December 29, 2009 – With the Black Mountain TD Bank Eastern Cup approaching rapidly in Rumford, Maine, readers might find this article by Andy Newell helpful (excerpt from the NENSA Coaches Resource and Training Guide). A Vermont native and US Ski Team member, Andy is one of the fastest sprinters in the world!

“Cross County Sprinting is the most exciting event to watch and participate in because anything can happen. With groups of racers pushing themselves to reach Maximum speeds on technical winding courses, poles can break, skiers can fall, and finish lanes can be boxed in. This is why in order to be a successful sprinter you not only need great speed and fitness but also the ability to react to racing situation in a blink of an eye. The most important tool is to know your strengths and weaknesses and being able to inspect the race course thoroughly and have several plans of execution before you’re on the starting line. Here are some basic sprint tactics and strategies to consider:”

Full article by Andy Newell here.