September 9, 2009 (Whistler, BC) – The U.S. Ski Team (USST) recently completed a training camp at the 2010 Olympic venue in Whistler. The team was also joined by the National Elite Group, which consists of ten of the country’s most promising junior athletes, as well as members of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.

During the camp, which lasted for ten days, the athletes conducted a number of workouts on the venue’s paved rollerski loop, including a time trial. With less than six months until the start of the Games, the team is beginning to ramp up its intensity training. SkiTrax caught up with USST Head Coach Pete Vordenberg to ask him about the camp.

Overall, how did this Whistler Camp work out?
We had a bunch of workouts at the venue and really feel like it is our home as much or more than it is home for anyone. The workouts went really well. We also had a new junior camp here – the National Elite Group – which was a great addition to the camp and a great opportunity for some of our best junior racers to train with the national team. The venue is closed now – so next time we go back is for the games.

Is the US Team on track at this point with respect to your planning?
Objective measures can be tougher in skiing than in say running or even cycling. But as objectively as possible and subjectively we are where we want to be at this time. The team is preparing well both mentally and physically for these games.

What’s next for the team?
Lake Placid Camp in early October. The intensity has been going up, going up, going up. We’ll be hammering in Placid.

For more information about the USST’s Whistler camp, visit the Team Today web site-links are below:
Team Today 1
Team Today 2
Team Today 3