Category: XCFeeds

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

NEW Atomic World Cup HT skate ski
Atomic is bringing a new skate ski to the table that should have everyone licking their chops.

Atomic World Cup HT

Atomic calls it the World Cup HT skate ski. “HT” is for Hard Track, and the new ski isn’t just a tweaked version of their all-around favorite, but a whole new ski, straight from the pressure-cooker testing lab that is the World Cup.

This new ski is differentiated from the “regular” Atomic World Cup Red Cheetah Featherlight (now designated as the “ST”) in the following ways:
- Firmer tip flex – more pressure further forward in the ski.
- Straight edge profile for more edge engagement on hard, icy, tracks.
- Greater torsional rigidity, especially in the fore-body of the ski
- Double groove base, for better tracking
The firmer tip, combined with a more torsionally rigid construction, extends the weight distribution further forward.   Add the straight profile, and it adds up to firm contact and edge engagement on a greater length of the running surface on a hard track.

When I say “hard track”, I’m referring to a skating platform that’s firm enough to use roller-ski poles without punching through the surface. Firm, icy, boiler-plate, concrete, bullet-proof – call it what you want, but if it’s hard enough to use roller-ski pole tips, it’s “hard track”.

Although it is designated as a “hard track” ski, it will certainly be used in medium to hard track conditions, and also will be used as an all-around ski by skiers looking for extra stability.

Atomic uses a bit of extra material in the front end of the ski, dropping their “Beta construction” on the HT in favor of a stout flat-top box section.    The ski really is noticeably stiffer torsionally.      It is still a cap construction with a distinct hard edge flange that helps with edging and control; this remains a hallmark of the Atomic skate skis, dating back to the early 1990’s.

The bindings will need to be positioned with care, and probably a little further back of the ski’s balance point in order for it to feel neutral, based on my experience. My bet would be 1.5-2.0cm behind balance point, but I’ll be following up with Atomic Austria to get some guidance on their recommendation.

Two grooves for tracking.
Ultratune grind for speed!

Double grooves. The double grooves are another shot at making the ski track well in tough conditions.   The bottom of the HT skate ski looks like a Rossi skater!     Except that the grooves are beefier – a little deeper and wider. I think this is welcome – it makes it easier to work on the ski when the grooves are more pronounced. The all around ski (the “ST”) will still keep the single groove.

The base material is the same as the World Cup Red Cheetah, and they’re very easy to work on – the bases are flat and stay flat, they hold wax well, and the p-tex is slightly softer than many of the other brands.

On the snow the HT skate ski is solid and stable.   I got the opportunity to use these skis in icy, transformed conditions that included short sections of melt/freeze (water ice), and long stretches of consolidated large-grained old snow that hadn’t been groomed for a couple of days. Also, I got to use the new skis on groomed track that wasn’t icy but simply firm. For me, I could really feel a more solid footing.   I noticed it in the tail of the HT as much as the tip, even though the emphasis from Atomic has been on the front-end construction.   I suspect they firmed up the tail as well, and there is a slight flare of the ski in the final 6 inches of the tail which helps accentuate the gliding platform while on a flat ski (V2, field skate, etc).    On a flat ski, the HT doesn’t wander or squirm; it feels secure.    On steep, icy, climbs, the edges stay engaged and don’t wash out.

The trade-off with the HT is that when you’re skiing in soft snow some of the lively supple feel of the standard “ST” skater is a little bit diminished.     To me, I think their standard soft/medium track ST skate ski is still my preferred all around choice.    But as a 2^nd pair, the HT really offers an important compliment to address the realities of skiing in firm snow conditions, or in hard, transformed, crusty, or icy conditions.      The fastest skis are the pair that get you to the finish line most quickly, and having a straight tracking and stable ski on a hard surface is crucial.

Oh yes, they tune up nicely

Usage for the two offerings will have some overlap. Soft/medium for the ST, and medium/firm for the HT version. But skiers who prefer an extra stable ski may find the HT to their liking as their primary ski.

The firmer tip flex on the Atomic HT should be considered in context. The HT still has a more supple fore-body than the “regular” ski from a few of the other ski brands! …it’s simply more firm than the Atomic ST version. This is definitely not a board-stiff snow plow.

Picking the appropriate flex will be important for performance, as always.    The Atomic HT skate skis will need to be picked on the firmer side, I think, compared to the ST version.    I’ve only had the opportunity to ski on two pairs, so I don’t have a huge base of testing data.    I’ll be doing some background work to get recommendations from the race room guys in Altenmarkt in order to get the best fits for skiers.

If you’re a citizen racer, the HT plus the ST make a terrific 2-pair combo.    For competitors with a full bag of ski options, a combination of HT and ST choices will allow you to select flexes and grinds to handle the full matrix of possibilities without compromise.

A squared-off tip. A firm tip flex, but still more supple
than some other brands offer on their “all-around” ski.

A small detail but with the squared-off tip and the double-groove base, you’ll be able to distinguish the HT from the ST in the dark when you stick your hand into your ski bag!

I think Atomic has done their homework and they’ve paid attention to feedback from the racers.    They needed a hard track ski, and they came through.

What would I do differently?    Okay, I’ll say it again…   …they would set off church bells if they’d put a NIS plate on their skis.    It would make the business of binding placement much easier (at least for NNN boot users).     Not likely to happen, I realize, but objectively it would benefit the ski.     Small potatoes, but I find the graphics to be a little bit busy.    This has no bearing on anything, and I’m not exactly an art major, but that’s my opinion.

I applaud Atomic for making a true hard track choice in their skate ski offerings.    Instead of two very similar skis (cold/warm), they’re offering two distinctly different skis that complement each other.    One is an excellent, supple, fast, all-around ski for soft and medium track (plus sugar found in mass start races); the other is a firm, stable platform for use in medium to hard-track conditions or for skiers who place a high priority on extra stable skating.

Want some?

If you’d like to pre-order some of the Atomic skate skis, either the new HT or the all-around ST version, just send an email and you’ll be added to the pick list for autumn 2011 delivery.
February 14, 2011
NEW Atomic World Cup HT skate ski
Atomic is bringing a new skate ski to the table that should have everyone licking their chops.

Atomic World Cup HT

Atomic calls it the World Cup HT skate ski. “HT” is for Hard Track, and the new ski isn’t just a tweaked version of their all-around favorite, but a whole new ski, straight from the pressure-cooker testing lab that is the World Cup.

This new ski is differentiated from the “regular” Atomic World Cup Red Cheetah Featherlight (now designated as the “ST”) in the following ways:
- Firmer tip flex – more pressure further forward in the ski.
- Straight edge profile for more edge engagement on hard, icy, tracks.
- Greater torsional rigidity, especially in the fore-body of the ski
- Double groove base, for better tracking
The firmer tip, combined with a more torsionally rigid construction, extends the weight distribution further forward.   Add the straight profile, and it adds up to firm contact and edge engagement on a greater length of the running surface on a hard track.

When I say “hard track”, I’m referring to a skating platform that’s firm enough to use roller-ski poles without punching through the surface. Firm, icy, boiler-plate, concrete, bullet-proof – call it what you want, but if it’s hard enough to use roller-ski pole tips, it’s “hard track”.

Although it is designated as a “hard track” ski, it will certainly be used in medium to hard track conditions, and also will be used as an all-around ski by skiers looking for extra stability.

Atomic uses a bit of extra material in the front end of the ski, dropping their “Beta construction” on the HT in favor of a stout flat-top box section.    The ski really is noticeably stiffer torsionally.      It is still a cap construction with a distinct hard edge flange that helps with edging and control; this remains a hallmark of the Atomic skate skis, dating back to the early 1990’s.

The bindings will need to be positioned with care, and probably a little further back of the ski’s balance point in order for it to feel neutral, based on my experience. My bet would be 1.5-2.0cm behind balance point, but I’ll be following up with Atomic Austria to get some guidance on their recommendation.

Two grooves for tracking.
Ultratune grind for speed!

Double grooves. The double grooves are another shot at making the ski track well in tough conditions.   The bottom of the HT skate ski looks like a Rossi skater!     Except that the grooves are beefier – a little deeper and wider. I think this is welcome – it makes it easier to work on the ski when the grooves are more pronounced. The all around ski (the “ST”) will still keep the single groove.

The base material is the same as the World Cup Red Cheetah, and they’re very easy to work on – the bases are flat and stay flat, they hold wax well, and the p-tex is slightly softer than many of the other brands.

On the snow the HT skate ski is solid and stable.   I got the opportunity to use these skis in icy, transformed conditions that included short sections of melt/freeze (water ice), and long stretches of consolidated large-grained old snow that hadn’t been groomed for a couple of days. Also, I got to use the new skis on groomed track that wasn’t icy but simply firm. For me, I could really feel a more solid footing.   I noticed it in the tail of the HT as much as the tip, even though the emphasis from Atomic has been on the front-end construction.   I suspect they firmed up the tail as well, and there is a slight flare of the ski in the final 6 inches of the tail which helps accentuate the gliding platform while on a flat ski (V2, field skate, etc).    On a flat ski, the HT doesn’t wander or squirm; it feels secure.    On steep, icy, climbs, the edges stay engaged and don’t wash out.

The trade-off with the HT is that when you’re skiing in soft snow some of the lively supple feel of the standard “ST” skater is a little bit diminished.     To me, I think their standard soft/medium track ST skate ski is still my preferred all around choice.    But as a 2^nd pair, the HT really offers an important compliment to address the realities of skiing in firm snow conditions, or in hard, transformed, crusty, or icy conditions.      The fastest skis are the pair that get you to the finish line most quickly, and having a straight tracking and stable ski on a hard surface is crucial.

Oh yes, they tune up nicely

Usage for the two offerings will have some overlap. Soft/medium for the ST, and medium/firm for the HT version. But skiers who prefer an extra stable ski may find the HT to their liking as their primary ski.

The firmer tip flex on the Atomic HT should be considered in context. The HT still has a more supple fore-body than the “regular” ski from a few of the other ski brands! …it’s simply more firm than the Atomic ST version. This is definitely not a board-stiff snow plow.

Picking the appropriate flex will be important for performance, as always.    The Atomic HT skate skis will need to be picked on the firmer side, I think, compared to the ST version.    I’ve only had the opportunity to ski on two pairs, so I don’t have a huge base of testing data.    I’ll be doing some background work to get recommendations from the race room guys in Altenmarkt in order to get the best fits for skiers.

If you’re a citizen racer, the HT plus the ST make a terrific 2-pair combo.    For competitors with a full bag of ski options, a combination of HT and ST choices will allow you to select flexes and grinds to handle the full matrix of possibilities without compromise.

A squared-off tip. A firm tip flex, but still more supple
than some other brands offer on their “all-around” ski.

A small detail but with the squared-off tip and the double-groove base, you’ll be able to distinguish the HT from the ST in the dark when you stick your hand into your ski bag!

I think Atomic has done their homework and they’ve paid attention to feedback from the racers.    They needed a hard track ski, and they came through.

What would I do differently?    Okay, I’ll say it again…   …they would set off church bells if they’d put a NIS plate on their skis.    It would make the business of binding placement much easier (at least for NNN boot users).     Not likely to happen, I realize, but objectively it would benefit the ski.     Small potatoes, but I find the graphics to be a little bit busy.    This has no bearing on anything, and I’m not exactly an art major, but that’s my opinion.

I applaud Atomic for making a true hard track choice in their skate ski offerings.    Instead of two very similar skis (cold/warm), they’re offering two distinctly different skis that complement each other.    One is an excellent, supple, fast, all-around ski for soft and medium track (plus sugar found in mass start races); the other is a firm, stable platform for use in medium to hard-track conditions or for skiers who place a high priority on extra stable skating.

Want some?

If you’d like to pre-order some of the Atomic skate skis, either the new HT or the all-around ST version, just send an email and you’ll be added to the pick list for autumn 2011 delivery.
February 14, 2011
NEW Atomic World Cup HT skate ski
Atomic is bringing a new skate ski to the table that should have everyone licking their chops.

Atomic World Cup HT

Atomic calls it the World Cup HT skate ski. “HT” is for Hard Track, and the new ski isn’t just a tweaked version of their all-around favorite, but a whole new ski, straight from the pressure-cooker testing lab that is the World Cup.

This new ski is differentiated from the “regular” Atomic World Cup Red Cheetah Featherlight (now designated as the “ST”) in the following ways:
- Firmer tip flex – more pressure further forward in the ski.
- Straight edge profile for more edge engagement on hard, icy, tracks.
- Greater torsional rigidity, especially in the fore-body of the ski
- Double groove base, for better tracking
The firmer tip, combined with a more torsionally rigid construction, extends the weight distribution further forward.   Add the straight profile, and it adds up to firm contact and edge engagement on a greater length of the running surface on a hard track.

When I say “hard track”, I’m referring to a skating platform that’s firm enough to use roller-ski poles without punching through the surface. Firm, icy, boiler-plate, concrete, bullet-proof – call it what you want, but if it’s hard enough to use roller-ski pole tips, it’s “hard track”.

Although it is designated as a “hard track” ski, it will certainly be used in medium to hard track conditions, and also will be used as an all-around ski by skiers looking for extra stability.

Atomic uses a bit of extra material in the front end of the ski, dropping their “Beta construction” on the HT in favor of a stout flat-top box section.    The ski really is noticeably stiffer torsionally.      It is still a cap construction with a distinct hard edge flange that helps with edging and control; this remains a hallmark of the Atomic skate skis, dating back to the early 1990’s.

The bindings will need to be positioned with care, and probably a little further back of the ski’s balance point in order for it to feel neutral, based on my experience. My bet would be 1.5-2.0cm behind balance point, but I’ll be following up with Atomic Austria to get some guidance on their recommendation.

Two grooves for tracking.
Ultratune grind for speed!

Double grooves. The double grooves are another shot at making the ski track well in tough conditions.   The bottom of the HT skate ski looks like a Rossi skater!     Except that the grooves are beefier – a little deeper and wider. I think this is welcome – it makes it easier to work on the ski when the grooves are more pronounced. The all around ski (the “ST”) will still keep the single groove.

The base material is the same as the World Cup Red Cheetah, and they’re very easy to work on – the bases are flat and stay flat, they hold wax well, and the p-tex is slightly softer than many of the other brands.

On the snow the HT skate ski is solid and stable.   I got the opportunity to use these skis in icy, transformed conditions that included short sections of melt/freeze (water ice), and long stretches of consolidated large-grained old snow that hadn’t been groomed for a couple of days. Also, I got to use the new skis on groomed track that wasn’t icy but simply firm. For me, I could really feel a more solid footing.   I noticed it in the tail of the HT as much as the tip, even though the emphasis from Atomic has been on the front-end construction.   I suspect they firmed up the tail as well, and there is a slight flare of the ski in the final 6 inches of the tail which helps accentuate the gliding platform while on a flat ski (V2, field skate, etc).    On a flat ski, the HT doesn’t wander or squirm; it feels secure.    On steep, icy, climbs, the edges stay engaged and don’t wash out.

The trade-off with the HT is that when you’re skiing in soft snow some of the lively supple feel of the standard “ST” skater is a little bit diminished.     To me, I think their standard soft/medium track ST skate ski is still my preferred all around choice.    But as a 2^nd pair, the HT really offers an important compliment to address the realities of skiing in firm snow conditions, or in hard, transformed, crusty, or icy conditions.      The fastest skis are the pair that get you to the finish line most quickly, and having a straight tracking and stable ski on a hard surface is crucial.

Oh yes, they tune up nicely

Usage for the two offerings will have some overlap. Soft/medium for the ST, and medium/firm for the HT version. But skiers who prefer an extra stable ski may find the HT to their liking as their primary ski.

The firmer tip flex on the Atomic HT should be considered in context. The HT still has a more supple fore-body than the “regular” ski from a few of the other ski brands! …it’s simply more firm than the Atomic ST version. This is definitely not a board-stiff snow plow.

Picking the appropriate flex will be important for performance, as always.    The Atomic HT skate skis will need to be picked on the firmer side, I think, compared to the ST version.    I’ve only had the opportunity to ski on two pairs, so I don’t have a huge base of testing data.    I’ll be doing some background work to get recommendations from the race room guys in Altenmarkt in order to get the best fits for skiers.

If you’re a citizen racer, the HT plus the ST make a terrific 2-pair combo.    For competitors with a full bag of ski options, a combination of HT and ST choices will allow you to select flexes and grinds to handle the full matrix of possibilities without compromise.

A squared-off tip. A firm tip flex, but still more supple
than some other brands offer on their “all-around” ski.

A small detail but with the squared-off tip and the double-groove base, you’ll be able to distinguish the HT from the ST in the dark when you stick your hand into your ski bag!

I think Atomic has done their homework and they’ve paid attention to feedback from the racers.    They needed a hard track ski, and they came through.

What would I do differently?    Okay, I’ll say it again…   …they would set off church bells if they’d put a NIS plate on their skis.    It would make the business of binding placement much easier (at least for NNN boot users).     Not likely to happen, I realize, but objectively it would benefit the ski.     Small potatoes, but I find the graphics to be a little bit busy.    This has no bearing on anything, and I’m not exactly an art major, but that’s my opinion.

I applaud Atomic for making a true hard track choice in their skate ski offerings.    Instead of two very similar skis (cold/warm), they’re offering two distinctly different skis that complement each other.    One is an excellent, supple, fast, all-around ski for soft and medium track (plus sugar found in mass start races); the other is a firm, stable platform for use in medium to hard-track conditions or for skiers who place a high priority on extra stable skating.

Want some?

If you’d like to pre-order some of the Atomic skate skis, either the new HT or the all-around ST version, just send an email and you’ll be added to the pick list for autumn 2011 delivery.
February 14, 2011
NEW Atomic World Cup HT skate ski
Atomic is bringing a new skate ski to the table that should have everyone licking their chops.

Atomic World Cup HT

Atomic calls it the World Cup HT skate ski. “HT” is for Hard Track, and the new ski isn’t just a tweaked version of their all-around favorite, but a whole new ski, straight from the pressure-cooker testing lab that is the World Cup.

This new ski is differentiated from the “regular” Atomic World Cup Red Cheetah Featherlight (now designated as the “ST”) in the following ways:
- Firmer tip flex – more pressure further forward in the ski.
- Straight edge profile for more edge engagement on hard, icy, tracks.
- Greater torsional rigidity, especially in the fore-body of the ski
- Double groove base, for better tracking
The firmer tip, combined with a more torsionally rigid construction, extends the weight distribution further forward.   Add the straight profile, and it adds up to firm contact and edge engagement on a greater length of the running surface on a hard track.

When I say “hard track”, I’m referring to a skating platform that’s firm enough to use roller-ski poles without punching through the surface. Firm, icy, boiler-plate, concrete, bullet-proof – call it what you want, but if it’s hard enough to use roller-ski pole tips, it’s “hard track”.

Although it is designated as a “hard track” ski, it will certainly be used in medium to hard track conditions, and also will be used as an all-around ski by skiers looking for extra stability.

Atomic uses a bit of extra material in the front end of the ski, dropping their “Beta construction” on the HT in favor of a stout flat-top box section.    The ski really is noticeably stiffer torsionally.      It is still a cap construction with a distinct hard edge flange that helps with edging and control; this remains a hallmark of the Atomic skate skis, dating back to the early 1990’s.

The bindings will need to be positioned with care, and probably a little further back of the ski’s balance point in order for it to feel neutral, based on my experience. My bet would be 1.5-2.0cm behind balance point, but I’ll be following up with Atomic Austria to get some guidance on their recommendation.

Two grooves for tracking.
Ultratune grind for speed!

Double grooves. The double grooves are another shot at making the ski track well in tough conditions.   The bottom of the HT skate ski looks like a Rossi skater!     Except that the grooves are beefier – a little deeper and wider. I think this is welcome – it makes it easier to work on the ski when the grooves are more pronounced. The all around ski (the “ST”) will still keep the single groove.

The base material is the same as the World Cup Red Cheetah, and they’re very easy to work on – the bases are flat and stay flat, they hold wax well, and the p-tex is slightly softer than many of the other brands.

On the snow the HT skate ski is solid and stable.   I got the opportunity to use these skis in icy, transformed conditions that included short sections of melt/freeze (water ice), and long stretches of consolidated large-grained old snow that hadn’t been groomed for a couple of days. Also, I got to use the new skis on groomed track that wasn’t icy but simply firm. For me, I could really feel a more solid footing.   I noticed it in the tail of the HT as much as the tip, even though the emphasis from Atomic has been on the front-end construction.   I suspect they firmed up the tail as well, and there is a slight flare of the ski in the final 6 inches of the tail which helps accentuate the gliding platform while on a flat ski (V2, field skate, etc).    On a flat ski, the HT doesn’t wander or squirm; it feels secure.    On steep, icy, climbs, the edges stay engaged and don’t wash out.

The trade-off with the HT is that when you’re skiing in soft snow some of the lively supple feel of the standard “ST” skater is a little bit diminished.     To me, I think their standard soft/medium track ST skate ski is still my preferred all around choice.    But as a 2^nd pair, the HT really offers an important compliment to address the realities of skiing in firm snow conditions, or in hard, transformed, crusty, or icy conditions.      The fastest skis are the pair that get you to the finish line most quickly, and having a straight tracking and stable ski on a hard surface is crucial.

Oh yes, they tune up nicely

Usage for the two offerings will have some overlap. Soft/medium for the ST, and medium/firm for the HT version. But skiers who prefer an extra stable ski may find the HT to their liking as their primary ski.

The firmer tip flex on the Atomic HT should be considered in context. The HT still has a more supple fore-body than the “regular” ski from a few of the other ski brands! …it’s simply more firm than the Atomic ST version. This is definitely not a board-stiff snow plow.

Picking the appropriate flex will be important for performance, as always.    The Atomic HT skate skis will need to be picked on the firmer side, I think, compared to the ST version.    I’ve only had the opportunity to ski on two pairs, so I don’t have a huge base of testing data.    I’ll be doing some background work to get recommendations from the race room guys in Altenmarkt in order to get the best fits for skiers.

If you’re a citizen racer, the HT plus the ST make a terrific 2-pair combo.    For competitors with a full bag of ski options, a combination of HT and ST choices will allow you to select flexes and grinds to handle the full matrix of possibilities without compromise.

A squared-off tip. A firm tip flex, but still more supple
than some other brands offer on their “all-around” ski.

A small detail but with the squared-off tip and the double-groove base, you’ll be able to distinguish the HT from the ST in the dark when you stick your hand into your ski bag!

I think Atomic has done their homework and they’ve paid attention to feedback from the racers.    They needed a hard track ski, and they came through.

What would I do differently?    Okay, I’ll say it again…   …they would set off church bells if they’d put a NIS plate on their skis.    It would make the business of binding placement much easier (at least for NNN boot users).     Not likely to happen, I realize, but objectively it would benefit the ski.     Small potatoes, but I find the graphics to be a little bit busy.    This has no bearing on anything, and I’m not exactly an art major, but that’s my opinion.

I applaud Atomic for making a true hard track choice in their skate ski offerings.    Instead of two very similar skis (cold/warm), they’re offering two distinctly different skis that complement each other.    One is an excellent, supple, fast, all-around ski for soft and medium track (plus sugar found in mass start races); the other is a firm, stable platform for use in medium to hard-track conditions or for skiers who place a high priority on extra stable skating.

Want some?

If you’d like to pre-order some of the Atomic skate skis, either the new HT or the all-around ST version, just send an email and you’ll be added to the pick list for autumn 2011 delivery.
February 14, 2011
New Biathlon Race Snapshot Graphs
With the biathlon World Cups taking a turn through my childhood backyard these past few weekends, I’ve been spending more time trying to come up with some nice biathlon plots.

Fairly early on with my race snapshot graphs I switched over with the cross country ones to show each athlete’s results compared to all their races and also compared to just those from a particular technique. Obviously that doesn’t really apply to biathlon, since they only skate. But just as in cross country, the different events (Sprint, Pursuit, Mass Start and Individual) can lead to systematically different percent back values. Mostly this is an issue in the pursuits and mass starts. So yesterday I actually only used mass start races for those graphs. But I really should make a two-column version for biathlon as well, so here they are:

The graphs still work the same way. I’m plotting percent back from this particular race (red) and the middle 50% of each athlete’s results over the past several years (black bar) or just the raw results if there aren’t very many (points). The text on the right is just the number of misses from this particular race. Obviously, in the left column looking at only the mass start races there’s a bit less data. But you can also see how the comparison changes, since mass starts tend to lead to lower percent back values.

I’ll have some other new biathlon graphs later today that I’l particularly proud of for looking at individual skiers…

Related posts:
February 14, 2011
Scenes from the Road: The Traveling Edition

Before bouncing out from Davos, Switzerland and making my back to Norway and the upcoming 2011 World Championships in Oslo I had to say goodbye to Bettina one last time. While I’ll be skiing in Scandinavia with my newest training compatriot, Seppi the marionette, Bettina’s going to Nepal to climb around on some of the biggest mountains in the World. Everest, anyone?

Ah, the view from the road, via public transportation. Learning how to read bus and train schedules…

Welcome to Norway, the land of Vikings and cross country ski trails.
Until a later time…

February 14, 2011
Scenes from the Road: The Traveling Edition

Before bouncing out from Davos, Switzerland and making my back to Norway and the upcoming 2011 World Championships in Oslo I had to say goodbye to Bettina one last time. While I’ll be skiing in Scandinavia with my newest training compatriot, Seppi the marionette, Bettina’s going to Nepal to climb around on some of the biggest mountains in the World. Everest, anyone?

Ah, the view from the road, via public transportation. Learning how to read bus and train schedules…

Welcome to Norway, the land of Vikings and cross country ski trails.
Until a later time…

February 14, 2011
SKI TECH: Structure Profile of the Warm Universal Stonegrind

A close up image of the Cyclova XC Racing Service Warm Universal Stonegrind Structure – photos don’t do it justice…

Most Nordic skiers would agree that the best skiing of the winter is late in the winter, when there is ample snow, comfortable temperatures., and the snow if fast. It is these days that the “Warm Universal” structure is right at home on the snow!

The Warm Universal

February 14, 2011
Love Is In The Air

Busy time for SMS staff.a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5BDGUS73YA/TVk9NlGgrtI/AAAAAAAAGdg/xKHi-5KBJQg/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5BDGUS73YA/TVk9NlGgrtI/AAAAAAAAGdg/xKHi-5KBJQg/s400/IMG_1087.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573553317354712786″ //aMatt and Katebr /Have set the date.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsBtVHzc33E/TVk8snw5G8I/AAAAAAAAGdY/DoKGYbnRBsE/s1600/Bermuda186.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsBtVHzc33E/TVk8snw5G8I/AAAAAAAAGdY/DoKGYbnRBsE/s400/Bermuda186.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573552751133662146″ //aTyne and Dave Rot(hman)br /Tie the knot (when?)br /Today!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-6474416745004354459?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

February 14, 2011
Mid Season Altitude Camp

February 13, 2011
Mid Season Altitude Camp

February 13, 2011
Mid Season Altitude Camp

February 13, 2011
Mid Season Altitude Camp

February 13, 2011
Race Snapshot: IBU WC 8 Men/Women’s Mass Start
These graphs will look the same, but I tried something a bit different for these. Mass start races in biathlon are similar to those in cross country in that they tend to lead to tighter races and hence lower percent back values than in other race formats. So I’m trying out restricting these versions to only other mass start races. So the black bars represent the middle 50% of that skier’s previous mass start results, rather than all their results. That means many more athletes than usual have very few races to compare to, but the comparisons we can make are a bit more fair.

I’ll work on a better solution to this, though.

Oh, and nice job Lowell Bailey!

Related posts:
February 13, 2011
An ideal place for a skier…

The last time I was in Norway was in 1998, I was 16 years old. After a family visit to the Holmenkollen ski jumps I remember being flabbergasted when I saw a slew of roller skiers riding the tram (public transport) from the ski area back down into the city of Oslo. Compare the siting to growing up in Seattle where the only other people that roller ski are related to you and that’s a big deal! Eleven years later, here I am in Norway once again and the ski culture and appreciation is truly everything that everyone talks about. Folks – the hype is real. Before I continue, a couple photos of my travels so far:

Oslo; the destination! Our flights were incredibly smooth. It took us three planes and approximately 24 hours to get here – the same time that it took us to get to distance nationals last year in Fort Kent, Maine or senior nationals this year in Rumford, Maine. On two of my three flights I had an entire ROW of seats to myself which is unheard of these days. It made the 10 hour time change a bit more bearable.

I have been really excited for this entire trip for a while but most recently, I’ve been pretty psyched about our pre world champs training camp in Sjujsoen, Norway. I was told that we were staying at a lodge that Bjorn Daehlie (God of Nordic Skiing) is a part owner of. So…. when we arrived to find our accommodations we were a bit surprised by the initial appearance of the place:

Luxury? No….. Actually, our first impression was, “What is this?” A mental institution? A prison? A dilapidated building from the Soviet era? Are we in Norway? Although we had our initial doubts, this place has turned out to be awesome. Yes, the exterior of the building leaves something to be desired and the rooms are minimal but the food is excellent and the hotel staff is first class. This building apparently went bankrupt a couple years ago and Bjorn + crew decided to invest in it. As far as I can tell, Sjujsoen is like the Norwegian version of Canadian Silver Star – or a Nordic Ski mecca that attracts those from out of town as well as people from throughout the country itself. There are over 200 kilometers skiing right out our front door that is continuously groomed and the famous Birkie trail cuts right through the middle of the area.

It seems as if they continuously groom the trails – there are always fresh tracks to be had…. (free!) provided by no other than the Norwegian Government!

Kikkan, Holly & Erik on our ski the first day here…. One can ski from Sjujsoen to Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics!

Signs of skiers everywhere

I mean, everywhere.

And….everywhere. This is a picture of the biathlon races live from Fort Kent of all places, streamed into our hotel room. Additionally, it seems like every third commercial is either about cross country skiing or stars xc skiing athletes in the commercials. Earlier today we went to go lift in Lillehammer and more races from Fort Kent were shown in the weight room. After the race, they had a sports center set-up, similar to what you would see after an NFL game – but the discussion was about the ski race, not the game.

The clouds have finally rolled into Sjujsoen and tomorrow we may have grey skies but I am sure that the skiing will still be first rate. Until my next post, I will leave you with a couple more photos from the last couple of days. (And yes, sorry for the delay in posting – the first three days of being here, none of the North Americans could connect to the Internet – only Euros could get online! Luckily, the problem is now fixed!)

Me and Kikkan on the Birkie trail

Pure perfection – the Birkie trail again. It’s crazy how many people were out skiing this this past weekend. The Birkie is only a couple weeks away and it was literally swarming with families and skiers of all ages. It was cool to see many people skiing with backpacks – surely taking lunch with them and skiing for a couple of hours! Ski culture at it’s best – not to mention, a very healthy nation! (photo from Kikkan)

Can’t get enough of this! (photo from Kikkan)

The crew from Anchorage this morning in the Lillehammer ’94 Olympic stadium: Holly, Erik, Kikkan & Greg Schumacher – our trip Doc!

(photo from Kikkan)

Until later/Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Holly 🙂

February 13, 2011
An ideal place for a skier…

The last time I was in Norway was in 1998, I was 16 years old. After a family visit to the Holmenkollen ski jumps I remember being flabbergasted when I saw a slew of roller skiers riding the tram (public transport) from the ski area back down into the city of Oslo. Compare the siting to growing up in Seattle where the only other people that roller ski are related to you and that’s a big deal! Eleven years later, here I am in Norway once again and the ski culture and appreciation is truly everything that everyone talks about. Folks – the hype is real. Before I continue, a couple photos of my travels so far:

Oslo; the destination! Our flights were incredibly smooth. It took us three planes and approximately 24 hours to get here – the same time that it took us to get to distance nationals last year in Fort Kent, Maine or senior nationals this year in Rumford, Maine. On two of my three flights I had an entire ROW of seats to myself which is unheard of these days. It made the 10 hour time change a bit more bearable.

I have been really excited for this entire trip for a while but most recently, I’ve been pretty psyched about our pre world champs training camp in Sjujsoen, Norway. I was told that we were staying at a lodge that Bjorn Daehlie (God of Nordic Skiing) is a part owner of. So…. when we arrived to find our accommodations we were a bit surprised by the initial appearance of the place:

Luxury? No….. Actually, our first impression was, “What is this?” A mental institution? A prison? A dilapidated building from the Soviet era? Are we in Norway? Although we had our initial doubts, this place has turned out to be awesome. Yes, the exterior of the building leaves something to be desired and the rooms are minimal but the food is excellent and the hotel staff is first class. This building apparently went bankrupt a couple years ago and Bjorn + crew decided to invest in it. As far as I can tell, Sjujsoen is like the Norwegian version of Canadian Silver Star – or a Nordic Ski mecca that attracts those from out of town as well as people from throughout the country itself. There are over 200 kilometers skiing right out our front door that is continuously groomed and the famous Birkie trail cuts right through the middle of the area.

It seems as if they continuously groom the trails – there are always fresh tracks to be had…. (free!) provided by no other than the Norwegian Government!

Kikkan, Holly & Erik on our ski the first day here…. One can ski from Sjujsoen to Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics!

Signs of skiers everywhere

I mean, everywhere.

And….everywhere. This is a picture of the biathlon races live from Fort Kent of all places, streamed into our hotel room. Additionally, it seems like every third commercial is either about cross country skiing or stars xc skiing athletes in the commercials. Earlier today we went to go lift in Lillehammer and more races from Fort Kent were shown in the weight room. After the race, they had a sports center set-up, similar to what you would see after an NFL game – but the discussion was about the ski race, not the game.

The clouds have finally rolled into Sjujsoen and tomorrow we may have grey skies but I am sure that the skiing will still be first rate. Until my next post, I will leave you with a couple more photos from the last couple of days. (And yes, sorry for the delay in posting – the first three days of being here, none of the North Americans could connect to the Internet – only Euros could get online! Luckily, the problem is now fixed!)

Me and Kikkan on the Birkie trail

Pure perfection – the Birkie trail again. It’s crazy how many people were out skiing this this past weekend. The Birkie is only a couple weeks away and it was literally swarming with families and skiers of all ages. It was cool to see many people skiing with backpacks – surely taking lunch with them and skiing for a couple of hours! Ski culture at it’s best – not to mention, a very healthy nation! (photo from Kikkan)

Can’t get enough of this! (photo from Kikkan)

The crew from Anchorage this morning in the Lillehammer ’94 Olympic stadium: Holly, Erik, Kikkan & Greg Schumacher – our trip Doc!

(photo from Kikkan)

Until later/Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Holly 🙂

February 13, 2011
An ideal place for a skier…

The last time I was in Norway was in 1998, I was 16 years old. After a family visit to the Holmenkollen ski jumps I remember being flabbergasted when I saw a slew of roller skiers riding the tram (public transport) from the ski area back down into the city of Oslo. Compare the siting to growing up in Seattle where the only other people that roller ski are related to you and that’s a big deal! Eleven years later, here I am in Norway once again and the ski culture and appreciation is truly everything that everyone talks about. Folks – the hype is real. Before I continue, a couple photos of my travels so far:

Oslo; the destination! Our flights were incredibly smooth. It took us three planes and approximately 24 hours to get here – the same time that it took us to get to distance nationals last year in Fort Kent, Maine or senior nationals this year in Rumford, Maine. On two of my three flights I had an entire ROW of seats to myself which is unheard of these days. It made the 10 hour time change a bit more bearable.

I have been really excited for this entire trip for a while but most recently, I’ve been pretty psyched about our pre world champs training camp in Sjujsoen, Norway. I was told that we were staying at a lodge that Bjorn Daehlie (God of Nordic Skiing) is a part owner of. So…. when we arrived to find our accommodations we were a bit surprised by the initial appearance of the place:

Luxury? No….. Actually, our first impression was, “What is this?” A mental institution? A prison? A dilapidated building from the Soviet era? Are we in Norway? Although we had our initial doubts, this place has turned out to be awesome. Yes, the exterior of the building leaves something to be desired and the rooms are minimal but the food is excellent and the hotel staff is first class. This building apparently went bankrupt a couple years ago and Bjorn + crew decided to invest in it. As far as I can tell, Sjujsoen is like the Norwegian version of Canadian Silver Star – or a Nordic Ski mecca that attracts those from out of town as well as people from throughout the country itself. There are over 200 kilometers skiing right out our front door that is continuously groomed and the famous Birkie trail cuts right through the middle of the area.

It seems as if they continuously groom the trails – there are always fresh tracks to be had…. (free!) provided by no other than the Norwegian Government!

Kikkan, Holly & Erik on our ski the first day here…. One can ski from Sjujsoen to Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics!

Signs of skiers everywhere

I mean, everywhere.

And….everywhere. This is a picture of the biathlon races live from Fort Kent of all places, streamed into our hotel room. Additionally, it seems like every third commercial is either about cross country skiing or stars xc skiing athletes in the commercials. Earlier today we went to go lift in Lillehammer and more races from Fort Kent were shown in the weight room. After the race, they had a sports center set-up, similar to what you would see after an NFL game – but the discussion was about the ski race, not the game.

The clouds have finally rolled into Sjujsoen and tomorrow we may have grey skies but I am sure that the skiing will still be first rate. Until my next post, I will leave you with a couple more photos from the last couple of days. (And yes, sorry for the delay in posting – the first three days of being here, none of the North Americans could connect to the Internet – only Euros could get online! Luckily, the problem is now fixed!)

Me and Kikkan on the Birkie trail

Pure perfection – the Birkie trail again. It’s crazy how many people were out skiing this this past weekend. The Birkie is only a couple weeks away and it was literally swarming with families and skiers of all ages. It was cool to see many people skiing with backpacks – surely taking lunch with them and skiing for a couple of hours! Ski culture at it’s best – not to mention, a very healthy nation! (photo from Kikkan)

Can’t get enough of this! (photo from Kikkan)

The crew from Anchorage this morning in the Lillehammer ’94 Olympic stadium: Holly, Erik, Kikkan & Greg Schumacher – our trip Doc!

(photo from Kikkan)

Until later/Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Holly 🙂

February 13, 2011
An ideal place for a skier…

The last time I was in Norway was in 1998, I was 16 years old. After a family visit to the Holmenkollen ski jumps I remember being flabbergasted when I saw a slew of roller skiers riding the tram (public transport) from the ski area back down into the city of Oslo. Compare the siting to growing up in Seattle where the only other people that roller ski are related to you and that’s a big deal! Eleven years later, here I am in Norway once again and the ski culture and appreciation is truly everything that everyone talks about. Folks – the hype is real. Before I continue, a couple photos of my travels so far:

Oslo; the destination! Our flights were incredibly smooth. It took us three planes and approximately 24 hours to get here – the same time that it took us to get to distance nationals last year in Fort Kent, Maine or senior nationals this year in Rumford, Maine. On two of my three flights I had an entire ROW of seats to myself which is unheard of these days. It made the 10 hour time change a bit more bearable.

I have been really excited for this entire trip for a while but most recently, I’ve been pretty psyched about our pre world champs training camp in Sjujsoen, Norway. I was told that we were staying at a lodge that Bjorn Daehlie (God of Nordic Skiing) is a part owner of. So…. when we arrived to find our accommodations we were a bit surprised by the initial appearance of the place:

Luxury? No….. Actually, our first impression was, “What is this?” A mental institution? A prison? A dilapidated building from the Soviet era? Are we in Norway? Although we had our initial doubts, this place has turned out to be awesome. Yes, the exterior of the building leaves something to be desired and the rooms are minimal but the food is excellent and the hotel staff is first class. This building apparently went bankrupt a couple years ago and Bjorn + crew decided to invest in it. As far as I can tell, Sjujsoen is like the Norwegian version of Canadian Silver Star – or a Nordic Ski mecca that attracts those from out of town as well as people from throughout the country itself. There are over 200 kilometers skiing right out our front door that is continuously groomed and the famous Birkie trail cuts right through the middle of the area.

It seems as if they continuously groom the trails – there are always fresh tracks to be had…. (free!) provided by no other than the Norwegian Government!

Kikkan, Holly & Erik on our ski the first day here…. One can ski from Sjujsoen to Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics!

Signs of skiers everywhere

I mean, everywhere.

And….everywhere. This is a picture of the biathlon races live from Fort Kent of all places, streamed into our hotel room. Additionally, it seems like every third commercial is either about cross country skiing or stars xc skiing athletes in the commercials. Earlier today we went to go lift in Lillehammer and more races from Fort Kent were shown in the weight room. After the race, they had a sports center set-up, similar to what you would see after an NFL game – but the discussion was about the ski race, not the game.

The clouds have finally rolled into Sjujsoen and tomorrow we may have grey skies but I am sure that the skiing will still be first rate. Until my next post, I will leave you with a couple more photos from the last couple of days. (And yes, sorry for the delay in posting – the first three days of being here, none of the North Americans could connect to the Internet – only Euros could get online! Luckily, the problem is now fixed!)

Me and Kikkan on the Birkie trail

Pure perfection – the Birkie trail again. It’s crazy how many people were out skiing this this past weekend. The Birkie is only a couple weeks away and it was literally swarming with families and skiers of all ages. It was cool to see many people skiing with backpacks – surely taking lunch with them and skiing for a couple of hours! Ski culture at it’s best – not to mention, a very healthy nation! (photo from Kikkan)

Can’t get enough of this! (photo from Kikkan)

The crew from Anchorage this morning in the Lillehammer ’94 Olympic stadium: Holly, Erik, Kikkan & Greg Schumacher – our trip Doc!

(photo from Kikkan)

Until later/Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Holly 🙂

February 13, 2011
An ideal place for a skier…

The last time I was in Norway was in 1998, I was 16 years old. After a family visit to the Holmenkollen ski jumps I remember being flabbergasted when I saw a slew of roller skiers riding the tram (public transport) from the ski area back down into the city of Oslo. Compare the siting to growing up in Seattle where the only other people that roller ski are related to you and that’s a big deal! Eleven years later, here I am in Norway once again and the ski culture and appreciation is truly everything that everyone talks about. Folks – the hype is real. Before I continue, a couple photos of my travels so far:

Oslo; the destination! Our flights were incredibly smooth. It took us three planes and approximately 24 hours to get here – the same time that it took us to get to distance nationals last year in Fort Kent, Maine or senior nationals this year in Rumford, Maine. On two of my three flights I had an entire ROW of seats to myself which is unheard of these days. It made the 10 hour time change a bit more bearable.

I have been really excited for this entire trip for a while but most recently, I’ve been pretty psyched about our pre world champs training camp in Sjujsoen, Norway. I was told that we were staying at a lodge that Bjorn Daehlie (God of Nordic Skiing) is a part owner of. So…. when we arrived to find our accommodations we were a bit surprised by the initial appearance of the place:

Luxury? No….. Actually, our first impression was, “What is this?” A mental institution? A prison? A dilapidated building from the Soviet era? Are we in Norway? Although we had our initial doubts, this place has turned out to be awesome. Yes, the exterior of the building leaves something to be desired and the rooms are minimal but the food is excellent and the hotel staff is first class. This building apparently went bankrupt a couple years ago and Bjorn + crew decided to invest in it. As far as I can tell, Sjujsoen is like the Norwegian version of Canadian Silver Star – or a Nordic Ski mecca that attracts those from out of town as well as people from throughout the country itself. There are over 200 kilometers skiing right out our front door that is continuously groomed and the famous Birkie trail cuts right through the middle of the area.

It seems as if they continuously groom the trails – there are always fresh tracks to be had…. (free!) provided by no other than the Norwegian Government!

Kikkan, Holly & Erik on our ski the first day here…. One can ski from Sjujsoen to Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics!

Signs of skiers everywhere

I mean, everywhere.

And….everywhere. This is a picture of the biathlon races live from Fort Kent of all places, streamed into our hotel room. Additionally, it seems like every third commercial is either about cross country skiing or stars xc skiing athletes in the commercials. Earlier today we went to go lift in Lillehammer and more races from Fort Kent were shown in the weight room. After the race, they had a sports center set-up, similar to what you would see after an NFL game – but the discussion was about the ski race, not the game.

The clouds have finally rolled into Sjujsoen and tomorrow we may have grey skies but I am sure that the skiing will still be first rate. Until my next post, I will leave you with a couple more photos from the last couple of days. (And yes, sorry for the delay in posting – the first three days of being here, none of the North Americans could connect to the Internet – only Euros could get online! Luckily, the problem is now fixed!)

Me and Kikkan on the Birkie trail

Pure perfection – the Birkie trail again. It’s crazy how many people were out skiing this this past weekend. The Birkie is only a couple weeks away and it was literally swarming with families and skiers of all ages. It was cool to see many people skiing with backpacks – surely taking lunch with them and skiing for a couple of hours! Ski culture at it’s best – not to mention, a very healthy nation! (photo from Kikkan)

Can’t get enough of this! (photo from Kikkan)

The crew from Anchorage this morning in the Lillehammer ’94 Olympic stadium: Holly, Erik, Kikkan & Greg Schumacher – our trip Doc!

(photo from Kikkan)

Until later/Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Holly 🙂

February 13, 2011
Sunday

Just when I thought I’d seen every article, interview, and post-game highlight from the Super Bowl last Sunday, I came across this little nugget from NFL films. If this doesn’t get you fired up, I don’t know what will.

Thanks to Jay Tapper for forwarding this and helping me get my Sunday Football fix, even after the season’s over.

February 13, 2011