last season with 774 points and edged out two Russians, Elena Rodina and Evgenia Kurochkina.

The FIS Roller Skiing World Cup 2011 will feature 15 races in four countries. After Bessans, France where a mass start and an uphill race will be carried out, the circuit will visit traditional places such as Bad Peterstal and Markleeberg in Germany. The two final events this summer will take place in Oroslavje, Croatia, on 17-18th September.

The main season highlight, however, will be the FIS Roller Skiing World Championships that will be held in Aure and Kristiansund in Norway from 9-13th August. The World Championships kick off on Tuesday, August 9 with 10 km classic uphill race for ladies and men. Following day, the roller skiing specialists will fight for titles in a 24 km mass start in free technique. On 12th August the Championship action will move to Kristiansund for relays in free technique. The final set of medals will be handed over on Saturday, 13th August for the 200 meter sprint.

June 14, 2011 – The U.S. Ski Team women are inviting women’s cross country ski teams and summer training groups throughout North America to participate in a video challenge. Rally your team, training group, or summer training camp and send in a video of your summer training experience by July 15, 2011!

Goals:
– Bring together all women ski training in North America for one project
– Emphasize the importance of group training sessions
– Celebrate and generate awareness of the number of women training in North America
– Take a step back to remember what is fun about skiing for you and your team

Video Requirements:
– 3 minutes in length
– Include a brief introduction to the team or training group
– Video should show your group training together
– Humor and hardcore training are encouraged!
– The color pink is recommended

U.S. Ski Team’s Entry:

To submit your video: Upload it to www.youtube.com and title your video “U.S. Ski Team Women’s Video challenge – (team/group name)”, and send the link and a brief description of your training group to xcwomenrock@gmail.com. Keep your link “unlisted” until July 15th. All videos must be submitted by July 15th. The online video festival will begin on July 20th. All videos will be featured on the USSA Nordic Facebook channel.

Prizes will be awarded.

June 14, 2011 (Girdwood, Alaska) – After only spending three weeks of my life now in the green building on the side of the cliff, I am beginning to feel like it is my home away from home. For this past week I have been training my heart out up on Eagle Glacier, about 6,000 feet above Girdwood. I just recently returned from a 10-day on snow camp in Bend, Oregon, so after 3 days of resting in town I headed for the snow again…. this time a bit closer.

Eagle Glacier is a very unique training atmosphere very different than any other training camp. Because you are perched on the top of a glacier, there is limited activity to do other than skiing, thinking about skiing, and dreaming about skiing. This is what makes it super fun though. You are constantly surrounded by the energy and enthusiasm of training hard and getting one step closer to your goals.

On Monday morning Alpine Air flew us up from cloudy Girdwood to a pleasant surprise of sunshine and great afternoon skiing. During my three glacier camps on Eagle Glacler there have only been about five crystal clear days where you can see mountains forever. So, when that happens I have this uncontrollable excitement where I want to be taking pictures constantly. Unlucky, but also lucky for me, I forgot my camera in town this week. So thanks to Holly Brooks and Greta Anderson for all the photos. As much of a bummer as this was, I honestly think my training greatly benefits from a mistake like this. I am still in the tourist stage that every five minutes I think the view is better so I have to take a picture. Or the conditions are soooo crazy bad that I have to take yet another picture. There is a lot to document during a week on a glacier!

Tuesday morning, and the majority of the rest of the week we woke up to socked-in clouds that allowed you to only see about three feet in front of you. As much of a bummer as this was, it made for quite the adventure. Because the light is so flat on the glacier, and everything looks the same, many times you loose track of the ski trail. Luckily there are wands placed every 20 or so feet, but you would be surprised; you can easily get lost within 20 feet.

There were a few times that I was at the point of near delirious exhaustion that I was beginning to wonder if I was lost in the cloud. Luckily I was always saved by the orange wands that would appear from the mist. I am convinced that if someone were to have videotaped some of the 180 degree corners, they could have submitted the tapes to America’s Funniest Videos. You would be ripping down the hill, and out of nowhere, the corner you were anticipating about 20 seconds further down the trail, would appear and shoot you flying this way or that. This became especially crazy in the afternoons when the snow was soft and we were in our little classic boots with no support. There were some hilarious tracks to watch!! I got a good chuckle every time…. even when it was me getting flung off the trail!

At my two Eagle Glacier Camps last year, I was suffering with knee injuries, so I was only able to classic ski. With skate skiing being added into the mix, I was able to train a bit more and hit some more specific workouts. I have been working a great deal on technique this year with my coach, so the glacier provides the ultimate “playing field”. Learning various techniques is all about trying things out and playing around with what you feel. You can watch videos for hours and hours, but the magic comes from going out and feeling things out.

Aiming for training between 4-5 hours a day leaves ample time to try one thousand different tricks. Between Monday and Saturday we were able to fit in many different workouts with many different goals. In order to keep our volume high for the week, we limited our week to two sets of intervals both with L3/L4 focus, some speed sessions, some relays in the mist, strength workouts, core routines, and lots of solid hard distance skiing. By the end of the week it simply becomes work to walk up the stairs three times a day. Once for a change of clothes after training, once for a nap, and once for bed.

My favorite part of the camp is always the last night. Everyone is so tired that they go into this stage where it’s as if they are looking through goggles, and everything slows down and becomes really funny. When your body gets to a point of being so tired, it simple goes into auto-pilot and you loose control of what you are saying, what you are doing, and everything becomes hilarious. For many of us, six days of training meant between 20-30 hours of focused work and upwards to 400km of skiing. The final night of cooking dinner was just awesome. We were all cutting up random things, stirring in odd concoctions, and being lead by our stomachs. I think it actually took four boys to lift the bowl of pasta sauce onto the table. I was waiting for someone to fall asleep on their plate, I am sure there were several of us that were nearing that point!!

Between training, cooking, napping, video review and chores I spent the remainder of my time studying. I have been taking an on-line class this summer, so things got interesting Thursday night when I had to get creative in order to attend class. Holly Brooks is also taking masters classes this summer, so luckily there were a couple of us to try the system out. We were able to tether internet from an iPhone and then connect to our computer. Seems pretty crazy you can be up on a glacier training and still going to school. Not a bad life, I must say!!

Thanks to Erik Flora, Mike Matteson and Casey Fagerquist for putting on an awesome camp. Awesome grooming, drinking water, electricity and plenty of energy and enthusiasm! Rock on!

For now it is back to dryland training in town for a week before taking off for Rookie Camp in Park City. I have had quite the month filled with lots of skiing, so I am actually excited to jump on the rollerskis for a bit. I am especially pumped because I just got some new Marwe’s, brand spanking new, thanks to FinnSisu! I am having a hard time taking them out in the dirt because they are so pretty… so maybe I will save my first time for the treadmill testing in Park City next week.

Saturday we get a new teammate, and a good friend of mine Rosie Brennan. I am super pumped to have a new talented, motivated girl on the team! There is nothing like having a huge woman’s group to train with, I truly believe that is the magic! So welcome Rosie!!!

June 12, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – Just a short update this time… got back from an awesome training camp in Bend, OR. This time weather was nice to us, and we had some very good skiing days at Mt. Bachelor. It’s amazing how much snow get that place every year. I personally was working on my double polling and getting into new strength plan.

Last two weeks I’ve been in Canmore, recovering, playing some soccer and now getting in shape for the Hawaii Camp. Yes, that’s correct, our ski team, for first time in history, is going to Hawaii to get some high altitude training. Some nights we will be even camping pretty high up at a volcano.

Super excited about that camp, it will be first time in Hawaii for me and my family.

Stay tune for some pictures and more…

Check out Ivan’s blog HERE.

June 10, 2011 – White t-shirt glowing in the blacklight, I walked into the room and got dazzled by the lights flashing over the crowd. And then my heartbeat was reset by the huge bass drop. I could actually feel my bones shake. And it was AWESOME.

I had no idea that when I was invited to a concert where a friend of mine, Aric Okerman (who was on the Nordic team with me!), was performing, it was going to be so legit! He’s majoring in music and is kicking off a promising dj career.

Sometimes as athletes we get wrapped up in training and travel and…forget that some totally awesome stuff is going on all around us! In the few precious days I had at home between camps, I spent some quality time reconnecting with friends from high school. It was super cool to hear their stories and see what they’ve been up to. They’re studying their butts off, getting involved in sports and music and all kinds of life lessons.

Aric’s concert was sweet, and his band name is Apparition. He created an origian Dubstep track, which was the first time I’ve been really exposed to this type of music. Quite the experience! The band’s interests are, and I quote: “Making you: dance/mosh/throwdown/explode/erupt/live free/change the way you think about life/fly”. Yep, pretty awesome. You can check out his music and site by clicking HERE!

Here’s another funny story. Wait, scratch that. It wasn’t funny at all, except for three dudes at about 3 in the morning meticulously shredding toilet paper all over the yard and throwing it high, high up into the trees. I went with a bunch of buddies to suprise a friend who’d just got home from college, only when we got there, we found that someone else had beaten us to in the form of some spectacular TP’ing. Yep. But fear not, revenge is coming swift and sure!

June 10, 2011 (Oslo, Norway) – Norway’s Petter Northug and Sweden’s Marcus Hellner were at it again as they faced off on Thursday evening at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo for another rollerski duel. Check out this great video of their match sprint at Bislett Stadion. The Bislett Games, first held in 1924, is an annual track and field event at the Bislett Stadion in Oslo, Norway and now features competitions around the world in cities such as Shanghai, Rome, New York, and Paris. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. – read more on Wikipedia HERE.

June 09, 2011 (Finland) – On Wednesday, Dr. Pekka Koponen, a Finnish specialist in general medicine, commented on the Finnish TV program Nelonen Uutiset that he acquired EPO for Isometsa in 1998-2000 from the Kemi University Hospital and from the Old Pharmacy in Haparanda, just across the border in Sweden reports the Helsingin Sanomat International Edition. Isometsa is alleged to have paid cash for the hormones.

Dr. Koponen stated, “I know Isometsa and I know when the truth is being told and when it isn’t. It bothers me that he supplied false information in court.”

Isometsa testified on Tuesday that he never used EPO or any other banned doping products. According to Isometsa the blood plasma expanders that he was caught with in 2001 at the Nordic World Championships in Lahti were not banned substances at the time.

Dr. Koponen refuted this testimony claiming that, “Isometsa repeatedly used EPO”, and admitted that he was the one who supplied him with the hormone.

Dr. Koponen claims that Isometsa gave him a note and cash to buy the EPO and waited, hiding in a car while Dr. Koponen went into Kemi University Hospital, wrote the prescription and received the EPO. He said it was very easy and that noone questioned what the hormones were to be used for. He said that Isometsa wanted the strongest possible 10,000 unit dosage that is normally used to treat kidney patients.

It was the same in Haparanda at the Old Pharmacy. The only difference, said Dr. Koponen, was that it was much cheaper in Sweden, only 6,000 Finnish marks vs. 11,000 in Finland. He went on to say that Isometsa always paid in cash and that he was under the impression that Isometsa had lots of money.

Final statements in the STT trial that were supposed to begin on Thursday have now been cancelled at the prosecutor’s request. The prosecutor, Mikko Jaatinen now wants Dr. Koponen to appear as a witness.

As well, the Finnish police are now investigating Isometsa for the possibility that he committed the crime of issuing a false statement under oath in court. Isometsa could face up to six years in prison if found guilty of deliberately lying and was unavailable for comment on Wednesday about these allegations.

This doping fiasco continues to get more interesting and this could be the “smoking gun” for Isometsa. Dr. Koponen has nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming out with this information and accusations. I don’t know the laws in Finland but in North America he would likely lose his licence to practice medicine for admitting that he supplied doping products to athletes. At the very least, he is going to lose a lot of credibility as a doctor.

As Marty Hall once characterized the typical doper’s mantra…“If at first you don’t succeed, cheat. Continue until caught, then deny, deny, deny”. That is what appears to be happening here, but finally someone has come forward with what appears to be the truth. It seems likely that the truth will come out in most of the doping cases here as long as at least one credible person has a conscience.

This is still important, eventhough for some it’s old news. I feel sorry for the athletes, coaches, and teams who have had great results stolen from them by others who cheat by doping. I remember being told at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary that when Pierre Harvey placed 14th in the 15km he was on the podium of the non-dopers. I know that Harvey and the whole Canadian team received a lot of criticism for their poor results in those races. One can only wonder what would have happened to all of the non-doping skiers in the 1980s and 1990s if everyone had been clean.

I’m sure that doping continues today in cross-country skiing. Perhaps if these athletes that are doping know that even 10 years later they may be caught they will reconsider and decide not to dope. Maybe, just maybe, it might act as a deterrent.

Stay tuned, there is more to come.

For more on this story click HERE.

June 09, 2011 – The ladies FIS Ski Jumping World Cup will be officially introduced next season. The first World Cup calendar was approved by the FIS Council this week (although some amendments might still follow to optimize travel logistics). The introduction of the ladies’ World Cup series will support the rapid development of the ladies program, which is also enhanced by the recent decision taken by the International Olympic Committee to include the event in the Olympic program beginning with Sochi 2014.

In Ski Jumping, the other main innovation for the upcoming season will be the introduction of mixed team competitions for the men and ladies as part of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. A mixed team will consist of two ladies and two men from one nation. Locations and dates of these competitions will be announced later.

The men’s World Cup calendar was also confirmed with 33 World Cup competitions and the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Vikersund (NOR) on the schedule. Kuopio (FIN) is not in calendar anymore, but Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) was confirmed after the organizers agreed to install a wind net.

The Council also approved the increase of the required Body-Mass-Index (BMI) from 20.5 to 21 (with boots and suit) for the men and 20.5 for the ladies. Last season many jumpers decided to use shorter skis instead of having a higher BMI. This increase shall now reverse that trend.

June 06, 2011 – It’s on. Ok, I’m behind the ball – it’s been “on” for over a month now and recently I’ve even completed my first training camp of the season – an on-snow camp down in Bend, Oregon a couple days ago.

As a ski racer, every year I am graced with one month of “do what you want – but make sure you come into the training season able to train at a decent level” of structure-free glory to enjoy. The goal is always to begin the season the 1st of May mentally psyched and physically rested to withstand the barrage of training/racing that comes hard and fast for the next 11 months solid.

My specialty is the “mental” rest or break – which most of my springtime is spent hitting up nearby mountains on my backcountry skis. Since I seem to have a hard time sitting still, over the years I’ve come up with a decent strategy to take care both the mental and physical aspects of my recovery. It’s pretty simple. A) I ski my face off. B) Then Chandra and I hit the beach. It’s science (ok, not really).

I describe it this way to friends – I’m like one of those dogs that when presented with 400 square feet of kibble I’d eat until I die or the pile of food is gone (which is an impossible feat for any canine). Only I’m not a dog, and instead of being unable to stop eating dog food, I am unable to stop backcountry skiing. Hence, the travel to a land of beaches, palms and bath-water warm oceans – far from snow/powder clad peaks that beckon to give my body a much needed break to recover and be ready to go early May.

Backcountry Spring
Even though physically I am pretty-well destroyed when I get off the plane from a racing season, I long to rip pow. April is my only month to get after it in the mountains, since I am away racing in spandees’ for the other 5 months of winter. I hit the jackpot this spring too, seeing how it was good in the snow-department.

I tend to ski a lot in the early part of my spring. Here’s an idea of the frequency: during the first 14 days of returning home, I was out BC skiing 10 of them. We had some stellar days of 40+ cms of powder and fairly stable conditions allowing friends and I to ski some objectives we’ve never done before, which is always fun!

Alas, as the big days in the mountains rambled onwards – my body started to cross that threshold of “tired – but look at the snow man! Yeah I’ll get up at 5am and rip all day!” to “time to get my ass out of the Rockies…”

It’s all planned though. I rip it, then sip it – cold drinks on the beach that is. I know I can’t say no and I probably would start digging a pretty big a hole physically if I stayed around Canmore, so after some great ski days it’s off to the beach for the annual “forced chill session.”

St. Lucia
My “rehab facility” this year was down in on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Unlike most Caribbean islands, this small ditty (it’s only 42km long, and 23km wide!) is quite mountainous/volcanic – although none of the volcanoes on the island remain active. It reminds me of Hawai’i actually – albeit way smaller and the Caribbean Sea doesn’t exactly have the same swell/wave activity (it’s flat!)

Chandra and I stayed at a ridiculously nice spot called “Jade Mountain.” Big thanks to Chris and Sherry-Lynn (who run the stunning Mt. Engadine Lodge, where for the past two seasons I’ve done some high altitude training during the winter) for the hook up and recommendation.

It was actually so nice I felt uncomfortable. The views, staff, room, surrounding area – everything – was unbelievable. Check the photos – we had a pool IN OUR ROOM!?! Crazytown – Jade Mountain is a truly remarkable testament of human ingenuity. The architecture is mind-boggling.

Chandra and I explored the island a few different ways. We hiked the two Pitons (mountains) that are famous landmarks of the island, we explored the coastline by kayak- finding deserted sandy beaches along the way, we swam multiple times daily in the Caribbean, explored trails and ruins on mountain bikes, read, lounged around a lot and Chandra even got me to do yoga with her – 5 days in a row. I think my hammies are still recovering.

In the end, the 9 days down there were exactly what we needed to re-charge the batteries and was a wonderful experience all around.

Toronto
The month of April ended with a trip to Canada’s biggest city to give thanks and catch up with a couple of my biggest sponsors. Without their support, there’s no way I could have achieved what I did this past season. Staying at Jamie’s place close to downtown is always a real treat – and both he and Chris are the most amazing folks you could ever meet. I count myself lucky to have them as great friends. Chandra and I did some talks/presentations, shook some hands and met some new, great people. I was able to catch up with a few friends from Sudbury as well living there and I even made it out to a Jays/Yankees baseball game, which was a ton of fun. With that trip, April kind of expired and it was back at it…

Back at it… IN TUSCANY!
Yes. You read that correctly. My 2011/12 training season begun under the Tuscan sun. It was time for my 3rd annual ‘Gold Medal Plates” trip – the Canadian Olympic Foundation’s biggest fundraising organization. Like Napa two years ago, and Spain last year – Chandra and I were “athlete hosts” and met remarkable people who do wonders to support the Canadian Olympic Movement and Amateur Sport in Canada across Canada.

We were there for 10 days and did a couple talks/speeches and acted as cycling hosts for the guests that decided to join us in Tuscany – with the profits going to the COF. We lucked out with the weather and I know that all the guests had an amazing time. I know I did! I even got to watch stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia, which rolled through a town not far from where we were staying.

Big thanks to Steven, Karen, Caitlyn, Dave, Lisa and Dennis (the GMP staff!) who are all great people doing amazing work. It was so fun to hang out with/get to know great Canadian musicians (and their families): Barn, Kath, Dustin, Kendall, Jim, Rena, Anne, Devin, and Sam, what a talented and nice group of people!

Last but not least, the other athlete hosts on the trip were Marnie McBean (3 time Olympic Gold Medalist in rowing) and the man of Canadian “PertPlus” commercial fame, Curt Harnett – ok, he did win three Olympic medals over four Olympics as well.

They were fantastic folks and great to hang out with too. The Gold Medal Plates team and organization is pretty amazing – so if you want to do your part to support Canadian Sport – check them out HERE.

Everyone involved was great and the cycling was some of the best I’ve ever done. Stunning vistas around every bend – and there are plenty of those in Tuscany, no road is straight for long there!

I did some great running around the vineyards as well – training, eating, chatting, and taking it all in. Tuscany was my best GMP trip yet!

Bend…
I just returned from Bend, Oregon a few days ago now. Like last season, our National Team decided to conduct our first training camp down south and use the fantastic Nordic trails up on Mt. Bachelor to bang out some quality skiing. The unseasonably cool temperatures that seem to be plaguing the West made for some stellar days of cross country skiing up there, and we probably had fresh snow 5 of the 10 days to ski on up at Mt. Bachelor – which is very unusual for this time of year.

It was great to get back into the real swing of things as well – with regards to catching up with teammates and staff. For the first time in recent memory I have the same coach in May – this being Justin’s second year now. That’s exciting! He knows what I did last season, and we have a great plan moving forward. I’d say that our entire team is ahead of where we were last year at this time – shape-wise and strength-wise. Everyone is keen to push forward and really build on our great results from last season.

Not only are the running trails, roads for rollerskiing/biking, skiing up at Bachelor stellar down in Bend, but to have the opportunity to train alongside the Americans was great as well. We had some good sessions with them, and even got a BBQ in and an evening baseball game under the lights.

While we were busy training twice a day – and that took most of our time, I was also lucky to get out to see “Death Cab for Cutie and Bright Eyes” one evening with Lenny – which was sweet (we saw Band of Horses last year during our camp), and Lenny and I got out fly fishing a couple times as well which was super fun. All in all, Bend’s the place to be in the spring for training I’d say. Love it there.

Onwards…
Next up is the best camp in the entire world – Maui, HI. That’s right. Hawaii. We are doing our first altitude training camp there (using the 10,000ft Mt. Haleakala) – a camp in which Justin agreed to after we met the criteria (5 World Cup podiums and/or a World Championship Gold). Super psyched for that camp! Starts June 15th…

Right now I’m around Canmore for a couple weeks, and I have my dad out here helping me with a few “constructioneering” projects around the house. Some tiling, flooring and painting have been ordered by Ms. Chandra – so we’ll do our best to get it all in!

I’m feeling good and it’s been a great spring so far. I guess summer is just around the corner now… Hard to believe! Time flies when your having fun I guess.

June 06, 2011 – Recently I wrote about the Norwegian Team’s golden jackets at Nordic World Championships in Oslo 2011 and heard from readers who clarified some interesting points about these jackets… read Marty’s initial The Way I See It on this topic HERE.

Those Norwegian Gold Jackets – the Norwegian Team jackets that members were given to walk around in, attend medal and formal presentations, and march in the opening and closing ceremonies was a nice “gold medal” color – did you notice? How was this gold color related to their national colors – red, white and blue? Nope, nada, no way Jose – me thinks they were sending a message – these are our podium jackets and we plan on making a lot of visits to the podium-14 in all for X-C. The next best was Sweden with 5. Psyche job #1 goes to NORWAY – another first – WOW!!

So, here is the whole story – a good friend, Jon Borstelmann, wrote to Swix and here is the way the “GOLD JACKETS” went down. Talk about imagination and competing for the whole ball of wax, and on top of that more the a quarter of million dollars to charity – grand slam all the way – way to go Norskis!!!

Swix Gold Down Jackets at the Nordic World Champs

Hi John,

This is true, Swix had these jackets made with only about six people knowing and got them to the Nordic World champs without anyone seeing them. As the athletes came across the finish line they had these jackets put on them as a surprise and from what I heard that was all they could talk about.

Then Swix told the athletes they were going to be auctioned off and 100% of the money was going to be donated to a charity of their choice. The cool thing is that Swix ended up making another run of these jackets for the athletes because they liked them so much.

I don’t have the list of the charities that the money was donated to but they did collect 1.2 million kroner which is about $225,000. Here is a link to info – it’s more about the race but it does mention the jackets being donated.

Thanks,

Aaron Phipps
Swix Sport USA, Inc.

June 05, 2011 – Check out these video clips by Andy Newell of the US and Canadian XC Ski Team’s first training camp in Bend, Oregon, where the teams spent 10 days of group training sessions for intervals, technique work, speed workouts, DP intervals, running, strength, and distance skiing.

May 31, 2011 (Canmore, Alta.) – One of Canada’s most accomplished para-Nordic skiers, Jody Barber, has decided to retire to focus her time on her profession as a teacher while giving back to the sports she loves – cross-country skiing and triathlon, Cross Country Canada announced on Tuesday.

Since joining the Canadian Para-Nordic Ski Team in 2008, the Smithers, B.C. resident racked up six IPCWorld Cup medals and one IPC World Championship podium finish in her short career.

“It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve had great coaching, met wonderful people from all over the world, and had the opportunity to pursue excellence with fantastic support,” said Barber, who competed in the women’s standing division. “But there are many things to do in life and I feel that it’s time to pursue other goals and spend more time with my family.”

In addition to skiing to the podium seven times at IPC competitions, Barber, who is a teacher and mother of five, achieved her dream of representing Canada at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver-Whistler.

“There are several people in my family who have represented Canada at the Olympic level, and I never imagined I would be one of them but it has been an honour and a privilege,” said Barber, who also competed for Canada at the 2010 Para-Triathlon World Championships in Budapest, Hungary where she won a bronze medal. “The 2010 Paralympic Games were an incredible experience. The number of spectators was unprecedented. I have an enduring memory of the noise the crowds made when I shot clean in the biathlon races, and I loved having my family there.”

Barber has been involved in the sports of Para-Nordic skiing and triathlon for a long time as a competitor and volunteer. In addition to continuing teach science and phys ed full-time at her local high school in Smithers, B.C., Barber also plans to give back to the sporting community in her town by organizing a local triathlon, coaching track and cross-country running, along with jackrabbits skiing in the winter. Hercompetitive juices are still flowing. Barber will also use her spare time to train to run the Victoria Marathon.

May 29, 2011 (Bend, Oregon) – Today marked Day 7 of the US Ski Team’s Bend Camp, so exactly one week of training with the new group of coaches and athletes. It has been tons of fun, and more importantly, tons of fun to erase all the scary stories and assumptions about this group of people! It has been a joy getting to know some of the older athletes, training alongside them in a non-racing situation where stress levels are much lower, and energy is much more accessible. To top it off, team Canada has been training along with us for all the workouts… and you know what they say about Canadians… so how could it not be amazing!

We have been getting lots of group training sessions together for intervals, technique work, speed workouts, DP intervals, running, strength, and just distance skiing. It is amazing the energy and excitement that comes out of simply training in a line with five other US girls and three Canadian chicks that are just as pumped and stoked as you are.

Then you add in some matching pink shirts… and it begins feeling like training with my APU team! Bottom line, it’s only one month into the start of a new training year and we are all fired up to do something big. Between all the hard working and fired up Canadian and US ladies, we have the hopes of becoming the new Scandinavians… minus the “Carl Gustav, can you hear me?” comments.

The weather has been a little crazy since we got here. Not the typical west spring weather I have experienced for my entire life growing up… but then again not a disaster. For the first couple days we had a mixture of sun and clouds, followed by a few days of pouring rain and cold wind that managed to make you feel pretty hard core when you finished the workout. Nothing compared to an extreme day on Eagle Glacier… but pretty good for the west. We’ve had some frustrating and tricky waxing days – but every day we have finished the workout accomplishing something. Luckily ever interval day and speed day has been nice weather, so I really can’t complain. When I hear all the stories and news about the other parts of the country right now, I consider myself VERY fortunate!

As with every training camp, the days have been packed full. Between training twice a day, trying to fit in a short power nap, meetings with various resources the US Team has, homework, and eating… there is not much time to spare. We have been packing it full! We alternate dinner duty between coaches, girls and boys, so tonight the girls got excited and put together some Shish Kabobs, something I have never managed to attack on a ski trip, but they turned out awesome. It’s always nice to find new things to make for a large group, as we travel in huge bunches all winter and summer. It makes me appreciate those mothers that are cooking for large families every night. That would be hard!

From here I have four more days of camp, hopefully one huge crust ski, a couple more intervals sessions, some gym work, some sports psychology talk, nutrition talks, hopefully a BBQ if the weather clears up – and an extremely important tournament of baseball against Team Canada.

Thanks to Pete Vordenberg for many of these pictures!

May 29, 2011 (Finland) – While the attention of most of the endurance athletes in North America and around the globe is focused on the on-going saga of whether or not Lance Armstrong is guilty of doping another doping story from the early 2000s is playing out at a trial in Finland.

As we reported earlier that former Finnish Ski Association executives – Pekka Vahasoyrinki, Antti Leppavuori, and Jari Piiranen as well as former skier Jari Rasanen all face charges of aggravated fraud for lying on the stand in a successful libel suit against the Finnish News Agency STT. The suit was brought following claims of complicity by the defendants involving widespread doping by the Finnish ski team.

During the 2001 Nordic World Championships six skiers tested positive for the use of blood volume expanders and were banned from competition. The coach at the time, Kari-Pekka Kyro was also found guilty of doping and banned from coaching.

As the trial unfolds lawyers for the defence have sought to show that some skiers can have naturally high levels of haemoglobin that are near 200 (normal haemoglobin levels are around 140 to 150 for most people) and that high altitude training or using high altitude chambers or buildings that simulate high altitude can also raise haemoglobin to this level reports the Helsigin Sanomat International Edition.

The prosecution witnesses in this case have refuted this idea. According to the chairman of the Finnish Anti-Doping Commmittee, Dr. Timo Seppala, the only way to get haemoglobin to rise to 200 is to use EPO. He is quoted as saying that “a high altitude chamber will raise a haemoglobin level of 140 to a maximum of 155 or 160.

This testimony came after previous testimony from Pirkka Makela, the former team physician of the Finnish national ski team, who said that the haemoglobin levels of several members of the national ski team were near 200 in 2001 and that the levels were brought down by the use of blood plasma expanders.

Makela also testified that he had helped to draw blood from a male member of the Finnish ski team in Trondheim, Norway in 1997 but he would not divulge the name of the skier, citing doctor-patient confidentiality. Makela said that the procedure was witnessed by Antti Leppavuori and Pekka Vahasoyrinki.

At the Nordic World Championships in Trondheim, Vahasoyrinki was the coach of the Japanese team. Makela testified that Vahasoyrinki had called him a couple of days before the competitions to talk to him about a “problem” that a Finnish skier was having. Kari-Pekka Kyro, the coach of the Finnish team at the time, has stated that at the 1997 Worlds in Trondheim Jari Rasanen had haemoblogin levels that were so high he had to be “drained of blood” to bring them down.

Makela said that he did the “bloodletting” under instructions from Tapio Videman, a sports doping expert, who had told him to make sure that the maximum legal haemoglobin level of 185 for men would not be exceeded. (the maximum level for women at the time was 165). In 2000 these levels were dropped to 175 and 160 respectively.

Makela also stated that blood was let from Finnish skiers at the Olympics in Nagano in 1998 and that higher levels were recorded at the World championships in 1999 in Ramsau. He said, however that “even in Ramsau the levels were not as astronomical as in Lahti in 2001, where several athletes had levels exceeding 200.” He stated that the coaches of the Finnish Ski Association were aware of the use of plasma expanders at the time.

Seppala also testified that he suspects that the skiers had used EPO since the 1990s. EPO was patented in 1988 and came on the market in 1989-1990.

“EPO was not available legally in the 1990s so crooked means had to be used. No internet channels existed yet, but there were always people who stole. EPO was also manufactured in clandestine laboratories,” Seppala said on the witness stand.

Testifying after Seppala was Urho Kujala, a professor of Sports and Exercise Medicine, who agreed with Seppala that it was very unlikely that altitude training in mountain areas would raise haemoglobin to the 190 or higher range. He stated that “the level with the skiers has been measured to ride from just over 150 to 165.” Kujala also showed records of over 230 skiers from 1974 to 1986, before EPO came on the market, which showed a variation in haemoglobin levels between 120 and 178. The average was 148.

The trial is supposed to continue into June. Stayed tuned, this is getting interesting.

Read more in the Helsigin Sanomat International Edition HERE and HERE.

May 27, 2011 (Bend, OR) – Fire and Ice, the latest cross country ski camp on groomed trails in the US will take place from June 16-20 on the trails of Mt. Bachelor.  Run by the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation Fire and Ice is the only camp in the US offering the opportunity for skiers to ski on world class trails with impeccable grooming that late in the year.

“Skiers around the world are looking for high quality on snow skiing opportunities in June,” said Lars Flora, two time Olympian and Head Coach of Fire and Ice, but unless you’re on the trails of Mt. Bachelor there isn’t a better place in the world with deep snow, on real ski trails, with high quality grooming at a reasonable altitude.”

According to Dan Simoneau, MBSEF Nordic Program Director who organizes the camp, “Fire and Ice is the latest evolotution of camps that have been on the trails and slopes of Mt. Bachelor for over 30 year.  In the weeks and days leading up to Fire and Ice, the US and Canadian National teams and some of the best clubs in the US will be using the same trails.  If these trails are the best training for Canada’s new World Champions Alex Harvey and Devon Kershaw and US World Cup star Kikan Randall, then this is clearly great skiing.”

“When Lars joined the staff of Fire and Ice a year ago, I fully expected to function as Head Coach, but once we got on snow, it was obvious Lars would function as head coach because he just had so much to offer the skiers,” said Simoneau.  “He’s been skiing these trails from November till June since he was a kid and when he got in front of skiers he just wanted to share all that he has learned.  Lars is a natural and gifted coach that we’re all lucky to be able to work with.”

New to Fire and Ice is the American Summer Cross Country Championships a sprint relay held on the last day of camp.   “After a few days of skiing the campers just want to go fast so we added fun race with a fun Championship format this year,” said Simoneau.  “We just don’t know if this is the last race of last year, or the first race of the coming year.”.

The 2011 Fire and Ice Summer Cross Counry Ski Camp will feature:

– 15 kilometers of groomed skiing on the trails of Mt. Bachelor.
– Five on-snow training sessions (2 Classic and 3 Skating)
– Five dryland training sessions
– Daily video technique analysis
– Whitewater raft trip on the Deschutes River
– Camp t-shirt
– The American Summer Cross Country Skiing Championships
– A BBQ with beach volleyball, awards, and prizes.

Fire and Ice, Bend Camp 2010 will have the following options:
– 3-day on snow only camp for skiers 8-11 for $100.
– 5-day Junior Camp for skiers 12-18 for $250.
– 5-day Masters Camp for $300.

For more information Fire and Ice 2011 contact Dan Simoneau at dansimoneau@bendcable.com or 541-350-9126.  Registration forms for the Fire and Ice camp are available HERE or visit BendCamp on Facebook.

More on the Fire and Ice 2011 Camp HERE.
Fire and Ice 2011 Camp Schedule HERE.

MBSEF
563 SW 13th, Suite 201
Bend, OR 97701
541-388-0002
www.mbsef.org

May 26, 2011 – Every once in a while, I think it’s important to push out of my comfort zone and try something new. Something scary. Something that will potentially push my heart rate to zone 4 from anxiety. (Kidding….sort of). And the past few days I’ve been amazed at the range of things that can challenge me – from being one of the new kids on the team worried about fitting in, to learning a new sport.

Yesterday I went for my second-ever mountain bike ride! I was super nervous since the only other real mountain biking I’ve ever done was an epic failure for me – within five minutes I had hit a tree, had blood dripping off my hand, and was ready to go home except I had another 2.5 hours of riding to get down to the cars. ICK. But I decided that, dang it, I really need to learn how to get coordinated and MAN UP a little.

So I joined the group ride, and although I was downright horrible when we started, by the end I was gaining confidence and was actually enjoying myself! Of course, true to my typical workout schedule, I had a few crashes, but this time I won’t have scars to tell the story (thank goodness). It also helped that Matt, Liz and the rest of the team were super encouraging and patient, and never made me feel dumb for asking things like “which brake should I use – front or back”? It’s always awesome to have good teammates and coaches that create an environment where you feel safe to branch out and try new things. So I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the next ride, and maybe I’ll even try to go over a jump – who knows?

But the biggest challenge I’ve faced this week? Simply facing my first day on the US Ski Team and being the new kid. Not that being the youngest on the team is ever a problem – in fact, it’s pretty sweet having all the older athletes to look up to. I have a lot of mentors and big sister substitutes, and I don’t think they even know how much I look to them for guidance. However, my first official day on the US team was super scary for me because I wasn’t sure I was going to fit in. I forgot my boots, and ended up classic skiing in skate boots, and had trouble keeping up with the group at level 1!

That little voice in my head that says “You can’t” was super loud and I was pretty certain the other athletes weren’t going to like me. But then I had to stop and think, “What if they DO?” I’m pretty much always optimistic (to a fault, even) but I think that it’s important to always view the glass as half full. You never know what’s going to happen, and here I was shutting myself down before the workout was half over.

So I started thinking positive thoughts, even if they were just words (I started listing every synonym for “happy” that I could think of) and after a few minutes I felt better and was able to open up more. Because all the girls on this team are totally AWESOME (and the guys too)! They’re passionate, hard workers but also normal people with hobbies, music preferences, favorite tv shows, goals and dreams. And I’m excited to get to know them better!

So if there’s one thing I’ve learned at this camp that I really want to take home with me, it’s to always look on the positive side, keep asking “what if things DO turn out right?” and remember to stay open to new things.

May 25, 2011 – National Team Sizes – these past couple of years, whenever I have written anything about the US and Canadian National Teams, I have referenced just how fragile I feel that they are, and you can really get a sense of this when they are at the “big games” like the Nordic World Championships and the Olympics. If Alex Harvey and Devon Kershaw get sick at the same time, or Kikkan Randall and Kris Freeman are not on peak at the same time, as examples, both of these teams have no chance for podium or top 6 results.

To get an idea of what they are up against, take a look at the “big three” national teams from Scandinavia compared to the NAs. We are not only talking team size, but the criteria for selecting these people is quite close in all the countries. Most of the NAs skiers would make these other National Teams and the development teams are just about the same in the differences in size. Money could be a factor, but it’s the selection criteria that is responsible for picking these teams.

There is still a long way to go (when you see these differences) and for you people in the trenches (divisional and provincial levels) organizing, coaching, volunteering, running clubs, doing anything below the National Teams, there is still a ton of work more to be done. The skiers at the top level need more help – fast.

Those Norwegian Gold Jackets – the Norwegian Team jackets that members were given to walk around in, attend medal and formal presentations, and march in the opening and closing ceremonies was a nice “gold medal” color – did you notice? How was this gold color related to their national colors – red, white and blue? Nope, nada, no way Jose – me thinks they were sending a message – these are our podium jackets and we plan on making a lot of visits to the podium-14 in all for X-C. The next best was Sweden with 5. Psyche job #1 goes to NORWAY – another first – WOW!!

Do You Know This? A fit runner can pump 30 liters of blood/ minute. That’s better than 6 gallons! Add This To Your Early Morning Regimen – this is a wakeup call – for sure – click HERE.

Roller Skiing Start-up Reading – yes, we are into roller skiing big time now that our full time training program is in full swing. Here is a paper that I hope if you follow the message will keep you safer this summer – click HERE.

Double Poling Is The Way of The Future – yes, how does this picture (see below) of Kikkan receiving her USSA XC Skier of the Year Award have anything to do with double poling. Well, we can thank her for wearing her sleeveless dress and giving us a preview of a set of arms that have been developed through special considerations for double poling. She has, I’m surmising, spent considerable time in the weight room making this happen and doing some very long double pole sessions on snow and on her roller skis – with lots of good terrain thrown into the mix. When I say long sessions – I’m talking 10, 15 and 20km workouts – not 3 minutes here and 3 minutes there – that won’t get it done. Yes, the short stuff for intervals and assorted intensities, but the long stuff and that terrain mix I mentioned earlier are a big part of this. To speed up the process get in the weight room and start lifting big steel – yes, heavy weights and low reps. Are you worried about bulking up – take another look at Kikkan’s arms. You want to bulk up – the RSing and snow workouts will keep you long in movements. You are what you train!

If you have been in the tracks this past winter racing against Kikkan these “upper body” drivers of hers are what you have been up against, as have all the international skiers on WC, WSC and TdS circuit. Kikkan, has gone from a good skier three years ago to a top-ten skier this year and these babies are a big part of that! – read more on the USSA Awards HERE.

Here is more HELP.
GET GOING IF YOU DON’T WANT TO FALL FARTHER BEHIND!!!

Resting Heart Rate Monitoring – I talk to a lot of skiers and coaches’ and I can’t believe the lack of focus towards everyday monitoring of a person’s resting fitness or taking one’s daily resting HR. It’s a 5-10 minute obligation to ensuring that you have recovered from the previous day’s work out. This is not an every other day responsibility or if you are using the Finnish physiologist’s Rusko’s system (http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2828788) just 2-3 times a week. It has to be every day – yes, every day.

When just doing RHR – wake up in the morning and using the exact same protocol – take your RHR and record it. Over time you will establish a base line and variation up or down and that will let you learn about your recovery . If you start to trend up – you need a break – if you trend down – good… you are getting more fit or you are peaking depending on how you are trying to manage the system.

The secret here is that most athletes’, who think they have over trained, have more than likely under-recovered. If you are going for it – this is a must do every day.

Talk to you soon.
misterxc@aol.com

May 23, 2011 – Dear Friends & Customers – Amy, Zach and Gunnar Caldwell are packing up house and shop and moving back to Vermont. We will be setting up business, once again, as Caldwell Sport, providing hand-selected race skis and stonegrinding to the Nordic racing world (that’s you). Please visit us online HERE.

We have developed a new system of describing snow conditions and categorizing skis and grinds to match those conditions. Learn about it under “about snow” on the website.

We’re now accepting orders for new skis. Zach leaves for Europe to begin factory visits and ski picking on June 6th. Look for information under “about skis” on the website.

Leaving Boulder Nordic Sport
For the past two seasons we have been located in Colorado, working for Boulder Nordic Sport. We have enjoyed our time in Colorado and are proud of our contribution to the growth of BNS. Our return to Vermont will mark a return to a more narrowly defined business model focusing on our strengths – race ski selection and ski stonegrinding.

For the sake of clarity…
We have no affiliation with BNS. We remain friends, and welcome any future collaboration.
– Zach’s Tazzari RP23 grinder is coming with us to Vermont.
– BNS has the Tazzari RP13 that Nathan bought from us when he started the business in 2006, and will continue to produce the grinds that have been previously published on BNS grind menus.
– Zach won’t be involved in the BNS ski selection operation, but he will travel to Europe multiple times during the summer to visit ski factories, as he has for the past four years.
– Caldwell Sport will not be a full-service retail operation. We will focus on selling top end skis and grinding skis.

What this means for us
We’re excited to be heading back home after a four year excursion around the continent and we’re coming back with a great deal of experience behind us. We’ve both travelled the country and the world coaching and doing service work, and we’ve both logged long hours in an intensive retail environment. Our work with the US Ski Team has given us the opportunity to spend a huge amount of time testing and improving our skills at major events like the Olympics, World Championships and Tour de Ski. We’re better at what we do, and we will continue to follow opportunities to improve ourselves. Mostly this means continuing to work hand in hand with ski manufacturers and National Team athletes to advance our understanding of our profession.

What this means for you
For you, our return means direct access to the best information and services we can provide. It also means exercising some patience and understanding with a small, family-run, seasonal business. We will make ourselves available as much as possible, but during the busy time of the year we will need to operate on an appointment book in order to give each of you the time necessary to do things right. It also means that you can guarantee the best service (and selection) by contacting us early. Like, now! Zach heads to Europe on June 6th to visit factories and begin picking skis. The ski season never ends.

May 23, 2011 (Bend, Oregon) – The Pacific Northwest Ski Association invites Nordic skiers ages 14-23 to attend the PNSA Bend Camp: June 15-19. Participants will enjoy on snow and dryland training sessions with the goal of improving Nordic technique, fitness, strength and overall athletic preparation. The camp is appropriate for young skiers who are just getting started,  High School skiers, Junior National skiers and Collegiate skiers – read more HERE.

Thanks to a grant from PNSA, the cost for the 5 day camp is only $125 and is all inclusive: catered meals, team lodging, transport and coaching.

Methow Valley coach Sam Naney will be driving down the 97 corridor- contact him: samuel.naney@gmail.com if you need to arrange a ride to Oregon. Participants should gather at the Three Rivers School (56900 Enterprise Drive)  in Sunriver, OR at 3pm on June 15th.

According to Head Coach, Ben Husaby, “This is a great opportunity to merge skiers from across the Northwest and across the country to get the season started.  We are planning on snow and dryland training sessions with a hike up one of the Cascade peaks. This camp will certainly be an adventure and will help skiers know how to prepare for success at Trout Lake later in the summer.”

Participants must enroll online by June 1st.

Packing list:

– Skate skis (on snow)
– Classic Rollerskis
– Boots- SK and CL
– Poles- skate w/baskets, classic w/ferrules
– Water Belt- plus extra water bottle
– Running Shoes
– Helmet
– Camping Gear: Tent/Pad/Bag/Pillow/Towel/Plate/Bowl/Fork/Spoon
– Bounding Poles (if you have them)
– Hiking Gear- we will climb a peak on Sunday
– Warm and Cool Weather Training Clothes
– Gloves- moleskin/bandaids (if you have not been rollerskiing much)
– Heart Rate Monitor
– Toiletries
– Headlamp
– Bug Spray/Sunscreen
– Fit all of your stuff into 1 Duffle Bag- and bring one ‘Carry On’ Backpack/Hiking Day Pack

Sign up ASAP to save your place!

1) Enroll Online HERE.

2) Read and print the Liability Waiver.

3) Mail the Waiver, and your check to:

Bend Endurance Academy
PNSA Bend Camp
500 SW Bond Street, Suite 142
Bend, OR 97702

Questions: Email    Ben ‘at’ BendEnduranceAcademy.org or call 541-678-3864

May 22, 2011 (Alaska) – For the past month I have been working my way back into training gradually after my little month break in April. This year I made it a goal to stay active during my off period, so it was not nearly as painful as normal to jump back into the full swing of training. I still managed to get rocked by the end of the “annual start up camp”, but I think that is impossible to avoid when you are part of the APU team.

Last weekend we went on our final “spring AK crust cruise”. This spring has been beautiful, lots of sun and awesome conditions for ripping around in the mountains. This means the snow is disappearing fast though. But my final spring AK ski went in the books for the best crust cruise ever. With the first 5k a groomed uphill track, once you pass the gate you are in full blow crust cruising mode. What this means is that you can go anywhere as you glide along the top of the un-groomed crust.

Spending a lot of time on backcountry gear this spring, I was kicking myself for not Nordic skiing up with my skis on my backpack and then jumping on the medal edges for the way down. Its amazing how fast you can get places on your Nordic skis.

My final day of skiing I decided I was going to do something different, so I headed up the side of some mountain and decided to ski as far as I could, and see how high I could get. Along with Holly and Dillion, we managed to climb up the side of a peak and get pretty dang high. It was awesome, not to mention the ski down in the soft snow was amazing. For once it felt like I could make some turns on Nordic skis, even without metal edges!!! Oh, and the sun was A-shining, so the whole time I was skiing, I couldn’t stop thinking Nordic how sweet my sport is, and how lucky I am to be able to do it in AK!

But, now I am headed to Bend, Oregon for my first US Ski Team camp on snow up at Mt. Bachelor. I hear there is lots of snow, so hopefully the weather will behave and bring the sunshine out. From what I hear, the Canadian National Team will also be joining us, so it will be some fun times!

At this point my summer schedule is looking quite busy. Shortly after returning from my 10-day camp in Bend, I head up for my first camp on Eagle Glacier. Following that I take a quick 5-day trip to Park City, Utah for some testing as well as Rookie Camp (where you learn what it means to be on the US team along with all the other new US athletes). The following day after returning from Park City, I head up to the Glacier for the second June Camp. Meanwhile I will also be taking a summer class, so I will have my hands full. This pattern will continue for the following two months of the summer and then into the fall, so I have a feeling the training portion of this season is going to FLY!

From here it’s 10 days of training with the US and Canadian ladies – I will try to take pictures and give some updates throughout the week.