Category: XCFeeds

Continuing in my series of posts (see here and here) we move on to Norway.  This presents some problems, graphically, since as you might imagine there are many, many more Norwegians who’ve skied well at WJCs or U23s.  This means that if I simply recreate the graphs following my previous examples, they will likely be virtually unreadable.

So I’m going to modify things slightly (click through for larger version):

I have omitted the points for every single race, and instead only plotted points (in red) corresponding to the Norwegian athletes.  I’ve skipped the trend lines for individual Norwegian athletes as well, since there are simply too many to make sense of on a single graph.

As always, the blue trend lines represent everyone in each panel.  The red dots are races by Norwegians only.

I want to emphasize (strenuously!) how variable the Norwegian skiers are.  Look at the men’s 1-5 panel.  See how many red dots there are between 50-100, even after the age of 25?  Each one of those dots is a FIS point score by a Norwegian athlete who at one point finished in the top 5 at WJCs or U23s.  The Norwegians for sure have a ton of results that are super fast (i.e. near the bottom of each panel) but they also have plenty that aren’t so fast, even at later ages.

In case you’re interested, here’s a table with the names of the Norwegian athletes in each panel (you can sort the table by each column if you like).  As you peruse this table, I’d call your attention to the names you don’t recognize as world famous skiing stars and that not every superstar dominated at WJCs (e.g. Marit Bjoergen).

Related posts:

1. <Performance vs Age Redux: Grover’s Graph
2. <Post-WJC/U23 Development: Canada
3. <Post-WJC/U23 Development: Germany

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1MKUikjDI/AAAAAAAAD-c/GjzPf6lnQzY/s1600/IMG_7200.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1MKUikjDI/AAAAAAAAD-c/GjzPf6lnQzY/s400/IMG_7200.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507141659540098098″ //aHere are some more pictures from our camp. Click on any picture to enlarge it. Enjoy!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1L_eKz1DI/AAAAAAAAD-U/JAJ_6_Zl04Q/s1600/IMG_7206.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1L_eKz1DI/AAAAAAAAD-U/JAJ_6_Zl04Q/s400/IMG_7206.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507141473146229810″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Lzytvs8I/AAAAAAAAD-M/05_JYkApKe8/s1600/IMG_7219.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Lzytvs8I/AAAAAAAAD-M/05_JYkApKe8/s400/IMG_7219.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507141272503038914″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Lo5DXN1I/AAAAAAAAD-E/id16KNHJ7Cw/s1600/IMG_7222.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Lo5DXN1I/AAAAAAAAD-E/id16KNHJ7Cw/s400/IMG_7222.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507141085225760594″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1LezHM1rI/AAAAAAAAD98/AiE1n_A1fDc/s1600/IMG_7230.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1LezHM1rI/AAAAAAAAD98/AiE1n_A1fDc/s400/IMG_7230.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507140911832553138″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1LNeBLygI/AAAAAAAAD90/raEoQq5gCJ4/s1600/IMG_7240.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1LNeBLygI/AAAAAAAAD90/raEoQq5gCJ4/s400/IMG_7240.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507140614112397826″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1LEjJkjOI/AAAAAAAAD9s/Q9CivtGQGG8/s1600/IMG_7241.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1LEjJkjOI/AAAAAAAAD9s/Q9CivtGQGG8/s400/IMG_7241.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507140460870929634″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1K6FA8RWI/AAAAAAAAD9k/Zoyr_TBxKEw/s1600/IMG_7245.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1K6FA8RWI/AAAAAAAAD9k/Zoyr_TBxKEw/s400/IMG_7245.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507140280982979938″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1KvgrNiGI/AAAAAAAAD9c/6cEDQ3mDofQ/s1600/IMG_7250.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1KvgrNiGI/AAAAAAAAD9c/6cEDQ3mDofQ/s400/IMG_7250.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507140099429468258″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Km16HgbI/AAAAAAAAD9U/wDaG5it_Res/s1600/IMG_7258.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Km16HgbI/AAAAAAAAD9U/wDaG5it_Res/s400/IMG_7258.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507139950510309810″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Kbu0Xm6I/AAAAAAAAD9M/LnR9I6joVVs/s1600/IMG_7296.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1Kbu0Xm6I/AAAAAAAAD9M/LnR9I6joVVs/s400/IMG_7296.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507139759628589986″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1KQxt5pgI/AAAAAAAAD9E/AcSvGqBwpSk/s1600/IMG_7298.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1KQxt5pgI/AAAAAAAAD9E/AcSvGqBwpSk/s400/IMG_7298.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507139571428206082″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1J-dSUgyI/AAAAAAAAD88/B84VYwcd1-M/s1600/IMG_7306.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1J-dSUgyI/AAAAAAAAD88/B84VYwcd1-M/s400/IMG_7306.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507139256706171682″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JpjV–mI/AAAAAAAAD8s/xI8FEOdmbPw/s1600/IMG_7317.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JpjV–mI/AAAAAAAAD8s/xI8FEOdmbPw/s400/IMG_7317.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507138897554897506″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JcH-do8I/AAAAAAAAD8k/v3ykgFtgrW4/s1600/IMG_7325.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JcH-do8I/AAAAAAAAD8k/v3ykgFtgrW4/s400/IMG_7325.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507138666870186946″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JNNMLYJI/AAAAAAAAD8c/hEjh-1OWB-c/s1600/IMG_7337.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 348px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JNNMLYJI/AAAAAAAAD8c/hEjh-1OWB-c/s400/IMG_7337.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507138410571849874″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JAMzM46I/AAAAAAAAD8U/c_Yf_09RThY/s1600/IMG_7346.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1JAMzM46I/AAAAAAAAD8U/c_Yf_09RThY/s400/IMG_7346.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507138187128791970″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1I2iW3TDI/AAAAAAAAD8M/jbEj5cObb-w/s1600/IMG_7347.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1I2iW3TDI/AAAAAAAAD8M/jbEj5cObb-w/s400/IMG_7347.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507138021116824626″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IpGJHtmI/AAAAAAAAD8E/4T0ndvRQLRQ/s1600/IMG_7353.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IpGJHtmI/AAAAAAAAD8E/4T0ndvRQLRQ/s400/IMG_7353.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137790204687970″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IbSByXhI/AAAAAAAAD78/9T8ixJuqKys/s1600/IMG_7365.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IbSByXhI/AAAAAAAAD78/9T8ixJuqKys/s400/IMG_7365.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137552876985874″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IO-t7_rI/AAAAAAAAD70/JodsNnaXGSo/s1600/IMG_7383.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IO-t7_rI/AAAAAAAAD70/JodsNnaXGSo/s400/IMG_7383.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137341535026866″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IDysWDRI/AAAAAAAAD7s/PEWqLlwfD2Y/s1600/IMG_7390.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1IDysWDRI/AAAAAAAAD7s/PEWqLlwfD2Y/s400/IMG_7390.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507137149328559378″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1H1_jSM-I/AAAAAAAAD7k/jyg6uGXu73o/s1600/IMG_7395.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1H1_jSM-I/AAAAAAAAD7k/jyg6uGXu73o/s400/IMG_7395.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507136912262050786″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1HbGBaNuI/AAAAAAAAD7U/nzJ9MPg98wM/s1600/IMG_7402.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TG1HbGBaNuI/AAAAAAAAD7U/nzJ9MPg98wM/s400/IMG_7402.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507136450142549730″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-6860689147287145206?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

One of my articles for FasterSkier.com looked at variability in skier performance, particularly among elite World Cup skiers.  In truth, I kind of dashed that article off in a hurry simply because Kris Freeman happened to make a comment about the topic on his blog, and have always wanted to come back to the subject.

Variation is the name of the game for statisticians.  It’s what we do.  Ingrained in every statistician is the expectation that things will vary.  We measure it, quantify it, adjust for it.

In each of the graphs I make, particularly with the more “serious” ones I try to incorporate as much information regarding variability as I can.  On occasion, that can result is a fairly complex looking graph that has a lot of “stuff” on it.  Obviously, there’s a balance to be struck here.

Displaying how variable the data are, not just the trends, is crucial.  To show you why, I’m going to revisit the graph from this short article I did on FasterSkier, where I looked at age vs. FIS point trends broken down by the level of success each athlete had achieved at World Juniors of U23s.

Here’s a version of that same graph only showing information on the global trends:

Without all the points in the background, this graph looks much cleaner.  This might fool us into thinking that it’s actually easier to understand in this form.  But I would argue that with only the trend lines, this graph is seriously misleading.  It is too easy to be lulled into thinking that each blue line represents some sort of inexorable Law of Skiing.  Additionally, in comparing the red trend lines (American athletes) vs the blue trend lines (everyone else) this is dangerous.  Where the lines are quite different we might be tempted to conclude something like “every other athlete develops like the blue line, but the American’s don’t”.

This would be a terribly incomplete description of the data.  That’s why I included all of the actual data points in the background (with some alpha blending, to give a sense of where the points are denser):

This gives us crucial context for interpreting the trend lines.  Specifically, the actual FIS points display a significant amount of variability around the trend lines.  This should give us some reason to be cautious.

It suggests that while the blue trend lines are good at depicting what happens for the average skier in each panel, there may not be very many skiers who are actually close to “average”.  How varied are the actual individual skiers?  Well, let’s look at the same plot, but with blue trend lines for each individual skier (and the same red trend lines for the Americans):

I’ve omitted the points and instead plotted a trend line for each individual skier.  Each blue line corresponds to a single, non-American ski racer.  My point here is to emphasize how many of these lines are quite different from the single, general trend lines from above.  Can you see how this might lead us to read the graph, and the data, differently?  A world with zero variability would mean each blue line in this third plot mirrored the global trends from the first plot exactly.  And that would be pretty boring.

I don’t mean to say that general trends, like the ones in the first graph, are somehow wrong.  Useful lessons can often be learned from them.  But anytime we attempt to move from the general (the average trend over all skiers) to the specific (the trend for a single specific skier) we should use caution.

Related posts:

1. <Variability In World Cup Ski Racers
2. <Athlete Rankings: What’s In Your Bucket?
3. <How Well Prepared Are World Cup Rookies? (Part 1b: Distance)

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxPSrPkoQI/AAAAAAAAD7M/rImCXpFg1-o/s1600/IMG_7212.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxPSrPkoQI/AAAAAAAAD7M/rImCXpFg1-o/s400/IMG_7212.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506863626631553282″ //aThis was our last morning and everyone was a bit tired. Our pre-breakfast jog and stretch was mostly stretching. After a great breakfast we had a fun filled morning.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxN97doZOI/AAAAAAAAD7E/k9-5EuDD2VQ/s1600/IMG_7295.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxN97doZOI/AAAAAAAAD7E/k9-5EuDD2VQ/s400/IMG_7295.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506862170696606946″ //aPoppet set up a great event this morning. We had 9 teams of 7 people with a Jr counselor to help each group. The first task was to find 53 pieces of paper that were hidden around campus from a list of clues that each team was provided. Each piece of paper had a number and a letter on it.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxM02y2PGI/AAAAAAAAD68/aYyKzo__D2c/s1600/IMG_7303.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxM02y2PGI/AAAAAAAAD68/aYyKzo__D2c/s400/IMG_7303.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506860915312966754″ //aAfter finding the 53 clues, each team had to separate the letters (they were told which #’s went together), unscramble the letters to make words (to determine that they had to find Sverre for their next step) and then track down all of the counselors to find answers to the counselor trivia questions. It was lots of fun and everyone was scrambling!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxL048iLaI/AAAAAAAAD60/0-kI9ObX8JM/s1600/IMG_7311.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxL048iLaI/AAAAAAAAD60/0-kI9ObX8JM/s400/IMG_7311.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506859816378838434″ //aOur Camp Olympics consisted of three relay races. The first was a mixed medley and consisted of a tire carry, a backwards run, 2 leg jumps, 1 leg jumps, a tire roll, a crab walk, a noodle run, grapevine and bear crawl.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxLTY7HYyI/AAAAAAAAD6s/TEYO72G2wvI/s1600/IMG_7328.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxLTY7HYyI/AAAAAAAAD6s/TEYO72G2wvI/s400/IMG_7328.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506859240847270690″ //aAction from the running relay.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxKV0peDpI/AAAAAAAAD6k/ubgVMpWlH0Y/s1600/IMG_7379.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxKV0peDpI/AAAAAAAAD6k/ubgVMpWlH0Y/s400/IMG_7379.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506858183137562258″ //aCamp Olympics ended with the “Noodle/soccer Relay”. Spin around 10 times, then dribble a soccer ball to the goal, shoot, score, dribble back and tag your team-mate. Matt got a bit dizzy.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxJuZWXzOI/AAAAAAAAD6c/yBdMG8GydSA/s1600/IMG_7394.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxJuZWXzOI/AAAAAAAAD6c/yBdMG8GydSA/s400/IMG_7394.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506857505794804962″ //aAfter lunch, we had our wrap up meeting and the campers all got their new shirts. br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxJTD021mI/AAAAAAAAD6U/SXFYTNG0iyE/s1600/IMG_7398.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGxJTD021mI/AAAAAAAAD6U/SXFYTNG0iyE/s400/IMG_7398.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506857036160620130″ //aT-shirt signing is always a big hit!br /Special thanks to Andy and all of the coaches; Poppet, Charlie, Matt, Kate, Sue, Sophie, Abby, Austin, Izzy, Heather, Bridger, Mac, Hallie and Cambria. Also to Lilly for being our official photographer and helping with transportation and organization.br /I am at home now, with slow internet. I will try to post some more pictures tomorrow before Jr Camp starts.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-5119291542949066319?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

Apparently this is our modern rivalry on the men’s side of things.  I suppose the Norwegians and Swedes will always find something to torment each other over, so this one is as good as any.  Obviously, this story has many chapters left to be written, but let’s take a look at how things have progressed so far…

First up is distance results:

This shows the difference in FIS points every time (that I have on record) of Northug (NOR) and Hellner (SWE) racing against each other in distance events.  Since lower FIS points are better, negative values mean Northug won and vice versa.

Hellner took first blood in 2003 in a simple FIS race and then was just barely edged out by Northug at World Juniors (26th vs 25th; apparently neither of them emerged from the womb winning World Cup races).  Northug definitely had the better of Hellner the next year at World Juniors (Northug won both races, Hellner was 15th and 28th).

From here things went back and forth a bit, but Northug recorded bigger (margin) wins than Hellner.  Over the last three seasons, though, Hellner seems to have evened things up quite a bit, particularly in skating.

In sprinting, the rivalry sort of falls apart:

This is plotting the difference in rank, not the difference in FIS points.  The trend line for all of three classic sprints is a grave statistical sin.  My apologies, I was simply too lazy to futz with my script to suppress it.

What about mass start races?  Northug has been “unbeatable” reportedly given his ability to out sprint his competitors in the final meters of a mass start race.  I won’t do anything complicated here, just check out some boxplots for each race type:

I’d say that’s a clear advantage for Northug in pure mass start races.  Pursuits seem more ambiguous for some reason, although remember that this is aggregating over time.

In any case, Northug would appear to, ahem, be winning these battles.  The trend line suggests some improvement by Hellner, but it’s a minor change.  Northug sure can sprint, but he’s definitely not unbeatable!

Related posts:

1. <Daehlie vs. Smirnov
2. <Head-to-Head
3. <Head-to-Head: Marit vs Justyna

We wrapped up day 3 of our BKL camp with some fun skits. My camera battery died so there are only a few pictures, but you’ll get the idea. They were fun and everyone had a good time.br /We then presented the awards for the name game to Tess and Raili and the clean room awards to Talia and Izzy (for girls) and Scott, Forrest and Sam L (for boys).a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5m4QIXLI/AAAAAAAAD6E/K9Cwl9CNmdc/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5m4QIXLI/AAAAAAAAD6E/K9Cwl9CNmdc/s400/IMG_7181.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506558309488417970″ //aI really should know who these girls were singing along with, but….br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5amJxrfI/AAAAAAAAD58/wClj7QQfMQY/s1600/IMG_7185.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5amJxrfI/AAAAAAAAD58/wClj7QQfMQY/s400/IMG_7185.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506558098471497202″ //aLady GaGa and entourage.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5TV20VVI/AAAAAAAAD50/5A6B3rqR6E8/s1600/IMG_7189.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5TV20VVI/AAAAAAAAD50/5A6B3rqR6E8/s400/IMG_7189.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557973837927762″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5HN1yfvI/AAAAAAAAD5s/VF-1w66pzGI/s1600/IMG_7178.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs5HN1yfvI/AAAAAAAAD5s/VF-1w66pzGI/s400/IMG_7178.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557765527699186″ //aLooking good boys!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs4257hAtI/AAAAAAAAD5k/vjXDQ0GXNEo/s1600/IMG_7193.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs4257hAtI/AAAAAAAAD5k/vjXDQ0GXNEo/s400/IMG_7193.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557485305103058″ //a”The Coaches” made fun of their coaches.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs4k8tCImI/AAAAAAAAD5c/wKXyn2zbxU0/s1600/IMG_7195.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs4k8tCImI/AAAAAAAAD5c/wKXyn2zbxU0/s400/IMG_7195.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506557176812020322″ //aThese girls were time travelers who were in a running race.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs4RsQpfQI/AAAAAAAAD5U/QvUl-A85OGQ/s1600/IMG_7196.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGs4RsQpfQI/AAAAAAAAD5U/QvUl-A85OGQ/s400/IMG_7196.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506556845980482818″ //aLane was serenaded with the Happy Birthday song and got his birthday pint.br /Now everyone is off to bed!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-4512395941715120890?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsb7VV6H7I/AAAAAAAAD5M/2kpZGLe9l2U/s1600/IMG_6916.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsb7VV6H7I/AAAAAAAAD5M/2kpZGLe9l2U/s400/IMG_6916.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506525675545829298″ //aMorning jog.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsbwonRmuI/AAAAAAAAD5E/Nye-EOHL__U/s1600/IMG_6929.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsbwonRmuI/AAAAAAAAD5E/Nye-EOHL__U/s400/IMG_6929.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506525491740383970″ //aWe worked on our famous coordination routine and then each team made a pyramid.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsblIYO8xI/AAAAAAAAD48/XVQWoBnY-_Y/s1600/IMG_6935.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsblIYO8xI/AAAAAAAAD48/XVQWoBnY-_Y/s400/IMG_6935.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506525294108799762″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsba9uE92I/AAAAAAAAD40/sF_oO9y95fk/s1600/IMG_6943.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsba9uE92I/AAAAAAAAD40/sF_oO9y95fk/s400/IMG_6943.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506525119448938338″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsbPe3nI4I/AAAAAAAAD4s/OkmT1RAkNqA/s1600/IMG_6946.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsbPe3nI4I/AAAAAAAAD4s/OkmT1RAkNqA/s400/IMG_6946.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506524922188866434″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsbG9InxZI/AAAAAAAAD4k/gPXYlHtU8Dw/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsbG9InxZI/AAAAAAAAD4k/gPXYlHtU8Dw/s400/IMG_6949.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506524775694452114″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsa95Dt5_I/AAAAAAAAD4c/9Z7v9xDBPRA/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsa95Dt5_I/AAAAAAAAD4c/9Z7v9xDBPRA/s400/IMG_6951.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506524619981318130″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsayM63AoI/AAAAAAAAD4U/QL-u9EhtDRc/s1600/IMG_6953.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsayM63AoI/AAAAAAAAD4U/QL-u9EhtDRc/s400/IMG_6953.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506524419154444930″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsanqMd-RI/AAAAAAAAD4M/uaUGK4k5mWU/s1600/IMG_6955.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsanqMd-RI/AAAAAAAAD4M/uaUGK4k5mWU/s400/IMG_6955.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506524238034368786″ //aThis group decided to get creative after several collapses.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsaYkYHlTI/AAAAAAAAD4E/UaTpJIR7my4/s1600/IMG_6958.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsaYkYHlTI/AAAAAAAAD4E/UaTpJIR7my4/s400/IMG_6958.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506523978774582578″ //aAfter breakfast we organized the day and talked about competition. We were getting ready for a mtn run test and we talked about getting rid of all of the negative thoughts that try to enter your mind and focusing on the simple task at hand. Get from point A to point B as fast as you can. The goal was to do your personal best and be happy if you did that.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsaOqXQSII/AAAAAAAAD38/63GKOVGQ8Vo/s1600/IMG_6960.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsaOqXQSII/AAAAAAAAD38/63GKOVGQ8Vo/s400/IMG_6960.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506523808582879362″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsaC_obxFI/AAAAAAAAD30/vMhK3_Z6JBI/s1600/IMG_6963.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsaC_obxFI/AAAAAAAAD30/vMhK3_Z6JBI/s400/IMG_6963.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506523608133649490″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZ0xxjGKI/AAAAAAAAD3s/5HhQJcHPyVM/s1600/IMG_6966.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZ0xxjGKI/AAAAAAAAD3s/5HhQJcHPyVM/s400/IMG_6966.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506523363895613602″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZmqujCQI/AAAAAAAAD3k/vzP0NBoRVDQ/s1600/IMG_6968.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZmqujCQI/AAAAAAAAD3k/vzP0NBoRVDQ/s400/IMG_6968.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506523121485809922″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZbPcBeFI/AAAAAAAAD3c/HTWQpQXY4cc/s1600/IMG_6969.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZbPcBeFI/AAAAAAAAD3c/HTWQpQXY4cc/s400/IMG_6969.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506522925181794386″ //aThe kids did really well and they all put in a great effort.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZKq6klGI/AAAAAAAAD3U/GLok2jRWKF4/s1600/IMG_6972.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsZKq6klGI/AAAAAAAAD3U/GLok2jRWKF4/s400/IMG_6972.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506522640499905634″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsY6exlbAI/AAAAAAAAD3M/R3d748ojTI4/s1600/IMG_6977.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsY6exlbAI/AAAAAAAAD3M/R3d748ojTI4/s400/IMG_6977.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506522362363079682″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYuCyWFOI/AAAAAAAAD3E/l2v1yuhilHY/s1600/IMG_6980.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYuCyWFOI/AAAAAAAAD3E/l2v1yuhilHY/s400/IMG_6980.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506522148691645666″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYkeLIf8I/AAAAAAAAD28/3qDH0ZhddKU/s1600/IMG_6983.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYkeLIf8I/AAAAAAAAD28/3qDH0ZhddKU/s400/IMG_6983.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506521984244678594″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYZ1X9AlI/AAAAAAAAD20/uRLO3XGzlm8/s1600/IMG_6984.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYZ1X9AlI/AAAAAAAAD20/uRLO3XGzlm8/s400/IMG_6984.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506521801493906002″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYNkFRINI/AAAAAAAAD2s/DAD3qUjEZ5E/s1600/IMG_6989.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYNkFRINI/AAAAAAAAD2s/DAD3qUjEZ5E/s400/IMG_6989.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506521590693699794″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYBCE6yNI/AAAAAAAAD2k/HlrJmJAfOzs/s1600/IMG_6993.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsYBCE6yNI/AAAAAAAAD2k/HlrJmJAfOzs/s400/IMG_6993.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506521375406999762″ //aGreat effort.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsXd_HdHAI/AAAAAAAAD2U/GFqCM0rSqyg/s1600/IMG_6999.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsXd_HdHAI/AAAAAAAAD2U/GFqCM0rSqyg/s400/IMG_6999.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506520773316910082″ //a”Congratulations, you focused on the task at hand; get up the hill as fast as you can!”br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsXVNgC8bI/AAAAAAAAD2M/EdtGrhO4PnQ/s1600/IMG_7000.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsXVNgC8bI/AAAAAAAAD2M/EdtGrhO4PnQ/s400/IMG_7000.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506520622559326642″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsW-xGQmiI/AAAAAAAAD2E/3-oj9CelYNQ/s1600/IMG_7001.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsW-xGQmiI/AAAAAAAAD2E/3-oj9CelYNQ/s400/IMG_7001.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506520236977855010″ //aAfter a short break and a power bar for everyone, we headed to the top.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWqUevf0I/AAAAAAAAD18/KBP5rCSOSz0/s1600/IMG_7003.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWqUevf0I/AAAAAAAAD18/KBP5rCSOSz0/s400/IMG_7003.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506519885698531138″ //aEveryone made it to the top and posed with the bear.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWhKZJI9I/AAAAAAAAD10/SkPRYbuLj-g/s1600/IMG_7004.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWhKZJI9I/AAAAAAAAD10/SkPRYbuLj-g/s400/IMG_7004.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506519728371868626″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWX3RrPYI/AAAAAAAAD1s/18Hzz6Zv03E/s1600/IMG_7006.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWX3RrPYI/AAAAAAAAD1s/18Hzz6Zv03E/s400/IMG_7006.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506519568621452674″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWO1BC4sI/AAAAAAAAD1k/IIYm-FLayT0/s1600/IMG_7010.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWO1BC4sI/AAAAAAAAD1k/IIYm-FLayT0/s400/IMG_7010.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506519413396005570″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWFJQjk4I/AAAAAAAAD1c/lgaQ19IHwno/s1600/IMG_7012.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsWFJQjk4I/AAAAAAAAD1c/lgaQ19IHwno/s400/IMG_7012.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506519247031079810″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsV8WhCJyI/AAAAAAAAD1U/2k0elgJGUA4/s1600/IMG_7013.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsV8WhCJyI/AAAAAAAAD1U/2k0elgJGUA4/s400/IMG_7013.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506519095971030818″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsVvZyCQDI/AAAAAAAAD1M/SKR4SRB91UQ/s1600/IMG_7017.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsVvZyCQDI/AAAAAAAAD1M/SKR4SRB91UQ/s400/IMG_7017.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506518873509347378″ //aHeading back down for lunch.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsVYIyfM4I/AAAAAAAAD1E/LkOBs1w70jw/s1600/IMG_7033.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsVYIyfM4I/AAAAAAAAD1E/LkOBs1w70jw/s400/IMG_7033.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506518473810850690″ //aAfter lunch, Andy Newell talked to the group about his ski experiences growing up and answered a bunch of great questions.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsUjPWwvoI/AAAAAAAAD08/zcGLkq6dDfw/s1600/IMG_7035.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsUjPWwvoI/AAAAAAAAD08/zcGLkq6dDfw/s400/IMG_7035.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506517565040541314″ //aAfter the talks, everyone had a chance to work on their skits AND to ski with Andy.br /We went to a big parking lot with nice pavement and set up a slalom. Then we practiced sprint starts, 5-6 head to head with Andy jumping in on a bunch of them. It was great for the kids to be able to race against one of the fastest skiers in the world.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsUT08elsI/AAAAAAAAD00/pRCPoQZh7aw/s1600/IMG_7053.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsUT08elsI/AAAAAAAAD00/pRCPoQZh7aw/s400/IMG_7053.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506517300252939970″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsUJYTcmMI/AAAAAAAAD0s/P6NWAkvT5GQ/s1600/IMG_7060.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsUJYTcmMI/AAAAAAAAD0s/P6NWAkvT5GQ/s400/IMG_7060.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506517120765958338″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsT7Qb9_9I/AAAAAAAAD0k/UwZxs0Fo-Hk/s1600/IMG_7104.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsT7Qb9_9I/AAAAAAAAD0k/UwZxs0Fo-Hk/s400/IMG_7104.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506516878136049618″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTwiccD0I/AAAAAAAAD0c/kevR_8CjVIM/s1600/IMG_7106.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 235px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTwiccD0I/AAAAAAAAD0c/kevR_8CjVIM/s400/IMG_7106.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506516693991296834″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTm8kxdAI/AAAAAAAAD0U/_ytdj7PKArE/s1600/IMG_7111.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTm8kxdAI/AAAAAAAAD0U/_ytdj7PKArE/s400/IMG_7111.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506516529206883330″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTchzpahI/AAAAAAAAD0M/-2WuU7wb3bY/s1600/IMG_7114.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTchzpahI/AAAAAAAAD0M/-2WuU7wb3bY/s400/IMG_7114.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506516350222821906″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTSMuboFI/AAAAAAAAD0E/1LCILUXRThk/s1600/IMG_7117.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTSMuboFI/AAAAAAAAD0E/1LCILUXRThk/s400/IMG_7117.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506516172765110354″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTAO7DXcI/AAAAAAAADz8/HRrn4C06LTc/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 180px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsTAO7DXcI/AAAAAAAADz8/HRrn4C06LTc/s400/IMG_7134.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506515864117272002″ //aFollow the leader.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsS5O06iaI/AAAAAAAADz0/HTDCdBmdoXo/s1600/IMG_7138.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsS5O06iaI/AAAAAAAADz0/HTDCdBmdoXo/s400/IMG_7138.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506515743832443298″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsSumGIujI/AAAAAAAADzs/e0mOyDA2PFk/s1600/IMG_7147.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsSumGIujI/AAAAAAAADzs/e0mOyDA2PFk/s400/IMG_7147.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506515561100130866″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsSjinMR-I/AAAAAAAADzk/n5O0HC-D5gU/s1600/IMG_7151.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsSjinMR-I/AAAAAAAADzk/n5O0HC-D5gU/s400/IMG_7151.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506515371186472930″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsSTVN8gLI/AAAAAAAADzc/zpYn_D-Hdr4/s1600/IMG_7158.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsSTVN8gLI/AAAAAAAADzc/zpYn_D-Hdr4/s400/IMG_7158.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506515092713013426″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsR3ibUiuI/AAAAAAAADzU/QTWAJ-osg2Q/s1600/IMG_7162.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsR3ibUiuI/AAAAAAAADzU/QTWAJ-osg2Q/s400/IMG_7162.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506514615222438626″ //aThere were plenty of SMS kids available to challenge too. Here is Jr National Champ Isabel C mixing it up with a group.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsRi_jqKsI/AAAAAAAADzM/SeSV5mbFC3Q/s1600/IMG_7172.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGsRi_jqKsI/AAAAAAAADzM/SeSV5mbFC3Q/s400/IMG_7172.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506514262264785602″ //aWe finished the afternoon with another swim at Pikes Falls.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-8174895419237776591?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnmdVcgqSI/AAAAAAAADzE/Y-v7QYYMlCA/s1600/IMG_6637.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnmdVcgqSI/AAAAAAAADzE/Y-v7QYYMlCA/s400/IMG_6637.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506185411084462370″ //aWe had a busy day with the BKL kids today. We started with a pre-breakfast jog and stretch and stayed active until the sun set on our evening game. Here are some pictures from the day.br /As always, you can click on any picture to enlarge it.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnmR86iFUI/AAAAAAAADy8/3Uu5lSbHLdM/s1600/IMG_6640.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 187px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnmR86iFUI/AAAAAAAADy8/3Uu5lSbHLdM/s400/IMG_6640.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506185215520937282″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnmHJXDsEI/AAAAAAAADy0/s4iCMuMtVOI/s1600/IMG_6646.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnmHJXDsEI/AAAAAAAADy0/s4iCMuMtVOI/s400/IMG_6646.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506185029883244610″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnl-bniEnI/AAAAAAAADys/ZM9mCboWGSY/s1600/IMG_6649.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnl-bniEnI/AAAAAAAADys/ZM9mCboWGSY/s400/IMG_6649.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506184880165360242″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnl2OwStUI/AAAAAAAADyk/0yXl2NhtCoE/s1600/IMG_6658.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnl2OwStUI/AAAAAAAADyk/0yXl2NhtCoE/s400/IMG_6658.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506184739273487682″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnlsrX_AxI/AAAAAAAADyc/7rv2MWVa0SI/s1600/IMG_6665.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnlsrX_AxI/AAAAAAAADyc/7rv2MWVa0SI/s400/IMG_6665.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506184575157469970″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnllK2fcaI/AAAAAAAADyU/g2TeqikNe2U/s1600/IMG_6666.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnllK2fcaI/AAAAAAAADyU/g2TeqikNe2U/s400/IMG_6666.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506184446167970210″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnkfZQxB1I/AAAAAAAADyM/Zoa5huRY6_I/s1600/IMG_6669.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnkfZQxB1I/AAAAAAAADyM/Zoa5huRY6_I/s400/IMG_6669.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506183247445428050″ //a”Don’t worry dad, they’re feeding me well!”br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnkTMvDfLI/AAAAAAAADyE/9NeJsk6q_WM/s1600/IMG_6699.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnkTMvDfLI/AAAAAAAADyE/9NeJsk6q_WM/s400/IMG_6699.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506183037924375730″ //aAfter breakfast, coach Boobar led us in some basic technique progressions. We then split into two groups with 1/2 roller skiing while the others played soccer, speedball and did strength. In the afternoon, we had a discussion on “life after the BKL years” and then the groups switched activities so that everyone got to do everything. We were hit by a torrential downpour late in the morning which cut our roller ski a hair short, but it cleared up and we had a nice afternoon.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnkGCNsF_I/AAAAAAAADx8/sHbhLPV83Lc/s1600/IMG_6715.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnkGCNsF_I/AAAAAAAADx8/sHbhLPV83Lc/s400/IMG_6715.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506182811761776626″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnj8HFyKhI/AAAAAAAADx0/Jq7VXIQ1FHM/s1600/IMG_6718.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnj8HFyKhI/AAAAAAAADx0/Jq7VXIQ1FHM/s400/IMG_6718.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506182641272105490″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjxhthwJI/AAAAAAAADxs/EP6t8f6yTWE/s1600/IMG_6723.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjxhthwJI/AAAAAAAADxs/EP6t8f6yTWE/s400/IMG_6723.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506182459439562898″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjpbOikeI/AAAAAAAADxk/TLBDPsy6DWo/s1600/IMG_6725.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjpbOikeI/AAAAAAAADxk/TLBDPsy6DWo/s400/IMG_6725.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506182320260026850″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjT8hOYsI/AAAAAAAADxc/8cKOxXjRJXQ/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjT8hOYsI/AAAAAAAADxc/8cKOxXjRJXQ/s400/IMG_6751.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506181951239643842″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjK9iuxaI/AAAAAAAADxU/REusUdUc33o/s1600/IMG_6757.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnjK9iuxaI/AAAAAAAADxU/REusUdUc33o/s400/IMG_6757.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506181796895573410″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGni_7-Q4wI/AAAAAAAADxM/dTlGhXbntvM/s1600/IMG_6760.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGni_7-Q4wI/AAAAAAAADxM/dTlGhXbntvM/s400/IMG_6760.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506181607495623426″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnim-AWdRI/AAAAAAAADxE/G6r7pVM13vc/s1600/IMG_6776.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnim-AWdRI/AAAAAAAADxE/G6r7pVM13vc/s400/IMG_6776.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506181178544518418″ //aSpinning between strength exercises.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnicR_Z31I/AAAAAAAADw8/r9LMKD9tnNw/s1600/IMG_6783.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnicR_Z31I/AAAAAAAADw8/r9LMKD9tnNw/s400/IMG_6783.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506180994930696018″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGniRSL5vKI/AAAAAAAADw0/mM-4v5hDzsA/s1600/IMG_6788.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGniRSL5vKI/AAAAAAAADw0/mM-4v5hDzsA/s400/IMG_6788.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506180806004554914″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGniEbO2HAI/AAAAAAAADws/cMj_yOBIbkI/s1600/IMG_6797.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGniEbO2HAI/AAAAAAAADws/cMj_yOBIbkI/s400/IMG_6797.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506180585094519810″ //aOne leg balance work.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnh51BMjYI/AAAAAAAADwk/VQr1NU3GClk/s1600/IMG_6802.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnh51BMjYI/AAAAAAAADwk/VQr1NU3GClk/s400/IMG_6802.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506180403038031234″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnhqMrKEOI/AAAAAAAADwc/Fp5ZAz8fKrA/s1600/IMG_6806.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnhqMrKEOI/AAAAAAAADwc/Fp5ZAz8fKrA/s400/IMG_6806.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506180134510137570″ //aLooks as if Bridger has done this before!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnhcpVCFmI/AAAAAAAADwU/7PV-0jJop-8/s1600/IMG_6822.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnhcpVCFmI/AAAAAAAADwU/7PV-0jJop-8/s400/IMG_6822.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506179901683799650″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnhQEN7DGI/AAAAAAAADwM/X4ITcz8O6rY/s1600/IMG_6827.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnhQEN7DGI/AAAAAAAADwM/X4ITcz8O6rY/s400/IMG_6827.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506179685563436130″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGng9hLJshI/AAAAAAAADwE/N7HeKiTOn0E/s1600/IMG_6841.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGng9hLJshI/AAAAAAAADwE/N7HeKiTOn0E/s400/IMG_6841.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506179366918926866″ //aGavin getting after the 1 km uphill skate challenge.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnglkUeTrI/AAAAAAAADv8/BJDsxaQEyiE/s1600/IMG_6868.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnglkUeTrI/AAAAAAAADv8/BJDsxaQEyiE/s400/IMG_6868.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506178955446472370″ //aWe ended the afternoon with a water walking contest. Pictured above is our winner.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGngSh6TIbI/AAAAAAAADv0/C2JuS1iNFf8/s1600/IMG_6873.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGngSh6TIbI/AAAAAAAADv0/C2JuS1iNFf8/s400/IMG_6873.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506178628382302642″ //aSome of the boys took the rock slide.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnf_oi5YTI/AAAAAAAADvs/51_rmebMCAE/s1600/IMG_6883.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnf_oi5YTI/AAAAAAAADvs/51_rmebMCAE/s400/IMG_6883.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506178303745679666″ //aGuess the water is chilly.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnf1Z9bgYI/AAAAAAAADvk/kREt4a8OPQ0/s1600/IMG_6887.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnf1Z9bgYI/AAAAAAAADvk/kREt4a8OPQ0/s400/IMG_6887.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506178128031744386″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnfpuNDxRI/AAAAAAAADvc/LBcfdIrGovM/s1600/IMG_6891.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnfpuNDxRI/AAAAAAAADvc/LBcfdIrGovM/s400/IMG_6891.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506177927307576594″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnentRZu7I/AAAAAAAADvU/B6GnPpc0YHE/s1600/IMG_6899.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnentRZu7I/AAAAAAAADvU/B6GnPpc0YHE/s400/IMG_6899.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506176793185991602″ //aAfter dinner we had a short talk on training and a massive game of “Go For 20″, which is a variation of capture the flag.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGneOgEwt7I/AAAAAAAADvM/21UvlbS-CWA/s1600/IMG_6906.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGneOgEwt7I/AAAAAAAADvM/21UvlbS-CWA/s400/IMG_6906.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506176360146581426″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnd1ebUfNI/AAAAAAAADvE/vaopcN7PtrA/s1600/IMG_6912.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 216px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TGnd1ebUfNI/AAAAAAAADvE/vaopcN7PtrA/s400/IMG_6912.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506175930207599826″ //aOur “Go for 20″ game ended in the dark with a tie and everyone headed in for a good nights sleep.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-8955671493953600854?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

I thought it would be nice to collect all the cross-country skier retirement posts in one place, in case you missed some along the way.  So here they are…

• Rene Sommerfeldt (GER)
• Sabina Valbusa (ITA)
• Anna Olson (SWE)
• Sara Renner (CAN)
• Virpi Kuitunen (FIN)
• Claudia Nystad (GER)
• Reto Burgermeister (SUI)
• Milan Sperl (CZE)
• Laurence Rochat (SUI)

Anyone famous that I’m forgetting?  Or even not so famous?

Update: Surprised no one’s mentioned Kristina Smigun-Vaehi.  I’ve left her out, haven’t I?  Easily fixed…

Related posts:

1. <Career Retrospective: Sabina Valbusa
2. <Career Retrospective: Virpi Kuitunen
3. <Career Retrospective: Reto Burgermeister

I’m continuing to play with creating simple, annotated scalable vector graphics (SVGs) with this cycling data, as practice. It also gives me an excuse to look back at this years Giro. In this addition, we’re plotting the races of those riders who didn’t quite make it to the finish line.

First plotted by general classification rank:

As before, if you leave your mouse over the dots you should see the rider’s name, nationality and team appear. The only browser I’m unsure of this working in is Internet Explorer. And really, if you’re still using IE (and you’re not being forced to use it at work) you should really check out your other options. The grass truly is greener, trust me.

Here’s the other version plotting time (in minutes) from the peloton, where we’ve defined the peloton to be the median rider at each stage. Negative values indicated that you are ahead of the median rider and vice versa:

Related posts:

1. <Tour de France Bumps Chart: Stage 14
2. <Tour de France Charts: Stage 17
3. <Tour de France Charts