June 22, 2015 (Iola, Wisconsin) – This past weekend, 45 energetic athletes ages 10-14, from 13 different Nordic ski programs from Wisconsin and Minnesota gathered at the Iola Winter Sports Club (IWSC) in Iola, Wisconsin for the second annual Igor Legacy Camp.

The Igor Legacy Camp is a program designed to promote the growth and development of Junior Cross Country Ski racers. It is primarily aimed at U12 (ages 10-11 year olds) and U14 (ages 12-13). The intention is to create a camp to inspire and excite youth in Igor Badamshin’s honor.

Igor Badamshin (June 12, 1966 – January 24, 2014) was a Soviet/Russia cross-country skier who competed from 1989 to 1997. He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1993 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun and earned his best individual finishes of 5th twice at the world championships (1989: 50 km, 1993: 30 km).

In his later years, Badamshin resided in Cable, WI and coached many youth and junior athletes. His effective positive playful approach touched and inspired skiers of all ages.

“This has been an awesome weekend. Skiers and coaches from many different teams and backgrounds came together, as one big team, to have fun and help each other learn the finer points of training and Nordic skiing,” Said Bruce Manske, Youth Development Coordinator for Central Cross Country Ski Association.

The goal of the Igor Legacy Camps includes promoting fun and fitness, and an enthusiasm for Nordic skiing as a life-long sport. The kids learned the benefits of running, ski walking and bounding, participated in classic and skate rollerskiing techniques, and dryland technique drills. The camp also had presentations teaching the kids how to understand training levels and the importance of teamwork.

“The Igor Legacy Camp was a success because young skiers from across the Midwest got together to work and play in an outdoor setting, and to learn about Nordic skiing from each other,” commented Coach Jake Barnes from Iola Winter Sports Club.