FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • Animated WC Points Tracker

    A little fun using the Google Charts API, R and my WC points spreadsheet. Both of these motion charts require Flash.

    It shows the progression of WC points for the top 30 athletes or so throughout this season. Distance points are on the x axis and sprint point are on the y axis. This does not include the “general” points awarded for overall stage wins. My main complaint about the way they implemented this is that I can’t find a way to exert finer control over how the time steps proceed. This results in the appearance of WC points accruing slowly over several days in a lot of cases, when really the dots should remain perfectly still in a lot of those cases. (Or maybe I’ve just messed something up, I’ll keep working on it.) Men first and then the women. Other than requiring Flash, I’m not sure how these will react to various browsers; at the very least they may load somewhat slowly on occasion.

    There are various menus and options you can play with, including the ability to select some specific people and having their dots leave a trail as they move.




    Related posts:

    1. <A New Sprint Points Method
    2. <Distributed Sprint Points
    3. <WC Points Tracker


  • Weston EC’s

    divWe had a beautiful day for the Weston Eastern Cups. Temps in the mid to upper 20’s, plenty of snow and wide trails made for a perfect double race day./divdivIn the morning there was a sprint preliminary and in the afternoon there were mass start races./divdivWith 4 of our skiers off on USST trips, it was interesting to see who would step up to lead the group. No worries, 5 of the 8 kids we had racing made the podium :)/divdivMany thanks to Amie Smith and all of the CSU race crew for putting on two first class races./diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCop9F6kI/AAAAAAAAGQQ/fDilnaiGAQw/s1600/Ty_DSC9983.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCop9F6kI/AAAAAAAAGQQ/fDilnaiGAQw/s320/Ty_DSC9983.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568351993002846786″ //aTyler and Hammish cruised the mass start race playing cat and mouse..then Hammish put the hammer down and nipped Tyler in a great finish.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCbuOLpNI/AAAAAAAAGQI/uz9_n4mZ8NQ/s1600/Scott_M_DSC9905.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCbuOLpNI/AAAAAAAAGQI/uz9_n4mZ8NQ/s320/Scott_M_DSC9905.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568351770809967826″ //aScott M came down for a little EC experience and skied well.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCSJaqtQI/AAAAAAAAGQA/Jwo15msSGVA/s1600/S_M_Waxing_DSC9839.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCSJaqtQI/AAAAAAAAGQA/Jwo15msSGVA/s320/S_M_Waxing_DSC9839.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568351606311400706″ //aCoaches doing their coach thing.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCKvSeKbI/AAAAAAAAGP4/_K3A61qzZUg/s1600/Rachel_DSC0119.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 320px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbCKvSeKbI/AAAAAAAAGP4/_K3A61qzZUg/s320/Rachel_DSC0119.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568351479038618034″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbB1nN4fDI/AAAAAAAAGPw/YnjWj_lCVEc/s1600/Rachel_DSC0163.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbB1nN4fDI/AAAAAAAAGPw/YnjWj_lCVEc/s320/Rachel_DSC0163.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568351116094635058″ //aRachel worked hard and had a good day. She was 3rd in the morning prelim and only 12 seconds out of first in the afternoon.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbBmzFOMZI/AAAAAAAAGPo/n4UGNAQ78r0/s1600/Issy_DSC9737.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbBmzFOMZI/AAAAAAAAGPo/n4UGNAQ78r0/s320/Issy_DSC9737.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568350861581496722″ //aIssy P looking strong.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbBDxM936I/AAAAAAAAGPg/pVMSh0Xpgs8/s1600/Hallie_DSC9777.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbBDxM936I/AAAAAAAAGPg/pVMSh0Xpgs8/s320/Hallie_DSC9777.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568350259781689250″ //aHallie brings it home. She got stuck in the 2nd pack, but hammered the last km to close the gap and finish in the top 10 overall.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAq8bWkRI/AAAAAAAAGPY/x-CbTYdaKio/s1600/GirlsGroup_DSC0080.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 166px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAq8bWkRI/AAAAAAAAGPY/x-CbTYdaKio/s320/GirlsGroup_DSC0080.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568349833298088210″ //aThe girls lead pack early on. Congratulations to Corey Stock who is coming back from injury and won both races. It is great to have her back on the circuit.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAesipqlI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/2MyMvjEehaw/s1600/Girls_mass_DSC0052.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 320px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAesipqlI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/2MyMvjEehaw/s320/Girls_mass_DSC0052.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568349622875302482″ //aStart picture taken from high atop Mt. Weston.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAP2KY6CI/AAAAAAAAGPI/scyoRR_Hk64/s1600/Charlie_DSC0200.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 320px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAP2KY6CI/AAAAAAAAGPI/scyoRR_Hk64/s320/Charlie_DSC0200.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568349367759857698″ //aCharlie kicked into gear and placed 2nd for J1 boys in the mass start race.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAHE832qI/AAAAAAAAGPA/_dIsSjdJDP8/s1600/Charlie_Bridger_DSC0245.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 278px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUbAHE832qI/AAAAAAAAGPA/_dIsSjdJDP8/s320/Charlie_Bridger_DSC0245.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568349217110874786″ //aHappy boys.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa_08zhZMI/AAAAAAAAGO4/3m1MbT8dgCc/s1600/Brooke_DSC9784.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa_08zhZMI/AAAAAAAAGO4/3m1MbT8dgCc/s320/Brooke_DSC9784.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568348905686525122″ //aBrooke had a very strong morning race (top J2, 8th overall), but struggled in the mass start.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa_YQaX4GI/AAAAAAAAGOw/gmpHemYlOJM/s1600/Bridger_DSC0180.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa_YQaX4GI/AAAAAAAAGOw/gmpHemYlOJM/s320/Bridger_DSC0180.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568348412733546594″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa_R1Y22-I/AAAAAAAAGOo/cHAorCn5oW4/s1600/Bridger_delam_DSC0229.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa_R1Y22-I/AAAAAAAAGOo/cHAorCn5oW4/s320/Bridger_delam_DSC0229.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568348302400216034″ //aBridger had a great day. He won the morning prelim race by 4 seconds and was skiing comfortably in 3rd place in the afternoon race before his tip broke (causing a drag for the last 2 km)…he still ended 6th overall!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa–7KphUI/AAAAAAAAGOg/eghhPPDnQaM/s1600/Austen_DSC0238.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 320px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa–7KphUI/AAAAAAAAGOg/eghhPPDnQaM/s320/Austen_DSC0238.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568347977533719874″ //aAustin, above and below, started well, then struggled but held on for a decent result.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa-5pUFM3I/AAAAAAAAGOY/hO8g-XaJa3Q/s1600/Austen_DSC0202.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TUa-5pUFM3I/AAAAAAAAGOY/hO8g-XaJa3Q/s320/Austen_DSC0202.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568347886842098546″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-4123574991267423131?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Pictures from Yesterday

    The coaches (and friends) klister up in the kitchen to sneak out for a quick pre-lunch ski to work-off breakfast. [Still figuring out this Blogger interface, so you’ll have to forgive that all the pictures are in reverse chronological order]

    That is some top notch Swedish ‘power-V’ right there folks…
    Paddy and Jack check out the start of the Fjällbryntloppet, named for the local purveyor of some cheese/mustard type spread that comes in an over-sized toothpaste tube (they are big on things like that around here – you can get your cheese spread with shrimp/lobster/crab/fish/mustard/caviar/you-name-it at the local grocery)
    Swedish pancake creation
    Swedish pancake creator
    Dylan reacts to trying Nutella for the first time… or maybe is just being himself…
    Just watched the groomers roll by here as I’m up early (again!), slowly letting the time zone adjustment take its course. Should be another day of great skiing – yep, total bummer. Kind of wish we had about three more days here so I could get in that epic ski that links together most all the trails. But it’s probably good that we don’t so none of the athletes are tempted to do the same. If I don’t return to the states next week, you’ll know why…
    Today the plan is to do a TT on the trails in the AM and then head across town to Frösö, the island where the airport is and check out this giant XC terrain park in the PM – we’re hoping conditions there are better than jittery ice so we can actually use it. Undoubtedly we’ll do a little more shopping too. I’m sure Forrest will give you all a full run-down at the end of the day…

  • Pictures from Yesterday

    The coaches (and friends) klister up in the kitchen to sneak out for a quick pre-lunch ski to work-off breakfast. [Still figuring out this Blogger interface, so you’ll have to forgive that all the pictures are in reverse chronological order]

    That is some top notch Swedish ‘power-V’ right there folks…
    Paddy and Jack check out the start of the Fjällbryntloppet, named for the local purveyor of some cheese/mustard type spread that comes in an over-sized toothpaste tube (they are big on things like that around here – you can get your cheese spread with shrimp/lobster/crab/fish/mustard/caviar/you-name-it at the local grocery)
    Swedish pancake creation
    Swedish pancake creator
    Dylan reacts to trying Nutella for the first time… or maybe is just being himself…
    Just watched the groomers roll by here as I’m up early (again!), slowly letting the time zone adjustment take its course. Should be another day of great skiing – yep, total bummer. Kind of wish we had about three more days here so I could get in that epic ski that links together most all the trails. But it’s probably good that we don’t so none of the athletes are tempted to do the same. If I don’t return to the states next week, you’ll know why…
    Today the plan is to do a TT on the trails in the AM and then head across town to Frösö, the island where the airport is and check out this giant XC terrain park in the PM – we’re hoping conditions there are better than jittery ice so we can actually use it. Undoubtedly we’ll do a little more shopping too. I’m sure Forrest will give you all a full run-down at the end of the day…

  • Midwest Super Tours: Ups and Downs


    The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me. I travel well, but I hit the training hard on Monday after flying in from Lake Placid and I caught a virus. I took it real easy most of the week and started feeling better near the weekend.
    Last year, I won my first individual SuperTour at the Mayor’s Challenge in Minneapolis, MN but this year I didn’t even get out of bed for the first day of racing. Feeling better on Day 2 I raced but when the pace picked up, I started hurting in a hurry. My results matched how I felt and I began to focus on the coming races in Houghton, MI.
    The first two races in Houghton were decent races for me as far as time/percentage back from the leaders but my placings were some of my worst of the season 14th and 11th. I was really starting to loose confidence.
    The good thing about tough or poor races is that they make the good ones all that sweeter. Today’s race, a 15km Freestyle mass start was just that. I went out hard from the gun to keep the crashes and chaos to a minimum and settled in for a good pack race. My friend and teammate Matt took some long pulls at the front and brought the lead pack down to ten skiers. Knowing that I was still not back to my 100 percent form I skied a conservative race, trying to use as little energy as possible. With 2.5km to go my roommate Garrott had broken away by 15 seconds from me and a group of four other skiers. I waited for the anticipated attacks of the other skiers in my group and decided to make a break for it as soon as their pace seemed to back off a bit. I was able to get a few meters gap and come in to the finish in second place for the day.
    It feels great to be back on the podium and back in the mix at the front of the race.

  • Midwest Super Tours: Ups and Downs


    The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me. I travel well, but I hit the training hard on Monday after flying in from Lake Placid and I caught a virus. I took it real easy most of the week and started feeling better near the weekend.
    Last year, I won my first individual SuperTour at the Mayor’s Challenge in Minneapolis, MN but this year I didn’t even get out of bed for the first day of racing. Feeling better on Day 2 I raced but when the pace picked up, I started hurting in a hurry. My results matched how I felt and I began to focus on the coming races in Houghton, MI.
    The first two races in Houghton were decent races for me as far as time/percentage back from the leaders but my placings were some of my worst of the season 14th and 11th. I was really starting to loose confidence.
    The good thing about tough or poor races is that they make the good ones all that sweeter. Today’s race, a 15km Freestyle mass start was just that. I went out hard from the gun to keep the crashes and chaos to a minimum and settled in for a good pack race. My friend and teammate Matt took some long pulls at the front and brought the lead pack down to ten skiers. Knowing that I was still not back to my 100 percent form I skied a conservative race, trying to use as little energy as possible. With 2.5km to go my roommate Garrott had broken away by 15 seconds from me and a group of four other skiers. I waited for the anticipated attacks of the other skiers in my group and decided to make a break for it as soon as their pace seemed to back off a bit. I was able to get a few meters gap and come in to the finish in second place for the day.
    It feels great to be back on the podium and back in the mix at the front of the race.

  • Midwest Super Tours: Ups and Downs


    The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me. I travel well, but I hit the training hard on Monday after flying in from Lake Placid and I caught a virus. I took it real easy most of the week and started feeling better near the weekend.
    Last year, I won my first individual SuperTour at the Mayor’s Challenge in Minneapolis, MN but this year I didn’t even get out of bed for the first day of racing. Feeling better on Day 2 I raced but when the pace picked up, I started hurting in a hurry. My results matched how I felt and I began to focus on the coming races in Houghton, MI.
    The first two races in Houghton were decent races for me as far as time/percentage back from the leaders but my placings were some of my worst of the season 14th and 11th. I was really starting to loose confidence.
    The good thing about tough or poor races is that they make the good ones all that sweeter. Today’s race, a 15km Freestyle mass start was just that. I went out hard from the gun to keep the crashes and chaos to a minimum and settled in for a good pack race. My friend and teammate Matt took some long pulls at the front and brought the lead pack down to ten skiers. Knowing that I was still not back to my 100 percent form I skied a conservative race, trying to use as little energy as possible. With 2.5km to go my roommate Garrott had broken away by 15 seconds from me and a group of four other skiers. I waited for the anticipated attacks of the other skiers in my group and decided to make a break for it as soon as their pace seemed to back off a bit. I was able to get a few meters gap and come in to the finish in second place for the day.
    It feels great to be back on the podium and back in the mix at the front of the race.

  • Midwest Super Tours: Ups and Downs


    The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me. I travel well, but I hit the training hard on Monday after flying in from Lake Placid and I caught a virus. I took it real easy most of the week and started feeling better near the weekend.
    Last year, I won my first individual SuperTour at the Mayor’s Challenge in Minneapolis, MN but this year I didn’t even get out of bed for the first day of racing. Feeling better on Day 2 I raced but when the pace picked up, I started hurting in a hurry. My results matched how I felt and I began to focus on the coming races in Houghton, MI.
    The first two races in Houghton were decent races for me as far as time/percentage back from the leaders but my placings were some of my worst of the season 14th and 11th. I was really starting to loose confidence.
    The good thing about tough or poor races is that they make the good ones all that sweeter. Today’s race, a 15km Freestyle mass start was just that. I went out hard from the gun to keep the crashes and chaos to a minimum and settled in for a good pack race. My friend and teammate Matt took some long pulls at the front and brought the lead pack down to ten skiers. Knowing that I was still not back to my 100 percent form I skied a conservative race, trying to use as little energy as possible. With 2.5km to go my roommate Garrott had broken away by 15 seconds from me and a group of four other skiers. I waited for the anticipated attacks of the other skiers in my group and decided to make a break for it as soon as their pace seemed to back off a bit. I was able to get a few meters gap and come in to the finish in second place for the day.
    It feels great to be back on the podium and back in the mix at the front of the race.

  • Midwest Super Tours: Ups and Downs


    The last two weeks have been a bit of a struggle for me. I travel well, but I hit the training hard on Monday after flying in from Lake Placid and I caught a virus. I took it real easy most of the week and started feeling better near the weekend.
    Last year, I won my first individual SuperTour at the Mayor’s Challenge in Minneapolis, MN but this year I didn’t even get out of bed for the first day of racing. Feeling better on Day 2 I raced but when the pace picked up, I started hurting in a hurry. My results matched how I felt and I began to focus on the coming races in Houghton, MI.
    The first two races in Houghton were decent races for me as far as time/percentage back from the leaders but my placings were some of my worst of the season 14th and 11th. I was really starting to loose confidence.
    The good thing about tough or poor races is that they make the good ones all that sweeter. Today’s race, a 15km Freestyle mass start was just that. I went out hard from the gun to keep the crashes and chaos to a minimum and settled in for a good pack race. My friend and teammate Matt took some long pulls at the front and brought the lead pack down to ten skiers. Knowing that I was still not back to my 100 percent form I skied a conservative race, trying to use as little energy as possible. With 2.5km to go my roommate Garrott had broken away by 15 seconds from me and a group of four other skiers. I waited for the anticipated attacks of the other skiers in my group and decided to make a break for it as soon as their pace seemed to back off a bit. I was able to get a few meters gap and come in to the finish in second place for the day.
    It feels great to be back on the podium and back in the mix at the front of the race.

  • Adios January and Your -50 Days!

  • The Athletes Report- Vol. II

    Today started out on a high note with pancakes made by Matt, Pete, and Kate. We topped them with nutella, strawberry jelly, pineapple, grapes, raspberries, kiwi, and bananas, along with a drizzle of yogurt (from a carton) on top. In a word they were… delectable. Dylan said he felt like he had eaten a chocolate bunny after his first pancake; they made for a bit of a heavy stomach I guess.

  • The Athletes Report- Vol. II

    Today started out on a high note with pancakes made by Matt, Pete, and Kate. We topped them with nutella, strawberry jelly, pineapple, grapes, raspberries, kiwi, and bananas, along with a drizzle of yogurt (from a carton) on top. In a word they were… delectable. Dylan said he felt like he had eaten a chocolate bunny after his first pancake; they made for a bit of a heavy stomach I guess.

  • Recharging

    Well I have to say its been nice to be home, in one place, for the past couple weeks. Days have been filled with training, resting, a little work and of course some play.

    After recharging in one place for a while, my schedule for the second half of the season is slowly coming together. I am looking forward to the Boulder Mountain Tour, which takes place right here in Sun Valley next weekend! The Tour is in its 36th year and this race is just as big of a deal as the American Birkebiner…well, at least for those that live here. It is a 32k skate race that begins at Galena Lodge and takes you down the Harriman Trail, through the Boulder Mountains and ends at the SNRA. While the total elevation is a net loss, it is a tough race with very little rest and recovery.

    After the Boulder I will travel to Aspen, Colorado to take up a couple Super Tour races, a 5k classic and a 21k skate. The 21k Owl Creek Chase is on the opposite side of the spectrum compared to the Boulder. Instead of a net loss in elevation there is a huge net gain, bringing you all the way up to over 9,000 ft. whoa! Gotta get pumped for that one.

    The following week will bring me to the Midwest where I will race another weekend of Super Tour races in Madison, Wisconsin. These races are fun and unique because they take place in the middle of downtown, around the capitol square. I will race a classic sprint and a 7.5k skate criterium, which will be a new racing format for me.

    And then…its the BIRKE!!! Yep, already getting the Birke fever! This 52k race from Telemark to Hayward, Wisconsin is America’s largest cross-country ski race with over 7,000 racers!!!! It is definitely quite the scene with so many people, but fun to race in such a huge race.

    That is the plan through February and then it will be time to recharge again and get ready for U.S. Long-Distance Nationals and the Super Tour Finals which are being hosted right here in Sun Valley the end of March! Lots of excitement for this valley…looking forward to it!

    Until next time!

  • Recharging

    Well I have to say its been nice to be home, in one place, for the past couple weeks. Days have been filled with training, resting, a little work and of course some play.

    After recharging in one place for a while, my schedule for the second half of the season is slowly coming together. I am looking forward to the Boulder Mountain Tour, which takes place right here in Sun Valley next weekend! The Tour is in its 36th year and this race is just as big of a deal as the American Birkebiner…well, at least for those that live here. It is a 32k skate race that begins at Galena Lodge and takes you down the Harriman Trail, through the Boulder Mountains and ends at the SNRA. While the total elevation is a net loss, it is a tough race with very little rest and recovery.

    After the Boulder I will travel to Aspen, Colorado to take up a couple Super Tour races, a 5k classic and a 21k skate. The 21k Owl Creek Chase is on the opposite side of the spectrum compared to the Boulder. Instead of a net loss in elevation there is a huge net gain, bringing you all the way up to over 9,000 ft. whoa! Gotta get pumped for that one.

    The following week will bring me to the Midwest where I will race another weekend of Super Tour races in Madison, Wisconsin. These races are fun and unique because they take place in the middle of downtown, around the capitol square. I will race a classic sprint and a 7.5k skate criterium, which will be a new racing format for me.

    And then…its the BIRKE!!! Yep, already getting the Birke fever! This 52k race from Telemark to Hayward, Wisconsin is America’s largest cross-country ski race with over 7,000 racers!!!! It is definitely quite the scene with so many people, but fun to race in such a huge race.

    That is the plan through February and then it will be time to recharge again and get ready for U.S. Long-Distance Nationals and the Super Tour Finals which are being hosted right here in Sun Valley the end of March! Lots of excitement for this valley…looking forward to it!

    Until next time!

  • Recharging

    Well I have to say its been nice to be home, in one place, for the past couple weeks. Days have been filled with training, resting, a little work and of course some play.

    After recharging in one place for a while, my schedule for the second half of the season is slowly coming together. I am looking forward to the Boulder Mountain Tour, which takes place right here in Sun Valley next weekend! The Tour is in its 36th year and this race is just as big of a deal as the American Birkebiner…well, at least for those that live here. It is a 32k skate race that begins at Galena Lodge and takes you down the Harriman Trail, through the Boulder Mountains and ends at the SNRA. While the total elevation is a net loss, it is a tough race with very little rest and recovery.

    After the Boulder I will travel to Aspen, Colorado to take up a couple Super Tour races, a 5k classic and a 21k skate. The 21k Owl Creek Chase is on the opposite side of the spectrum compared to the Boulder. Instead of a net loss in elevation there is a huge net gain, bringing you all the way up to over 9,000 ft. whoa! Gotta get pumped for that one.

    The following week will bring me to the Midwest where I will race another weekend of Super Tour races in Madison, Wisconsin. These races are fun and unique because they take place in the middle of downtown, around the capitol square. I will race a classic sprint and a 7.5k skate criterium, which will be a new racing format for me.

    And then…its the BIRKE!!! Yep, already getting the Birke fever! This 52k race from Telemark to Hayward, Wisconsin is America’s largest cross-country ski race with over 7,000 racers!!!! It is definitely quite the scene with so many people, but fun to race in such a huge race.

    That is the plan through February and then it will be time to recharge again and get ready for U.S. Long-Distance Nationals and the Super Tour Finals which are being hosted right here in Sun Valley the end of March! Lots of excitement for this valley…looking forward to it!

    Until next time!

  • Recharging

    Well I have to say its been nice to be home, in one place, for the past couple weeks. Days have been filled with training, resting, a little work and of course some play.

    After recharging in one place for a while, my schedule for the second half of the season is slowly coming together. I am looking forward to the Boulder Mountain Tour, which takes place right here in Sun Valley next weekend! The Tour is in its 36th year and this race is just as big of a deal as the American Birkebiner…well, at least for those that live here. It is a 32k skate race that begins at Galena Lodge and takes you down the Harriman Trail, through the Boulder Mountains and ends at the SNRA. While the total elevation is a net loss, it is a tough race with very little rest and recovery.

    After the Boulder I will travel to Aspen, Colorado to take up a couple Super Tour races, a 5k classic and a 21k skate. The 21k Owl Creek Chase is on the opposite side of the spectrum compared to the Boulder. Instead of a net loss in elevation there is a huge net gain, bringing you all the way up to over 9,000 ft. whoa! Gotta get pumped for that one.

    The following week will bring me to the Midwest where I will race another weekend of Super Tour races in Madison, Wisconsin. These races are fun and unique because they take place in the middle of downtown, around the capitol square. I will race a classic sprint and a 7.5k skate criterium, which will be a new racing format for me.

    And then…its the BIRKE!!! Yep, already getting the Birke fever! This 52k race from Telemark to Hayward, Wisconsin is America’s largest cross-country ski race with over 7,000 racers!!!! It is definitely quite the scene with so many people, but fun to race in such a huge race.

    That is the plan through February and then it will be time to recharge again and get ready for U.S. Long-Distance Nationals and the Super Tour Finals which are being hosted right here in Sun Valley the end of March! Lots of excitement for this valley…looking forward to it!

    Until next time!

  • Recharging

    Well I have to say its been nice to be home, in one place, for the past couple weeks. Days have been filled with training, resting, a little work and of course some play.

    After recharging in one place for a while, my schedule for the second half of the season is slowly coming together. I am looking forward to the Boulder Mountain Tour, which takes place right here in Sun Valley next weekend! The Tour is in its 36th year and this race is just as big of a deal as the American Birkebiner…well, at least for those that live here. It is a 32k skate race that begins at Galena Lodge and takes you down the Harriman Trail, through the Boulder Mountains and ends at the SNRA. While the total elevation is a net loss, it is a tough race with very little rest and recovery.

    After the Boulder I will travel to Aspen, Colorado to take up a couple Super Tour races, a 5k classic and a 21k skate. The 21k Owl Creek Chase is on the opposite side of the spectrum compared to the Boulder. Instead of a net loss in elevation there is a huge net gain, bringing you all the way up to over 9,000 ft. whoa! Gotta get pumped for that one.

    The following week will bring me to the Midwest where I will race another weekend of Super Tour races in Madison, Wisconsin. These races are fun and unique because they take place in the middle of downtown, around the capitol square. I will race a classic sprint and a 7.5k skate criterium, which will be a new racing format for me.

    And then…its the BIRKE!!! Yep, already getting the Birke fever! This 52k race from Telemark to Hayward, Wisconsin is America’s largest cross-country ski race with over 7,000 racers!!!! It is definitely quite the scene with so many people, but fun to race in such a huge race.

    That is the plan through February and then it will be time to recharge again and get ready for U.S. Long-Distance Nationals and the Super Tour Finals which are being hosted right here in Sun Valley the end of March! Lots of excitement for this valley…looking forward to it!

    Until next time!

  • Scenes From the Road: Steinkjer, Norway Edition



  • Scenes From the Road: Steinkjer, Norway Edition



  • Scenes From the Road: Steinkjer, Norway Edition