FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • Dolomite Training Camp

    Some Pictures from the Dolomites. Finishing up training for the upcoming World Military Winter Champ’s. Training has progressed well so far. Luckily Mr Wynn Roberts was on th same schedule. Will be following the US Biathlon Team’s results from the European Biathlon Championships in Italy starting on Monday. They should do well there with Wynn, Leif , Russell and BIll contesting for the Podium. Will be sad to leave this Winter Wonderland. Have actually refrained from systematic overtraining. Unbelievably!!
    Since returning from Afghanistan have been able to be involved in a few periods of complete systematic overtraining, overreaching. (Example 60+ hr in 2weeks, with 4 races, at near 7,000ft in West Yellowstone) Fortunately have been able to somewhat recover from these periods. AND now applying common sense to life’s opportunities. For instance: Tomorrow a tempting delectable Euroloppet near here( only 42km) that is on the way to Munchen is being passed by. It would have been awesome to jump in…. but have to fly on Monday to CISM and race Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Another time.

    Looking down into Antholz Valley. THe World Cup Biathon course is on the other side of the Antholz See (lake)

    Up on hte pass above Antholz. A very special place.

    View leaving the parking lot to go to morning training

    Quaint place that is definetely snowparidise

    Quite peculiar to see them removing snow from the ski track. This range is so dialed in that it would out of whack with extra snow.

    Quote of the Day from my 7 yo Will last week
    “When are you going to shave? You look like a Chinese Lady??”
    No idea where he got that from. Believe he meant Man.
    Although the Man is sporting a Faux Hawk, Mullet and some kind of Catfish Hunter Facial Hair.
    Luckily he is pulling it off well.

    Unbelievable, I was too scared to gander inside and inquire what they offered or meant.

    Laying down suppressive fire

    World class shooting coach in action

    Notice the frown. Too many misses.

    Mean Greeny on location in Austrich

  • Dolomite Training Camp

    Some Pictures from the Dolomites. Finishing up training for the upcoming World Military Winter Champ’s. Training has progressed well so far. Luckily Mr Wynn Roberts was on th same schedule. Will be following the US Biathlon Team’s results from the European Biathlon Championships in Italy starting on Monday. They should do well there with Wynn, Leif , Russell and BIll contesting for the Podium. Will be sad to leave this Winter Wonderland. Have actually refrained from systematic overtraining. Unbelievably!!
    Since returning from Afghanistan have been able to be involved in a few periods of complete systematic overtraining, overreaching. (Example 60+ hr in 2weeks, with 4 races, at near 7,000ft in West Yellowstone) Fortunately have been able to somewhat recover from these periods. AND now applying common sense to life’s opportunities. For instance: Tomorrow a tempting delectable Euroloppet near here( only 42km) that is on the way to Munchen is being passed by. It would have been awesome to jump in…. but have to fly on Monday to CISM and race Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Another time.

    Looking down into Antholz Valley. THe World Cup Biathon course is on the other side of the Antholz See (lake)

    Up on hte pass above Antholz. A very special place.

    View leaving the parking lot to go to morning training

    Quaint place that is definetely snowparidise

    Quite peculiar to see them removing snow from the ski track. This range is so dialed in that it would out of whack with extra snow.

    Quote of the Day from my 7 yo Will last week
    “When are you going to shave? You look like a Chinese Lady??”
    No idea where he got that from. Believe he meant Man.
    Although the Man is sporting a Faux Hawk, Mullet and some kind of Catfish Hunter Facial Hair.
    Luckily he is pulling it off well.

    Unbelievable, I was too scared to gander inside and inquire what they offered or meant.

    Laying down suppressive fire

    World class shooting coach in action

    Notice the frown. Too many misses.

    Mean Greeny on location in Austrich

  • Drammatic

    The Oslo Worlds are less than a week away, just the other side of the last tune-up races at Drammen, Norway. Not the familiar (and, frankly, awesome) city-center sprints of the last few years, this year’s events are being held at the Konnerud winter-sports park just outside Drammen.The stakes are high, of course. The Czech head coach Miroslav Petrasek – who has some decent skiers on his squad –

  • Drammatic

    The Oslo Worlds are less than a week away, just the other side of the last tune-up races at Drammen, Norway. Not the familiar (and, frankly, awesome) city-center sprints of the last few years, this year’s events are being held at the Konnerud winter-sports park just outside Drammen.The stakes are high, of course. The Czech head coach Miroslav Petrasek – who has some decent skiers on his squad –

  • Drammatic

    The Oslo Worlds are less than a week away, just the other side of the last tune-up races at Drammen, Norway. Not the familiar (and, frankly, awesome) city-center sprints of the last few years, this year’s events are being held at the Konnerud winter-sports park just outside Drammen.The stakes are high, of course. The Czech head coach Miroslav Petrasek – who has some decent skiers on his squad –

  • Drammatic

    The Oslo Worlds are less than a week away, just the other side of the last tune-up races at Drammen, Norway. Not the familiar (and, frankly, awesome) city-center sprints of the last few years, this year’s events are being held at the Konnerud winter-sports park just outside Drammen.The stakes are high, of course. The Czech head coach Miroslav Petrasek – who has some decent skiers on his squad –

  • Mora classic race

    I knew this should be a good race for me. The flat course is mostly double poling and does not require much technique: just keep the legs in the tracks and swing the arms as fast as you can! But it happened that my preparation for the race did not go so well and I even considered not doing it. First I had a really hard City of Lakes Loppet trying my best to stay ahead of Caitlin Compton. I ended up having the average heart rate higher than in any other race this season, including the Pre-Loppet which is just the first half of the course!
    I should probably get some stiffer poles

    Then I went for a workout on Tuesday morning. Usually there are a number of other skiers at these hours at Wirth. However I have not met a single skier during my 1.5 hour workout. That day I only had a mild frostbite on a finger but the next day after vakava’s intervals I got sick. I was not feeling well next day but did a half an hour ski Friday night. It seemed like the sickness did not impact my speed but I was still worried that I would not have enough gas for 42K. I still decided to do the race. And now I know that I was right!

  • Mora classic race

    I knew this should be a good race for me. The flat course is mostly double poling and does not require much technique: just keep the legs in the tracks and swing the arms as fast as you can! But it happened that my preparation for the race did not go so well and I even considered not doing it. First I had a really hard City of Lakes Loppet trying my best to stay ahead of Caitlin Compton. I ended up having the average heart rate higher than in any other race this season, including the Pre-Loppet which is just the first half of the course!
    I should probably get some stiffer poles

    Then I went for a workout on Tuesday morning. Usually there are a number of other skiers at these hours at Wirth. However I have not met a single skier during my 1.5 hour workout. That day I only had a mild frostbite on a finger but the next day after vakava’s intervals I got sick. I was not feeling well next day but did a half an hour ski Friday night. It seemed like the sickness did not impact my speed but I was still worried that I would not have enough gas for 42K. I still decided to do the race. And now I know that I was right!

  • Mora classic race

    I knew this should be a good race for me. The flat course is mostly double poling and does not require much technique: just keep the legs in the tracks and swing the arms as fast as you can! But it happened that my preparation for the race did not go so well and I even considered not doing it. First I had a really hard City of Lakes Loppet trying my best to stay ahead of Caitlin Compton. I ended up having the average heart rate higher than in any other race this season, including the Pre-Loppet which is just the first half of the course!
    I should probably get some stiffer poles

    Then I went for a workout on Tuesday morning. Usually there are a number of other skiers at these hours at Wirth. However I have not met a single skier during my 1.5 hour workout. That day I only had a mild frostbite on a finger but the next day after vakava’s intervals I got sick. I was not feeling well next day but did a half an hour ski Friday night. It seemed like the sickness did not impact my speed but I was still worried that I would not have enough gas for 42K. I still decided to do the race. And now I know that I was right!

  • Mora classic race

    I knew this should be a good race for me. The flat course is mostly double poling and does not require much technique: just keep the legs in the tracks and swing the arms as fast as you can! But it happened that my preparation for the race did not go so well and I even considered not doing it. First I had a really hard City of Lakes Loppet trying my best to stay ahead of Caitlin Compton. I ended up having the average heart rate higher than in any other race this season, including the Pre-Loppet which is just the first half of the course!
    I should probably get some stiffer poles

    Then I went for a workout on Tuesday morning. Usually there are a number of other skiers at these hours at Wirth. However I have not met a single skier during my 1.5 hour workout. That day I only had a mild frostbite on a finger but the next day after vakava’s intervals I got sick. I was not feeling well next day but did a half an hour ski Friday night. It seemed like the sickness did not impact my speed but I was still worried that I would not have enough gas for 42K. I still decided to do the race. And now I know that I was right!

  • Mora classic race

    I knew this should be a good race for me. The flat course is mostly double poling and does not require much technique: just keep the legs in the tracks and swing the arms as fast as you can! But it happened that my preparation for the race did not go so well and I even considered not doing it. First I had a really hard City of Lakes Loppet trying my best to stay ahead of Caitlin Compton. I ended up having the average heart rate higher than in any other race this season, including the Pre-Loppet which is just the first half of the course!
    I should probably get some stiffer poles

    Then I went for a workout on Tuesday morning. Usually there are a number of other skiers at these hours at Wirth. However I have not met a single skier during my 1.5 hour workout. That day I only had a mild frostbite on a finger but the next day after vakava’s intervals I got sick. I was not feeling well next day but did a half an hour ski Friday night. It seemed like the sickness did not impact my speed but I was still worried that I would not have enough gas for 42K. I still decided to do the race. And now I know that I was right!

  • Owl Creek Chase

    magazine cover

    A great Colorado day on a challenging course that had a wall at the top of it. I moved back from the lead pack near the end.

  • Week In Review: Friday Feb 18th

    Thanks once again to Skaði Nordic for bringing you this week’s Week In Review:

    Thank God World Cup racing starts up again this weekend. It seems like it’s been forever…

    Related posts:

    1. <Week In Review: Friday Nov 12th
    2. <Week In Review: Friday Dec 3rd
    3. <Week In Review: Friday Jan 14th


  • Ah, Democracy


    First of all, I’m totally in favor of democracy. I think we live in the greatest country on Earth and our freedoms are unrivaled. I value free speech and peaceable demonstration.

    But why’d all that have to come into play this weekend at a race venue?
    Earlier this week the Wisconsin governor proposed massive budget cuts and changes to union fees in the state, prompting a huge outcry and protests. As I was slowly coming awake yesterday morning while sitting at 5am in the Wenatchee airport, waiting to board a flight towards Chicago, I caught this news on CNN. Apparently the Madison Capitol Square was overrun with teachers, students, and union employees bent on changing the governor’s mind. I thought, “Huh, that will be an interesting crowd to race through…” This weekend’s SuperTour was set to be held IN the Capitol Square of Madison – every year the Madison Winter Festival hosts these races as part of the festivities. This year a classic sprint and 10km criterium were on the docket.
    I didn’t think much more about the protests, figuring everything would be sorted out by the end of the day, folks would return home and we could get underway with the skiing. The dump trucks full of snow wouldn’t arrive until Friday night, anyways, to lay down the course on the streets. Plenty of time for this little misunderstanding to be washed up.
    I arrived in Chicago and picked up my bitchin’ Dodge Avenger rental car and headed for Madison. At 7pm I pulled into CW and Mimi Acher’s driveway and my lodgings for the weekend; CW and Mimi are the parents of Zoe and Sasha Acher, two friends of mine from Dartmouth days. Their parents have been overwhelmingly generous throughout the years with ski racers coming into town for the Festival, and this year is no exception. In addition to myself, four members of the Craftsbury Green Team are also staying here. As we all sat down to dinner last night I mused out loud about the protests. The rest of the group had only heard snippets, and we joked about how it might throw a wrench in the works of the races.
    Merely an hour later the wrench had firmly wedged itself in. A CXC Team twitter feed announced the races were cancelled due to the protests. After confirming with several key sources in the know, we had our answer: the streets could not be cleared to hold the event and with no back-up plans (or snow) for the races, we were left with nothing.
    So again, while I sympathize wholeheartedly with the protesters and take offense on their behalf at the audacity of this proposed legislation, gosh darn it, why couldn’t they have waited till next week?
    Owing to zero cheap flights home I’m stuck here till Monday. Running will be the order of business over the weekend, and upon returning home I’ll look towards heading up to Rossland, BC next weekend to race some regional races there as a consolation prize. Sometimes you get peanuts, sometimes you get peanut butter.

  • Ah, Democracy


    First of all, I’m totally in favor of democracy. I think we live in the greatest country on Earth and our freedoms are unrivaled. I value free speech and peaceable demonstration.

    But why’d all that have to come into play this weekend at a race venue?
    Earlier this week the Wisconsin governor proposed massive budget cuts and changes to union fees in the state, prompting a huge outcry and protests. As I was slowly coming awake yesterday morning while sitting at 5am in the Wenatchee airport, waiting to board a flight towards Chicago, I caught this news on CNN. Apparently the Madison Capitol Square was overrun with teachers, students, and union employees bent on changing the governor’s mind. I thought, “Huh, that will be an interesting crowd to race through…” This weekend’s SuperTour was set to be held IN the Capitol Square of Madison – every year the Madison Winter Festival hosts these races as part of the festivities. This year a classic sprint and 10km criterium were on the docket.
    I didn’t think much more about the protests, figuring everything would be sorted out by the end of the day, folks would return home and we could get underway with the skiing. The dump trucks full of snow wouldn’t arrive until Friday night, anyways, to lay down the course on the streets. Plenty of time for this little misunderstanding to be washed up.
    I arrived in Chicago and picked up my bitchin’ Dodge Avenger rental car and headed for Madison. At 7pm I pulled into CW and Mimi Acher’s driveway and my lodgings for the weekend; CW and Mimi are the parents of Zoe and Sasha Acher, two friends of mine from Dartmouth days. Their parents have been overwhelmingly generous throughout the years with ski racers coming into town for the Festival, and this year is no exception. In addition to myself, four members of the Craftsbury Green Team are also staying here. As we all sat down to dinner last night I mused out loud about the protests. The rest of the group had only heard snippets, and we joked about how it might throw a wrench in the works of the races.
    Merely an hour later the wrench had firmly wedged itself in. A CXC Team twitter feed announced the races were cancelled due to the protests. After confirming with several key sources in the know, we had our answer: the streets could not be cleared to hold the event and with no back-up plans (or snow) for the races, we were left with nothing.
    So again, while I sympathize wholeheartedly with the protesters and take offense on their behalf at the audacity of this proposed legislation, gosh darn it, why couldn’t they have waited till next week?
    Owing to zero cheap flights home I’m stuck here till Monday. Running will be the order of business over the weekend, and upon returning home I’ll look towards heading up to Rossland, BC next weekend to race some regional races there as a consolation prize. Sometimes you get peanuts, sometimes you get peanut butter.

  • Auction to support the 31st Empire State Winter Games, Lake Placid Feb 25-27

    www.empirestatewintergames.com
    alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsled, cross-country, figure skating, luge, skeleton, ski jumping, ski orienteering, snowshoeing, speed skating, women’s ice hockey, skier/boarder cross
    February 25-27, 2011

    The Empire State Winter Games are able to continue this year because Adirondack communities formed a coalition, drummed up local support, have gathered the needed volunteers and have gotten the region excited about contributing to an important event that means something to New York athletes. Lake Placid will host 13 winter sporting events next weekend for middle school to college age student-athletes. It is unique because these competitions are either the height of a New York athlete’s sporting career or they are an important event along the development pipeline for aspiring elite athletes. A couple athletes in particular who were past ESG Champions decided to contribute to the fundraising efforts of the Games by hosting an online auction of ski apparel from local Olympians. Billy Demong, the nordic combined skier, and Kris Cheney-Seymour, my first biathlon coach and Saranac Lake architect, of Demong Designs partnered with John Farra, former Olympian and the US Ski Team, the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and the Lake Placid CVB this winter to gather items from Andrew Weibrecht, Tim Burke, Lowell Bailey, John Napier (bobsled) and myself.

    See the skis in the background of the photo? Those are one of Billy’s training skis from a year ago at the Olympics and so far there’s one bid on them for $300. To find out what else is up for auction check out the AUCTION. In this auction created by athletes for athletes 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Empire State Winter Games.

    “Our community, the Adirondacks and this region that has taken the mantle of the Empire State Games and has kept it going, really speaks to how our region understands and believes in the power of winter sports, the aspirations of children and the hopes to inspire athletes.” -Kris Cheney-Seymour, “Olympians doing their part”

    Kris Cheney-Seymour, of Demong Designs, Jeff Byrne ORDA, myself and Andrew Weibrecht during Thursday’s press conference announcing the opening of the auction.
    (Enterprise photo – Lou Reuter)

  • Thanks and congratulations to Aroostook County!

    I am just back from racing in two Biathlon World Cups in northern Maine with two thoughts in mind: the organizing committees, volunteers and communities did an excellent, world-class job hosting two events and I couldn’t ski two lanes down the range  or ski the farthest hills of the course without a ‘congrats,’ ‘good luck,’ ‘go get’em,’ or ‘go haley!’ So I’d like a send an informal but HUGE CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to everyone involved in the Maine World Cups!!! I am grateful to everyone of them.
    I guess I have a third thought, too: I didn’t race as well as I would have liked to in Maine, but regardless our team did great and it was awesome to compete in a World Cup on home snow! 
    Some great volunteers in Fort Kent.
    The tips of my classic skis peer over the top of ‘Soderberg’s Summit’ and the big climb in Fort Kent.
    A shot from one of the spectating spots before the Mass Start competitions on Sunday. Beautiful conditions and sunny skies.
    More great volunteers and local skiers:)
    The first loop during the Men’s Mass Start.
    Lowell, far left, one lap into a career best finish.
    Marie and Lucien Theriault – two of my favorite people in Fort Kent. I’ve raced and trained in Fort Kent a lot, and not once without seeing folks like them on the sidelines cheering. 
    Sara Studebaker during her first Mass Start.
     On the final short, but not sweet, uphill towards the finish area spectators where able to cheer only an arms length away from the competitors.
    I’m back in Placid for a pre-World Championship training block before leaving for Russia next week. I like Russia’s courses, so have spent a good amount of time on Porter Mtn., High Notch and Ladies 5km to benefit from the hilly terrain. I’m not terribly fond of shooting in windy conditions, but Mt. Van Hoevenberg’s range is a good place to practice for potential windy conditions on race day in Russia. Plus, the piston bully is back from the dead and I’m looking forward to some good conditions for intervals tomorrow morning.

  • insurmountable opportunities

    The last thing before walking out the cabin door for the race tracks in Beitostolen I found a parchment of paper and wrote the words “insurmountable opportunities.” After the race ended with me fighting for the top spots at the Norwegian Cup and a dislocated shoulder, I’ve remembered these words. “Insurmountable Opportunities:” It’s become a little mantra of mine.

    After five days of lower-body centric skiing, today Scott and I headed to Sandvik, Norway for an appointment with the MRI machine some very nice people working for Norge’s IdrettToppen- the country’s high performance of sport center – helped set up for me. Ten minutes after I set foot in the hyper efficient clinic I was getting strapped down, and sent off on my way towards the blinking blue light of the several million dollar magnetic resonance imaging machine. For twenty minutes I lay there as motionless as possible while this giant white contraption whizzed and whirred, with sounds emanating around my head; the audio sounding a bit like a cross between a pinball machine and the old-school video game Astroid.

    A couple minutes later I left with a CD for my doctor to look at. It seems the dislocation has caused a bit of fluid to enter the tendons surrounding my rotator cuff and there’s bruising on the humurous head, but -and here’s the beautiful part – there’s been no tears in the ligament or tendons. I’m clear to race in a week’s time at the World Championships in Holmenkollen.

    “This is Great news!” writes my physical therapist Michael Hansen. “It is typical to see bone bruising like this after a dislocation on an MRI because they are so sensitive. And inflammation in the cuff is also normal being that those muscles hold the humeral head in the socket along with the ligaments. The key is no severe tearing or fracture of the bone. Yes, it is going to be sore, weak, and vunerable. But the good news is that it is a first time dislocation, it self reduced, you are young and healthy, and with proper taping/support, and avoidance of extreme positions, and rehab you can continue to compensate and compete. If you are too unstable, then stop. You will know. You are not going to loose much fitness in the next week for World’s. Train within your limits and go crazy when you compete. Let me know how you are doing. I want to help.” Because of people like Michael Hansen, the MOD and people of this character and quality, I am doing a little better than alright.

  • insurmountable opportunities

    The last thing before walking out the cabin door for the race tracks in Beitostolen I found a parchment of paper and wrote the words “insurmountable opportunities.” After the race ended with me fighting for the top spots at the Norwegian Cup and a dislocated shoulder, I’ve remembered these words. “Insurmountable Opportunities:” It’s become a little mantra of mine.

    After five days of lower-body centric skiing, today Scott and I headed to Sandvik, Norway for an appointment with the MRI machine some very nice people working for Norge’s IdrettToppen- the country’s high performance of sport center – helped set up for me. Ten minutes after I set foot in the hyper efficient clinic I was getting strapped down, and sent off on my way towards the blinking blue light of the several million dollar magnetic resonance imaging machine. For twenty minutes I lay there as motionless as possible while this giant white contraption whizzed and whirred, with sounds emanating around my head; the audio sounding a bit like a cross between a pinball machine and the old-school video game Astroid.

    A couple minutes later I left with a CD for my doctor to look at. It seems the dislocation has caused a bit of fluid to enter the tendons surrounding my rotator cuff and there’s bruising on the humurous head, but -and here’s the beautiful part – there’s been no tears in the ligament or tendons. I’m clear to race in a week’s time at the World Championships in Holmenkollen.

    “This is Great news!” writes my physical therapist Michael Hansen. “It is typical to see bone bruising like this after a dislocation on an MRI because they are so sensitive. And inflammation in the cuff is also normal being that those muscles hold the humeral head in the socket along with the ligaments. The key is no severe tearing or fracture of the bone. Yes, it is going to be sore, weak, and vunerable. But the good news is that it is a first time dislocation, it self reduced, you are young and healthy, and with proper taping/support, and avoidance of extreme positions, and rehab you can continue to compensate and compete. If you are too unstable, then stop. You will know. You are not going to loose much fitness in the next week for World’s. Train within your limits and go crazy when you compete. Let me know how you are doing. I want to help.” Because of people like Michael Hansen, the MOD and people of this character and quality, I am doing a little better than alright.

  • insurmountable opportunities

    The last thing before walking out the cabin door for the race tracks in Beitostolen I found a parchment of paper and wrote the words “insurmountable opportunities.” After the race ended with me fighting for the top spots at the Norwegian Cup and a dislocated shoulder, I’ve remembered these words. “Insurmountable Opportunities:” It’s become a little mantra of mine.

    After five days of lower-body centric skiing, today Scott and I headed to Sandvik, Norway for an appointment with the MRI machine some very nice people working for Norge’s IdrettToppen- the country’s high performance of sport center – helped set up for me. Ten minutes after I set foot in the hyper efficient clinic I was getting strapped down, and sent off on my way towards the blinking blue light of the several million dollar magnetic resonance imaging machine. For twenty minutes I lay there as motionless as possible while this giant white contraption whizzed and whirred, with sounds emanating around my head; the audio sounding a bit like a cross between a pinball machine and the old-school video game Astroid.

    A couple minutes later I left with a CD for my doctor to look at. It seems the dislocation has caused a bit of fluid to enter the tendons surrounding my rotator cuff and there’s bruising on the humurous head, but -and here’s the beautiful part – there’s been no tears in the ligament or tendons. I’m clear to race in a week’s time at the World Championships in Holmenkollen.

    “This is Great news!” writes my physical therapist Michael Hansen. “It is typical to see bone bruising like this after a dislocation on an MRI because they are so sensitive. And inflammation in the cuff is also normal being that those muscles hold the humeral head in the socket along with the ligaments. The key is no severe tearing or fracture of the bone. Yes, it is going to be sore, weak, and vunerable. But the good news is that it is a first time dislocation, it self reduced, you are young and healthy, and with proper taping/support, and avoidance of extreme positions, and rehab you can continue to compensate and compete. If you are too unstable, then stop. You will know. You are not going to loose much fitness in the next week for World’s. Train within your limits and go crazy when you compete. Let me know how you are doing. I want to help.” Because of people like Michael Hansen, the MOD and people of this character and quality, I am doing better than alright. I am doing Great.