August 08, 2012 (London, UK) – The first edition of the FIS Newsflash appeared on 15th December 2004 and today it celebrates its 400th edition with nearly 10,000 subscribers. The official weekly newsletter was introduced following the 2004 FIS Congress in Miami (USA) to serve as the main source of information about current activities and future initiatives shaping the world of FIS and its member associations.

Since today’s 400th edition coincides with Sarah Lewis’ presence at the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games, the FIS Newsflash used this occasion to invite the FIS Secretary General speak about its history, whilst putting her in the role of a reporter providing inside news from the Olympic Games in her home country.

You have followed the Newsflash since day one. How would you describe its history and progress throughout the years?
Sarah Lewis: The FIS Newsflash has undoubtedly become the primary source of current information about FIS and National Associations, as well as reports on activities, the latest news and features on members, athletes, personalities and partners. During the course of the seven and a half years since the first edition was published, I have supported the editor and contributors by reviewing the final draft each and every week prior to its distribution in order to check the content as well as the English. Sometimes it has been a logistical challenge to arrange the review if I am on an airplane, at an event with limited access to e-mail or when I am in different time zones, but somehow we have always found a solution – thanks to very mobile communication!

The new presentation of the Newsflash, launched for this 400th edition, signifies the fourth design change since its beginning. Over the years the content has evolved from being primarily competition reports to focusing on news and features, in order to provide further insight into FIS and the member National Associations, notably about things not covered in the media. With regular news provided in the FIS Newsflash, this has enabled the FIS Bulletin to take on the form of a Yearbook, reviewing the past season and looking ahead to the upcoming one.

With your broad experience in monitoring the FIS Newsflash, you can be considered a specialist in providing news from the international sports arena. If you were a reporter in the London Olympic Games, who would be the first person you would interview and why?
SL: Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee would undoubtedly be top of the list. The untiring work he and the LOCOG team have done to prepare and deliver the Games in one of the world’s busiest cities has proved to be outstanding. He was one of the finest athletes in history and the ethos of the Organising Committee has focused around sport at the heart of the Games, which is in his dna.

You have grown up in the cultural hub of London. Outside the competition venues, which areas of London would you visit to provide readers with a glimpse of “real“ Olympic fan spirit?
SL: The Cycling road race, time trial and Triathlon competitions in the centre of London saw unbelievable scenes with fans lining every part of the courses with crowds of up to 30 persons deep cheering on the athletes. This gave many persons the chance to see a competition live, without charge, and experience the spirit of these Games. In the Olympic Park, a Live Site for public viewing was installed to provide an opportunity for many additional persons without tickets to the competitions to enter the Park, soak up the atmosphere and visit non-competition facilities, as well as follow action from many different sports on giant screens. It appears that parks not only in London, but all over the country have embraced the Olympic fever with viewing areas set up as well as the screens and televisions in the pubs also tuned into follow London 2012.

On Sunday, British tennis player Andy Murray beat Swiss Roger Federer in the Olympic tennis final, a remarkable moment for Great Britain. From a British angle, what other sporting highlights would you report on?
SL: It is impossible to mention all the sporting highlights so far for the British athletes in this article since there are far too many, but even with the number of gold and total medals from Beijing 2008 surpassed on day 11 of 16, there have been disappointments for some athletes who were expected to make the podium, whilst there have also been surprise winners and medallists.

The special performances have to include Bradley Wiggins winning the Cycling time trial after becoming the first ever British winner of the Tour de France just over one week earlier. Super Saturday in the Athletics stadium saw Jess Ennis claim the Heptathlon gold in style, Greg Rutherford win the long jump and Mo Farah’s magnificent victory in the 10,000 meters all in the space of one incredible hour. Another special story was Katherine Grainger taking gold in the Rowing pairs having won four consecutive silver medals since 2000, with the rowers claiming nine medals in 14 events. In the Triathlon the Brownlee brothers stormed to gold and bronze, whilst the Equestrian team have won two team gold medals and a silver so far.

The Gymnastics men’s team won bronze for the first time in 100 years and two male individual medals followed, as well as bronze for Beth Tweddle who has led the rise of the sport in Britain. British multi-medallists have also withstood the great pressure of competing in a home Olympics with Ben Ainslee claiming his 4th Olympic Sailing gold medal and Chris Hoy who pedalled to his 5th and 6th Olympic gold medals on the Cycling track making him the British gold medal record holder. And there have been many more outstanding performances and medals not mentioned here, not to mention the fact there are another five competition days with the possibility of more medals – such as in Boxing, where there are five finals with British boxers.

On Sunday 12th July, the Olympic flame will be put out and light up the winter sports landscape on 7th February 2014 in Sochi (RUS). FIS Newsflash will be reporting on the progress for the next Olympic Winter Games. Has Sochi been gearing themselves up during the London 2012 Games?
SL: Sochi 2014 has been actively present in London with many persons from the Organising Committee seconded to the work at the London 2012 Games, thus gaining hands on experience. Additionally Sochi Park has been a great attraction with displays and information about the Games in Russia, including an Ice Skating show in the middle of summer. The International Winter Sports Federations took the opportunity of meeting with the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee in London, primarily to discuss the test events that will take place next winter. It is only just over 18 months until the Olympic Winter Games will take centre stage in Sochi, Russia and the excitement is really building.

August 07, 2012 (Sunne, Sweden) – While shaking off the jet-lag, Matt, Holly, Ida, Chandra, Kikkan and I stayed in Sunne, just outside of Torsby, and checked out the ski tunnel. It’s SO COOL! And I do mean that literally, since it’s basically this underground freezer.

While driving to training each day I’ve been impressed by the amount of green everywhere. Sweden is absolutely beautiful and we’re staying at a super nice hotel by the water, surrounded by woods and ski trails. Couldn’t ask for more!

Here’s a video of some technique sessions we did (taken by Matt Whitcomb). If it looks a little repetative, like maybe we’re skiing the same hill over and over to work on a specific technique thing, that’s because we are! But it’s a cool video if you want to see what skiing in the tunnel actually looks like.

Tips for surviving tunnel training:
– Don’t. Taste. The. Snow. It’s been in there for at least a year.
– Switch directions once in a while. It’s TWICE AS EXCITING
– That said…don’t count laps. You’ll probably go nuts
– Listen to the awesome jams getting pumped in over the speakers!!! It’s fun to ski in rhythm to whatever song is on.
– As soon as you’re done, run outside and lay in the grass soaking up sun and eating a picnic lunch.

Tomorrow we drive to Salen, where we meet up with Liz and the Swedish National Team girls! I’m so excited to meet them and get to live and train with these incredibly fast women for a week. It’s going to be super awesome, and I’ll post lots of pictures up along the way.

I just recently got a facebook athlete page, and I’ll be putting up pictures in between blog posts up there. Here’s the link: www.facebook.com/jessie.digginsski

August 04, 2012 (Park City, UT) – U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team veteran Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) locked up his career 20th U.S. Championship title as he came from behind to take the win under blistering heat at the 2013 U.S. Nordic Combined Championships in Park City, UT.

After landing eighth in the jump, Lodwick made up a deficit of a minute and seven seconds to take the win while skiing the fastest cross-country race.He was joined on the podium by teammates Johnny Spillane (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO). Defending U.S. Champion, Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) got tangled with teammates around a corner and fell, losing time to keep him in contention.

“This win is huge. For me it’s a benchmark. I won my first U.S. Championship in 1994 and to be U.S. Champ 18 years later is humbling. I’m very fortunate to be doing what I’m doing and have the support system that I have through teammates and coaches and the people around me,” said Todd Lodwick.” I’ve got a lot of training still to do but this is a lot of motivation going into the winter.

“I was really disappointed on the jump hill. It’s been a hard week for me on the jump hill and trying to be on top in both sports. I hold myself to a high standard just like my teammates do and for me I was disappointed after the jump. It’s not me on the jump hill. I had to rely extremely heavily on my cross country and the training that I’ve been putting into it to even have a chance to get close to the front group. I put myself at a huge deficit [after the jump] and I’m really excited to be able to pull through in the cross country.

“When I started I could still see the chase group going out of site. I knew not to stress out in the first lap and to rely on technique and rely on knowing that I’m going to catch them slowly and then attack at a certain time and catch the group and then be able to rest.

Dave Jarrett, U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team Head Coach commented, “It was an exciting race. I was surprised that Todd caught up so quickly, but he was strong in Sochi, Russia and is showing that he’s in good shape right now.

“Todd and Billy [Demong] got in an little entanglement on the course which may or may not have changed the outcome for Todd but for sure it did for Billy and that’s unfortunate, but “rubbing is racing” and it’s going to happen.

“I was psyched with the way everyone raced under the hot conditions. Thanks to the Utah Olympic Park and Soldier Hollow for providing great venues for the competition.

Results
(jump rank/XC rank) finish time

1. Todd Lodwick, Steamboat Springs, CO (8/1) 21.59
2. Johnny Spillane, Steamboat Springs, CO (5/3) 22.12
3. Taylor Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO (6/2) 22.15

Full Official Results

August 04, 2012 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Italian Cross-Country team has been on a long cycling trip from Val di Ledro and paid a visit to the World Championships’ facilities in Lago di Tesero. More than 130km on the bike to take a look at the snow-free World Championships venues in Val di Fiemme and study all the features in a warm sunlight. It was indeed a nice training schedule for the Azzurri, who are carrying out the first important training camp of the season in Val di Ledro (TN) in these days.

Sixteen Italian skiers started early in the morning and in a steady pace arrive in Lago di Tesero by midday. After having taken a few pictures, given couple of interviews and eaten a plate of pasta, the athletes rested for a couple of hours and then started a «reconnaissance tour» of the tracks that will host the World Championships next winter.

“In 200 days we’ll be welcoming the entire world here”,  Nordic Ski Fiemme OC president Pietro De Godenz said, “the venues are ready and we successfully tested them during the pre-worlds last winter. We are preparing a fantastic two-week event and invite everybody to take part in it and enjoy.”

Italian XC National team visited Val di Fiemme yesterday, and took a close look at the stadium where they will be competing in less than seven months. Valerio Checchi, Roland Clara, Giorgio Di Centa, David Hofer, Thomas Moriggl, Fabio Pasini, Federico Pellegrino, Fulvio Scola, Debora Agreiter, Elisa Brocard, Veronica Cavallar, Virginia De Martin Topranin, Greta Laurent, Marina Piller, Silvia Rupil and Gaia Vuerich who were welcomed at the Cross-Country arena by the 2006 Olympic gold medallist Cristian Zorzi, president of the Italian Ski Federation (FISI) Flavio Roda and vice-president Alberto Piccin. The Italians took a close look at the tracks in order to better prepare their races next winter.

Success is built one good foundations and getting to know all the features of the World Championships’ venues is very important in order to carefully schedule the summer training sessions. Knowledge of where it’s important to push hard and how much time is needed for recovery, finding the best strategy and pace to attack the steepest hills and learning the character of the landscape, all these are details can make the difference in high tension and small-margin races.

Besides, training in high altitude is always important and Val di Fiemme offers a good training facilities 1000 meters above the sea level. There are also good training profiles for biking ride from Lago di Ledro to Lago di Tesero, which features a good altitude gain with the climb on the top of San Lugano-pass.

PHOTO Gallery from the training camp HERE.

August 01, 2012 (London, England) – Olympic gold medalist Beckie Scott, the first Canadian and North American woman to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, is at the London 2012 Games to discuss the importance of her work with the Intenational Olympic Committee on doping at the Games.

See the interview CBC video interview HERE.

July 31, 2012 (London, UK) – It seems every time this team pursuit team hits the boards of the London Olympic Velodrome, they break a world record. But they are not alone. Britain and Australia do the same thing with similar regularity. The track creators wanted to make it the fastest track ever, but these are also some of the fastest women on the planet with Team GB taking gold at the 2012 World Championships, Australia silver, Canada bronze and New Zealand fourth arriving as the pre-race favorites.

But three days before the women’s team pursuit qualifying rides, Canada has broken the world record in training – at least unofficially. Who knows what the other teams have done – but suffice to say the Canadians are pleased. Jasmin Glaesser, who moved from Germany to the West Coast as a little girl, became injured as a runner and took off on her dad’s mountain bike immediately fell in love with her new ability to fly. Her first formal competitive experience was with Escape Velocity’s Women’s Learn to Ride Program.

It’s a four-week program that is designed to take women from recreational to skilled cyclists and gives them a taste of all the racing disciplines. Glaesser realized she was a road and track rider. That was in 2010 – a mere two years later, at barely twenty-years of age, she is setting world records. This U of Victoria student is driven.

“This track is really fast-it’s a bit of a confidence booster,” she told Pedal after a morning training session. “But I think everyone’s is having fast times.” She says this as Great Britain women’s team pursuit team prepare to train behind them. “I think anything less than a medal would be disappointing. The crowd is so in love with the sport,” she adds, about the velodrome fans. “It’s really motivating and so exciting.”

Glaesser believes the track team has had a good training camp on the continent and that it was helpful “…to go away as a group and just focus on things, but also getting to here now, and being part of Team Canada-that’s really nice.”

From Glaesser, who just celebrated her twentieth birthday on July 8, to team veteran Tara Whitten, who turned thirty-two a week later, the pursuit team is just so packed with talent. Whitten adds, “We’re really happy with the way training has gone. Our team has really come together.” The seasoned athlete, who came from the national cross-country ski team to cycling eight years ago, adds, “It’s incredible to see the improvement of the other girls. They are really coming into their own.”

She has an ear to ear grin, after working more on the Omnium than the team pursuit, as alternate Laura Brown of Calgary can take her place during training. “Oh I love this track. It’s just so smooth and you feel a lot of speed. Judging from the temperature in here it’s going to be quick.”

The team pursuit is scheduled first, which she says helps in terms of getting rid of first race jitters and is actually an advantage going into the Omnium.

“Overall it’s an endurance event,” she commented to Pedal of the Omnium. “The main focus of training would be aerobic fitness. But the speed component is there too. For me, if I am fit, the speed is there.”

In terms of training for two events – one of which has multiple components – Whitten says, “It’s just a balancing act. You try to take advantage of your strengths. I know which events I can count on.”

Whitten, who was a PhD student in neuroscience before training full-time for the Olympics, says coming to a sport where neuroscience plays a huge role, isn’t necessarily an advantage. “Sometimes it hinders me. Sometimes in mass-start races, over analyzing is not best. It’s better to act on instinct – not process too much. But I do like to understand things and really, over the past few years I’ve learned so much about how my body works and responds to training.”

Gillian Carleton, like Glaesser is a young, talented athlete with a few more Olympics beyond London in her future. She showed early talent by winning the Canada Games as a teen-ager, but decided to pursue studies at U of Victoria in biology instead after getting “burned out” while only a teen-ager. Cycling still pulled though and it was her involvement in alleycat and fixed wheel non-sanctioned racing in the streets of Victoria that brought her back to the sport.

“Last year a group of friends and I got involved in fixing up the Victoria velodrome. It had been closed for a long time and we got it opened,” she said of the 1994 Commonwealth Games Velodrome that was supposed to become a legacy for cycling and instead fell into disrepair when local municipalities did not maintain it. “Messenger and fixed gear community started coming out in 2011 and that’s when I started riding the track.”

Carleton says from putting back together a track one year and racing at the Olympics the next has made her “super awestruck.” Tara Whitten is her mentor and she loves “…the strong women presence on the team” adding, “Every time we get to do a race that the Brits are in, we learn so much. It’s really motivating.”

More a sprinter than an endurance athlete in her own eyes, Carleton says she, “…would really be interested in doing a four person 4000 metre team pursuit,” – like the men do. “I contribute a lot from the start with three women, and we have to finish three so you could say it’s harder for the women. But if we did 4,000, and there were only three to finish, like the men, then I could drop off once I did my job.”

Without question Canada and many other countries could easily field a four-woman team pursuit team. The UCI and the IOC say women’s cycling needs to “develop” more, but they give no statistics to back up their decision to not make the team pursuit – which will appear for the first time for women at these Games – equal to the men’s race from the start. This decision was arbitrary, like all decisions limiting the amount of women cyclists at the Olympics.

Case in point is Canada’s alternate, Laura Brown. This morning it was she who was the third rider in training when the team unofficially broke the world record. “It’s a good feeling to do training sessions under world record times” says Brown, from Calgary. “I do the exact same thing as the team. Tara can focus on the omnium. At any moment I can be put in.”

Brown says when the women’s team pursuit was added to the World Championships in 2008… “there were just not the numbers” – to have four women per country per team – “but now there are many countries I can name that could field four women and still have an alternate. It would be nice if we could have four riders over four kilometers.”

Brown doesn’t mention it, but if the women had the same opportunity as the men, she would be contesting the team pursuit in London, not standing on the sidelines as an alternate.

The Women’s Team Pursuit qualifications start Friday, August 3. The Women’s Omnium starts Monday, August 6.

July 30, 2012 (Norway) – Petter Northug recently signed a new four-year contract with the Norwegian Ski Association which means the World Champion and Olympic winner will be member of their national cross-country team until 2016. “I depend on the very best support and the very best training conditions,” commented Northug.

“I do this to avoid speculations. There is no doubt that I will find the best support and training conditions on the national team,” he continued. The Norwegian star has risen up through the ranks of the Norwegian elite sport program, from club, to district, to junior national, and now their senior national teams.

“There has never been any other relevant way than this. Nowadays, also the training partners and the atmosphere on the national team are important to me. I look forward to many championships with the Norwegian flag on my chest,” Northug claimed.

Åge Skinstad, the head of the Norwegian cross-country skiing team, is pleased to have Northug’s signature in place. “The coming seasons with championships in Val di Fiemme, Winter Olympics in Sochi and World Championships in Falun are important to us,” said Skinstad.

He is aware that the team is by far the best place for the development of cross-country skiers. “All the skiers are of the same opinion today. The reason is that you can train with the best, share experience and get the best support, particularly in ski waxing,” explained Skinstad.

Erik Røste, the newly elected president of the Norwegian Ski Association, was also pleased. “Norway’s goal is the be the world’s best skiing nation. We believe that the best way to succeed is by developing the Norwegian elite sport model.

“In many ways it starts at school, in the clubs and go through ski high schools and national teams. The program’s level competence is continuously reviewed and developed. We have a long tradition and very good experience with national teams in all of our six disciplines.

“The community is essential for good individual performances and the best for individual development. Therefore we are very pleased that Petter Northug jr. has signed a long-term agreement with the NSF,” Røste concluded.

July 22, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – We are pleased to announce the release of our brand new SkiTrax Magazine APP for iPhone and iPad – an Android-branded version is also available – that allows users to download any issue of SkiTrax Magazine, whether it’s the latest copy or a juicy back issue that you missed.

Keep up-to-date with the latest race and xc ski resort news and developments, or brush up on your history in the world of Nordic skiing – wherever you are on the go. Download the SkiTrax Magazine App at the iTunes App Store for FREE and select from current or back issues that are available for single-issue purchases or subscribe: Single copy is $3.99; 2-issue Bundle is $6.99; 4-issue Subscription is $11.99.

Click HERE for more info and to download.

July 20, 2012 – To look at how the sport of cross-country skiing has come to be in its current state, it’s instructive and necessary to look at its history. Sadly, one of the sport’s most legendary and colorful personalities passed away last Saturday in his hometown of Dalarna, Sweden.  He was among a special group who helped the sport grow in popularity during the 1950s and 60s.

Following a short illness, 83-year old Sixten Jernberg passed away while in hospital. The cause of death was cancer related, which he had been battling for nearly one year reports AP.

He was often known during his era as the “King of cross-country skiing”, and for good reason. He seemed forged out of the same hard steel that he plied when working at his first job as a blacksmith. People were amazed by his dogged determination and sheer will power.

The talented competitor spent a lifetime with one ski club, Lima IF, and had a career that saw him win four Olympic gold medals, along with four FIS World Championship medals.  In fact, Jernberg took a total of 15 Olympic and World Championship medals during his career. He burst on to the international scene at the 1954 World Championships. In his last Olympic Games – 1964 in Innsbruck – Jernberg won a pair of gold medals.

Born on February 6, 1929, he was perhaps most gifted at long distance events and won the coveted Vasaloppet twice. His vast collection of statistics includes this amazing feat and in addition, between 1952 and 1964, he was in 363 races and won 134 of them.

Admired worldwide for his physical toughness, another Swedish champion from another era, Gunde Svan, is quoted on Jernberg’s Wikipedia page saying, “…it was almost like (Sixten) didn’t like his own body and tried to punish it in a different way.” Jernberg had skied in a competition with a fever and coughed up blood, but still finished a grueling 50km event. He simply personified toughness.

Jernberg was most at home in the forest as both a skier and a lumberjack, and became especially well known to North American ski fans at Squaw Valley in 1960 as they were the first televised Olympic Games in the US, where broadcast rights were sold to the highest bidder, with CBS winning the bid. At the time there were four races for men and two for women, all at the famed McKinney Creek venue.

In an interview with Chummy Broomhall for this tribute, he recalled meeting Jernberg three or four times during and around the 1960 Squaw Valley Games. “He was a good guy, a nice guy who was a very, very good skier,” Broomhall recalled in a telephone interview. “At the end of the Games, Sixten gave me a pair of skis to take home with me to Rumford, which was very nice.  I had them with me while I stopped at the Post Office to drop off some mail, and left them outside. When I came back they were gone – somebody stole them. I always regret losing those skis, they were very special,” said Broomhall, who served as Chief of Competition for both cross-country and biathlon at those Games.

About a month prior to Jernberg’s passing another legendary Swedish man of iron, the famed “Mora Nisse”, Nils Karlsson, also passed away. Karlsson won Olympic gold in the 50km at the 1948 Winter Games and won the Vasaloppet nine times in his career.

Combined, both men had a huge magnetic effect that helped the sport grow and prosper and become what it is today.  They will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

July 19, 2012 – The USA’s Liz Stephen landed in 3rd place on the podium at the 7.5km Lysebotn Opp, the opening round of the Blink Festival, a popular three-day rollerski race event in Norway, that was won by local star Therese Johaug.

According to Kikkan Randall, who invited Stephen to race with her at the Blink competition, “Liz scored a podium today in the epic uphill battle up Lysboten Opp!! Yeehaw. As you can see, we’re not having any fun over here at all.”

Johaug was the clear winner of the uphill roller skiing climb with a time of 32:34, almost a minute ahead of her compatriot Heidi Weng. Stephen had a stellar performance to claim the bronze at 01:01 off the pace.

The men’s competition was much more dramatic and more of a race as Maurice Manificat led the French skiers to success and dominated the men’s competition in 29:02.5. Jean Marc Gaillard lost to Manificat by only +1.8 sec to finish second. Curdin Perl of Switzerland crossed the finish line +5.8 sec behind the winner in third.

Women’s results HERE.
Men’s results HERE.
More photos HERE.

With files from FIS XC

July 18, 2012 – Where to begin…it’s July – something that is not lost on me. The last time I updated my website was a long time ago – over seven months back when I was battling through the Tour de Ski – an event that is so close to my heart it might as well be my skiing’s equivalent of a mitral valve.

I’d love to make the excuse that I was deep in the Himalaya climbing bad ass peaks for months and months on end solo, in true alpine-style, rocking a huge beard, all sinewy and the only form of communication I’ve been able to do is performing charades with Tibetans – but you all know that to be untrue. I was most certainly “in civilization” continuing to race on the World Cup circuit for months, living out of the duffel, training and racing hard as our Canadian team followed along in the caravan of FIS’s Nordic “white circus.”

Seeing how the season ended over three and a half months ago now and with the heat we’ve been enjoying in Canmore lately, I’m about as far away from Scandinavia where the circuit ended as one could be. That said, I’m going to attempt not to get melancholic and sappy. For that reason and others,  I won’t get into it all – most of you know how it shook out. It was a banner year on the results board for our entire team – personal bests a plenty and some legendary races enjoyed by each of us on the team. I am so proud of my teammates, our staff and program. How cool is it that for the first time in history everyone on the World Cup team is now able to be introduced as “World Cup medalists” – that is so amazing! What a year indeed!!

As for myself personally – it was bar-none the most difficult season of my life. Not just from a physiological standpoint (yet having competed in over 40 races, it was!), but more pertinently from an emotional/mental aspect. After finishing 4th in the Tour de Ski it was apparent that I’d be in a tough race to stay in the top 3 in both the World Cup overall and World Cup Distance Cup (a goal of mine for not only the season – but something I’d been dreaming of for years – decades!), all while my nine-year relationship imploded. Skiing was about the furthest thing from my mind and it’s hard to describe how awful the year was. The weird thing was that on the result sheet I was putting up career-best numbers week in, week out.

Contrary to my nature, I’ll leave it there. The season was interesting. Canada raced fast. Really fast. I look back and take little personal satisfaction on my own results and man did it take a lot out of me.

Yet with winter ending came spring. Yes it was full of change and bummed out or not – life continued on. Instead of dragging on, I have decided to post an epic amount of photos  – so let’s just use the rest of this update as a terribly produced “photo-essay” to explain what’s been up.

The first photos you see are from a 12 day backcountry ski trip with some of my best friends up into Northern BC. It was unreal. We hit a huge high-pressure system – enjoying a plethora of sunny days of fabulous skiing with great people. It doesn’t get any better than this – and backcountry skiing is an addiction/passion of mine that I think about from the first snowfall every year. The final weeks of the season are always tough to focus on the racing – knowing that epic skiing in the mountains is just around the corner. This spring, a crew of us decided to do a huge road trip, covering over 4000km – leaving Canmore to explore the ranges near Smithers, Terrace, Stewart, BC and even a day in Alaska in the Babine Mountain Range and Northern Coast Mountain Ranges. Check the photos. I just loved it.

That ski trip brought us to the middle of April, where true to form – I escaped to Hawaii – descending this year on my fav’ – Kaua’i to try and chill out after an arduous season. It’s a truly magical place and this year I needed the islands healing more than ever. It was difficult to leave (ok, it always is, haha)!!

The travel seemed to never stop and after Kaua’i it was back to official training. My season this year started in Provence, France with the organization – GOLD MEDAL PLATES (www.goldmedalplates.com) then things got rolling right along with stints in Bend, OR, Pacific City, OR and then back to Hawaii for our 2nd annual Maui camp.

The idea of “home” hasn’t really existed lately – but I’m very happy to report some positive news – the training continues to be going great. That’s been the constant over these last seven months – I’ve been feeling stellar during both my training and competitions through everything. It’s strange, but I’m grateful for it – deeply grateful.

This season our team has split into men’s and women’s teams – so I can only really comment on how are boys are doing, since the women have been at different locations training (although everything I’m hearing is super positive! They’re fit as can be!!). I really feel as though our men’s team is in a great place these days and the vibe is at a best-ever level – we care and believe in each other so deeply that the training sessions are both high quality and also super fun!

Our staff continue to be world leading and of course are a big reason why we are where we are – and this winter a lot went above and beyond the call of duty to help (you know who you are) and the immense gratitude I have for our wonderful staff, coaches, technicians that are 100% behind me and us continues and seems to just grow and grow.

France was amazing (great food, met great people, and fantastic cycling/training – GMP know’s how to do it up!), the three weeks in Oregon were fantastic and I’m psyched that everyone had a great camp on Maui/the Haig (the altitude camp we just finished a few days ago) – working super hard together, laughing often and pushing the limits.

Ok, and we had some fun in the ocean too (some more than others. Lenny.) – it’s all good. We are all hungry and keen to improve, work on our weaknesses and push it – the competition waits for no one, as we all know!

Sure, last year was great – but last year was last year – and if we want to get even better, then we have to be even more diligent this training season. I can tell you we aren’t interested in resting on our laurels.

July 11, 2012 (Alaska) – Check out these great NAWTA pics courtesy of Kikkan Randall as another successful camp, that featured special guest Aino-Kaisa Saarinen from Finland, recently came to an end. Following the camp a small AK Adventure contingent headed to the sea-side town of Homer for some sea-kayaking, hiking and pizza around Peterson Bay… check out Randall’s daily training rap HERE.

July 10, 2012 (Vernon, BC) – For the first time in the history of Silver Star Mountain Resort and neighboring Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, the two Nordic operators will now provide a Dual Area Cross Country Trail Pass and co-host early season cross country camps.

This unprecedented step now places the combined ‘Super Trail System’ on Silver Star Mountain as the largest groomed cross country trail system in Western Canada and second largest in the country. Nordic skiers of all abilities can now access a combined 105 kilometers of groomed and track set trails on one pass.

“Both trail systems and facilities on their own offer outstanding Nordic skiing experiences. Together, we can truly offer a world class experience” says Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre General Manager, Scott Lemon. “This is a great step forward for everyone” Lemon added.

“It was time,” agreed Guy Paulsen and Scott Lemon, Nordic Managers at Silver Star Mountain Resort and Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. “Local skiers, visiting guests, teams and associations have all been waiting for this to happen for years,” says Paulsen. “The heightened level of cooperation between Silver Star Mountain Resort and Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre will benefit skiers as well as the sport in general” added Paulsen.

Dates for the 2012 Cross Country Supercamps are as follows:

– Camp #1 Nov. 19 – 23 (5 Day Program – Mon to Fri)
– Camp #2 Nov. 23 – 25 (2.5 Day Program – Fri noon to Sunday)
– Camp #3 Nov. 26 – 30 (5 Day Program – Monday to Friday)
– Camp #4 Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 (2.5 Day Program – Friday noon to Sunday)

Registration for the 2012 Cross Country Supercamp and sales of the Dual Area XC Pass start August 1st 2012.

For further information please visit Silver Star Mountain Resort or Soverign Lake Nordic Centre.

July 05, 2012 – Norwegian star, Petter Northug, is back on track according to a recent report by langrenn.com. This past season saw Northug out early with stomach problems as he missed many WCups in the latter part of the season including the final 4-race series in Falun.  He recently participated at a traditional training camp at Hafjell with the team.

Norway’s national team coach Trond Nystad says Northug is on track.
”He has shown good shape at the camp here in Lillehammer. He looked fresh, healthy and did well…” Northug clearly is back to being normal as he soon heads to Vegas for the the World Poker Championships – read more HERE.

July 04, 2012 (Anchorage, Alasaka) – Finish xc ski star, Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, travelled over the pond for a taste of Alaska, the NAWTA Camp, and the Iron Girls pre-camp along with a cultural and training exchange with top North American skiers. Saarinen is no stranger to top level podiums with three Olympic bronze medals, six FIS Nordic World Ski Championship medals including four golds, second overall at the Tour de Ski and WCup gold as well – read more HERE.

In this post-NAWTA camp interview Aikku (Saarinen’s nickname) sat down with Jessie Diggins to talk about the camp, her first visit to Alaska, the WCup scene and the Lahti Worlds in 2016.

July 01, 2012 – On July 1st Pierre Mignerey, formerly with the French Ski Federation, takes over the reins from Jurg Capol as FIS Cross-Country Race Director. Capol, a Swiss cross-country skier (1988-1994) with a 9-year tenure as FIS XC Director, is assuming a new position as Nordic Director with FIS Marketing AG. His legacy includes launching the popular Tour de Ski (w/Vegard Ulvang), rebranding the sport with the moniker Cross Country is Cool, revamping the FIS XC website along with coverage of the sport, and supporting a 4-year ban against dopers – read his FIS XC exit interview HERE.

FIS XC interviewed Mignerey to give readers some insight into the new chief’s ideas, plans and hopes for the sport.

Q: Pierre, on July 1st you are taking over FIS Cross-Country Race Director position. Are you satisfied?

Pierre Mignerey: Yes, I am satisfied I am not wearing two hats anymore. I regret to be leaving FFS (French Ski Federation) but it is important I can focus on one job the whole year round. So far I have worked on World Cups organization. Since now I will be more involved in the management of the discipline and calendar planning.

Q: During the last FIS Congress in Korea many decisions in regard to organization of future competitions were taken. How does the decision process look like in FIS?

P.M.: During the FIS Congress several committees had their meetings. The Cross-Country Committee and its Sub-Committees (World and Continental Cups, Rules and Control, Popular Skiing, Roller Skiing, etc.) are composed of national ski associations’ representatives. Not all the federations are present but most active nations are there. France, for example, is represented by Christophe Deloche. At these committees some members are more active, some less but at the end every decision is taken by a vote. Then, all important decisions must be confirmed and approved by the 16-member FIS Council.

Q: What are the changes planned for the next season?

P.M.: First of all, changes will affect men’s relay. We have shortened the distance from 4 x 10 km to 4 x 7.5 km. For ladies the format remains unchanged, 4 x 5km. We hope that with the shorter distance, the race will become more dynamic more interesting for the spectators and TV viewers. The second reason is related to television. Currently, men’s relay lasts around one hour and forty minutes. It’s very long for a TV station to broadcast in its full length. Quite often TVs do not show classical legs but only the second part of the relay, which is not necessarily the most interesting part of the competition. With the shorter relay competition of around one hour fifteen minutes, it will be easier to find a slot to show the entire competition. This change will concern only World Cups in Gällivare and La Clusaz.

Full interview HERE.

June 30, 2012 (Stams, Austria) – Mark today as a great start to the international season for the North Americans, as the COC circuit kicked off with the first of a two-day competition in this historic jumping village about 35km from Innsbruck, under very warm temperatures.

20-year-old Canadian star Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes was on top of his game as he soared to a pair of jumps of 110.5 and 104 meters for a total of 234.6 points, marking his first COC Cup win. Poland’s Dawic Kubacki took second, while third went to Austrian super star Wolfgang Loitzl. Boyd-Clowes has had two other podium finishes in his career. Following the competition the Canadian told  FIS, “I wasn’t really expecting anything, I just wanted to jump far.”

The big story for the American men was the marvelous 10th place for Pete Frenette (Saranac Lake, NY) with two jumps of 98.5 and 106.0 meters. Anders Johnson (Park City, UT) also looked strong finishing in 18th position with jumps of 96.5 and 100.5 respectively. Nick Alexander (Lebanon, NH) was 43rd with one jump of 90.0 meters. Another Canadian men, Eric Mitchell was 60th, with one jump of 80.0 meters.

Today’s FIS competition marked the first in which the new rules concerning ski jumping suits was in effect. A total of 16 athletes were disqualified in round one. A second competition will be held at Stams on Sunday with training at 9am, followed by the first of two competition jumps slated to start at 10:30 am (ET).

With files from FIS.

Results

1. Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (Ca) 100
2. Dawid Kubacki (Pl) 80
3. Wolfgang Loitzl (At) 60
4. Matic Kramarsic (Si) 50
5. Jan Matura (Cz) 45
6. Tomaz Naglic (Si) 40
7. Matjaz Pungertar (Si) 36
8. Primoz Pikl (Si) 32
9. Daniel Wenig (De) 29
10. Peter Frenette (Us) 26
11. Vincent Descombes Sevoie (Fr) 24
12. Danny Queck (De) 22
13. David Unterberger (At) 20
14. Vladimir Zografski (Bg) 18
15. Nicolas Mayer (Fr) 16
16. Karl Geiger (De) 15
17. Marinus Kraus (De) 14
18. Anders Johnson (Us) 13
19. Anders Jacobsen (No) 12
20. Jan Ziobro (Pl) 11
21. Gregor Deschwanden (Ch) 10
22. Manuel Poppinger (At) 9
23. Martin Cikl (Cz) 8
24. Marcin Bachleda (Pl) 7
25. Emmanuel Chedal (Fr) 6
26. Thomas Diethart (At) 5
27. Martin Schmitt (De) 4
28. Ilmir Hazetdinov (Ru) 3
29. Alexey Romashov (Ru) 2
30. Lukas Mueller (At) 1

June 30, 2012 (Poland) – FIS Cross-Country World Cup 2011/12 champ, Justyna Kowalcyk, is training hard. On Wednesday the Polish super star concluded another training camp. Kowalczyk, her training partner Maciej Kreczmer, and coach Alexander Wierietielnym returned from camps in Italy and Switzerland.

She underwent a knee surgery at the end of the season and a physiotherapist, Dr. Robert Smigielski, was looking after her. Even though everything seems in perfect order and the rehabilitation process has gone very well and fast so far, her knee still requires special care and protection.

“We cannot complain. The physio provided us with perfect care and we could focus solely o training,” Wierietielny commented.

Kowalczyk will now enjoy a few days at home with lower training loads. During the week in Poland she will take care of sponsorship obligations. On July 5th Kowalczyk will hit the road again for another training camp, this time, the destination is Estonia, to one of her favourite training spots in Otepaeae.

Read more at www.justyna-kowalczyk.pl

June 24, 2012 – At Cross Country Canada’s 2012 Annual General Meeting held recently in Whitehorse, the association announced its Board of Directors (BOD) – full list below – and also presented their annual Awards – for all winners w/photos click HERE!

2013 Board of Directors
President – Richard Lemoine
Director – Rhonda Jewett
Director – Dan Brisbin
Director – James S. Coatsworth
Director – Mike Norton
Director – Peter Lloyd
Director – Al Pilcher
Director – Dave Moore, NB (DCC Appointment)
Athlete Director – Greg Kilroy

June 24, 2012 (Alaska) – The other night we went to a Michael Franti and Spearhead concert outdoors (next to the Moose’s Tooth, for those of you who know how awesome their pizza is). Because it was summer solstice in Alaska, the sun pretty much never went down and it was an absolutely beautiful night! The concert was so fun, with Franti pulling people up onstage to play guitar and dance, and beach balls flying everywhere.

Afterwards, we got to meet Franti and get a great big hug, and he was so cool. We told him that we’re skiers and are here for a glacier training camp and he was like “what?!? that’s awesome…I want a picture with you girls on MY phone!”. So basically, I was hyperventilating afterwards.

The training camp has been going full swing, and I don’t think I’ve ever trained this hard before! Our distance skis are at a really quick pace and we’re putting in loooong hours, but resting and recovering just enough to do it again before the next training session.

This morning we had a time trial up Potters, which is a sweet place to race because we first do a 2-km out-and-back on the flats before winding uphill for the next 3km. Uphill time trials are always such painful experiences, and I was pretty sure that my lungs were bleeding halfway up. But we made it, and Liz won with an extremely impressive pace, while three of us broke last year’s record time!

So now there will be a new time to beat next summer, and it’s going to be a hard one to improve. But knowing this group of women, I have no doubts that the record time will keep getting knocked down! I’ve linked the resuts here:  It’s definitely a cool feeling to finish a workout and know that you just came one step closer to your goals.

Also, the moose count is now at nine (9), which is important enough to make the blog post, obviously. This camp is pretty much an excuse for camping trips afterwards and wildlife sighting/shooting/grilling/eating.

June 20, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – On this version of Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, Peter Graves caught up with Canadian XC Ski Head Coach, Justin Wadsworth, who enjoyed one of the most successful seasons ever for the Canadian team, especially the men. With 14 podiums, the Canadian team turned heads at nearly every World Cup following the Tour de Ski. It seems the only goal not achieved was a spot on the final Tour de Ski podium…but they more than made up for this as the team scored a slew of firsts including first WCup [full] sprint gold by Devon Kershaw, first WCup gold by Alex Harvey, first WCup medal by Lenny Valjas – make that three WCup medals for the rookie, and the first WCup by podium by Perianne Jones. Of course Chandra Crawford’s sprint silver can’t go unnoticed along with Dasha Gaiazova’s PB’s this season and more. Was Wadsworth surprised… ? Find out his reactions and insights into the team, the skiers, and what’s in store for 2013 as he talks at length with Peter Graves… in this 2-part interview.

Justin Wadsworth Part 1

June 20, 2012 (Anchorage, Alaska) – Seeing as this is Father’s Day, I’d like to start by sharing this photo. My Mom and Dad took me skiing before I could walk, and I would ride in my Dad’s backpack, calling out “mush! go faster!” Thanks to such awesome parents, my earliest memories of cross-country skiing are really fun ones. Happy Father’s Day!

This first week in Alaska has been super awesome. Getting to train and live with some of the best skiers in the world is such an incredible experience! Following Kikk, Aino-Kaisa and Chandra around works wonders for your technique and pace in intervals. Although I have to be really careful to not overdo it and run out of energy halfway through the camp…it’s easy to want to keep doing more, more, more when the training is SO GOOD.

But I have to keep reminding myself that I’m training with athletes older than I am who are much more experienced and conditioned, and if I try to take on the same workload as they do, I won’t make it through the camp!

A big goal of mine this year was to train smarter, not just harder, which means knowing when to listen to my body and ease the pace down a notch. Which is funny because for me, it’s the hardest thing in the world to just CHILL OUT and relax!

It’s never hard to find motivation to go train, but recovery is when the body builds itself back up and progress is made, and is just as important as the actual training. So this camp will be a good place to test myself – will I actually stick to my word and take rest when I need it? So far it’s gone well.

The other day I was thrilled to get to guest coach at Devo practice. It was so much fun! Those kids are so cool; they’re like energizer bunnies, ready to go do whatever challenge we threw at them.

We ran down to the sand dunes at Kincaid park and jumped off them, which is a really cool feeling since the hill is so steep that you fly off the top before landing in sand. I definitely face-planted and swallowed a large amount of dirt that day, but it was absolutely worth it.

Every time I get an invite to work with juniors/devos, it’s such a great wake-up call for me. To be out there training with kids who don’t train for any reason other than “I like it” is an incredible reminder of why I do what I do. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the little details but it’s always good every now and then to go back to the original feeling of “you know what? I don’t know how far I ran today. And it doesn’t matter. Because I enjoyed it and I was with my friends and I had fun”. So thanks to the Devos of Alaska for letting me join them for an afternoon session!

June 20, 2012 – Check out this great interview with former cross-country skiier, Tara Whitten, who admired Olympic gold medalist Beckie Scott and then switched to cycling, becoming double world champion and is now chasing her own Olympic dream at London 2012.

Watch the interview HERE.

June 16, 2012 (Alaska) – Only days before the second annual North American Women’s Training Alliance (NAWTA) camp Kikkan Randall is playing host to Jessie Diggins, Chandra Crawford and Finnish great, Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, for her own mini-camp dubbed Iron Girls after the bars. Saarinen was invited by Randall to join the NAWTA camp as a form of exchange as she has visited Scandinavia several times for Euro-camps. We caught up with Randall for a mini recap on the Iron Girls of Alaska…

“Yes, Saarinen is here in Alaska training with us,” said Randall. “Our North American Women’s Training Alliance (NAWTA) camp is about to start on Monday. One week dryland and one week on the glacier. She came in a few days early to make the time change.”

On Thursday they started at sea level and did a 2-hr uphill classic roller ski and finished at about 650m. “Good solid group of ladies,” quipped Randall.

Saarinen and Randall spent time in the weight room yesterday and she’s has been joining the American star “…for my strength plan and next week I will try out some of hers.”

“It’s been super fun having Chandra, Jessie and Aikku (Saarinen’s nickname) staying at my house because it’s like having my own little portable team.  We’ve been cooking breakfast together and training together and the official camp hasn’t even started yet.”

June 15, 2012 (Park City, UT) – Here’s Part 2 of Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, where Peter Graves speaks with Zach Caldwell, a Putney, Vermont native has spent a lifetime (so far) in and around the sport of cross-country skiing. Born into the famed Caldwell clan – JC is his uncle – he skied at Putney School graduating in 1988, and then went off to school at Middlebury College, where he was a member of the varsity ski team. He has been involved in all aspects of the sport from coaching, which he continues to do, with the likes of Kris Freeman and Noah Hoffman and has provided waxing, grinding and all aspects of ski service at the highest levels of the sport including at the Olympic Games, World Championships and Tour de Ski to mention a few – Part 1 HERE.

Zach Caldwell Part 2

June 12, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – We’re pleased to announce the winners of the annual SkiTrax Annual North American (NA) Nordic Ski Awards that recognize elite, U23 and junior skiers, along with Conti Cup, collegiate, biathlon, Nordic combined, jumping competitors and Paranordic skiers.

The big winner this year was American Kikkan Randall winning three categories – Best Overall Skier Female – Best Sprint Skier Female – Best Distance Skier Female. Randall ran away with the first two categories but rising US star Jessie Diggins gave her a run for her money in the Distance Award category, only 5 points behind the veteran. Randall has had a stellar season as the first US woman to win an overall WCup series claiming the Sprint Cup and had this to say when she heard the news…

“Wow!! I am incredibly honored to be selected for three awards in this year’s SkiTrax NA Nordic Ski Awards voting. We had so many high points from the North American skiers this year and it was so uplifting to feel the encouragement and support from back home. I look forward to keeping this momentum rolling into 2013 and beyond!”

Not surprising the man of the hour is Canadian star, Devon Kershaw from Sudbury, who had a record-shattering season capturing second overall in the men’s World Cup and also won Canada’s first sprint gold along with five medals, making him the most successful Canadian men’s cross-country skier ever. While he reached one of his goals on the WCup circuit this season, he’s after a Tour de Ski final podium spot as well, and here’s his take on the season passed and the one that lies ahead…

“It was the most amazing season on the ski trails I could have imagined last year. After some disappointment at the Tour de Ski (my goal was to be on the podium, and to be 4th was tough!) and prior to that during the first World Cup period, I just started rolling along. I’m not sure how I did it – and it was without question the toughest and most draining seasons of my career. I can’t really fathom how my body was able to be so ready every weekend for months and months.

“While I struggle to understand my results, I am so proud of what our team accomplished this season. 14 podiums – Alex winning his first World Cup in Falun with his father watching on, Chandra back on the World Cup podium where she belongs and will be a staple there for years to come, Lenny putting together one of the most impressive 10 days of racing I’ve seen anybody do (with podiums in Drammen, Stockholm and Falun) and Peri tasting World Cup success for the first time – wow.

“Couple that with top 10 results across the board from our entire World Cup team (Ivan’s 7th in the deathly punishing 30km individual start race in Davos this year sticks out as one of the most impressive races of the season for me – when you do it alone like that, it’s something special) it makes for a season to remember for Canadian ski fans.

“We are training hard again and are keen to improve this season. I’ve had some challenges early on here, but my motivation and drive remain strong and I know that Alex, Lenny, Chandra, Peri and Ivan are all at better places already (I’m sure Dasha is as well, I just haven’t seen or talked to her yet this training season) here in early June when compared to previous seasons. It’s going to be another exciting season to follow along!”

The third big winner this year was the incomparable Jessie Diggins, who kept making us (and the international field) turn our heads, as the rookie skier challenged the world’s best and showed she’s where she belongs. Diggins takes home three awards this year – Best Overall Conti Cup Female Skier, Best Overall U23 Female Skier, and the coveted Paul Robbins Best Breakthrough or Exceptional Nordic Performance(s) Male or Female.

Diggins edged out Canada’s Len Valjas in the Paul Robbins Breakthrough category by a mere 2 points and in our view it’s a double award as both skied their hearts out and made us proud… Valjas by the way claimed the Best Sprinter Male award. We caught up with Diggins for her reaction to the annual awards.

“It’s an honor to receive these awards from SkiTrax. Thank you very much! Although I believe the awards should actually go to the entire team and coaching staff that makes it possible for us to race and have the performances we do!”

Our congratulations to all award winners and thanks to all fans who voted. Our final acknowledgement goes to our valued sponsors including Rossignol, One Way, Rottefella, Auclair and Buff Headware, who support the sport, the skiers, and efforts like this to recognize our North American talent as we wish them well next season.

Stay tuned for our announcement of the prize winners coming this week.

 SkiTrax 2011-2012 North American (NA) Nordic Ski Award Winners
———————————————————————————————-

Best Overall Elite Male Skier
Devon Kershaw

Best Overall Elite Female Skier
Kikkan Randall

Best Sprinter Male
Len Valjas

Best Sprinter Female
Kikkan Randall

Best Distance Skier Male
Devon Kershaw

Best Distance Skier Female
Kikkan Randall

Best Overall Conti Cup Male Skier
Kevin Sandau

Best Overall Conti Cup Female Skier
Jessie Diggins

Best Overall U23 Male Skier
Noah Hoffman

Best Overall U23 Female Skier
Jessie Diggins

Best Overall Junior Male Skier
Knute Johnsgaard

Best Overall Junior Female Skier
Maya MacIsaac-Jones

Best Overall Collegiate Male
Andre Marchand and Harry Seaton (tie)

Best Overall Collegiate Female
Sophie Caldwell

Paul Robbins Best Breakthrough or Exceptional Nordic Performance(s) (Male or Female)
Jessie Diggins

Best Overall Biathlete Male
Lowell Bailey

Best Overall Biathlete Female
Zina Kocher

Best Overall Nordic Combined Male
Bill Demong

Best Overall Best Overall Ski Jumping Male
Peter Frenette

Best Overall Best Overall Ski Jumping Female
Sarah Hendrickson

Best Overall Para-Nordic Male
Brian McKeever and guide Eric Carleton (visually impaired)

June 09, 2012 – Swiss Cross-Country skier Curdin Perl has decided to spend part of his summer season training with his former coach, Felix Dieter in the southern part of Spain. This week  the skier from Engadine joined the Swiss Ski Team’s training camp in Stelvio and experienced a small thermal shock.

After training season kick off in Mallorca and the performance tests in Magglingen, Curdin Perl travelled for a hard three-week training block under the Spanish sun in Malaga.

“Together with Felix, I did a specific cross-country skiing training. In addition to fitness and strength units, we are also working on technique,” Curdin Perl says and continues: “Here in Nerja (one hour’s drive from Malaga) there are very good roads where we found perfect conditions for roller skiing. Felix Dieter has lived here in Andalusia for more than 10 years in the summer, he knows the best roads and passes. We carry out the strength workouts in the gym at the athletics stadium in Nerja.”

In the afternoons the temperatures can climb up to 30 degrees. Therefore Curdin started the first training session at 9 a.m. Then he enjoyed lunch and Mediterranean siesta. Second training unit was scheduled at 7 p.m.

After three weeks in Spain warm temperatures were over. Curdin Perl joined the Swiss Ski training camp in Stelvio, which is situated at 2,700 meters above the sea level, from 30 degrees at sea level in Nerja to temperatures near zero in Stelvio. “Until now I have managed the transition very well. I did not lose the skiing feeling at the beach and I have no problems with the high altitude either. However, when heavy snowfall came on Monday night and the weather turned really gray, wet and cold, I was little bit missing the Mediterranean climate,” says Perl.

The temporary winter will not last long for Perl as he returns to Spain after the training camp in Stelvio.

2012 Giro d’Italia Stage 20 Passo del Stelvio photos HERE.

You can find the photo gallery and report Curdin Perl’s home page.

May 25, 2012 (Sandes, Norway) – Fans can count US Ski Team stars, FIS World sprint champion Kikkan Randall and teammate Liz Stephen, to be among the elite cross-country skiers on the start line of the famed Skifestivalen Blink in a handful of weeks in and around the town of Sandes, Norway.

This prestigious ski festival, which will attract the world’s top ranked cross-country skiers and biathletes, is set to begin from July 19-21, in the region of Norway’s picturesque Fjord country near Stavanger.

The invitation-only event will feature a variety of roller ski races including a crit, distance and sprint events and a challenging uphill race, ending at Oygardstad, which boasts a similar grade to the grueling Alpe D’Heuz at the Tour. Organizers will provide identical roller skis to all athletes taking part.

“I’m so psyched to take part in this event, that I have only heard about,” Randall said in a telephone interview from the USST Camp in Bend, Oregon.

“It’ll be a new experience, that’s for sure. They’ll be TV, huge crowds, great prizes. The hill climb should be perfect for Liz, too. You know, I think the Europeans get to do this sort of thing a lot, and I am excited that mid-way thru our preparation period that Liz and I will get to compete in this world-class event.”

Following the Skifestivalen Blink competitions, Randall and Stephen are expected to travel to Trondheim for a week of training and then meet other members of the US Team for a camp in Sweden, which will include skiing in the tunnel in Torsby, known as the world’s longest ski tunnel at 1.3km in length.

About the Bend camp, Randall noted that the snow has been great and the team has had fine training commenting… “this has been a great start camp, fun, with really good conditions, just perfect I’d say.”

Among the tough competition will be Norway’s Marit Bjorgen and Therese Johaug and Randall told skitrax.com laughing, “The papers in Norway are saying I’m coming over to take on Bjoergen, it will be fun.”

It’s a big summer for the gifted Randall – no grass will grow under her feet – as she’s off tomorrow for the 48th FIS International Ski Congress in Korea, where she is a member of the Athletes Commission. The Congress will run from May 27th thru June 2nd with a day-visit planned to the site of the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

For more information on the Blink 2012 Festival, check out: www.blinkfestivalen.no

May 24, 2012 (Québec City, QC) – In Québec City for the SportAccord Convention, the president of Fédération internationale de ski (FIS), Gian Franco Kasper, took time out to unveil the official course for Sprint Québec 2012/FIS Cross Country World Cup along with Pierre Karl Péladeau, Quebecor president and CEO.

Kasper also looked ahead to preparations for the FIS Snowboard World Championships in 2013: “It is two firsts for the province of Québec: the first senior FIS World Championships in any discipline and a first FIS Cross Country World Cup in the heart of any city in America.”

The World’s Top Athletes in Québec City
From January 16 to 27, 2013, top snowboarders from all over the world will descend on downtown Québec City and Stoneham to take part in the World Championships in any of six disciplines: Halfpipe, Snowboardcross, Parallel Giant Slalom, Slopestyle, Big Air, and Parallel Slalom. In all, over 75,000 visitors are expected for this unparalleled event!

A World Cup in the City
Sprint Québec 2012/FIS Cross Country World Cup presented by Quebecor will kick off the season, giving visitors and locals a foretaste of the winter months to come as skiers from close to 25 countries race around an 800-meters track just a snowball’s throw from the Québec Parliament. Set to the spectacular backdrop of one of the world’s most beautiful destinations, it will give visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the international elite. “It will be a great opportunity for the public to watch the cross country ski racing up close and to encourage our Canadian World and Olympic champion athletes,” says Jim McCarthy, president of Cross Country Canada.

A New and Improved Course
After witnessing a World Cup stage in Düsseldorf, Germany, GESTEV president Patrice Drouin settled on a similar European-style formula for Québec City. “I found the format very interesting and so we decided to take another look at the Québec City course and to work on a new vision as a group,” he explains. “It promises to be even more spectacular for the public!” According to Drouin, the new official course will bring spectators even closer to the action, with athletes going round the course twice in both individual and team sprints.

About Gestev
Tasked by Corporation coupe du Monde de surf des neiges de Québec with putting on Sprint Québec 2012/FIS Cross Country World Cup and the FIS Snowboard World Championships, GESTEV is a dynamic event management company that has specialized in sports and cultural events in the Québec City area since 1992. Snowboard Jamboree, Red Bull Crashed Ice, and Vélirium are just a few Gestev events. Gestev also manages Baie de Beauport. Gestev is a certified responsible event manager (BNQ 9700-253).

May 22, 2012 (Park City, UT) – In this edition of Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, Peter Graves speaks with USSA VP of Communications, Tom Kelly, at the recent USSA Convention in Park City, UT. Kelly has been involved in the sport for decades, sporting the role of reporter and photographer along the way, and working with such legends as Tony Wise as his Public Relations Director for the Telemark Lodge, along with the venerable journalist Paul Robbins. He was also the co-owner (with Graves) of Worldwide Nordic, a travel company that specialized in trips to the World Loppet and other international Nordic races. Born and raised in Madison, WI, Kelly is also a member of the FIS Media and Marketing Committee. In his interview, he speaks about Kikkan Randall’s historic season, but more significantly, the impact she and her team mates have created with regards to cross-country skiing in the USA.

Tom Kelly

May 19, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – Fast and Female is proud to announce a new partnership with both SkiTrax and Pedal Magazines, two publications focused on supporting and promoting athletes in sport and healthy lifestyles.

As part of the partnership which is effective immediately, each Fast and Female youth event participant will receive a free Fun Pak half-year subscription of their choice to either SkiTrax or Pedal Magazine.

“We’re thrilled that SkiTrax and Pedal Magazine are joining us on our journey to inspire young female athletes to stick with sports,” said Fast and Female Executive director M&H Thibeault. “Both publications promote healthy lifestyles and tremendous female athletic role models which are important factors in creating a positive and supportive environment for our young women involved in sports.”

“We’re keen to work with Fast and Female to attract and retain young female athletes, and help enrich their experience with sport,” said Benjamin Sadavoy, Pedal/SkiTrax publisher/editor.

About SkiTrax Magazine
SkiTrax Magazine is North America’s leading Nordic cross-country ski publication since 1990 and the official magazine of both Cross Country Canada and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association. It provides extensive coverage of Nordic skiing with destination and adventure articles from around the world, columns by top Can-US xc skiers, annual Buyer’s Guide, competition coverage of Canadian, U.S. and international races and skiers, gear tests and reviews, annual Snowshoe Guide, columns on training and technique, a comprehensive Event Calendar, and much more. For more information visit www.skitrax.com.

About Pedal Magazine
Pedal is Canada’s leading cycling magazine since 1989, covering all aspects of the sport, including the latest news on road, MTB, track and BMX. It also profiles great cycling destinations in Canada and around the world, columns by top riders, national and international race reports, profiles of Canada’s top riders, adventure touring, annual Cycling Fashion Guide, product reviews, annual Buyer’s Guides, columns on maintenance, training, nutrition and more. For more information, visit www.pedalmag.com.

May 15, 2012 (Park City, UT) – Tune in to this week’s edition of Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, as renowned sports reporter and announcer Peter Graves talks with CXC Director, Yuriy Gusev, at the recent USSA Convention in Park City, UT. CXC, the Central Cross Country Ski Association, has seen tremendous growth and success with their race team, aka Jessie Diggins, and various programs, and Gusev accepted the award at the Convention for CXC as winner of the cross-country club of the year. In this in-depth interview, Gusev speaks about his central motivation, which is to grow the sport of cross-country skiing, and the steps he has taken with his team to achieve that goal for CXC.

Yuryi Gusev

May 14, 2012 (Denver, CO) – The 2012 SIA Snow Show, launching all that’s new for 2013, was held in Denver, CO earlier this year and SkiTrax caught up with many exhibiting companies to find out about their latest product offerings from the top end on down, including some fun stuff, for next season. Part 2 of our series of interviews offers a look at what’s new from from Rossignol, Atomic, Toko, and more from Swix – plus we stop in at the Madshus Aquavit Party…

May 11, 2012 (Labrador City) – While this winter was one of the leanest on record for snow disrupting race schedules from the World Cup on down including numerous event cancellations due to lack of snow it hasn’t stopped the folks in certain locations like Lab City who received snow TODAY.

May 09, 2012 (Park City, UT)— USA Ski Jumping CEO Jeff Hastings announced today at the USASJ Convention held here at the site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the USASJ National teams representing ski jumping for the coming winter.

As no jumpers reached the criteria for selection to the National “A” team, which includes, either FIS World Cup or Grand Prix points or a top ten in an international Continental Cup, no one will be named.

Selected to the National “B” team will be returning athletes Anders Johnson, Park City, UT, Pete Frenette, Saranac Lake, NY, Nick Alexander, Lebanon, NH and Chris Lamb, Andover, NH, who has been attending college and training in Trondheim, Norway.

Named to the USASJ National Development squad include Christian Friberg, Roseville, MN, Nick Fairall, Andover, NH, Mike Glasder, Cary, IL and Brian Wallace of Woodbury, MN.

Hastings said, “We are delighted to announce this talented group of athletes who have truly committed themselves to ski jumping excellence on a world-class level. We are continuing to build on the progress our jumpers made last winter during the upcoming FIS World Championships season.” Both coaches Casey Colby and Clint Jones—former US Olympians, will continue with their respective coaching responsibilities this season.

Additional athletes will be selected to a junior development team later this summer.

For more info contact Peter Graves at peterg72@hotmail.com

May 08, 2012 – Canadian XC ski sensation, Devon Kershaw, recently tweeted a photo of himself at the summit of the 1,912m Mont Ventoux of Tour de France cycling fame. It was not aboard a bicycle that he climbed to the top of the peak via its 21 switchbacks, but with rollerskis. Check out the cool image HERE.

May 08, 2012 (Gatineau, QC) – Check out this video and see what it’s like to participate in the annual Canadian Ski Marathon, North America’s oldest and longest Nordic ski tour,  held since 1967. The fully supported event features 160km of trails along the Canadian Shield and is conquered by participants of all ages.

May 04, 2012 – On this week’s edition of Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, Peter Graves talks with longtime cross-country ski coach, Pete Vordenberg, who recently resigned from the U.S. Ski Team after 16 years of service to spend more time with his family. Vordy joined the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team in 1996 and raced for six years including two Olympic Winter Games. He transitioned into coaching for another 10 years and his brilliant career included the first World Championship medal won by a U.S. woman and the first World Cup medal in 25 years. He leaves a great legacy behind as a coach and an author, writing Momentum: Chasing the Olympic Dream in Dec. 2002. Graves talks with Vordy about his storied career, as he held nearly every coaching position for the team at one point in time, and most recently was the men’s Head World Cup coach.

Interview w/Pete Vordenberg

April 24, 2012 – On this week’s edition of Talkin’ with the Gravy-Train, we pick up where we left off last week during Peter Graves’s interview with former US and Canadian XC Ski Team Head Coach, Marty Hall. Hall delves deeper into the North American success this year and looks at the next wave of talent and what it means for the future of the sport on this continent. Hall coached the US Team when Bill Koch won his Olympic silver medal at the Games in Innesbruck, Austria, and was also at the helm of the Canadian Team during Pierre Harvey’s heyday – check out his report cards in his column Hallmarks in the final issue issue of SkiTrax this season.

Marty Hall part 2 – for part 1 click here.

April 22, 2012 (Bend, OR) – Mt. Bachelor, known for immense snow pack and one of the longest Alpine ski seasons, will be offering North America’s longest Nordic season again this year with a commitment to keep groomed operations open through June 29, 2012.  Having strategic natural attributes such as the highest resort peak in the Cascades, not to mention seasonal snowfall of 483” to date, Mt. Bachelor has the unique position to offer Nordic skiing and grooming later than any other Nordic Center on the continent.

Sue Foster, Nordic Center Manager exclaims, “We’re thrilled to welcome back the US and Canadian National Nordic Teams, the National Biathlon Teams and the US Paralympic Team, in addition to continuing our grooming for the general public through June 29. We’re committed to offering groomed skiing on our entire network of trails for as long as conditions permit!”

The Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center will offer two ‘Camp Blocks’ following its regular winter season of operations; Camp Block #1 held from May 17- 27, 2012, and Camp Block #2 held June 11-29, 2012. Anybody can participate in either Camp Block for only $75 per person to access the groomed trails.

The Nordic Center Lodge will be open with waxing facilities and restrooms for guests.  
The extended Nordic ski season through June 29th will offer local enthusiasts and visiting athletes the unique opportunity to train in Central Oregon with multi-sport opportunities including trail running, mountain and road biking, kayaking and numerous lodging options, restaurants and craft breweries in the base communities of Bend and Sunriver, 20 miles from Mt. Bachelor.

For more information and pass sales, contact Sue Foster at sfoster@mtbachelor.com or 541-693-0909.

About Mt. Bachelor
Mt. Bachelor is the largest ski resort in the Cascade Range, offering 3,683 acres of lift-accessible terrain. The mountain features 10 lifts, seven of which are Express Quads, plus two tubing lifts and two beginner carpets and an average annual snowfall of 370 inches. Mt. Bachelor also features 5 terrain parks, 56K of groomed and tracked cross country trails, snowshoeing, tubing, sled dog rides and summer attractions. For weather conditions, news and events visit www.mtbachelor.com.

April 22, 2012 – The 2012 Northwest Passage Marathon on Somerset Island in Nunavut, Canada, is North America’s most northerly marathon and ultramarathon. This race date July 11, is held under the 24-hour Arctic sun and against the backdrop of the fabled Northwest Passage.

Program: Northwest Passage Marathon and Ultramarathon
Dates: July 9 to July 13, 2012
Cost: $3,900 from Yellowknife, NT, Canada

The Northwest Passage Marathon is a true wilderness route. The 50 km course leaves Arctic Watch, goes north along the shore of the Cunningham Inlet for 10 km to Polar Bear Point. The runners then turn west and run beside the famed Northwest Passage for the next 18 km. The trail follows a series of old raised beaches of sandstone pebbles.

There are icebergs on the water and ancient encampments on the shore. During past events, runners saw dozens of beluga whales, many seals and polar bears. At Cape Marie, runners turn south and inland along the Red Valley (so named for the red stone and soil). Muskox sightings in this area are common. The trail then swings back east and climbs gently before dropping back down towards the Cunningham River. The final kilometres are along the river back to Arctic Watch.

This is a rough trail run with no roads, marked with Inukshuks and flags. The surface is generally smooth and covered with pebble-sized rocks. There are some shallow creek crossings. There’s no need to carry water, all the water is potable. But expect to have wet feet!

The Northwest Passage Marathon is a proud member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) – read more HERE.

Come Experience Arctic Watch for yourself, we are now taking reservations for this year’s trips register HERE.

April 20, 2012 – The indelible picture I have of Randy Starkman is one of him walking on Bloor St. west of Spadina with a bouquet of flowers. They could only be for his everlasting sweetheart Mary Hynes. It is with overwhelming sadness that I write about his death at only fifty-one from pneumonia. What a loss, not only to Mary and their daughter Ella-I cannot imagine their grief, but to everyone who cares about the real athletes of Canada and truly excellent writing.

Randy started covering Canadian athletes in Europe with his then-girlfriend Mary in the early 1980’s. They eventually came back to Canada where he started full-time with The Toronto Star in 1988. Since Sarajevo in 1984 he has covered twelve Olympic Games. In Seoul he gave a comprehensive report on Ben Johnson’s positive dope test and broke the story about Johnson’s second positive in 1993. This won him one of the two National Newspaper Awards delivered his way.

Watching Randy at the Olympics was a lesson in how to file quickly and accurately. He asked real questions of athletes because he knew so much about them. Then you’d see him on the media bus as he got shipped off to another sport, earphones on, laptop up as he wrote the story. He crammed more sport reporting into one day than any other journalist I knew. But still if he bumped into me at the press centre, he’d take the time to say, “Let me buy you lunch. I remember what it’s like to be a free-lancer.”

Randy was also friends with my brother Jonathon-a Toronto fire-fighter who organized a huge media trivia night as a fund-raiser for the Daily Bread Foodbank. Randy rallied the troops-I don’t know how many tables of journalists he managed to produce, but my everlasting memory of the last one will be of Mary’s TVO table arguing with my brother over a fine point on Canadian geography.

Randy and I talked for a few minutes that evening on Bloor St-he had recently filed a story on Mary Spencer-world boxing champion in the 75 kg category and while Spencer was getting more and more ink as women’s boxing makes its debut at the London Olympics, only Randy took the time to follow her to family’s home.

He situated the story at Chippewa of Nawash First Nation where Spencer’s roots are and where all kids love her. He went to their annual pow-wow. How many sports writers would ever take the time to travel 250 km north of Toronto to talk to ten-year-olds in a First Nation community? Only Randy. I coach those kids in cross-country skiing and Spencer is everything to them. His story captured who Spencer is and why it is so important for those children that she fights on all of their behalf. They were thrilled to see themselves in The Toronto Star.

As always Randy was gracious about receiving accolades about his work but I could see he wanted to move on. “Those flowers are for Mary aren’t they?” I said. He nodded like a school boy-still so in love.

April 15, 2012 – Members of the Forum Nordicum have once again elected the Queen and King of Nordic Skiing. With 524 votes,  three-time overall World Cup and Tour de Ski champion, Dario Cologna (SUI), was elected the King of Nordic Skiing. He beat the 2011 winner Marit Bjoergen (NOR) by 122 votes. Norwegian Ski Jumping World Cup champion Anders Bardal (NOR) took third ahead of Nordic Combined World Cup winner, Jason Lamy-Chappuis from France.

The official Queen of Nordic Skiing is German biathlete, Magdalena Neuner, who retired at the end of this season and received a total of 549 votes. She narrowly beat biathlon world champion and World Cup overall winner Martin Fourcade who collected 526 points. It was Neuner’s third title as Queen (2008 and 2010).

Altogether 83 members from 11 countries of the AIPS Nordic Commission belonging to the Forum Nordicum submitted their selections. A total of 24 Nordic athletes and 16 biathletes received votes.

Results

Nordic Skiing
1. Dario Cologna (SUI) 524
2. Marit Björgen (NOR) 402
3. Anders Bardal (NOR) 216
4. Jason Lamy Chappuis (FRA) 149
5. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) 102
6. Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT) 77
7. Sarah Hendrickson (USA) 45
8. Devon Kershaw (CAN) 36
9. Richard Freitag (GER) 36
10. Robert Kranjec (SLO) 34

Biathlon
1. Magdalena Neuner (GER) 549
2. Martin Fourcade (FRA) 526
3. Darja Domratschewa (BLR) 214
4. Tora Berger (NOR) 132
5. Emil Hegle Svendsen (NOR) 50
6. Andreas Birnbacher (GER) 37
7. Jakov Fak (SLO) 14
8. Andreas Henkel (GER) 10
9. Arnd Peiffer (GER) 10
10. Carl Johan Bergman (SWE) 6

April 14, 2012 (Norway) – The global Nordic community was sad to learn that legendary Norwegian cross-country skiing coach, Inge Braten, passed away on Friday after a brief illness. Braten, 63, had a brilliant career coaching some of the world’s best xc skiers including Vegard Ulvang and Bjoern Daehlie during the early 90s as head coach of the Norwegian national team.

With Bråten at the helm Norway earned 15 Olympic and World Championships gold medals with golden success at both the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville as well as the 1994 Games in Lillehammer. Bråten is credited with re-establishing Norway as a powerhouse in cross-country skiing.

Later he was recruited by the Swedish National team from 2005-2007 and joined Cross Country Canada in 2009 in the lead up to the Vancouer 2010 Winter Games. He suffered a freak accident soon after at the World Cup in Kuusamo, Finland injuring his leg but was able to rejoin the team just prior to the Games where Canada’s men delivered some of their best Olympic results ever with seven top-10 performances. Devon Kerhsaw and Alex Harvey were fourth in the team sprint while Kershaw went on to finish 4th in the men’s 50km classic.

Following the Games Braten departed and later became the head coach of the Swiss National Cross-country Team but it was a short stint for the venerable coach who also worked as a sports commentator.

SkiTrax joins the Nordic community around the world in saluting Braten’s stellar career and sending condolences to his family and friends.

April 05, 2012 – Stratton Mountain School is adding an Elite Team this year. Gus Kaeding, an SMS alum who has been coaching with CXC the past two years, will coach this group. The group will work closely with the Stratton Mountain School team as well as the local youth ski league, West River Nordic. Stratton Mountain School Nordic program director, Sverre Caldwell, will oversee and coordinate all of the Stratton programs.

We have two major goals for the program:
1)    Help our skiers achieve International success.
2)    Expose local skiers to top-level athletes.

This will be a community collaborative and should be a win-win situation. The Elite Team will benefit from the energy of the younger skiers and the community support, while the upcoming skiers will be able to train alongside some of the best skiers in the country and the world. By coordinating programs, we will have a clear pathway from youth skiing to Olympic athletes.

We are starting the program with a small, select group and are very excited about the team; They are all good people and strong skiers who are looking forward to training as a team and working with the local programs. We are also working closely with the US Ski Team coaches and are in the process of planning our summer/fall training and camp schedules with their input.

USST Head Coach, Chris Grover, recently congratulated us on the new position and program saying, “This is very cool for SMS and the U.S.A.  We need more strong senior clubs and we are looking forward to working closely with you!”

Over the next month we plan to add 2-3 recent high school skiers to our Post Graduate program. These skiers will be able to train extensively with the Elite Team as well as the SMS team (which was just awarded the prize as the top junior club in the US for the second year in a row). These groups should bring one another and the entire SMS program to a higher level.

“With the final races of the season now over, I’m eager to work with the SMS team. The potential of the team has me really excited and I can’t wait to get the whole group together” – Gus

Here is Stratton Mountain School’s Elite Team…

– Sophie Caldwell
– Eric Packer
– Skyler Davis
– Erika Flowers
– Andy Newell

April 05, 2012 (Craftsbury, Vermont) – One hundred and fifty girls between the ages 9 and19 joined 35 ambassadors including World Cup dominator Kikkan Randall and Fast and Female founder Chandra Crawford for a first-ever red hot event in Craftsbury, Vermont on Sunday April 1.

Excitement ran high for the cross country ski event despite disappearing snow. On-snow skiing happened thanks to the Craftsbury Outdoor Centre who created a loop out of stockpiled snow.

One of the fastest ski stations involved a speed radar where girls had the chance to get out of their comfort zone to measure themselves against the world’s best xc ski racers. As is the norm with Fast and Female, dancing was also a big hit as the girls followed Crawford and Randall’s moves in their dazzling pink tights.

Educational seminars were full as well with 50 parents taking part in learning about how to get more involved in a sport their daughters have such a passion for. The session titled “How to Support Your Children in Skiing: A Panel Discussion with Parents, Coaches, and Athletes” featured speakers Cami Thompson (Mother and Dartmouth Ski Team Coach), Dorrie Martell (Mother of three outdoor enthusiasts and physical therapist), Katrina Howe (MWSC Biathlon Athlete), Tracey Cote (mother and Colby Ski Team Head Coach), and Susan Stephen (mother of current World Cup racer Liz Stephen).

Abby Weissman, NENSA’s Youth and Introductory Programs Director, was delighted to have Fast and Female in Vermont.

“This event brings so much positive energy for our skiers in New England and it was a special treat to have both Chandra and Kikkan here to lead us in skiing and dancing and talk about their adventures on the World Cup and at the Olympics,” said Weissman. “I know that our girls are going to be talking about the athletes they met for a very long time.”

A question and answer period with Crawford and Randall was a highlight for the girls as most had only seen them racing on television. For many, seeing them in real life was described as “surreal.”

While Crawford focused her presentation on turning negatives into positives and passed around her 2006 Olympic gold medal, Randall regaled the crowd with tales of the World Cup and lessons on always working hard. As a testament of her journey and determination, Randall showed her brand new sprint globe for pictures with the girls at the end of the day.

Fast and Female would like to thank Craftsbury Outdoor Centre, Hannah Dreissigacker, NENSA, Best Buy, Ski Erg, Clarins, Buff Canada, GRP and Cold-FX as well as Lululemon Athletica, LUNA Bars, LIT Glitter, SAUCE Headwear, and Champion System for their support in helping make this event happen.

April 04, 2012 – The book titled “Wild Shot” is now available. Wild Shot is outwardly about the external physical demands and internal mental demands of the winter sports of Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon. Author Andy Liebner discovers that sport is not just about training and competition; it’s a metaphor for a deeper aspect of life. Sport is a quest! To rise to the top requires a heroic journey to encounter and overcome external and internal barriers, and Andy runs into far more of them than you might think possible. The barriers are relentless. But he learns that his biggest enemy is inside his head and if he masters his fears then he wins.

Author Biography of Andy Liebner – Wild Shot

Andy Liebner is a fast young Alaskan who went from top junior and collegiate XC ski racing results to signing up for the military the day after 9-11 to then racing around the world to see how far he could go in XC skiing and biathlon. He had many surprising adventures along the way and learned what it means to go it alone (with help from friends). Breakthroughs and frustrations alike abound in his story. The barriers were ENDLESS and only got BIGGER, yet Andy persevered. The finale is fascinating with major twists.

Andy particularly enjoys training with various pals, including some of the best athletes in the world — such as the #1 all-time biathlete, “King Ole,” Ole Einar Bjorndalen. He’s trying to see what they do that makes them so good and he passes along what he learns. Andy includes practical insights on the factors separating skiers who are on their way up, including his best tips for technique, and advice on the toughest challenge: the mind game. His races give us heat-of-the-moment action ranging from DQ’s to big wins.

There’s business and marketing, too, when Andy starts repping for a wax company in the middle of racing and then becomes in demand as a winning wax tech. But he just wants to race!

It’s 250 pages of page-burning fun — with nail-biting cliffhangers.

In 2010 Andy won the US Marathon series and in 2011 he won the U.S. National College Cup and added two more All-American certificates to his resume. Nowadays he’s back to globetrotting, coaching Olympians, and working in the ski industry.

March 31, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – Following a spectacular season by Canada’s Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey and Len Valjas, Cross Country Canada’s on-line store now features a Canadian Power T-Shirt featuring charicatures of the three Nordic Knights… a great piece of memorabalia to remind yourself of this historic 2012 season!

CCC On Line Store HERE.
Canadian Power T-Shirt HERE.

March 27, 2012 (Craftsbury, Vermont) – Dartmouth Ski Team’s Eric Packer overcame a strong field of competitors, and a pacing error in the qualification run, to take the victory in the men’s 1.6km classic sprint at the USSA SuperTour Finals at the Craftsbury Outdoor Centre today. Reese Hanneman (APU/USST) took the silver, followed by CXC’s Karl Nygren for the bronze.

Packer shook off a poorly paced qualifier, in which he placed 16th, to come back strong in the heats. “The morning qualifier wasn’t great,” Packer confided to SkiTrax, “I started too hard and blew up. The first half of the course is gradual downhill, followed by a big steep climb and then 500m of gradual climbing to the finish.  I skied the big hill really hard, and then blew up on the gradual climb to the finish.”

The Dartmouth skier learned from the pacing mistake, however, and came up with a better strategy for the heats. “My experience in the qualifier helped shape my strategy for the heats,” Packer explained, “I wanted to ski the finish strong.  I tried my best to sit back and conserve as much as possible up and over the big hill, and then make my moves on the gradual climbs to the finish.”

Packer repeated the strategy in today’s final. “I had a clean start and sat around 4th for the first half of the race. Reese made a strong move up over the big hill, creating a small gap. I reeled him in, and then with 200m to go, made my move and never looked back.”

Today’s victory marks a personal best for Packer at this level of competition, topping his two 3rd place finishes at the US National Championships in Rumford, Maine back in January. “The final was awesome,” he said, “definitely a personal best.”

Second place finisher, Reese Hanneman, had problems of his own in this morning’s qualifier, but was able to overcome them for the heats. “My qualifier actually didn’t feel very good at all,” he told SkiTrax. “The first thing I noticed when I started working on the big climb was that my arms were burning, which is not normal… I think that was because of the running warm up, and that maybe I forgot to warm up my arms. Oops!”

Hanneman credited his strategy of attacking on the big climb for his success in the heats. “My strategy was to turn up the throttle on the top half of the big climb,” he explained, “and then try to pull away from there on. Striding is definitely one of my strengths, so I wanted to be able to throw down on that big climb, and then try to hold everyone off on the rolling flat section before the last little climb. My skis were running very well today, and that gave me the confidence to attack off the front of the heats.”

His strategy paid off for the most part, but Hanneman didn’t quite have enough to hold off Packer in the final. “In the end, Eric Packer was able to stay with me over the climb, and then came by me on the last rise to the line. He is a very good skier, physically and tactically, and so I am really stoked to finish right behind him!”

Hanneman was also really enthusiastic about the course at Craftsbury, calling it “one of the best sprint courses I have skied in the US. Its really well balanced, with good amounts of double poling and striding, and with the climb into the finish, makes it so that its not just a waxing competition.”

US Sprint star, Andy Newell, who was in Oslo, Norway, recently for a Red Bull Nordix competition, did not start today’s race, as he is recovering from a cold picked up while traveling home.

Racing continues tomorrow with a 6km hill climb at Jay Peak.

Qualifications HERE.
Sprint result brackets HERE.