November 13, 2012 – I’m about to board my second of four flights taking me from home in AK to Northern Finland, “Munio.” It’s hard to see on this map but it’s to the left of “Lappi” …. you may notice this is WAY above the Arctic Circle. Don’t worry, I packed some neon to keep things bright and happy….

My favorite wax tech helping me travel wax skis. I had this pic on Facebook earlier and many people are surprised by the number of skis I have.  Reality is, everyone has this many to be competitive at the international level.  Each one is for different conditions… different cambers, stiffnesses, grinds, etc.

Fast and Female Anchorage (last weekend) is deserving of its own post. I’ll try to write an update later. Basically, it was AWESOME and we had over 200 girls. Thanks so much to everyone who pitched in and helped out!

After the main event we took the opportunity to get a bunch of Alaskan women influential in sports together for a social/pow-wow. Women shared incredible personal stories and also gave updates on the programs they are currently involved in. We had everyone from Nina Kemppal (4x XC Ski Olympian) to Deedee Jonrowe (30x Iditorod sled dog racer) to Margaret Timmerman in charge of Tuesday Night races to Joey Caterinichio – US Ski Team Nordic Program Director, Rosey Grundwaldt – 2006 Torino Bronze Medalist, etc, etc. I wish I had had a tape recorder on the conversation because it was amazing.

Rob dropped me off at the airport last night. Always hard to say goodbye. He’s my biggest supporter. (Thanks for the help babe!)

Opp! They’re calling my name to board! Next flight to Frankfurt, then to Helsinki, then to Rovanemi & finally, a drive to Munio. I have a long road ahead!

More soon!
Holly 😉

The day before my departure I got this in the mailbox. I’m excited to be writing an international column for the statewide Nordic Skier Newspaper. In case you live outside of Alaska or don’t receive the paper, I’ve included my article below….

From Alaska to Europe & Back
by Holly Brooks

Eight years ago I moved to Anchorage because I wanted to live in a ski town. After growing up in Seattle, I craved a place where roller skiers weren’t considered freaks and I could see snow outside the kitchen window. I was ecstatic to find friends who knew of Swix Extra Blue and a spider web of fabulous trails throughout the city, complete with lights for skiing at night. I made my rounds of the local ski scene working at Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking, serving as the head coach for West High, spent six years as a coach for the Alaska Junior Olympic team and finally, five years as a fulltime junior and master’s coach for the APU Nordic Ski Center.

I started out racing in the local Anchorage Cup series; the Hickok, Pia’s Classic, the Sven, the Oosik, the Tour. Then, in 2009, I entered the American Birkebeiner and “lost” the race by what some called a “toenail” in a photo finish. In many ways, that race was one of the defining moments that inspired me to focus on skiing at a new level. Luckily my commitment and hard work was rewarded when this past May, I was named as an official member of the US Cross Country Ski Team.

Last winter I unexpectedly spent almost five consecutive months in Europe racing the World Cup. Needless to say, this was quite the jump from the Alaska community racing scene where I frequented the coastal trail, had a “handful of skis” thrown into the back of my Subaru or spent Tuesday nights doing intervals at Hillside with my friends. In all, I traveled to & raced in ten different countries and accumulated 26 World Cup starts. There were highlights such as my contribution to the best women’s 4x5k team relay finish in history and there were certainly low lights as well. Christmas night I was running on an icy road, fell & broke my wrist just four days before the start of the infamous “Tour de Ski” stage race. (I foolishly competed anyways!) This winter promises to be full of more tales and adventures. I’m by no means a seasoned veteran of the World Cup but I’m not a rookie either.

As you may know, three of the six US Ski Team girls reside and train in Anchorage including Kikkan Randall, Sadie Bjornsen and myself. We represent the USA, the State of Alaska and APU Nordic Ski Center on the International stage. This year World Championships will be in Val di Fiemme, Italy and in less than two years we hope to be “toeing the start line” at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

When driving up the serpentine roads to the racing venue in Slovenia or landing a chartered plane on an obscure military base in Russia to compete it’s easy to feel far from home and far from the people, specifically the Alaskans, that helped us reach the World stage. Realizing that, I’m excited to be writing a monthly column for the Nordic Skier that will attempt to bring stories from the World Cup into your hands. While I may not spend much of the winter in Alaska anymore I spend the spring crust skiing at Portage, the summer running in the Chugach and the fall roller skiing at Kincaid. While I love being on the road, my heart is always at home. I hope you’ll join me for the adventure that is the 2012-2013 World Cup season

If you would like to follow Holly’s ski adventures on a more regular basis, check out her blog @ www.hollyskis.blogspot.com

November 08, 2012 (Saskatoon, SK) – The Canadian Olympic Foundation is proud to partner for another year of successful Gold Medal Plates fundraising events. The cross-country series of fundraisers continued tonight at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon.

“The money raised here tonight helps make athletes’ Olympic dreams a reality,” said Saskatoon native and 2008 Olympians Kelsie Hendry. “All the athletes here tonight are very proud to support such an important event. It is so good to see Saskatoon come out to support Canadian athletes.”

“Not only does Gold Medal Plates bring first-class events across the country, but it benefits our Olympic heroes,” said Canadian Olympic Foundation Chair and Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut. “These events help us build the Canadian Olympic Foundation into Canada’s leading philanthropic organization, funding sport and high performance athletes.”

Canadian Olympians Adam van Koeverden (Canoe-Kayak), Kyle Shewfelt (Gymnastics), Kaylyn Kyle (Soccer), Kelsie Hendry (Athletics), Jacki Nichol (Sotball), Brian Gyetko (Tennis), Michelle Cameron Coulter (Synchronized Swimming), Al Coulter (Volleyball), Viola Yanik (Wrestling), Cyprian Enweani (Athletics), Mike Robertson (Snowboard), Jeff Christie (Luge), Ian Cockerline (Luge), Craig Mackay (Speed Skating), Chandra Crawford (Cross Country Skiing), Rosannagh Crawford (Biathlon), Brendan Green (Biathlon), Marie-Ève Marleau (Diving), Jason Parker (Speed Skating), Nicole Cargill (Synchronized Swimming), Herb Pinder (Ice Hockey), Marcia Gudereit (Curling), Janice Betker (Curling), Joan McCusker (Curling), Nathan Gafuik (Gymnastics), socialized with guests.

This year’s event featured chefs Robin Andreas (Sheraton Cavalier Hotel), Derek Cotton (Bliss Restaurant), Darren Craddock (Riverside Country Club), Kevin Dahlsjo (Two by Dahlsjo), Klarke Dergousoff (Amy’s on Second), Brent Lloyd (Simple Chef), Moe Mathieu (White Birch Catering), Trevor Robertson (Radisson Hotel) and Dan Walker (Weczeria Food & Wine), competing to represent Saskatoon at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna in February.

Net proceeds from the event support high performance athletes through programs such as Own the Podium.

November 07, 2012 – Athletes, coaches, and parents who see what an amazing sport Nordic Combined is, and know (or are learning) how much of an undertaking it is to become a World Class skier, you are the American Nordic Combined family. You are all invested in the success of American Nordic Combined, both today and in the years to come.

You all know the story, our top athletes are well funded, our developing athletes receive little to none. Who knows what the funding picture will look like in the years to come?

There are just under two weeks remaining in the Drive for 25 (D25) fundraiser. To those of you have gotten involved by signing up as a D25 Ambassador and reaching out to others and/or by donating yourself. Thank you!

Those who have not, American Nordic Combined needs your help.

A group of people who see the need and potential of American Nordic Combined skiing have come together and pooled $15,000 to match up to $15,000, dollar for dollar, during the final 2 weeks of the Drive for 25 (November 15th).

We have less than two weeks to make this happen and to do it we need you all involved.

The more we raise the more we can fund.

To get started and set up your Ambassador HERE.

If you already have a page set up, keep/start spreading the message.

Nordic Combined Matching Grant
A match is on the table for Nordic Combined!

A group of people who see the need and potential of American Nordic Combined skiing have come together and pooled $15,000 to match up to $15,000, dollar for dollar, during the final 2 weeks of the Drive for 25 (November 15th)

Let’s leverage this challenge into $30,000 to support our developing American Nordic Combined athletes to make sure they will have the opportunities they need to build upon the success that Billy, Johnny, Todd, and Bryan have put together.

We can make this happen.

To donate today and take advantage of this opportunity click HERE.

Adam Loomis Insights
My progress from an aspiring junior athlete to a US Ski Team athlete has been directly enabled by the NNF. A few years ago, US Nordic Combiners were either supported by the US Ski Team, or not financially supported at all. Now, as the Ski Team isn’t able to fund all of its athletes and developing athletes, the NNF is stepping in to help cover costs. This branch of funding creates a bridge for athletes to continue past high school towards the A-team level.

After high school I spent two years training in Steamboat Springs, CO. Last year, I was a member of the National Training Group (NTG). The NTG benefits from coaching and training with the USST, but isn’t funded financially. As a NTG member, I spent a month training in Europe in August and traveled to Europe to compete twice in the winter. We also competed in Chicago, Lake Placid, Park City and Whistler, BC last season. It’s easy to see that this kind of travel schedule would be nearly impossible to afford without some sort of outside financial support. This where is where the NNF made all the difference, chipping in to make these trips feasible.

This year, as a member of the US Ski Team, many costs, like coaching are covered. Our European training camps this winter and the upcoming competitions of this winter, however, are not all paid for by the Ski Team. As the NNF continues to grow, we are able to cover more of these costs. I cannot stress enough how beneficial the NNF’s fundraising has been to my career, and it’s equally vital to the entire sport. Someday, I hope that we have the financial resources to cover equipment, coaching and travel costs for all National level Nordic Combined athletes. A huge part of this is the greater community reaching out and supporting its athletes. This support has been awesome to see, and I hope it continues to grow in the future.

There are less that 2 weeks to go in the Drive for 25. The support our athletes has seen so far has been unbelievable but we still have so much to do and to provide our athletes with the support they need to make their and our American Nordic dreams a reality.

Swag for Ambassadors
We have some amazing gear to give away to our top Ambassadors from our sponsors. U23 and Junior Ambassadors who raise $100 will receive a NNF buff from Podiumwear. Ambassadors who rase $250 will receive a NNF headband by Mt. Borah.

Mission
The mission of the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) is to provide support for the athlete development pipeline of US Cross Country and Nordic Combined skiing. The NNF accomplishes this development goal through raising funds and distribution to our “Pillar Projects” that serve the next generation of athletes who represent the United States on the World Stage.

The NNF is a not-for-profit foundation that serves it’s mission to provide funding and support for key Pillar Projects in the Nordic Community.

Support Tomorrow’s Nordic Stars Today.

For more info, email: NationalNordicFoundation@gmail.com

November 01, 2012 (Anchorage, AK) – Since getting back from Park City Camp, Anchorage has yet to get any snow. Of course, when every skier is looking for moisture, the sun finally decides to show in AK. With no snow, the temperatures haven’t hesitated to resemble the typical Alaskan weather at this time of year.

As temps dropped down into the single digits, rollerskiing gets less fun! Pounding freezing cold pavement isn’t exactly the nicest thing for your joints. But, with a little extra clothes, and a longer than usual warm up- we made it happen.

One day we were rollerskiing at a local park, where all the ducks have decided to reside around a half frozen pond. They also have chosen to poop all over the trail. So, aside from the trail being half frozen, our skis were also being stopped and tripped up by frozen pooo. It provided for some laughing, a little swearing, and fortunately only one fall that didn’t end up too bad.

Last weekend was also the annual APU ski swap, where all the elite athletes pass down our great equipment to the younger generation of skiers. This is one of the neatest qualities about this elite/junior/devo team. A great pair of skis never leaves the team as someone grows out of them, it just keeps living down the chain. The ski swap is also a time that Kikkan takes the opportunity to clear out her closet and raffle off all her stuff to the young kids.

This is one of the most exciting things I have ever watched. Kikkan manages to accumulate some pretty awesome gear, so the kids get called out by number, have 10 seconds to pick something on the table, and then the next person goes. It’s a pretty awesome thing Kikkan does- and I am sure that 90% of those kids mark the day on the calendar, it’s that exciting!!

On that same day we had one of the young devo team boys and Rob Whitney put on a fundraiser run for Mary Robicheaux, a young devo on our team that got hit by a car while she was biking. Mary has been in the hospitals for the past two months as she is learning to walk again. She suffered a fractured skull, many broken bones in both legs, a broken spine, and a tough road to recovery. She has been amazing though as she has continued to improve from day to day with a whole lot of heart.

Anyways, one of her friends, Luke Jager headed up a running race for the community. He set up a little 5k course that weaved over logs, through trees, around in circles… you name it. It was pretty fun. It was amazing to see the community come together, with around 300 participants, who managed to raise $14,000 for Mary’s recovery.

So, this leads to last weekend. On Wednesday last week, I headed up to Fairbanks for a little on-snow time. Since Fairbanks has about 3 inches of snow, our team was off to find it. This weekend is also the First Tracks Camp, where all the skiers of Alaska group together for the first “on-snow” camp of the season.

It is pretty awesome, they all get to chase all the elite skiers around during training, and then there are a bunch of talks set up from Nutritionists, Health Specialists, NCAA skiers and coaches, and the World Cup Team. With everyone in the same place, everyone gets to take advantage of the others around them. This is the first time I have attended one of these First Tracks Camp, but it is pretty amazing. Thanks Matt Hajdukavich and Challenge Life Alaska for an awesome time!

The final day, we celebrated Halloween and dressed up in costumes for our ski. I was doing intervals this day, so it meant throwing down pretty hard in a pink onesie suit with a white cotton t-shirt on top. It provided for some entertainment though for sure.

Kikkan and Holly also organized a “world-cup field” for the final day where they brought all their race suits from other countries they have accumulated, and then raffled off who got to wear them the final day. The kids also got to wear world cup bibs on top, so it was pretty hilarious to watch the “foreigners” skiing around.

So after four days of sweet skiing, we had to head home for some good “home time” before leaving for the winter. This is also the hardest part. Trying to get your life truly organized before being gone from your home for potentially five months!! Yikes. In the mean time, if you see me on the side of the road dancing… I am just doing the snow dance!! C’mon snow.

November 01, 2012 – There are only 24 days left until the 2012/13 FIS Cross-Country World Cup season gets under way and the defending Big Crystal Globe winner Marit Bjoergen looks optimistic towards the winter.

“I’ve done a very good job in the summer and autumn and I cannot wait until the season starts,” she wrote on her website www.maritbjoergen.no.

The multiple Olympic and World Championships medallist says she has trained more than ever. “Every year has made me stronger and my body’s ability to recover has been better,” she claimed.

The Cross-Country season kicks off for Norwegian athletes in Beitostoelen on November 16-18 with the traditional Cross-Country and Biathlon opening. This time, the three days of competitions will be featuring 10/15 km free ladies and men, classical sprint and 10/15 km km classic ladies and men.

“Beitostølen is my favourite place and I enjoy the atmosphere of the national opening,” she revealed.

Cross-Country Skiing fans can still recall unforgettable moments from the last season when Marit Bjoergen and Justyna Kowalczyk challenged each other for the FIS Tour de Ski victory and the Big Crystal Globe.

Also this winter Bjoergen and Kowalczyk are expected to fight for top positions both in the World Cup, FIS Tour de Ski and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. FIS Cross-Country World Cup season kicks off in Gällivare on November 24-25.

“It will be exciting to meet other skiers at the World Cup opening. Rumours say that Justyna is in a good shape and I am looking forward to meeting her on the World Cup circuit,” said Marit Bjoergen and continued: “Charlotte Kalla visited me in Oslo in the summer and there’s no doubt she will be a strong contender for all the Norwegian girls,” Bjoergen claimed.

October 29, 2012 – Welcome to a new season of Talkin’ with the Gravy Train where notable Nordic personalities have a forum to talk about the sport they love in their own words and express their point of view. We’d like to thank all of our guests for taking the time to chat with us and our loyal audience for listening. Our first guest this season is the multi-talented and well-known former US star skier and coach, Jim Galanes.

We just realized that the correct Part 1 of this two-part interview was not provided (only about 3min was included) initially when we first posted this interview and we apologize to all readers – the correct version is now linked below.

Jim Galanes – A Man For All Seasons Seasons
I have known Jim Galanes since we were both teenagers growing up in Southern Vermont. A truly gifted athlete, he excelled in the Nordic sports and later in cycling. Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, his brilliant ski racing career began with Nordic Combined as the local famed Harris Hill was calling. His prodigious talents and his drive helped him secure a USST berth at the tender age of 17. A member of three US Olympic teams in ’76, ’80 and 1984, Galanes dropped ski jumping to focus on cross-country skiing and turned in many outstanding international performances. A twelve-year member of the U.S. Ski Team he won three national Nordic Combined championships and two World Cups, in addition to ten xc ski national championships.

His interest in coaching led Galanes to head up the US Ski Team from 1986-1992, followed by a stint at Vermont’s SMS leading to his outstanding career at APU from 1995-2006. Considered among the elite of the coaching fraternity, he has worked and coached many of America’s top skiing talents. Recently he moved from Anchorage to Sun Valley where he currently operates Galanes Sports Lab Institute in Ketchum, Idaho, offering a variety of services from coaching, ski trail design, program development and ski products – read more here.

Jim Galanes – Part 1

October 25, 2012 (Park City, UT) – In an announcement made today by USA Ski Jumping’s CEO Jeff Hastings, two members of the USASJ squad have been elevated to “A” Team membership. Based upon their Grand Prix performances this Summer Peter Frenette (Saranac Lake, NY) and Anders Johnson (Park City, UT) will be named immediately to the top team.

In making the announcement today Hastings–a 1984 U.S.A. Olympian, who was fourth in Sarajevo– said he was delighted by the progress both ski jumpers have made. “Anders and Peter’s performances this Summer and Fall have been really impressive and very much a validation for the program. Their results have provided a great financial boost to the program as USA Ski Jumping is now qualified to have two paid athletes and a coach at every World Cup event this Winter. Having two skiers performing at this level provides an enormous boost to the younger skiers in the U.S.A., as well. They get a picture of what they need to be doing and gain confidence that it’s possible. In a mind game like ski jumping, this kind of contact is critical. You need that first group to break through which breaks a path for others to follow”, Hastings said.

USASJ Athletic Director Alan Johnson said from the USASJ headquarters in Park City, UT today that the pair really stepped it up during the Summer. “Athletes earn a position on the “A” Team by either scoring Grand Prix or World Cup points or a top 10 in an international Continental Cup event. We are very pleased to have two athletes achieve this level in the first period of competition. We are on track with our goals at this point and very excited about the start of the second period in Lillehammer, Norway. These results will go a long way in helping USASJ athletes earn quota spots for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.” U.S. coach Clint Jones will travel with Johnson and Frenette this Winter.

The first FIS World Cup will get underway in Lillehammer, Norway in one month. The U.S.A. squad will assemble in Park City, UT soon for an intensive one-month camp, prior to the start of the competitive season.

www.usaskijumping.org

October 22, 2012 – Taylor Fletcher was recently named to the 2013 U.S. Nordic Combined A-Team. Like brother Bryan, Taylor keeps improving every year. After a strong 2011 season, Taylor stepped it up again in 2012 with six Continental Cup podiums in seven races, multiple points-scoring World Cups and a career best 14th on the 2013 World Championships course in Italy. Taylor was named the 2013 U.S. Nordic Combined A-Team not the B-team as initially received from USSA. The updated team notice is here. -ed.

Already known as one of the strongest cross country skiers on the Team, Taylor continued to improve his jumping in 2012. His pathway to the Team came after two seasons of solid finishes at the U.S. Championships, and a top 15 finish at World Juniors, joining brother Bryan on the Team and then earning a spot on the 2010 Olympic Team where he competed in both nordic combined and ski jumping.

Name: Taylor William Fletcher

Sport: Nordic combined

Hometown: Steamboat Springs, CO

Current Location: Park City, Utah

School: Westminster College

How/when did you decide you wanted to compete:?
Taylor Fletcher: When I was born, it was the sport to do in my hometown. I felt like I was pretty good at it, and things are getting there!

Biggest accomplishment in your career so far?
TF: Being a part of the Olympic team and World Championship team.

Goals for next season?
TF: Medals at world championships and World Cup podiums.

Favorite snow destination?
TF: Oslo, Norway is the birthplace of my sport! People really care for it there!

Favorite non-snow destination?
TF: Courchevel, France. Amazing biking and fun jump hills, and tasty cheese!

If you weren’t a professional athlete what would you be?
TF: Hard to say! Most likely a student!

Time you’ve been most scared in your life?
TF: Hard to say, I do get scared easy, but nothing stands out. I was the most nervous when I competed in the Vancouver Olympics!

What you do you when you are not training or competing?
TF: I am mostly sleeping to recover from training and competitions, But hanging out with friends is good time!

Biggest vice?
TF: Probably eating! That or sleeping.

Biggest pet peeve?
TF: Loud eating! I can’t stand it, please chew with your mouth closed!

Advice to others who want to follow in your footsteps?
TF: Give it a try. If you like it do the work, things will pay off and you’ll have a great time!

October 19, 2012 – Dario Cologna (SUI) was recently named Nordic Ski King of 2011/12 and awarded with the corresponding trophy in Val Müstair, Switzerland.

October 17, 2012 (Park City, UT) – This is why I love going to Park City for October camp ever year – the weather is so awesome it makes for incredible training! While it’s starting to get rainy and gross outside in most of the U.S. once the leaves have changed and fallen, PC has been sunny and reasonably warm. Although I’m such a hot-blooded creature that it’s been much warmer for me than the rest of the team. 🙂

After allowing some time to acclimate to the high altitude, we’ve moved to putting in more speed and intensity sessions, including some harder L4 intervals.

So, this weird thing happens to me every fall. I start to worry that I’m not going fast enough in speeds, not long enough in intervals, and I lose confidence and worry that my season is going to be a disaster. But then the season goes just fine and I feel silly for stressing so much about it!

However, yesterday we did a 6×4 min L4 bounding session, and although I went as hard as I could, I was just out of it and ended up being pretty hard on myself. I figured sometimes you’re the bug, and sometimes you’re the windshield, and that day I was most definitely the bug. And it felt pretty bad.

But then my coaches and teammates reminded me…they’re not going to kick me off the team, or think any less of me, if I don’t perform 100% every single day. In fact, it’d be impossible to have a perfect training session or race every time! It’s normal to get nervous before the start of the race season…that that’s something that might never go away, just something I need to get better at dealing with.

So why am I going on about this? Because everybody has those days when, for whatever reason (bad session, injuries, sickness, bad day at work) they feel like the bug. Sometimes it just sucks! And it’s good to be able to admit when you’re feeling down and simply ask for a hug. I feel so lucky to know that I can get one anytime from such a great group of teammates and coaches. We’ve got each other’s backs!

But today was a rest day, and I think this cartoon (forwarded by Soph) pretty accurately sums up a skier’s day off: it’s never really as empty as we say it is.

Today’s day off consisted of chilling at the SMS team house and then finishing part 2 of a photo shoot for One Way Sport with Reese Hanneman (Engine Room Media – check out his site HERE! ). Reese took some good shots and was super fun to work with, and I can’t wait to post some of the photos in a couple days!

We took photos all over different parts of Park City, but my favorite spots included skiing up Main Street at night, climbing a rusty tower at an old mining site, and skiing over Guardsman Pass.

Doing the shoot on Main St was really cool because of all the lights and people but also a little sketchy; we’d wait for the street to clear and then I’d do a sprint up the middle of the street, and Reese would take some shots, then I’d scoot down the side of the street and do it again.

We got some great comments from the peanut gallery of pedestrians, too. “Ski like you MEAN IT!”…”Where can I get some of those wheels?”…”Whoa. That’s a lot of neon”…”so, uh, do those things mainly roll uphill or downhill?”. Luckily, it was dark, so although my face went red whenever people would stop and stare I don’t think anyone could tell!

October 16, 2012 – The countdown has truly begun…. in just a short 29 days I will be headed on another 30-hour travel to Europe to kick off the 2012-2013 ski season. With less than a month to go, nerves and excitement are starting to brew in my belly and the anticipation is high.

I find our sport to be qualitative to a fault. It’s usually this time of year when I start to wonder, am I fit? Have I prepared well enough? What page of the results will I be on for the first race of the season? Unlike running, biking, or baseball we have comparatively few ways to measure our progress or improvements. We don’t measure wattage, we don’t keep stats, and skiing isn’t as simple as running a repeatable track workout. We can repeat intervals on roller skis but weather and temperature change the speed of the pavement up to 20%. We can do a running test or a strength test but realistically, just because you can do more pull ups than 6 months ago doesn’t guarantee that you’re double pole is going to improve.

Physiological testing at the USSA headquarters in Park City, Utah is just one of the reasons why US Ski Team members make an annual trip here to train come October. The weather is generally beautiful, we can use the facilities at the Center of Excellence & we can “test” with the sports science department. On top of all this, we can take advantage of the opportunity to live & train at altitude.

In fact, as I type this, I am sitting at our condo in Deer Valley @ almost 9,000 feet! For those unfamiliar with altitude training it is basically a natural way of increasing your red blood cells & hemoglobin – both of which are responsible for carrying & delivering oxygen throughout your body. All said and done I will have been here for a full 18 days which should be enough time to spike my hemoglobin. I took a test upon landing and will take another one just before departure to track the change.

In addition to the hemoglobin tests I was scheduled to do a series of “max effort” tests on the ski treadmill to measure my Vo2max among other things. Unfortunately, I’m suffering from a bit of an intercostal muscle pull and at this point, have been unable to test or use my left arm to it’s full capacity. Some of you may remember seeing this from a post I wrote in May:

I was hoping to repeat this test (and see improvement!) but the priority is on fully healing my muscle so that I can do on-snow intervals in Alaska before departing for my first race in Munio, Finland! One of the advantages of being near the COE is that we have in-house trainers & physical therapists. I am seeing them daily and think that I should be 100% healed in no time!

Aside from using the COE and testing, my trip to Utah has given me a much-needed change of scenery, pace, and WEATHER. While the weather at home in Alaska had been quite “challenging” the weather in Utah has been gorgeous. It’s motivating to get out the door and in fact, sometimes you have to keep an eye on your watch because it’s tempting to stay outside all day!

Last week I got to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now and that is climb Timpanogos, an 11,700 foot peak just an hours drive from Park City. Lucky for me I got to climb it with a huge group of friends as it was part of my dear friend, Katie Ronsse’s pre-wedding activities!

Another thing I’ve been able to take advantage of here in Utah is the FOOD. I love ethnic food, particularly Mexican food. There is plenty to be had here – you can see by the site of this salsa bar…. last week I also went to a farmer’s market and just about died of happiness as there were fresh local fruits and veggies for REALLY affordable prices!

Another huge highlight of the past week and a half was attending Katie and Justin’s wedding. Rob was able to join me for the wedding and a small respite from the Alaskan rain. He was “happy as a clam” biking 8 hours a day on the extensive Park City mountain bike trails!

I have another four days here in Utah and its action packed with training sessions, physical therapy appointments, meetings with our new team sports psychologist & travel agent, getting outfitted with gear for the new season & an National Nordic Foundation fundraising meet & greet. (More on that and the Drive for 25 later!)

In the meantime, for all you folks up in Alaska – we’re having a fun(d) run for Mary this upcoming Sunday! I hope to see some of you there! Please help spread the word:

That’s it for now from Utah! Smiles & thanks for reading,

– Holly 🙂

October 12, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) – In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is pleased to announce that it will be recognizing 55 Canadians for their contributions to the Paralympic Movement through the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The call for nominations closes October 15, 2012.

February 6, 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne. To commemorate this historic occasion Canada created the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to be awarded to 60,000 nominees from across Canada for significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. Included in this number will be 55 Canadians put forward by the CPC who have made a significant difference in the advancement of the Paralympic Movement in Canada.

These 55 individuals will also join the 145 athletes who represented Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games as medal recipients. They will be selected by the CPC’s External Representation Committee who will review all nominations and provide a list of 55 nominees to the CPC Board of Directors for approval. This list of names will then forwarded to the Office of the Governor General for final endorsement.

Nominees must fall into one of three categories: Athlete, Coach and Builder. Each category will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Athlete
Outstanding athletic performance (medals at Paralympic Games, participation in multiple Games, world or national records, etc.).
Contribution to the Paralympic Movement through activities undertaken outside of sporting or competition commitments (community service, public speaking, sport promotion, etc.).
Sustained contributions to the Paralympic Movement (a legacy exists as an athlete, a mentor, a coach, an administrator, etc.).

2. Coach
Outstanding coaching performances that have led to medals at Paralympic Games and World Championships. Involvement in multiple Paralympic Games and overall total body of work including Canada Games and Regional/Provincial Championships.
Contribution to Paralympic Movement through sport development (community or elite), coach development, mentoring, and technical innovation.
Sustained contributor to the Paralympic Movement.

3. Builder / Administrator
Outstanding lifetime contribution to the growth and development of the Paralympic Movement nationally and/or internationally.
Provided ground-breaking leadership or innovative practices/programs.
Made a significant impact to the development of Paralympic sport. This may include contributions made nationally or internationally to specific sports within a specific disability group, or to athletes with a disability as a whole.

In addition to the criteria above, to be eligible for a Jubilee Medal the nominee must:
Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, but need not necessarily reside in Canada;
Have been alive on February 6th, 2012, the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne. The medal can be awarded posthumously, as long as the recipient was alive on that date.

The Nomination Form for the Diamond Jubilee Medal can be found on the CPC website and must be completed in full, including the full name, address, phone number and email address of the nominator AND the nominee along with a one-page outline of the nominee’s activities and achievements.

Please send the completed form and attachments by October 15, 2012 to:

Canadian Paralympic Committee
Attention: Diamond Jubilee Medal Selection Committee
225 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON K0C 1C0
Email: kpoapst@paralympic.ca

Further criteria and information on the Diamond Jubilee Medal can be found at www.gg.ca

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s vision is to be the world’s leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.

Follow the Canadian Paralympic Committee:
www.paralympic.ca
www.facebook.com/CDNParalympics
www.twitter.com/CDNParalympics
www.youtube.com/CDNParalympics

October 11, 2012 – USA’s Kikkan Randall became the best sprinter on the ladies’ side last season. The skier from Alaska talked to FIS Cross-Country News about her summer preparation, goals for the winter and her four-year term on the FIS Athletes’ Commission.

You are coming to the end of your four-year term as the female representative for Cross-Country on the FIS Athletes’ Commission. How has the experience been and would you like to continue for another four years?
Kikkan Randall: Yes, I have really enjoyed my time on the FIS Athletes’ Commission representing Cross-Country. It has taken these four years to learn the ropes and get to know the people, and I have established some good paths of communication with the top levels of the cross-country committee. So I feel that can I continue to be effective and would enjoy doing this for another four years.

After having such a successful season last year taking the World Cup Overall Sprint title, what are your goals moving forward towards the 2012-13 World Cup season?
KR: Yeah, last year was certainly a lot of fun and I would like to continue to improve at both my sprint and distance results.

You have struggled with a foot injury this summer. Has that affected your off-season training?
KR: Unfortunately, I’ve had to slow down a little bit this summer after good training through mid-August, as it became clear that I had a stress fracture in my right foot. I’ve had to take the last month a little bit easier too give the foot some rest and avoid activities that aggravate it.

What are the activities that bothered the foot?
KR: Primarily, it was skate skiing. But for the past six weeks I have also not run, and only double-poled roller skiing.

Has that changed your approach to the start of the racing season?
KR: Normally I would have been looking forward to really coming in in good form with the opening races in Gallivare, and the mini-tour in Kuusamo, as well as the two sprints in Quebec. But I haven’t been able to skate for six weeks now and it’s still another couple of weeks before that becomes a possibility. Hopefully, I will be ready to participate in those races, but don’t see my form coming around until the Tour de Ski.

October 09, 2012 – Happy Canadian Thanksgiving everyone! Ok, now the blog post can begin. The Fast and Female event in Park City was officially AWESOME. As per my usual, I got to lead the dancing/endurance station, where we keep moving the entire time and each girl gets to add a dance move of her own to the group dance. The dance gets longer and longer and by the last group of the day I’m always working so hard to try and remember which move comes next! But it’s so much fun. Anne Hart was my dance station partner and we had a blast although by the end we both had jelly legs and were wiped out.

For me the coolest thing is seeing each girls face light up as the entire group does the dance move SHE got to add. It’s fun to make each girl be the star for 10 seconds!

And now… the National Nordic Foundation’s Drive for 25.

I realize that there are a ton of fundraisers going on this fall. And my personal fundraiser, the Chilkoot Cafe dinner in Stillwater, is going on this fall as well, on November 10th. But, I’m putting this up because the National Nordic Foundation directly helps me as well as many other junior, senior and U23 athletes looking to take the next step in international racing. NNF lowers trip costs for World Juniors/U23′s, and help pay for World Cup expenses. NNF also helped the US Women’s team travel to Sweden to train with some of the best in the world and improve.

So!

If you cannot come to Stillwater, MN on November 10th but are a friend of mine and/or Nordic Skiing and want to help out, this fundraiser is the best way to do it. I’ve linked my fundraising page below, and my goal is to get 20 people to donate $25. All the fundraiser information is on the link – even if you do not want to donate, please check out the NNF and their mission – the stories, pictures and race blogs are well worth looking at. Thanks for your time!

Jessie’s Drive for 25 page HERE.

October 05, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) – The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), today announced improvements to the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP), the Harper Government’s sport funding program that assists athletes with living and educational expenses while they train and compete.

“Our Government recognizes that Canada’s top athletes make great sacrifices to compete for our country, and for this reason, we are pleased to continue our record-level support for the Athlete Assistance Program,” said Minister of State Gosal. “The improvements announced today will ensure that our athletes continue to reach the podium, while recognizing the need to adapt to the ever-changing high-performance landscape.”

The number of carded athletes and overall program budget will remain consistent with previous years, while providing increased flexibility to Canada’s national sport organizations to allow them to maximize the resources available on an annual basis.

Improvements include increased financial support for top performing athletes, athletes with child dependents, as well as additional support for Paralympic athletes with high support needs.

The improvements to the AAP policies and procedures were determined after a two-year consultation process between Sport Canada and the high-performance sport community. These consultations included input from individual athletes and coaches, as well as representatives of national sport organizations, multisport organizations, Canadian Sport Centres, AthletesCAN, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee Athlete Councils, and Own the Podium.

“The changes to the Athlete Assistance Program support Canada’s objectives to be a world leader in high-performance sport at the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Anne Merklinger, Chief Executive Officer, Own the Podium. “These positive and innovative changes to the program will ensure that Canada’s top athletes are equipped with the means to continue their pursuit for the Olympic and Paralympic podium.”

“The continued direct support to Canadian athletes through the Athletes Assistance Program is critical to an athlete’s ability to represent Canada on the international stage,” said Erik Petursson, President, AthletesCAN. “The increase in key areas of support sends a positive message about the Government of Canada’s commitment to the AAP; we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the best possible results for Canadian athletes.”

The Government of Canada is the single largest contributor to sport in Canada and supports participation and excellence from playground to podium. Over 1900 athletes were approved for AAP funding in 2011-2012.

Improvement Highlights

Special Needs Policies – Excellence Allowance
An “Excellence” allowance for athletes performing in the top 3 (medal must be awarded) at World Championships or Olympic/Paralympic Games in events on the program of the upcoming Olympic/Paralympic Games. The duration of the allowance would be for 2 successive carding cycles. The amount will be $500/month (up to $6,000/year).
Income test: Maximum gross annual income of $60,000.

Special Needs Policies – Allowance for Child Dependents
An allowance provided to athletes performing in the top 3 (medal must be awarded) at World Championships or Olympic/Paralympic Games in events on the program of the upcoming Olympic/Paralympic Games. Provided to eligible athletes in Olympic/Paralympic sports who have “child dependents” to assist in supporting their families. The amount will be $500/month (up to $6,000/year).
Income test: Maximum gross annual income of $70,000.

Special Needs Policies – Paralympic Athletes with High Support Needs
Athletes would be eligible for $500/month (up to $6,000/year).
There would be an income test similar to that for child dependents.
Two groups of athletes with high support needs were identified:

1. Athletes that require one-on-one support to train and compete. Helper is authorized on the field of play; and
2. Athletes that require one-on-one personal care support to train and compete or to attend training and competition.

Athletes with “guides” who are already carded would not be eligible for this subsidy.

Other Administrative and Financial Changes
Revision to National Sport Organization Eligibility Requirements for AAP
Revise the national sport organization (NSO) eligibility criteria to restrict AAP funding to sport disciplines based on the Sport Funding and Accountability Framework (SFAF) Excellence assessment:
– AAP eligibility to those Olympic/Paralympic/non-Olympic sports whose HP program are funded via SFAF;
– Limit the amount of AAP support provided to Olympic/Paralympic/non-Olympic sports whose HP program are below an established minimum point threshold in the SFAF Excellence assessment; and
– No new sport disciplines will be added to AAP eligibility in the middle of a “quota” cycle, except in the following circumstance: new Olympic and Paralympic sports targeted by Own The Podium for their national team program.

National Team Relocation Expenses
For athletes who move permanently to a NSO-designated national team training centre.
Maximum $500/move, maximum 2 moves.

Revisions of the Senior International (SR1/SR2) Carding Criteria
Revise criteria to top 8 and top ½ of field at Olympic/Paralympic Games or World Championships. This includes the elimination of the requirement of 10 countries in Paralympic events.

Revisions of the Senior International (SR1/SR2) Carding Criteria
An NSO may adjust a criterion or include sport specific requirements to the SR1/SR2 criteria specific to their sport in order to strengthen the criteria.

Revisions of the Senior International (SR1/SR2) Carding Criteria
In individual sports with team-type or relay events, athletes who compete in the event will be awarded a Senior International Card (SR1 or SR2), depending on the result of the team/relay in the final.

Revision to Team Sport Policies – Professional Athletes
Athletes who are competing in the NBA, NHL, ML Baseball or 1st Division Soccer Leagues (men only) in Europe (as determined by Sport Canada) will not be eligible for AAP support.

Athletes who are competing in a professional league other than the NBA, NHL, ML Baseball or 1st Division Soccer Leagues in Europe may be considered for AAP support based on the degree of their participation in national team programs.

Provision of AAP Support for Athletes in Olympic/Paralympic NSOs that Do Not Meet AAP Eligibility Requirements (the NSO is not eligible for an AAP “quota” of cards)
The athlete must place in the top 16 and top ½ of the field (absolute) at World Championships or Olympic/Paralympic Games.

Changes to Tuition Policies – Tuition Changes for Post Retirement
Encourage retiring athletes to utilize deferred tuition available to them for National Coaching Certification Program courses and National Coaching Institute coaching courses and provide up to $5,000 special needs retirement.

Changes to Tuition / Deferred Tuition Allowance
Maximum lifetime tuition/deferred tuition of $25,000;
Maximum tuition and deferred tuition amount per year $5,000;
Number of years past last carding date to access deferred tuition 5 years;
Maximum amount allowed to defer tuition – $5,000 × 5 years for $25,000 minus any tuition already paid.

Changes to Tuition Policies – Administrative Changes
Direct payment for tuition or deferred tuition to an athlete will only be provided within a period of one year from the date of payment by the athlete or completion of the course (currently this is open ended).

Provide direct financial support for tuition fees only upon proof of completion of courses.
No tuition support for athletes attending school outside of Canada.

Anti-Doping Education
The Government of Canada is committed to worldwide efforts to eliminate doping in sport and provides financial contributions to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport in support of this objective. Included in the changes to the AAP will be a requirement for all carded athletes to complete an online anti-doping education module provided by the Centre. It is anticipated that the online anti-doping program will be available by the end of the year.

October 02, 2012 (Calgary, AB) – Biathlete Robin Clegg, 35, who competed for Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, was hit by a vehicle, apparently deliberately by an angry driver, while he and two friends were cycling near Calgary on Sunday, reported the Toronto Star. Clegg suffered a broken collarbone and elbow and underwent surgery for his injuries. Read the full article HERE.

October 01, 2012 (Park City, UT) – The USST’s Noah Hoffman has had a busy fall after returning from a training camp in New Zealand with a quick stopover in Putney, VT. Back home in Park City, Hoffman has been enjoying the fall weather, quality time with family and friends, and hard training sessions in preparation for the upcoming competitive season.

Find out more on his blog HERE.

September 29, 2012 (Afton, MN) – Wow, I LOVE being home! I forget sometimes how wonderful fall is in Minnesota, and it’s so beautiful driving through Afton with the trees turning leaves and hanging over the road. Especially since there’s so many people out enjoying the good weather – I must have seen at least 30 rollerskiers and bikers out yesterday in the 10 minutes I drove through Afton.

The Beech family invited a bunch of the skiers and friends from the Stillwater High School team over to help pick apples and press them into cider, and they have this really cool cider press that takes at least three people to work at once. It tasted delicious!

Everyone’s hands got super sticky sweet, and there were little bits of apple flying all over whenever the wheel got turned really energetically.

At the Art in the Park fair going on in downtown Afton, I got the most delicious acorn squash from my favorite booth… Siri and Carl Bohacek! I had the honor of going for a roll with their mom, Kris, earlier – a good Sunday morning tradition that I look forward to every time I come home.

Then I got to plant some bright fall flowers in the garden and help my Dad wash the deck and burn buckthorn… some fall chores that I was excited to be home to help with, since I’m never around to do my share normally!

My Dad had returned home just before I did, from a hunting trip down in South Africa, just outside of Kimberly. We all piled on the couch as my Dad scrolled through the amazing pictures of wildlife he took, including lions, zebras, warthogs, giraffes, impala, wildebeest, and springbok. He also had cool stories of the culture he experienced down there, and it was so neat to hear about a place that skiing will never take me but would be really fun to visit and learn more about.

September 27, 2012 (Acton, MN) – A reporter and cameraman from Sweden’s national TV network visited Acton, Minnesota this week in order to film and interview U.S. cross country skiing sensation Jessie Diggins. At 21, Diggins has shot to the top of the world’s elite female skiers, winning World Cup silver in a freestyle team sprint event last season with Kikkan Randall and picked up an individual top five in a 10km race along with other notable performances. While Diggins is popular in Nordic ski circles at home, she’s less well-known as an athlete in the USA at large, but Sweden has taken notice of the young blonde phenom on xc skis.

Read the full article about Diggins’s international media visit on TwinCities.com HERE.

September 26, 2012 – Join Canadian Olympic XC Skier Perianne Jones and support her 2013 season as she continues her road to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. The event takes place on October 16 at the Britannia Yacht Club in Ottawa from 7-9p.m. The evening will include a waxing workshop and a silent auction. Tickets $30, available at Fresh Air Experience, 1291 Wellington St., Ottawa, 613-729-3002.

April 26, 2012 (New York, NY) – Vancouver Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists will be at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park on Wednesday, May 9th, for an evening of entertainment hosted by MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan to benefit the Next Generation of NYSEF athletes, including U.S. Olympians and Sochi 2014 hopefuls.

The gala fundraiser, hosted by the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF), will offer attendees the rare opportunity to meet Olympic medalists and National Team members including Nordic Combined Gold and Silver Medalist Billy Demong, Super G Bronze Medalist Andrew Weibrecht and three-time World Cup winner Manuel Osborne-Paradis. U.S. Ski Jumpers Nick Alexander and Jay Rand, and top U.S. Biathletes Tim Burke, Lowell Bailey and Annelies Cook will also be in attendance.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature cocktails, a buffet, and a live auction with items that range from a week vacation in a private villa on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, to a day of skiing with Olympic Bronze Medalist Andrew Weibrecht. General admission tickets for the event are $250. Net proceeds from ticket sales and the auction will be donated to the Endowment Fund and NYSEF scholarship and general funds.

In partnership with NYSEF, the Next Generation gala event is sponsored by CBRE, the Black Rock Foundation, Northwood School, the Paine Family, the Hospital for Special Surgery and in part by Whiteface Mountain, the Mirror Lake Inn, gloProfessional, and Harrow Sports, Eastern Collective, the Lake Placid Crown Plaza, Grenier Des Alps, and the Meltzer Group.

Tickets may be purchased online HERE or at the door. For more information, contact Jonathan Weibrecht at jonathan.weibrecht@stern.nyu.edu or click HERE.

April 16, 2012 – The second edition of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship program for Sochi 2014 has been launched following the success of the first edition in 2010, through which 325 athletes were assisted to prepare and qualify for the Games in Vancouver. The Program guidelines and application forms have now been sent to the NOCs with the deadline of 31st August 2012 for submitting applications to Olympic Solidarity to be included in 1st batch of allocations (starting on 1st November 2012). The 2nd batch of scholarships will be activated on 1st March 2013.

The Olympic Solidarity scholarship program is designed to improve the competitiveness of the Olympic Winter Games rather than to expand artificially the universality of these Games. As such, access is only offered to NOCs that have a strong winter sports tradition who can present athletes having a proven winter sports record and technical level. The athletes proposed for an Olympic scholarship by their NOCs must have an adequate technical level to allow them to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games. Olympic Solidarity has requested the International Federations inform their National Associations about the Olympic Solidarity Athlete Scholarships for Sochi 2014 and that applications may only be submitted by their NOC. For more information, click HERE.

November 24, 2011   – Check out the third installment of our new SkiTrax audio series, Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, featuring legendary commentator and sports reporter Peter Graves. Our guest this week is US skier, Andy Newell, who just arrived in Kuusamo, Finland for this weekend’s Viessmann FIS XC World Cup races. Newell reflects on his performance last weekend in Sjusjoen, Norway and looks ahead to round two, which starts Friday.

Peter’s first interviewee was Kikkan Randall, and if you missed that interview, click HERE. For Peter’s interview with Kris Freeman, click HERE.

Audio Interview with Newell