FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • Gavin ends the season ranked # 15 J2 in the Country !

    USSA has been doing a great job increasing the development pipeline within in the country. One of the major focuses has been identifying and supporting skiers at a younger age. Last year they started a National J2 Camp. Skiers qualify for the camp based on results at Junior Nationals. The top 20 boys and girls are invited to the camp.
    (Link to the press release)
    The purpose of the camp is not only to identify talent but also the get that talent together to push each other to become better, become smarter, and also to have fun.
    I have been preaching that skiers from the Mid Atlantic division must attend JO’s at an early age. So may athletes wait until their senior year to make the trip. For some it may be the only time they meet the qualifying standards for others its the only time they decide to go. Like any major event it’s an eye opening experience. It’s also an important step in an athletes development. For athletes like Gavin he is being “identified” as a skier and will be on the “radar” for future camps and opportunities. It is an honor for no only himself to be nominated but to all of Mid-A.
    Mid-A has long and deep tradition of producing world class athletes and I believe that we can produce more !!!
    Get out the door and Train, Train, Train and Train some more because once the Train pulls out of the station it’s not stopping again !! Get on Board !

  • Gavin ends the season ranked # 15 J2 in the Country !

    USSA has been doing a great job increasing the development pipeline within in the country. One of the major focuses has been identifying and supporting skiers at a younger age. Last year they started a National J2 Camp. Skiers qualify for the camp based on results at Junior Nationals. The top 20 boys and girls are invited to the camp.
    (Link to the press release)
    The purpose of the camp is not only to identify talent but also the get that talent together to push each other to become better, become smarter, and also to have fun.
    I have been preaching that skiers from the Mid Atlantic division must attend JO’s at an early age. So may athletes wait until their senior year to make the trip. For some it may be the only time they meet the qualifying standards for others its the only time they decide to go. Like any major event it’s an eye opening experience. It’s also an important step in an athletes development. For athletes like Gavin he is being “identified” as a skier and will be on the “radar” for future camps and opportunities. It is an honor for no only himself to be nominated but to all of Mid-A.
    Mid-A has long and deep tradition of producing world class athletes and I believe that we can produce more !!!
    Get out the door and Train, Train, Train and Train some more because once the Train pulls out of the station it’s not stopping again !! Get on Board !

  • The History of Leavenworth Skiing

    Since 1928, the little mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington has played a role in America’s nordic ski history. Hear Ski Hall of Famer Kjell Bakke tell stories about Ron Steele and Alf Engen to the 10th Mountain Division and the Apple Box Brigade here:

  • The History of Leavenworth Skiing

    Since 1928, the little mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington has played a role in America’s nordic ski history. Hear Ski Hall of Famer Kjell Bakke tell stories about Ron Steele and Alf Engen to the 10th Mountain Division and the Apple Box Brigade here:

  • The History of Leavenworth Skiing

    Since 1928, the little mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington has played a role in America’s nordic ski history. Hear Ski Hall of Famer Kjell Bakke tell stories about Ron Steele and Alf Engen to the 10th Mountain Division and the Apple Box Brigade here:

  • The History of Leavenworth Skiing

    Since 1928, the little mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington has played a role in America’s nordic ski history. Hear Ski Hall of Famer Kjell Bakke tell stories about Ron Steele and Alf Engen to the 10th Mountain Division and the Apple Box Brigade here:

  • Fun in the Woods

    Spring is in the air and it is becoming easier to get outside and play. One of my major goals at the Boys and Girls Club is to promote a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. We have had a mix bag of weather this April, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting outside every day at the LCO Boys and Girls Club.

    Tristan and Sunny enjoying the fire. Only one match to light this well made fire.

    Our forts from last fall were still standing, but we did a renovation and expansion.

    Jayden, Migwan, Kalista, and McCayla were the lead builders in a couch and a bed. We had 15 kids on the construction project.

    Who needs a playground when you have trees

    Paige gathering the sap from the trees

    Boiling down Sap with Bob. Bob, an ojibwe elder taught the kids the proper way to tap the trees, gather the sap and make the syrup. He taught us the ojibwe and the american names of the different trees and plants in the sugar bush.

    Maria playing the flute

    Hide-and-go-seek at the Pow Wow Grounds




  • Fun in the Woods

    Spring is in the air and it is becoming easier to get outside and play. One of my major goals at the Boys and Girls Club is to promote a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. We have had a mix bag of weather this April, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting outside every day at the LCO Boys and Girls Club.

    Tristan and Sunny enjoying the fire. Only one match to light this well made fire.

    Our forts from last fall were still standing, but we did a renovation and expansion.

    Jayden, Migwan, Kalista, and McCayla were the lead builders in a couch and a bed. We had 15 kids on the construction project.

    Who needs a playground when you have trees

    Paige gathering the sap from the trees

    Boiling down Sap with Bob. Bob, an ojibwe elder taught the kids the proper way to tap the trees, gather the sap and make the syrup. He taught us the ojibwe and the american names of the different trees and plants in the sugar bush.

    Maria playing the flute

    Hide-and-go-seek at the Pow Wow Grounds




  • Fun in the Woods

    Spring is in the air and it is becoming easier to get outside and play. One of my major goals at the Boys and Girls Club is to promote a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. We have had a mix bag of weather this April, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting outside every day at the LCO Boys and Girls Club.

    Tristan and Sunny enjoying the fire. Only one match to light this well made fire.

    Our forts from last fall were still standing, but we did a renovation and expansion.

    Jayden, Migwan, Kalista, and McCayla were the lead builders in a couch and a bed. We had 15 kids on the construction project.

    Who needs a playground when you have trees

    Paige gathering the sap from the trees

    Boiling down Sap with Bob. Bob, an ojibwe elder taught the kids the proper way to tap the trees, gather the sap and make the syrup. He taught us the ojibwe and the american names of the different trees and plants in the sugar bush.

    Maria playing the flute

    Hide-and-go-seek at the Pow Wow Grounds




  • The Season may be Over but the Skiing is NOT!

    When you think of the end April, you think of spring, sun, crocuses, bikes, running and the sort. Well, that is not the case here! There is still 2-3 feet of snow in my yard and tons of skiing to be had! The past couple weeks have been filled with several back-country adventures, cross-country skiing and lots of what we call “crust-skiing.” Snow is still in the forecast for this week, so we will see how much we get…could be another foot! Here are some pictures from our adventures:

    Colin crust skiing

    We found the secret Iron Creek Hot Springs

    Enjoying the last day of groomed skiing at Galena!

    Carey hot springs

    A beautiful day of crust cruising

    Making some tele turns

    Check out our turns

    A view from the top

    Morgan, Chris and Colin at the top of Gladiator

  • The Season may be Over but the Skiing is NOT!

    When you think of the end April, you think of spring, sun, crocuses, bikes, running and the sort. Well, that is not the case here! There is still 2-3 feet of snow in my yard and tons of skiing to be had! The past couple weeks have been filled with several back-country adventures, cross-country skiing and lots of what we call “crust-skiing.” Snow is still in the forecast for this week, so we will see how much we get…could be another foot! Here are some pictures from our adventures:

    Colin crust skiing

    We found the secret Iron Creek Hot Springs

    Enjoying the last day of groomed skiing at Galena!

    Carey hot springs

    A beautiful day of crust cruising

    Making some tele turns

    Check out our turns

    A view from the top

    Morgan, Chris and Colin at the top of Gladiator

  • The Season may be Over but the Skiing is NOT!

    When you think of the end April, you think of spring, sun, crocuses, bikes, running and the sort. Well, that is not the case here! There is still 2-3 feet of snow in my yard and tons of skiing to be had! The past couple weeks have been filled with several back-country adventures, cross-country skiing and lots of what we call “crust-skiing.” Snow is still in the forecast for this week, so we will see how much we get…could be another foot! Here are some pictures from our adventures:

    Colin crust skiing

    We found the secret Iron Creek Hot Springs

    Enjoying the last day of groomed skiing at Galena!

    Carey hot springs

    A beautiful day of crust cruising

    Making some tele turns

    Check out our turns

    A view from the top

    Morgan, Chris and Colin at the top of Gladiator

  • The Season may be Over but the Skiing is NOT!

    When you think of the end April, you think of spring, sun, crocuses, bikes, running and the sort. Well, that is not the case here! There is still 2-3 feet of snow in my yard and tons of skiing to be had! The past couple weeks have been filled with several back-country adventures, cross-country skiing and lots of what we call “crust-skiing.” Snow is still in the forecast for this week, so we will see how much we get…could be another foot! Here are some pictures from our adventures:

    Colin crust skiing

    We found the secret Iron Creek Hot Springs

    Enjoying the last day of groomed skiing at Galena!

    Carey hot springs

    A beautiful day of crust cruising

    Making some tele turns

    Check out our turns

    A view from the top

    Morgan, Chris and Colin at the top of Gladiator

  • The Season may be Over but the Skiing is NOT!

    When you think of the end April, you think of spring, sun, crocuses, bikes, running and the sort. Well, that is not the case here! There is still 2-3 feet of snow in my yard and tons of skiing to be had! The past couple weeks have been filled with several back-country adventures, cross-country skiing and lots of what we call “crust-skiing.” Snow is still in the forecast for this week, so we will see how much we get…could be another foot! Here are some pictures from our adventures:

    Colin crust skiing

    We found the secret Iron Creek Hot Springs

    Enjoying the last day of groomed skiing at Galena!

    Carey hot springs

    A beautiful day of crust cruising

    Making some tele turns

    Check out our turns

    A view from the top

    Morgan, Chris and Colin at the top of Gladiator

  • Scenes from the Road: NordKetten, Austria Edition


    The mountains outside Innsbruck got to be special. They played host to the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games.

    After climbing a mountain, the other side might offer a different view. Here, I’m focused on all the soft snow and steep angles I’m going to have to navigate to make it back home from this mountain tour. Somewhere in my relatively near future I would be really wishing I had some crampons and an ice axe.


    Klettering along the top of the NordKetten’s north face.


    Surveying the scene, getting some sun. Yeah, not too bad a way to spend the day.

  • Scenes from the Road: NordKetten, Austria Edition


    The mountains outside Innsbruck got to be special. They played host to the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games.

    After climbing a mountain, the other side might offer a different view. Here, I’m focused on all the soft snow and steep angles I’m going to have to navigate to make it back home from this mountain tour. Somewhere in my relatively near future I would be really wishing I had some crampons and an ice axe.


    Klettering along the top of the NordKetten’s north face.


    Surveying the scene, getting some sun. Yeah, not too bad a way to spend the day.

  • Olympia

    I am writing a paper about this painting, and I just found a great poem that unfortunately I can’t use in my essay. However, I can share it here! It’s called Manet’s Olympia, by Margaret Atwood. I think it does a great job of expressing the spunk that I see in this painting.

    Manet’s Olympia
By Margaret Atwood
    She reclines, more or less,
Try that posture, it’s hardly languor.
Her right arm sharp angles.
With her left she conceals her ambush.
Shoes but not stockings,
how sinister. the flower
behind her ear is naturally
not real, of a piece
with the sofa’s drapery.
The windows (if any) are shut.
This is indoor sin.
Above the head of the (clothed) maid
is an invisible voice balloon: Slut.
    But. Consider the body,
unfragile, defiant, the pale nipples
staring you right in the bull’s eye.
Consider also the black ribbon
around the neck. What’s under it?
A fine red threadline, where the head
was taken off and glued back on.
The body’s on offer,
but the neck’s as afar as it goes.
    This is no morsel.
Put clothes on her and you’d have a schoolteacher,
the kind with the brittle whiphand.
    There’s someone else in this room.
You, Monsieur Voyeur.
As for that object of yours
she’s seen those before, and better.
    I, the head, am the only subject
of this picture.
You, Sir, are furniture.
Get stuffed.
    I found this poem and picture here

  • New stock of Snowfall Cards at the Bookstore Plus April 25th

  • New stock of Snowfall Cards at the Bookstore Plus April 25th

  • New stock of Snowfall Cards at the Bookstore Plus April 25th