by skitrax.com
August 28, 2014 – For most of us, summer’s a time to relax and dial things back, but for top XC skiers, the “lazy days” are actually where all of the big gains are made and the foundation is laid for the upcoming season. Check out what your favourite athletes have been up to over the summer months as they prepare for competition.
![Learning agility from Andy [P]Matt Whitcomb](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Learning-agility-from-Andy-PMatt-Whitcomb.jpg "Jessie Diggins Learning agility from Andy [P]Matt Whitcomb")
Jessie Diggins reflects on the importance of a team to success and gives “22 Reasons Why You Need a Team” here.
![Running with Dad [P]courtesy of Sadie Bjornsen](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Running-with-Dad-Pcourtesy-of-Sadie-Bjornsen.jpg "Running with Dad [P]courtesy of Sadie Bjornsen")
Sadie Bjornsen has been training hard and hitting the books, but she got a chance to get home to the Methow Valley for some adventures. Read about them here.
![Liz Stephen is pumped. [P]courtesy of Liz Stephen](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Liz-Stephen-is-pumped.-Pcourtesy-of-Liz-Stephen.jpg "Liz Stephen is pumped. [P]courtesy of Liz Stephen")
After a USST training Camp on the Eagle Glacier in Alaska at the end of July, Liz Stephen jetted off to Oslo for summer training in Scandinavia. Read about it here.
![Noah Hoffman digging in. [P]courtesy of Noah Hoffman](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Noah-Hoffman-digging-in.-Pcourtesy-of-Noah-Hoffman.jpg "Noah Hoffman digging in. [P]courtesy of Noah Hoffman")
Noah “The Hoff” Hoffman returned home to Vermont from winter training in New Zealand and was back on his rollerskis. Then it was off to the fields to pick loads of blueberries to be consumed in large quantities au nature as well as in the form of baked goods. Read more
here.
For Sophie Caldwell, it’s all business… well, almost. She’s been training like crazy and jumping from camp to camp, but it looks like she’s having a good time. Read about it
here.
In this post-Olympic year, Holly Brooks sheds light on some big decisions and changes she’s making in her life – declining a position on the NST, going back to school, and pursuing another new challenge: to be the first North American on the overall podium of the FIS Worldloppet Marathon Series. Read the big news from Brooks
here.
![National camp action [P]...](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Duluth-4-2019-08-08-at-10.46.51-AM.png)
![Matt Liebsch on the CXC Elite Team [P] CXC...](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Matt-Liebsch-CXC.2-525x700.4.jpg)
![Dan LaBlanc [P]...](https://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Dan-LaBlanc-img_1855.3.jpg)
![Sophie Caldwell during sprint practice. [P]courtesy of Sophie Caldwell](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sophie-Caldwell-during-sprint-practice.-Pcourtesy-of-Sophie-Caldwell.jpg "Sophie Caldwell during sprint practice. [P]courtesy of Sophie Caldwell")
![Holly Brooks is still training hard with new goals in mind. [P]courtesy of Holly Brooks](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Holly-Brooks-is-still-training-hard-with-new-goals-in-mind.-Pcourtesy-of-Holly-Brooks.jpg "Holly Brooks is still training hard with new goals in mind. [P]courtesy of Holly Brooks")