Andy Newell (USA) at Nordic Worlds in Liberec... ©Andrew Canniff/Swix Sport
Andy Newell (USA) at Whistler World Cup... ©Heinz Ruckemann file photo
Newell was born on November 30,1984 – the year of the Sarajevo Olympics – and was skiing by age three. His first World Cup race was in Stockholm, Sweden on February 18, 2004. As one of the fastest sprinters in the world he’s part of an elite group of skiers. Behind the scenes he’s the creative force behind www.xskifilms.com, where he presents some astounding XC footage. With the 2010 Winter Olympics coming up, we talked of Vancouver, his off-season preparation, and what motivates him.
Tell us how you got into the sport.
Andy Newell: I got into the sport because my parents started XC skiing when they moved to Vermont from Pennsylvania. I have an older brother and sister so they started skiing at a young age too, so it was a big family thing. Even back then there was a really big youth ski club at Prospect, and a lot of kids were getting into the sport.
We were both lucky to have the influence of coach Bucky Broomhall, who had an impact on so many…
AN: Bucky was the best coach. I remember having practice with the BKYSL and getting really excited for classic skiing days, because it meant Bucky was going to ski with us. He’s so old-school; he never even thought about skate skiing. I remember him teaching me to keep my hips and my head still when I was striding … he’d ski behind me and tell me to stop bobbing up and down, and to ski smooth, big, and relaxed, the way the old New England legends did. I think Bucky had a big influence even on the way I ski now.
You’ve had a good summer of training – how was skiing at the Snow Farm in NZ?
AN: The snow was as sweet as ever this year in New Zealand. The temperature stayed cold and we had hard-wax skiing every day for the entire three weeks. It’s an incredible place. We train some of our biggest hours of the training year during the first weeks of August, so it’s a huge help to be able to do most of that on snow. To be able to test out new race skis in the winter conditions is pretty awesome too.
Are you working on some specific things in your training?
AN: The biggest change in my training this year has actually been to simplify things. I’ve gone back to a more ‘traditional’ cross-country skiing training plan. I’m trying to get away from the flashy, overly specific sprint workouts and return to the basics, to try and improve my overall fitness. I’m basically training like a distance skier now, with longer intervals and easier distance sessions. I think it’s going to really pay off in my endurance through the sprint heats and help me improve in the distance races as well.
How many hours do you plan on for this season?
AN: Around 775 … which includes strength training.
How are you approaching the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Games?
AN: Last season I didn’t do a good job in peaking my fitness for important races and ended up being too tired for the Nordic World Championships and probably skiing slower than I did all year in Liberec. Making a mistake like that was actually pretty helpful because now I have a good idea about what I need to do to ski my best. Again, it’s not rocket science … that’s why I’ve gone back to a more traditional training plan. I’m confident I’ll be in the best shape of my life by the time when Vancouver is here – and that’s basically the best ammunition you can have going into the Games.
Any home court advantage at all…?
AN: I don’t think there is ever too much of a home court advantage in XC skiing but the good news is we’ve trained as much at the Olympic venue as anyone else. We’ve made it a priority to have a bunch of ski camps there over the past three years, so we’ve memorized the ski courses and have good grasp of the atmosphere in Whistler.
What refinements might we come to see in sprinting this winter?
AN: I think we’re going to continue to see longer sprints like we did this past year. It’s FIS’s way of getting all the big names in XC skiing involved in every race, and it seams to be working. I think we’re going to see the line between distance skier and sprinter continue to be blurred, especially with events like the “Tour” and “Mini Tours” going on in the World Cup. They’ve already done away with B-finals for next year, which I think is going to push the pace even more in the sprints.
Anything equipment related?
AN: I’m not sure. Companies like to unveil cool stuff for the Games though, that’s for sure. The “hole” ski that Fischer is releasing is probably the biggest evolution in ski technology we’ve seen in a while. Those things are made up of half carbon fibre … it’s pretty amazing. The World Cup athletes have been testing them since World Championships last year, and they’re running really well. A lot of people have been racing on them.
What do you see yourself doing when you are done with ski racing?
AN: It’s hard to say, because skiing is such a big part of my life and has been for so long. I went to a ski school and have been on the US ski team ever since, so I’ve basically been living and breathing skiing for as long as I can remember. I think, when I’ve done racing, not a whole lot is going to change. I’m still going to ski and be outside every day, so I’ll have to find some way to get paid to do that.
You’ve been at the forefront of a fresh approach to presenting the sport in video, from a fun, new angle. What’s the premise of the films you make?
AN: The premise has always been to just show people that cross-country skiing is a fun sport. Yeah, it’s hard … but we have a hell of a good time being involved in the XC ski world. Back when I started X Ski films, there weren’t a whole lot of ways to view cross-country skiing in the US, and websites like Universal Sports weren’t showing ski races yet, so I wanted to get that footage across to the fans somehow. The goofing off and hitting jumps was just something we had grown up doing and it’s a part of my personality so I wanted to convey that aspect too. But it’s always been about the ski racing and showing people the “real” side of what it’s like to be a competitive XC racer. Our niche in DVD world has kind of been erased by the internet, but I enjoy coming up with ideas for movies and piecing them together, so I’ll probably keep making films.
You make cool videos, you blog, and train — do you ever feel that you need some time away from all this? If so, what do you do or where do you go?
AN: It’s funny because skiing really is my whole life, but at the same time it doesn’t get old for me because I’m involved in so many different aspects of the sport. Things like camps, working with the SMS kids, studying technique, and training — all these things keep me busy, so I’m not just focusing on my day-to-day workouts. Having gone to a ski school and having been part of the US ski team for so long I feel like I’ve learned a lot about our sport, so it’s good to be able to put it to some use and work with as many people as I can. Most of my friends are also not involved in the ski world, so they tend to keep me grounded and not completely consumed with skiing. Having hobbies like skateboarding and surfing helps too.
What’s your favourite spot or two on earth?
AN: Southern Vermont. I’ve travelled a lot of counties and all around the US and I still like Vermont the best. I just bought some land in Weston, so I’m stoked to start working on that.
What is your idea of a wonderful day?
AN: If I can train a ton, skateboard, ride my motorcycle, and drink some beers with my VT buddies all in one day, that’s about as good as it gets.
What living person do you most admire?
AN: That’s a hard one. There are a lot of people that I look up to and admire. Vordenberg and Grover and a lot of the other US ski team coaches are at the top of that list. Those guys work their asses off, get crapped on by a lot of the ski community, and continue to stay committed to their mission and continue to break ground every year. It’s not like they’re making millions of dollars. They just love the sport and are focused on getting us to the top. One day everyone is going to see that; it’s what they’re going to be remembered for.
Do you have a personal motto, you try and live by?
AN: It sounds like some weirdo hippie garbage, but I like to say that the most important things in my life are the people in it. That’s really all that matters. I don’t want to win a gold medal if I don’t have my buddies and family to share it with.
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?
AN: I would go back in time and have dinner with Johnny Cash — basically because he’s the greatest musician ever and probably the most badass guy ever.
Andy, you have many talents, but what is one talent you’d most like to have?
AN: I wish I could speak more languages. I pick up a bunch on the road but it’s just enough to get myself in a lot of trouble and not enough to get myself out. I think I would learn Spanish. No one has ever slashed your tires, taken your wallet, and stolen your surfboard because you can’t speak German.
What are you listening to, on your iPod these days?
AN: My usual compadres. Willie, Johnny, Hank, and Merle.
What is your favourite food?
AN: My mom’s pancakes.
Try and answer this one for me: the one thing people don’t know about Andy Newell is ….?
AN: I love to play music. Or TRY to play music. It could be anything: piano, accordion, banging on pots and pans. It’s all good. I’ve recently been getting back into playing guitar. I played a lot as a kid, but not in a while, so it’s been a lot of fun.
What is your most treasured possession?
AN: Right now it’s got to be my 1970 Triumph Bonneville.
Thanks for your time – it’s great to talk with you and let our readers get to know you better. We’ll catch up with you again once the snow flies and wish you all the best for a great season.
AN: Thanks, Pete.