FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

A collection of live feeds from cross-country ski blogs around the web.

  • Post Graduation Update — Summer Training Has Begun

    There’s a lot going on up here in Waitsfield.  First Congrats to Ryley Walker, Elena Luethi and Jackson Rich for graduating!!      

    The last few weeks have been filled with Senior Trip, exams, spring testing, and Hans leading the team to GMVS’s first State Championship Lacrosse Game — this Saturday at Castelton @11am.

    Dylan Grald and David Sinclair have come back to Waitsfield for the summer to lead and participate in summer training.  We are planning on hosting lots of skiers at camps and invite sessions.  If you’d like to join us for some training in the Valley email me at beck@gmvs.org

    This year we have our first local BKL Day Camp — June 20 – 23. We will be having fun and doing ski specific work with this awesome group of 8-11 year old skiers from right here in the Valley!

    We love seeing our alums come back!  Here, Hans, David and Daniel Moore lead Luke Costley and Sam Rossier in a ski across East Warren Road last summer.

    A nice group shot after Summer Camp 2010 attacked the Plunkton DP Test.

    Ski Walking Intervals on Sugarbush.

    Rafter can’t wait to see you all!!!

    Senior Internship Trip atop Smugglers Notch where we moved the old Watson Shelter on piece at a time over the course of the week.  The seniors were amazing — moving the whole shelter over a rough section of trail to be transported away .4 miles each trip.

    Some of you might recognize this section of road leading into the Notch — no snow now — but maybe we’ll see you there next October/November.

    Mansfield through the trees from the Long Trail North.

    Boss Man Raf taking a break.

    Ryley and Co. feeding themselves at the “Top of the Notch”

    Ben Hegman joining us for intervals last summer.

    One of the great days: High water on the Hudson Gorge in 85 degree heat! Which one’s Ryley?

    Can you find Elena?

    Guess who that is?

    The seniors and the pile of debris they moved.

    The after shot — a week in the woods, complete with rugged thunderstorms, monumental work accomplished and a lot of fun to boot!

    Go Green, Go Gumby. Devlin Shea is always thumbs up!

    Hans finishing his running leg in the Blueberry Triathlon last week.

    Excuse me boys … Heidi Halvorsen showing the boys how it’s done BLT style.

  • Hello June!

    Hiking in the Adirondacks a few weeks ago…things have become MUCH greener!

    I’ve been more than negligent in my blog posting recently, but luckily that has not extended to my training in general. We’re currently in the middle of a 22hr training week, and looking forward to a short shooting-focused camp next week. This will be the second National Team training camp of the year, and it’s amazing to me how fast things have gotten underway. In fact, it’s not just this year that’s flying by…

    Four years ago, I graduated from college and began pursuing biathlon full-time. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but I was recently reminded just how much can change so quickly. My time in biathlon has been full of trials and triumphs, not the least of which was making the 2010 Olympic Team. One of my biggest supporters along the way has been my younger brother, who, incidentally, entered into his own journey 4 years ago when he started college. A couple weeks ago, he graduated with a degree in Architecture from Yale University. I couldn’t be more proud of him and what he’s accomplished. Congratulations, Luke…and thanks for all your love and support! I can’t wait to see where you go from here.


    Luke, heading to Graduation!

    The good news is that the rain has been letting up, and summer seems in full-swing. I’m looking forward to a trip home, and by the way June snuck up on me, July will fly by and our August camp in Europe will be here before I know it. Keep checking in…I’ll be training hard as always!

    My family celebrating Luke’s graduation. What better excuse to get us all together?!

  • Hello June!

    Hiking in the Adirondacks a few weeks ago…things have become MUCH greener!

    I’ve been more than negligent in my blog posting recently, but luckily that has not extended to my training in general. We’re currently in the middle of a 22hr training week, and looking forward to a short shooting-focused camp next week. This will be the second National Team training camp of the year, and it’s amazing to me how fast things have gotten underway. In fact, it’s not just this year that’s flying by…

    Four years ago, I graduated from college and began pursuing biathlon full-time. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but I was recently reminded just how much can change so quickly. My time in biathlon has been full of trials and triumphs, not the least of which was making the 2010 Olympic Team. One of my biggest supporters along the way has been my younger brother, who, incidentally, entered into his own journey 4 years ago when he started college. A couple weeks ago, he graduated with a degree in Architecture from Yale University. I couldn’t be more proud of him and what he’s accomplished. Congratulations, Luke…and thanks for all your love and support! I can’t wait to see where you go from here.


    Luke, heading to Graduation!

    The good news is that the rain has been letting up, and summer seems in full-swing. I’m looking forward to a trip home, and by the way June snuck up on me, July will fly by and our August camp in Europe will be here before I know it. Keep checking in…I’ll be training hard as always!

    My family celebrating Luke’s graduation. What better excuse to get us all together?!

  • Hello June!

    Hiking in the Adirondacks a few weeks ago…things have become MUCH greener!

    I’ve been more than negligent in my blog posting recently, but luckily that has not extended to my training in general. We’re currently in the middle of a 22hr training week, and looking forward to a short shooting-focused camp next week. This will be the second National Team training camp of the year, and it’s amazing to me how fast things have gotten underway. In fact, it’s not just this year that’s flying by…

    Four years ago, I graduated from college and began pursuing biathlon full-time. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but I was recently reminded just how much can change so quickly. My time in biathlon has been full of trials and triumphs, not the least of which was making the 2010 Olympic Team. One of my biggest supporters along the way has been my younger brother, who, incidentally, entered into his own journey 4 years ago when he started college. A couple weeks ago, he graduated with a degree in Architecture from Yale University. I couldn’t be more proud of him and what he’s accomplished. Congratulations, Luke…and thanks for all your love and support! I can’t wait to see where you go from here.


    Luke, heading to Graduation!

    The good news is that the rain has been letting up, and summer seems in full-swing. I’m looking forward to a trip home, and by the way June snuck up on me, July will fly by and our August camp in Europe will be here before I know it. Keep checking in…I’ll be training hard as always!

    My family celebrating Luke’s graduation. What better excuse to get us all together?!

  • K’enaanee Kkaazoot

    For quite some time I have wanted to travel to ski with the youth in rural villages of Alaska. This spring, the dream came into fruition!With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former “Ski Go” program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors;

  • K’enaanee Kkaazoot

    For quite some time I have wanted to travel to ski with the youth in rural villages of Alaska. This spring, the dream came into fruition!With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former “Ski Go” program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors;

  • K’enaanee Kkaazoot

    For quite some time I have wanted to travel to ski with the youth in rural villages of Alaska. This spring, the dream came into fruition!With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former “Ski Go” program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors;

  • K’enaanee Kkaazoot

    For quite some time I have wanted to travel to ski with the youth in rural villages of Alaska. This spring, the dream came into fruition!With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former “Ski Go” program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors;

  • K’enaanee Kkaazoot

    For quite some time I have wanted to travel to ski with the youth in rural villages of Alaska. This spring, the dream came into fruition!With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former “Ski Go” program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors;

  • Home Sweet Home

    Well, the day has finally arrived… my one day of relaxation that is! I am in Anchorage, and I don’t go up to the Eagle Glacier until tomorrow. The last week has been one of the craziest of my life, trying to train twice most days, study for finals, take finals, write a paper, and pack up. The packing definitely took longer than expected, I worked in my room to get it everything boxed up from about 7:30am to 1:30pm. I don’t know if this is caused by a debilitating inefficiency, my huge amount of crap, or some combination therein. What I do know is that it was insanely stressful, I don’t know where any of my things are, and its finally over!

    Now that I am in Alaska, it’s time to get ready to head up to Eagle tomorrow for some excellent training. I am really excited for that; I have at times felt homesickness for the Glacier during the 49 weeks of the year that I am away from it. However, what I am really excited for is the final unveiling of my training for the last couple of months. Having been away from my team, I don’t know whether I have held my own or totally fallen off the fitness map. I managed a 56 hour month last month, so I don’t think I will be too terribly behind, but I have no way of knowing. So, I am nervous, excited, and a tiny bit worried to see where I am at! Most of all, I am happy that I was able to spend some time at school, but am now really ready to buckle down and get some good training done.

    As a side note:
    I am also really excited to get to try these awesome rollerski boots out –

    I haven’t used them yet, but I can’t wait! I love the idea of the reflective stripes on the heel and sides because I am a procrastinator and sometimes end up rollerskiing just a little too late. Another great detail is the strip of hard plastic just visible on the inside of the forefoot: it’s that little red stripe in the gold section. It’s on the part of your boot that can get totally trashed if you fall, or if you drag your rollerski for some reason or another. Now, it’s not going to get torn up!

    Alpina, though they don’t do a lot of flashy promotion or advertising, really have their heads on straight. I visited them in Lebanon before I left New Hampshire, and I was really impressed with their attention to quality and focus on just making a good, solid, simple boot. They are a shoe company, so they really know how to make a person’s feet happy and you can feel it in their ski boots. They don’t focus on marketing, they let their boots talk for themselves! After using Alpina for over three years, I can tell you that I have never ever had a problem. No blisters, no sore arches, nothing. That’s pretty impressive if you ask me!

    I will let you all know how the boots ski once I get down from the glacier and try them out.
    Thanks for reading!

  • Eight weeks down!

    Today makes eight weeks since my surgery and everything is going great!  My rehab has progressed very fast and I am now pretty much back into my normal training routine.  I am still not able to skate ski as much … Continue reading →

  • Eight weeks down!

    Today makes eight weeks since my surgery and everything is going great!  My rehab has progressed very fast and I am now pretty much back into my normal training routine.  I am still not able to skate ski as much … Continue reading →

  • Eight weeks down!

    Today makes eight weeks since my surgery and everything is going great!  My rehab has progressed very fast and I am now pretty much back into my normal training routine.  I am still not able to skate ski as much … Continue reading →

  • Eight weeks down!

    Today makes eight weeks since my surgery and everything is going great!  My rehab has progressed very fast and I am now pretty much back into my normal training routine.  I am still not able to skate ski as much … Continue reading →

  • Rendezvous OD

    This morning I was graciously allowed to join local Methow ultrarunners Kaarin Kelly and Alison (soon-to-be-Naney) Hanks on an OD up some sweet secret trails to Rendezvous pass.

    Proper fueling begins and ends with HAMMER. And coffee. And a melon.

    Like a dolt, I packed the camera and watched the incredible views as we ran up West Fawn Rd, but neglected to stop and snap some shots because, well, you know those ultra folk. They don’t stop for anything. I got dropped four times because I had to use the ‘loo. But I did manage to get this quasi-artsy photo in aptly named “Bear Poop Meadow”:

    The ladies.

    Tomorrow is a long cross bike ride with Alison and the folks, then a birthday dinner for Dad (a bit early, but big 6-4). More business next week.

  • Rendezvous OD

    This morning I was graciously allowed to join local Methow ultrarunners Kaarin Kelly and Alison (soon-to-be-Naney) Hanks on an OD up some sweet secret trails to Rendezvous pass.

    Proper fueling begins and ends with HAMMER. And coffee. And a melon.

    Like a dolt, I packed the camera and watched the incredible views as we ran up West Fawn Rd, but neglected to stop and snap some shots because, well, you know those ultra folk. They don’t stop for anything. I got dropped four times because I had to use the ‘loo. But I did manage to get this quasi-artsy photo in aptly named “Bear Poop Meadow”:

    The ladies.

    Tomorrow is a long cross bike ride with Alison and the folks, then a birthday dinner for Dad (a bit early, but big 6-4). More business next week.

  • Rendezvous OD

    This morning I was graciously allowed to join local Methow ultrarunners Kaarin Kelly and Alison (soon-to-be-Naney) Hanks on an OD up some sweet secret trails to Rendezvous pass.

    Proper fueling begins and ends with HAMMER. And coffee. And a melon.

    Like a dolt, I packed the camera and watched the incredible views as we ran up West Fawn Rd, but neglected to stop and snap some shots because, well, you know those ultra folk. They don’t stop for anything. I got dropped four times because I had to use the ‘loo. But I did manage to get this quasi-artsy photo in aptly named “Bear Poop Meadow”:

    The ladies.

    Tomorrow is a long cross bike ride with Alison and the folks, then a birthday dinner for Dad (a bit early, but big 6-4). More business next week.

  • Ski To Sea 2011

    It is slowly beginning to be a tradition that after Bend Camp, a bunch of skiers will make the 8-hour trek north to participate in the Ski to Sea, a multi-stage team adventure race from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay. The opening leg of the race is a 7km cross-country race with a LOT of climbing. You start at the base area of the Mt. Baker ski resort and head up the outrun for about 300m, then hang a hard right, swing back down through the start area and farther downhill through sweeping turns to a low point on the course. From there it’s close to a 1km climb back up, topping out at the same high point as the beginning climb, where you then complete another ~2km of rolling terrain before descending back to the tag zone. The mass start is epic: 500 races (most of whom are recreational-level skiers) all massed together in soft snow. I heard about six different people mourn their start mishaps where poles were broken, baskets were torn out, puppies were killed, etc. Epic.

    Anyways, it was a great race for me. Coming off a big volume week on-snow in Bend I was hoping to hold in with the lead group, comprised of some of the SuperTour’s top distance skiers: Brian Gregg, Mikey Sinnott, Brent Knight and Matt Liebsch. I figured I would stay conservative and hold with the pack, and if I had any gumption left towards the end, to spend it. Last year I blew up gloriously about 2km into the race and spent the rest of the time trying to pick up my own pieces. This year went much better; at the top of the long climb Brian, Brent, Mikey, Erik Carleton (Canada) and I had gained a bit of a gap on the few others from the front pack. Brian then made his move and gapped us, and I surged forward to drop Erik and even up with Mikey and Brent. The three of us came roaring in to the finish together, 16sec behind Brian’s Top Gun victory. For me, it was a solid effort. It confirmed that my training is on the right track and my fitness is once again higher than before.

    This week was a nice recovery week and I was able to get a lot of work done in my classes as well as on the motorcycle and other various shop projects. Next week I begin coaching the youngsters and volume picks back up – let the summer begin!

  • Ski To Sea 2011

    It is slowly beginning to be a tradition that after Bend Camp, a bunch of skiers will make the 8-hour trek north to participate in the Ski to Sea, a multi-stage team adventure race from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay. The opening leg of the race is a 7km cross-country race with a LOT of climbing. You start at the base area of the Mt. Baker ski resort and head up the outrun for about 300m, then hang a hard right, swing back down through the start area and farther downhill through sweeping turns to a low point on the course. From there it’s close to a 1km climb back up, topping out at the same high point as the beginning climb, where you then complete another ~2km of rolling terrain before descending back to the tag zone. The mass start is epic: 500 races (most of whom are recreational-level skiers) all massed together in soft snow. I heard about six different people mourn their start mishaps where poles were broken, baskets were torn out, puppies were killed, etc. Epic.

    Anyways, it was a great race for me. Coming off a big volume week on-snow in Bend I was hoping to hold in with the lead group, comprised of some of the SuperTour’s top distance skiers: Brian Gregg, Mikey Sinnott, Brent Knight and Matt Liebsch. I figured I would stay conservative and hold with the pack, and if I had any gumption left towards the end, to spend it. Last year I blew up gloriously about 2km into the race and spent the rest of the time trying to pick up my own pieces. This year went much better; at the top of the long climb Brian, Brent, Mikey, Erik Carleton (Canada) and I had gained a bit of a gap on the few others from the front pack. Brian then made his move and gapped us, and I surged forward to drop Erik and even up with Mikey and Brent. The three of us came roaring in to the finish together, 16sec behind Brian’s Top Gun victory. For me, it was a solid effort. It confirmed that my training is on the right track and my fitness is once again higher than before.

    This week was a nice recovery week and I was able to get a lot of work done in my classes as well as on the motorcycle and other various shop projects. Next week I begin coaching the youngsters and volume picks back up – let the summer begin!

  • Ski To Sea 2011

    It is slowly beginning to be a tradition that after Bend Camp, a bunch of skiers will make the 8-hour trek north to participate in the Ski to Sea, a multi-stage team adventure race from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay. The opening leg of the race is a 7km cross-country race with a LOT of climbing. You start at the base area of the Mt. Baker ski resort and head up the outrun for about 300m, then hang a hard right, swing back down through the start area and farther downhill through sweeping turns to a low point on the course. From there it’s close to a 1km climb back up, topping out at the same high point as the beginning climb, where you then complete another ~2km of rolling terrain before descending back to the tag zone. The mass start is epic: 500 races (most of whom are recreational-level skiers) all massed together in soft snow. I heard about six different people mourn their start mishaps where poles were broken, baskets were torn out, puppies were killed, etc. Epic.

    Anyways, it was a great race for me. Coming off a big volume week on-snow in Bend I was hoping to hold in with the lead group, comprised of some of the SuperTour’s top distance skiers: Brian Gregg, Mikey Sinnott, Brent Knight and Matt Liebsch. I figured I would stay conservative and hold with the pack, and if I had any gumption left towards the end, to spend it. Last year I blew up gloriously about 2km into the race and spent the rest of the time trying to pick up my own pieces. This year went much better; at the top of the long climb Brian, Brent, Mikey, Erik Carleton (Canada) and I had gained a bit of a gap on the few others from the front pack. Brian then made his move and gapped us, and I surged forward to drop Erik and even up with Mikey and Brent. The three of us came roaring in to the finish together, 16sec behind Brian’s Top Gun victory. For me, it was a solid effort. It confirmed that my training is on the right track and my fitness is once again higher than before.

    This week was a nice recovery week and I was able to get a lot of work done in my classes as well as on the motorcycle and other various shop projects. Next week I begin coaching the youngsters and volume picks back up – let the summer begin!