December 9, 2009 – November cold gave way to sunny skies and mild temperatures to make this Thanksgiving’s Fall Camp in West Yellowstone a success story before it was even over. Together with the SuperTour races, free demos from all the major companies, manufacturers’ Expo, great snow cover and epic grooming, the on-snow clinics made the event one to remember.

Participants travel from the east coast, the northern Midwest, the northwest, up and down the west coast, Alaska, and regional points of origin. The camp coaches come from diverse backgrounds: current and ex-racers, college coaches, top-notch instructors and members of the PSIA Nordic Team, making for a great mix of teaching styles and up-to-date technique coaching.

Before heading out on snow, groups watched World Cup or Olympic video of top racers, during an indoor warm-up and technique briefing, to highlight aspects of the techniques which would be emphasized again on snow. These indoor sessions prep the participants, and allow on-snow time to be focused on skiing and feedback rather than full-blown explanations. The ‘classic’ Three-day Camp covers the different techniques for classic and skate as follows:

Day 1
– AM – Classic – Diagonal Stride
– PM – Skate – V2

Day 2
– AM – Classic – Double Pole and DPK
– PM – Skate – V2A

Day 3
– AM – Classic – Transitions;
– PM – Skate – V1 and transitions.

The skiing groups, separated by ability level, and further by appetite for speed and distance, head out on the Rendezvous Trail System for a rolling ride through lodge pole forest on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. Coaches take the technique theme and focus on body position and timing that provide the foundation for power in classic and skate.

Each session (a.m. and p.m.) places the groups with a different coach, exposing participants to a diverse array of teaching and different coaches, all of whom share a common understanding of the sport and technique. You may ‘get it’ with one coach and have an ‘aha moment’ when another coach helps you understand concepts and change your skiing movements to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

The different loops that make up the Rendezvous Trail System provide plenty of terrain for long stretches of technique practice in one ‘gear’ and specific transition practice. Long stretches of gradual uphill and short dips through steep-sided hollers reflect how this trail system was sewn together from logging roads and connectors craftily fashioned into the world class Nordic trail system that it is today.

Inevitably the Camp brings together Nord-to-the-core friends from far afield, so there’s an undeniable social element, as spontaneous reunions or high five’s seem to spring up every kilometer or two. Skiing with friends I haven’t skied with in years, or only ski with once a year always seems to make the trip worthwhile, and somehow un-missable.

Most years provide predictably adequate snow cover to ski from the official trailhead on the edge of town (an easy walk from a host of hotels and anywhere in town), but every few years the season starts dry or melts off, and the skiing launch point moves uphill to the South Plateau, some 1000 feet higher and the number one backup plan in a low snow year. The five mile drive on muddy and icy roads can add adventure to your day, but it’s only happened twice that I can remember. It always works out somehow and everybody has a great time. As it should be. This year, the snow came early and often enough and rain stayed away. Snow was ample for the immaculate grooming put out by Doug Edgerton and his crew at Yellowstone Track Systems.
Perhaps one of the camp’s unsung virtues is the chance to rub elbows with top athletes, coaches and leading (and up-and-coming) industry players, making relationships with the likes of Rick Halling, of Atomic, whom I’ve seen at this event every year since I started as a camp coach.

The festival attendees are fortunate to be graced once a year by one of cross country’s pioneer heritage heroes, an ordinary person who performed extraordinarily, as an athlete or a leader, and upon whose shoulders we ski today. A highlight of the festival is a keynote by such a hero (or heroine) who speaks to the assembled clinic attendees, high school and college racers, and drop-in skiers. This year, Steve Gaskill spoke on Friday night about his experience as a competitor and coach, and his work in sport science. The raffle that followed set up some racers with new toys, and made some parents’ wallets happy.

This is my tenth Fall Camp experience, and while each one is unique in its own way, they still seem to be getting better, year after year. I have special snapshot memories of camps over the years, of driving up to the Plateau, spending time with the reps at the demo booths, watching the races and the biathlon take place, following members of foreign teams around the trails (well, for a little while, anyway), reconnecting with skiers I’ve coached in the past, and skiing certain sections of the trails with mentors, present and past.

West Yellowstone has become a bit of a personal tradition, an annual journey to a Nordic seasonal mecca that refreshes my skiing moves and resets my mind and body with a focus on good technique that literally carries me through the year. And what better way to kick off your season. It’s something I never get tired of sharing.

Hope to see you on the trails!

Trail Map Links:
For the main Rendezvous Trail System click here.
For the South Plateau trails click here.