July 23, 2013 – Check out the latest news from your favourite skiers. Jessie Diggins just wrapped up part one of her Alaska training camp, Noah Hoffman has been training hard and picking blueberries, Ivan Babikov escaped the floods and headed to Bend for some quality training, Liz Stephen joined her friends in Alaska, and Perianne Jones gives us a short photo update.

Jessie Diggins
Bomber Glacier
Part one of AK camp is finished, with an awesome adventure run, a visit to the REG camp juniors, and a time trial a couple days ago. On Friday we did the Potter’s Creek time trial, which we do every year; a 6.5 km classic that starts out with a double pole out and back along a flat road, and then climbs the remaining 3.2km up a switchback road. Although not everyone had the same speed classic skis, the goal of a time trial isn’t simply to win; it’s a great opportunity to test your physical and mental limits, compare your personal time to the year before, and get in a good L4 workout. I had a great time trying to keep Astrid in sight as I led the chase group along the flats and up the hill, and was really happy to be able to improve on some technique things from last year’s TT. Read more here.

Noah Hoffman
Blueberries and Technique
My classic technique session here in Putney, Vermont this morning was a little overwhelming. It was the first time I’d been on skis (roller skis or snow skis) with my coach Zach Caldwell since March. We tried to start at the basics and progress to where my skiing has been since I was cleared to ski post surgery. We were working with all techniques: double pole, kick double pole and striding. For the most part it went OK, but there is a lot of work to be done in all facets of my skiing. We introduced some new cues. I ended the session feeling low on confidence and feeling that there is a ton of work to do. Read more here.

Ivan Babikov
Bend 2.0 or Independence Day
We left Canmore for our Bend ver 2.0 training camp, pretty much during “one in the century” Alberta floods. I’m sure, most of you have seen devastating pictures and videos of Cougar Creek pretty much being demolished. Lots of houses, roads and trails got damaged. Trans Canada Hwy got completely destroyed in couple of places between Canmore, Banff and Calgary. Watching all that happening in Canmore, was unreal. Not every day you end up in the middle of State of Emergency.  Now it’s all behind us and hopefully there will be no more rain this summer. Read more here.

Liz Stephen
AK Dryland Week
This morning we will get the call as to when the helicopter will get a weather window that will allow us to fly up to Eagle Glacier where we will spend the next week.  As a nordic skier, Eagle can be a little slice of heaven, with not much else to do but ski, sleep, eat, repeat.  There is no internet, just a bit of cell service,  an old TV with a VCR and DVD set up, and lots of Cosmo magazines that date back quite a few years.  However, for me, I really love being up there for 1 week a year.  It makes me rest between my training sessions, and although at times it can be boring, it is really important as a skier to learn how to rest.  I also love the fact that it is back to interacting completely with people for forms of entertainment.  We cook together, clean together, do puzzles together, talk together, and there are no distractions from one another.  No one is multitasking by texting and trying to have a conversation in the here and now, and no one is watching a movie by themselves in their room on their computer.  There are no computers, for the most part.  We have each other.  I am pumped for my one week a year up there, just skiing and living and it starts today.  As posting up there would be a major challenge with no internet, I am going to recap the week today, Sunday, and have another one ready when we come down from the glacier next Monday.  Cheers! Read more here.

Perianne Jones
Short Photo Update!
Just a few photos of the last few days in Bend, and what I’ve been up to since…
Photo’s are thanks to Beckie Scott- who by the way put on a pair of rollerskis in Bend to join me for a morning workout- first time on rollerskis in 7.5 years, she didn’t miss a beat, rollerskied like the champ she is (and wouldn’t let me take any photos of it!) and my incredible best friend and blog tyrant Mallory who thankfully takes photos with my blog in mind to make sure I actually post things once in a while! Read more here.