Beckie needs no introduction. She is one of the best skiers in the world, North America's first female cross-country Olympic medalist, and a wonderful ambassador for our sport.
<br />
Current town of residence: Bend, Oregon<br />
Coach: Torbjorn Karlsen, Dave Wood.<br />
Sponsors: Panorama Resort, Crawford Adjusters, Lemoine-Hyland group, Gedco Inc.,<br />
Madshus skis, Salomon boots<br />
Favorite movie: Bridget Jones' Diary<br />
Favorite food: Sushi<br />
Favorite musical artist: Moby<br />
Favorite TV show: This hour has 22 minutes (Canadian political comedy show)
</p>
<p><b>Did you take a vacation after this past race season ended?</b><br />
This spring I toured Canada for appearances and speaking engagements most of<br />
April, then I went to Africa with Unicef and after that trip I met Justin in<br />
Spain and we went to the Canary Islands for a week (he did an adventure race,<br />
I relaxed). </p>
<p><b>What is your favorite place to ski? </b><br />
My favorite place to ski is Panorama, B.C. </p>
<p><b>Favorite place to race? </b><br />
My favorite place to race is Asiago, Italy because we always stay at the world's<br />
greatest family hotel </p>
<p><b>Favorite place to train (skiing or dryland)?</b><br />
My favorite place to train is at home here in Bend because it has so much to<br />
offer in terms of variety, and, because it's home! </p>
<p><b>Why do you enjoy being a ski racer? What part of being a ski racer don't<br />
you enjoy? </b><br />
I enjoy being a ski racer mainly because of my team and the good times and adventures<br />
we enjoy together as a group. I also enjoy the process of always looking for<br />
ways to improve and build on successes. The part of being a ski racer I sometimes<br />
find really hard is the daily grind – having to find it in yourself every day,<br />
every work-out, to give 100%. I have to say too that I really miss sometimes<br />
having a “normal” life – being able to have the time and energy to partake in<br />
things you would like to do, but can't because of the limits put on you by training,<br />
resting for training, and, the enormous amounts of time spent traveling and<br />
racing. I find that hard. </p>
<p><b>If you weren't a ski racer, what would you be doing?</b><br />
I would probably be living a normal life! 🙂 I would be spending lots more<br />
time with my family and friends and finishing University. I am already involved<br />
with 2 great organizations – Unicef and Right to Play (formerly Olympic Aid)<br />
– and I would definitely be participating and working with them more. </p>
<p><b>What is one of you favorite non-skiing accomplishments?</b><br />
That would have to be being named a 'Special Representative for Canada' for<br />
Unicef and subsequently being given the chance to join them on a field visit<br />
to Africa for the promotion and advocacy of girl's education there. </p>
<p><b>What do you do to pass the time when you are on the road at races and training<br />
camps?</b><br />
I wax my skis a lot. Ha ha, seriously though, I read a lot, take University<br />
courses by correspondence, shop, do the email thing, and partake in various<br />
prankster activities with my team-mate and partner in crime, Sara. </p>
<p><b>What were your best and worst races last season?</b><br />
Best race = 5k world cup classic race in Asiago, Italy – 2nd place.<br />
Worst race = 5+5k duathlon world cup in Ramsau, Austria </p>
<p><b>How do you deal with bad races?</b><br />
Pretty quickly because generally speaking we've usually only got a few days<br />
in between races to compose ourselves, get over it and try again. I also try<br />
to learn from the bad days and take lessons and apply them for the next races<br />
– and if that doesn't work, a big glass of red wine usually does the trick.
</p>
<p><b>What are your racing goals for the upcoming season?</b><br />
To make the jump from bronze and silver world cup podium finishes to gold, and<br />
to be a contender for the top places in every race I enter. </p>
<p><b>How do you feel about the changes in race format over the past few years?<br />
</b> I like sprinting, I don't like mass starts, and I really can't stand the<br />
skiathlon. </p>
<p><b>What is your take on the issue of doping in cross country ski racing these<br />
days?</b><br />
It's as widespread and prolific as it ever was, dopers are still taking home<br />
their share of the medal haul, and the FIS is still doing a terribly inadequate<br />
job of cleaning it all up. </p>
<p><b>What changes will you be making to your training plan for this year?</b> </p>
<p> I'm going to actually spend less time on snow this year, as a result of shorter<br />
glacier camps and no trip to New Zealand. Additionally, and I say it every year,<br />
but this year I really am going to try and increase my running speed. </p>
<p><b>How many time-trials on foot and rollerskis did you do last summer and fall<br />
and how long were they?</b><br />
I did 1 time trial on foot, and 1 on rollerskis – the foot was 5k cross-country<br />
running, and the rollerski was a 10k skate. </p>
<p><b>Do you have a favorite interval workout? </b><br />
Not really…. </p>
<p><b>What was your most memorable workout(s) last year?</b><br />
Hiking the Routeburn trek in New Zealand with Milaine, Dave and Sara. </p>
<p><b>If you had to eat lunch at a fast-food restaurant, where would you go and<br />
what would you order?</b><br />
Arby's – Beef and cheddar sandwich and curly fries. Mmmmmm….my favorite. </p>
<p><b>Can you give us a single piece of advice for aspiring Junior skiers?</b> </p>
<p> Don't be afraid of dreaming the big dream and setting your sights high. Believe<br />
in your goals and dreams and yourself. </p>
<p><b>How about some advice for Masters skiers?</b><br />
Don't be afraid of dreaming the big dream and setting your sights high. Believe<br />
in your goals and dreams and yourself. And, be careful on rollerskis. </p>
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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.
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