FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • Bend Camp, a retrospective

    Pepa, this one’s for you …

    Matt, Tim, and I just finished up a two week camp in Bend, Oregon, where we got to do some skiing on snow with the USST, Sun Valley, the MOD team,  the Canadian national team, and many more.  The conditions were pretty great considering it was late May through early June.  Zero skis were the ticket the first week – Bachelor received a few inches of fresh powder each night and the mornings were mostly clear and cool.  The second week it started raining, which softened things up, but no one could really complain because it was snow in May.

    Our mandate for the camp was to work on efficiency on snow, so in the weeks prior to leaving Pepa drilled us on the various technique changes we needed to make.  Getting to work on striding on snow after a few weeks on rollerskis was particularly advantageous for me.  I felt like my classic skiing came along quite well over the course of the camp.

    The scene in Bend is pretty much an endurance athlete’s dream.  Great singletrack, a host of mountains to explore within a half hour’s drive, and [allegedly] gorgeous weather.  After skiing at Bachelor every morning, we’d set out to explore the trails around Bend (or the weight room at Central Oregon Community College) in the afternoon.  In the evenings we’d watch movies, sample the fantastic local beer, and generally relax.  We even got to take Chase Hammond out for his 21st birthday.

    Huge thanks go out to the Hammond family for putting us up for two weeks, Kristy Aserlind for hosting us in Portland, Matt Whitcomb, Chris Grover, and Travis Jones for being so accommodating and inviting us to join in various workouts, and the Fereday brothers for being great training partners.  Below are a few pictures from early in the camp.

    Briggs on day 1

    Getting equipment ready

    Briggs in the natural half-pipe

    Briggs in the natural half-pipe

    Burruss on day 1

    Big smile

    On the way home from Bend, Tim and I made a stop in Trout Lake, Washington to see Tim’s buddy Spencer Paxson ride in the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic.  XC Oregon skiers Brayton Osgood and Marshall Greene gave us a ride up the day of the road race in Trout Lake – both those guys are ripping up the amateur race at the MHCC.  Marshall is currently first on GC for the Cat 4s and Brayton is in 7th for the Cat 3s.  Tim’s buddy had a rough day, but was able to rally and put in a good time trial the next day in Hood River, Oregon.  Spencer is a pro mountain biker who hops in road races as a Cat 2, which means he has to race with the pros (which has its drawbacks, particularly on days when everything’s not going perfectly).  Spencer’s family hosted us (along with a bunch of other cyclists) on Thursday night and then we caught a ride to Portland the next day.

    All things considered, Bend Camp was a total success.  The weather was decent, the workouts were fantastic, and fun was had by all.  I’m definitely headed back next year.

    UPDATE: check out Andy Newell’s blog for a quick clip of Timmy doing L3 intervals with the USST.

  • Going Skiing! (and the past couple of weeks!)

    div class=”separator” style=”clear: both; text-align: center;”/divWell, today is June 6th and in just a couple of hours I will be headed to my first Eagle Glacier training camp as an athlete. Yes, I’ve been to Eagle before but only in the capacity as a coach or a worker for a pre-glacier work camp party. The APU team will go to Eagle to ski on snow for a week once a month during June, July, and August.br /br /div class=”separator” style=”clear: both; text-align: center;”

  • Taking Skiing to the Schoolyards: The Latest Project

    object width=”320″ height=”266″ class=”BLOG_video_class” id=”BLOG_video-5c1f0698ef3c746a” classid=”clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000″ codebase=”http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0″param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/get_player”param name=”bgcolor” value=”#FFFFFF”param name=”allowfullscreen” value=”true”param name=”flashvars” value=”flvurl=http%3A%2F%2Fv10.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D5c1f0698ef3c746a%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1297333180%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D387B1F192F6DA0F2F5300FD56C92ED1D894C4B6B.3F4270C741BD16FBE001C318E0E637B77FD2FCE5%26key%3Dck1amp;iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5c1f0698ef3c746a%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DcV-FwoFT1-cCVZBmcOmCtBcnaRAamp;autoplay=0amp;ps=blogger”embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/get_player” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”width=”320″ height=”266″ bgcolor=”#FFFFFF”flashvars=”flvurl=http%3A%2F%2Fv10.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D5c1f0698ef3c746a%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1297333180%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D387B1F192F6DA0F2F5300FD56C92ED1D894C4B6B.3F4270C741BD16FBE001C318E0E637B77FD2FCE5%26key%3Dck1iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5c1f0698ef3c746a%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DcV-FwoFT1-cCVZBmcOmCtBcnaRAautoplay=0ps=blogger”allowFullScreen=”true” //objectdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2691525267872963085-2821993332611216305?l=in-the-arena-torin.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • (Finally) The End of the Racing Season

    It’s not often that you get to race – on real snow – at the end of May. It’s also not that often that you get to race – at least at my level – against the likes of Ivan Babikov. divdivbr /div/divdivLast weekend I got both. The race is

  • Still skiable in Utah.  

    img src=”http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3ji44md811qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/pStill skiable in Utah.  /p

  • NTG Training Camp Preview?

    Not exactly a preview of the 2010 NTG Training Camp… …but a great clip from a training camp in Østerdalen Norway in the early 1960s.br /br /object width=”480″ height=”385″param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/sz30lTaKHDEamp;hl=en_USamp;fs=1amp;color1=0x3a3a3aamp;color2=0x999999″param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/sz30lTaKHDEamp;hl=en_USamp;fs=1amp;color1=0x3a3a3aamp;color2=0x999999″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”480″ height=”385″/embed/objectbr /br /span style=”color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;”SUMMER STONE GRINDINGbr /br //spanStone grinding work continues through the summer. Naturally, the pace and schedule are a bit more relaxed. Typically the turn-around in the summer is a couple of weeks instead of the same-week service that Ultratune provides during fall and winter.br /br /

  • National Sports Academy’s Commencement Speech

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k1DHbqzFvCE/TBkNNSRsIYI/AAAAAAAAA-s/FK-5LgtDdZI/s1600/DSC01127.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/_k1DHbqzFvCE/TBkNNSRsIYI/AAAAAAAAA-s/FK-5LgtDdZI/s320/DSC01127.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483428543195783554″ //adiv style=”text-align: left;”The following is the Commencement Speech that I gave at my former high school, National Sports Academy’s 2010 Graduation. It was a honorable opportunity which was important to me, and as I talked with parents and staff afterwards, important to them:/divp class=”MsoNormal”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 128); “To get to speak to you today has created a neat opportunity to assess what I’ve been doing in the last decade since I sat where you are sitting now. I am honored to address you after having created a career in biathlon, which started exclusively at NSA, and after representing you and/span/pp class=”MsoNormal”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 128); ” the US at the Vancouver Olympics./span/p p class=”MsoNormal”span style=”color:navy;”There is something special about reaching a culminating event in one’s life because of how deeply and internally tethered you become to the goal of reaching that event. Making it to my first Olympic team was that type of goal for me. I think it actually existed subconsciously for a lot longer than I realized, especially since I grew up with historic Olympic symbols and venues all around me here in Lake Placid. Once the goal to make The Team was declared, not exclaimed however, it became a quiet and internal contract with my self, observed more through my actions rather than discussion./span/pdiv style=”text-align: center;”br //divimg src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k1DHbqzFvCE/TBGWbf6FQcI/AAAAAAAAA-k/GB_enje0ViE/s320/30136_402212732299_601322299_4008053_151302_n.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481327620652351938″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; ” / p class=”MsoNormal” style=”text-align: center;”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color:#000080;”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 0); “span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color:#333333;”ispan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-size: small;”{Photo Courtesy of local photographer /span/i/span

  • Lactate Minimum Testing with Mom

    Heart Rate 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 165, 170, 175

    Mom testing my blood lactate

    Margaret is helping me with some training zone definitions through blood lactate testing.  Thanks Margaret for loaning me the equipment and thanks Mom for running the test.  I ran two 30 second intervals, took a lactate bath for 7 minutes and then ran 5 minutes at a steady heart rate.  Values looked good with lactates staying below 2.3 until 170 heart rate.

    Track intervals were extra fun this week because I was coached, taped, and tested by my Mom.  Plus, I had new orthodics from Andrew, lactate testing equipment from Margaret,  and new shoes from Rita.  It is fantastic to be part of such a strong community.  Thanks!

  • Photo

    img src=”http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3ji1fojPr1qzt3xbo1_250.jpg”/br/br/

  • “And I especially want to thank all the beautiful women for being here. I hope you enjoyed being in…”

    ““And I especially want to thank all the beautiful women for being here. Ibr/
    hope you enjoyed being in your bikinis at the pool.””br/br/ – emGian Franco, continuing to move things forward for women in sport at the closing gala of the FIS congress./em

  • A film about the recent Russian doping sanctions will take place…

    img src=”http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3hnvh4wua1qzt3xbo1_400.jpg”/br/br/pA film about the recent Russian doping sanctions will take place with Mugatu playing the part of the Russian Ski Federation Leader and Simi Hamilton playing the roll of the young, clean upstart American skier who exposes the frauds.  It will be a sequel to Zoolander.  Shooting began this weekend in Bend./p

  • Ooohhh.  You ski my tralalala.  (viaLS)

    img src=”http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3hnrwlsgC1qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/pOoohhh.  You ski my tralalala.  (viaLS)/p

  • Looking ahead: 2 Biathlon World Cups coming to Maine!

    Presque Isle and Fort Kent, ME will host the 7th and 8th World Cups of the 2010-2011 season before World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia in the beginning of March.divbr //divdiv

  • home from the hospital

    Surgery on my right leg went well yesterday. I spent the night in the hospital and came back home today… The doctor did everything he could possibly do, so now its just the healing/waiting game. If it seems like the surgery worked I’ll be going back in and getting my left leg operated on in a few weeks.

    With this being my third year in a row having surgery on my legs, I know I need to do something different next year. I’ve been getting my legs cut open before each summer and then jumping right back into my hard training, and that just isn’t working for me. I need to just give my body (and mind) time to heal. I need to take a step back and treat my body with a bit of respect. So if this surgery (surgeries) are a success or not I have decided I need to take next winter off from racing. I am physically and mentally at a point where I just need to back off a bit. I’m not going to make any claims that I’ll be gunning for the 2014 Olympics, but I’m not going to say I won’t. I’m just going to say I need a break before I breakdown completely.

    So… This said… Last weekend I applied to culinary school, and I plan on starting classes at the International Institutes of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis starting in October!

  • home from the hospital

    Surgery on my right leg went well yesterday. I spent the night in the hospital and came back home today… The doctor did everything he could possibly do, so now its just the healing/waiting game. If it seems like the surgery worked I’ll be going back in and getting my left leg operated on in a few weeks.

    With this being my third year in a row having surgery on my legs, I know I need to do something different next year. I’ve been getting my legs cut open before each summer and then jumping right back into my hard training, and that just isn’t working for me. I need to just give my body (and mind) time to heal. I need to take a step back and treat my body with a bit of respect. So if this surgery (surgeries) are a success or not I have decided I need to take next winter off from racing. I am physically and mentally at a point where I just need to back off a bit. I’m not going to make any claims that I’ll be gunning for the 2014 Olympics, but I’m not going to say I won’t. I’m just going to say I need a break before I breakdown completely.

    So… This said… Last weekend I applied to culinary school, and I plan on starting classes at the International Institutes of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis starting in October!

  • home from the hospital

    Surgery on my right leg went well yesterday. I spent the night in the hospital and came back home today… The doctor did everything he could possibly do, so now its just the healing/waiting game. If it seems like the surgery worked I’ll be going back in and getting my left leg operated on in a few weeks.

    With this being my third year in a row having surgery on my legs, I know I need to do something different next year. I’ve been getting my legs cut open before each summer and then jumping right back into my hard training, and that just isn’t working for me. I need to just give my body (and mind) time to heal. I need to take a step back and treat my body with a bit of respect. So if this surgery (surgeries) are a success or not I have decided I need to take next winter off from racing. I am physically and mentally at a point where I just need to back off a bit. I’m not going to make any claims that I’ll be gunning for the 2014 Olympics, but I’m not going to say I won’t. I’m just going to say I need a break before I breakdown completely.

    So… This said… Last weekend I applied to culinary school, and I plan on starting classes at the International Institutes of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis starting in October!

  • May Roundup: Cycling and Strength Training

    A

  • Bend Camp



    There is not much better than the smell of things drying out after a soaking summer rain. You know the smell, pine trees blowing in the breeze, the earthiness of the ground potent and full, flooding your nostrils. It is a smell of new life, of things drinking up water and breathing out fresh oxygen. There is that humidity in the air that can feel almost too thick to breath, but there is no staleness in it. Today was an over distance (OD) workout and we woke up to a dreary rain and wind blowing outside. As we drove up to Mt. Bachelor, where our groomed ski trails awaited us, (thanks to the Mt. Bachelor groomers!) the rain only got harder and more persistent. So, parked, we climbed out of the vans, nordic skiers from all over the country and Canada, including Olympic biathlon sit skiers, and dressed in our best rain gear from trash bag vests to plastic bag socks, we hit the trails. There are almost always ups and downs in a 3 hour ski. Moments when you feel great and moments when you think you might just quit, but with a GU, a happy dance, a teammate to ski with or a song to amp you up, you can get through most things. I happen to have an amazing team, people whom I call my family, a group of coaches who stood in the pouring rain, chilled to the bone for the entire 3 hours, touching up our skis and keeping spirits high or taking a lap with us to work on technique, so there were relatively few “moments” for me. It is these days when, climbing back in the van at the end, soaked to the bone, tired, and chilled is one of my favorite feelings in the world. It is like the smell after a soaking summer rain. It is a giddy happiness that flows through my body. I have just done something that was not fun for the whole time, but made me a better skier and taught me how to push through things that are not always that sweet. It is the high five from my teammates who you just accomplished this thing with. It is the laughter that flows out with the silly stories of the ski, or just with the knowledge that you just got better today, and getting warm is in your future. I have a great team and I am pushed and encouraged by them every time I step out the door to train. We are a team on and off the race course, which is the type of team I want to be a part of, and we are a team who are proud of each other. We can be better, and we know we can, which is why we are working towards a goal together instead of apart, and I would not want to do it any other way but this. We have had a great camp with each other and with other club programs and teams and after tomorrow we will all head back to our respective homes or training venues for a few weeks until we meet up again for New Zealand in July. I am already psyched. Thanks to everyone who made this camp happen and for all the energy everyone brought each day. Town of Bend, thanks for being so hospitable and to Mt. Bachelor for firing up your groomers for us once again. We will look forward to next year!

  • Season Planning for Coaches.

  • When planning your 2010 / 2011 coaching budget, be sure to…

    img src=”http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3eiosPFF71qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/pWhen planning your 2010 / 2011 coaching budget, be sure to include a few extra thousand dollars for the strongHusqvarna Tolken. /strong(The only coaching tool that can make nordic skiing available to the general public.)…(viaKW)/p