Category: XCFeeds

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

    Family trip to Portage Glacier this weekend. Perfect.

  • Skiing in May?

    There’s a great opportunity for skiing next month.

  • Thank You…Ben Kremer

    I just wanted to write a HUGE thank you to Ben Kremer. Ben was the often silent, other half (sometimes more) part of my Olympic Journey. He spent countless hours over the past few years doing his part to be in relationship with an athlete training for the Olympics. He was the “man behind the curtain.”

    Ben had himself competed for many years with aspirations of qualifying for the Olympic Games. His sport was Biathlon and he also trained out of the Twin Cities and Elk River. He was close but had to retire due to the economic demands of his sport and the lack of funding and prize money. He had to retire and get a “real full-time job”. He knew the struggles of an athlete trying to achieve their best and could relate to what I was going through for the past 4 years. It was a huge help to have his uncompromising support week in and week out. He often drove not only me, but tons of other skiers in the area down the hills that were too steep, videoing hours of me skiing, and running with me on the same boring route when the weather was terrible and he really didn’t want to go.

    It was awesome to have his support for my “Olympic Journey” and I know I could not have made it without him.  He has put a lot of his life on hold for me and he is now ready to dive into tackling his next dream. He helped me with all of my marketing/sponsorship/ and website design. He is incredibly talented and a very versitle Graphic Designer. You should check out his website at www.kremerdesign.com and view some of the other work he has done over the years ( between giving me splits at Nationals!!!).

    Thanks again Ben for Everything you have done :)

  • Thank You…Ben Kremer

    I just wanted to write a HUGE thank you to Ben Kremer. Ben was the often silent, other half (sometimes more) part of my Olympic Journey. He spent countless hours over the past few years doing his part to be in relationship with an athlete training for the Olympics. He was the “man behind the curtain.”

    Ben had himself competed for many years with aspirations of qualifying for the Olympic Games. His sport was Biathlon and he also trained out of the Twin Cities and Elk River. He was close but had to retire due to the economic demands of his sport and the lack of funding and prize money. He had to retire and get a “real full-time job”. He knew the struggles of an athlete trying to achieve their best and could relate to what I was going through for the past 4 years. It was a huge help to have his uncompromising support week in and week out. He often drove not only me, but tons of other skiers in the area down the hills that were too steep, videoing hours of me skiing, and running with me on the same boring route when the weather was terrible and he really didn’t want to go.

    It was awesome to have his support for my “Olympic Journey” and I know I could not have made it without him.  He has put a lot of his life on hold for me and he is now ready to dive into tackling his next dream. He helped me with all of my marketing/sponsorship/ and website design. He is incredibly talented and a very versitle Graphic Designer. You should check out his website at www.kremerdesign.com and view some of the other work he has done over the years ( between giving me splits at Nationals!!!).

    Thanks again Ben for Everything you have done :)

  • Thank You…Ben Kremer

    I just wanted to write a HUGE thank you to Ben Kremer. Ben was the often silent, other half (sometimes more) part of my Olympic Journey. He spent countless hours over the past few years doing his part to be in relationship with an athlete training for the Olympics. He was the “man behind the curtain.”

    Ben had himself competed for many years with aspirations of qualifying for the Olympic Games. His sport was Biathlon and he also trained out of the Twin Cities and Elk River. He was close but had to retire due to the economic demands of his sport and the lack of funding and prize money. He had to retire and get a “real full-time job”. He knew the struggles of an athlete trying to achieve their best and could relate to what I was going through for the past 4 years. It was a huge help to have his uncompromising support week in and week out. He often drove not only me, but tons of other skiers in the area down the hills that were too steep, videoing hours of me skiing, and running with me on the same boring route when the weather was terrible and he really didn’t want to go.

    It was awesome to have his support for my “Olympic Journey” and I know I could not have made it without him.  He has put a lot of his life on hold for me and he is now ready to dive into tackling his next dream. He helped me with all of my marketing/sponsorship/ and website design. He is incredibly talented and a very versitle Graphic Designer. You should check out his website at www.kremerdesign.com and view some of the other work he has done over the years ( between giving me splits at Nationals!!!).

    Thanks again Ben for Everything you have done :)

  • Thank You…Ben Kremer

    I just wanted to write a HUGE thank you to Ben Kremer. Ben was the often silent, other half (sometimes more) part of my Olympic Journey. He spent countless hours over the past few years doing his part to be in relationship with an athlete training for the Olympics. He was the “man behind the curtain.”

    Ben had himself competed for many years with aspirations of qualifying for the Olympic Games. His sport was Biathlon and he also trained out of the Twin Cities and Elk River. He was close but had to retire due to the economic demands of his sport and the lack of funding and prize money. He had to retire and get a “real full-time job”. He knew the struggles of an athlete trying to achieve their best and could relate to what I was going through for the past 4 years. It was a huge help to have his uncompromising support week in and week out. He often drove not only me, but tons of other skiers in the area down the hills that were too steep, videoing hours of me skiing, and running with me on the same boring route when the weather was terrible and he really didn’t want to go.

    It was awesome to have his support for my “Olympic Journey” and I know I could not have made it without him.  He has put a lot of his life on hold for me and he is now ready to dive into tackling his next dream. He helped me with all of my marketing/sponsorship/ and website design. He is incredibly talented and a very versitle Graphic Designer. You should check out his website at www.kremerdesign.com and view some of the other work he has done over the years ( between giving me splits at Nationals!!!).

    Thanks again Ben for Everything you have done :)

  • Another blog about spring.

    Though I’m sure most of you have been reading all the OTHER skier blogs about springtime-funtime, I still figure I’ll pitch in my two cents on this our one month of leisure. I ended my season a bit earlier than expected; following a dismal slew of results in Europe I opted to skip SuperTour Finals in Maine and concentrate on getting some rest in, then try and get a head start on spring volume. After a week of re-adjustment back in the states, I headed south to reunite with a group of close college friends in San Francisco. It was my first time in the Bay Area and I was shown a great time, indeed. We spent the week kayaking the South Fork of the American river, eating delicious ethnic cuisine, running the vast acres of parkland in the city and sampling the hoppin’ urban nightlife, something which I must admit the Methow sorely lacks.br /br /Another week at home and I again packed a bag and left, this time heading east to Missoula to help my very pregnant sister move out of her current home in anticipation of a relocation to eastern Montana. While it was less of a vacation than San Fran, it was still great to see the sis and family and spend some quality time with them and two close family friends over good food and wine.br /br /Back in the valley again for a few days before leaving AGAIN, this time (three days ago) for Bend, to give company to my friend and esteemed ultrarunner/massage therapist Alison Hanks, who competed today in the Peterson Ridge Rumble 60k race. Held in Sisters, Oregon the race allowed Alison to bring along her young dog Nikki for the run. I took the opportunity to hike Black Butte with a couple of friends before returning to cheer Alison to the finish.br /br /Tomorrow’s plan includes a morning of sport climbing at Smith Rocks before heading back to the Methow. Throughout this whole “vacation” period I’ve been slowly building up my running hours and trying to get my fitness back to a baseline with long, very easy run/hikes in hilly country. One of the strongest aspects of our training over the last few years has been muscular endurance, and I feel the best way to get that process started is by logging a lot of vertical feet over the spring months in anticipation of more focused training in the summer and fall.br /br /Stay tuned for another year of MOD’s dryland season adventures!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2910103639238326543-7476166186639109406?l=methowolympicdevelopment.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Spring Break

    We are on break now. Everyone has simple instructions: have fun and stay active.br /We all filled out season summary sheets before our spring break and when we return next week we will make plans for next year and start our base endurance training. br /Our year went well and we will not do anything drastically different. Everyone will train a little more and continue to work on their weaknesses. br /It should be another great year!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-8964500928577195271?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • 48 Miles, 0 Vertical, 50 SPF Sunblock

    Skiing from Lake Louise to Lake Tyone and back, Copper River Basin in Alaska

  • Spring Planning: Goal for 2011 Season:  Get Fast Enough to Have…

    img src=”http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0ou1iMElP1qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/pSpring Planning: Goal for 2011 Season:  Get Fast Enough to Have Poles Off Before Competitors Finish.  NBD. (viaRH)/p

  • Spring Planning: Goal for 2011 Season:  Get Fast Enough to Have…

    img src=”http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0ou1iMElP1qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/pSpring Planning: Goal for 2011 Season:  Get Fast Enough to Have Poles Off Before Competitors Finish.  NBD. (viaRH)/p

  • Habits

    Whether good or bad, habits can be easy to pick up (usually the bad ones) and easy to drop (usually the good ones).  I’ve definitely gotten out of the habit of regular website updates.  Instead, I’ve been taking advantage of everything spring has to offer up here in Hayward, reviewing seasons past, and preparing for the upcoming spring and season.  Nothing too exciting, simply laying the foundation for what lies ahead.

    Updates will likely be more rare in the coming weeks, but don’t worry, as the motivation returns to update the site or as stories come along, I’ll share them.  For now, it’s time to get outside and enjoy spring!

  • SB10

    For several cross-country ski racers, Spring Break 2010 (SB10) started with an outdoor, double elimination, 2 vs. 2, basketball tournament held at the Kaeding residence in Worcester, VT—also known as The North Central Vermont Basketball Championships.  As one might expect, an organized outdoor basketball tournament in March is risky, especially in Vermont.  Leading into the […]

  • SB10

    For several cross-country ski racers, Spring Break 2010 (SB10) started with an outdoor, double elimination, 2 vs. 2, basketball tournament held at the Kaeding residence in Worcester, VT—also known as The North Central Vermont Basketball Championships.  As one might expect, an organized outdoor basketball tournament in March is risky, especially in Vermont.  Leading into the […]

  • SB10

    For several cross-country ski racers, Spring Break 2010 (SB10) started with an outdoor, double elimination, 2 vs. 2, basketball tournament held at the Kaeding residence in Worcester, VT—also known as The North Central Vermont Basketball Championships.  As one might expect, an organized outdoor basketball tournament in March is risky, especially in Vermont.  Leading into the […]

  • SB10

    For several cross-country ski racers, Spring Break 2010 (SB10) started with an outdoor, double elimination, 2 vs. 2, basketball tournament held at the Kaeding residence in Worcester, VT—also known as The North Central Vermont Basketball Championships.  As one might expect, an organized outdoor basketball tournament in March is risky, especially in Vermont.  Leading into the […]

  • A Little Break

    Its been two weeks since the season ended and the gears have changed. After 4 1/2 months of none stop racing and traveling, it is nice to be settled in one place and enjoy a change of pace. A change of pace entails alpine skiing on the mountain, not worrying about what time I go to bed, treating myself to junk food, hanging out with friends, not training if I don’t feel like it, etc.

    April is considered our “off” month. While it is okay to do the things listed above, it is still important to maintain active training and recovery. I don’t really like to call it training, instead I consider it having fun doing other activities, such as alpine skiing, back-country skiing, crust skiing, biking, swimming, running, hiking, and climbing.

    I am back in Sun Valley and spring is approaching very slowly. Last week I arrived just in time for a snow storm, dumping 24 inches in the mountains. The sun finally peaked out two days ago, but temperatures are still a bit chilly. Normally I would be ready to put the skis away, but the fresh snow is very convincing. I’ve been alpine skiing, tele skiing, and cross-country skiing in mid-winter conditions! Unbelievable…winter isn’t over yet!

    All in all it is nice to have a break. I’ts going to fly by fast, so I am going to be sure I enjoy it!

    My friend Noi and I, enjoying a spectacular day of skiing on Baldy
  • NYC

    I spent the past weekend in the Big Apple.  I really have never lived in a big city so everything was pretty new to me.  Experiencing such a different lifestyle was fun and a great way to mentally recover and relax after the race season.

    Enjoying some $1.99 pineapple on the 8hr train ride

    The train was a great way to arrive into the city.  The final part of the journey is underground and it was really quite the entrance to finally pop above ground at see daylight at Penn Station.

    Time Square (for Chad)

    Running around Central Park

    An 843 acre park in the middle of such a metropolis is really quite incredible.  There were thousands of people out enjoying the park.  It is my understanding the the park is entirely landscaped including the rocks, streams and lakes.  Read more at http://www.centralpark.com/pages/history.html

    Fantastic Fruit, the best deal we found were strawberries for $1

    I think I may have been the only one in the City wearing a Toko drink belt, or fanny pack.

    I have always wanted to see a Broadway musical

    Broadway shows are expensive, even at 40% off from the discount booth at Time Square.  A tough decision for those living on a budge but an incredible experience to have at least once.

    Didn't make it to the Empire State Building to see this guy swatting planes. Maybe next time…

    New York is indeed the city that never sleeps.  The trip was great mental recovery but it feels good to be back in Hayward, get plenty of sleep, and eat oatmeal.  Visiting the big city was fun but it is good to be home.

  • 2010 Vasque Team Named

    Vasque Trail Team Revved Up for another Successful Season


    SUBMITTED PRESS RELEASE

    RED WING, MINNESOTA–After a long winter of training on dirt, in the gym and in lots of snow, the Vasque Trail Team begins the season with supreme confidence and a renewed enthusiasm to race strong and hard. Coming off a successful 2009, which earned them a slew of podium finishes and several course records, the 2010 team, including Krissy Moehl, Duncan Callahan, Keri Nelson, Bryan Dayton, Debbie Livingston, Shiloh Mielke, Dan Dehlin, and Brian Rusiecki, has high aspirations and big plans for the year.

    “We are extremely proud to have such an amazing group of elite and inspirational athletes representing the brand,” claims Vasque Marketing Director, Mark Dinndorf. “With a powerful athlete roster and a new collection of light-weight, technical trail running shoes, we are excited to showcase the talents of both the team and the new spring collection.”

    Krissy Moehl from Seattle, WA, began her season last month with a first place finish at the renowned Black Mountain Challenge, a 50k race that leaves runners scrambling up the highest peak in the east, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. Moehl had a spectacular 2009 year with several top finishes including a win and course record at the grueling Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc.

    This year she is hoping for top performances at the World 100K competition and the MiWok 100. Moehl will also represent Team Vasque at the 4th annual GORE-TEX Transrockies Run (GTTR) in Colorado.

    Duncan Callahan, of Gunnison, CO has his sights set on multiple 100 mile races this year, including the Big Horn 100 mile, the Grand Teton 100 mile and possibly an international venue. The 2008 Leadville Trail 100 champion will also return to Leadville this year for another go at a first place finish.

    Vasque team newcomer and elite snowshoer, Keri Nelson of Gunnison, CO, is honing her skills to dominate the trail marathon competition and plans to enter every event her schedule allows. Nelson will also be at the starting line of the Leadville Trail marathon to defend her 2008 title.

    Bryan Dayton, of Boulder, CO, will take care of some unfinished business at Pike’s Peak marathon and is partnering with teammate Krissy Moehl at the GTTR, to charge the co-ed competitive division.

    Debbie Livingston of Bolton, CT is back for another season after recently giving birth to her second child and has her sights set on a top finish at the Vermont 50.

    Shiloh Mielke, of Asheville, NC, has planned a full slate of short, fast trail races for the season, including his signature race, the Shut-In Challenge on Mount Pisgah outside of Asheville. Additionally, Mielke is pursuing a slot on the U.S. Mountain Running team and will test his athleticism this year by entering Xterra triathlons.

    Recovered from knee surgery and running strong, Vasque sales representative and elite athlete, Dan Dehlin, of Marquette, MI, is back to defend his Keweenaw title and go for his first finish at the Leadville Trail 100.

    A stand out up and comer on the trail running scene, Brian Rusiecki from Westfield, MA, is new to the roster and is a runner to watch. Rusiecki has the full gamut of New England trail races planned for the season, which includes the WMAC series, Pineland Farm and the Vermont 50 and 100.

    Vasque is also proud to have product developer, Brian Hall, out on the trails and competing this season. In 2009, Hall successfully completed his first ultra with a sub 30 hour finish at the Leadville Trail 100. He is currently training for the 2010 Wasatch 100-miler.

    The Team runs in their choice of Vasque trail runners, and the newly released Transistor FS has been a popular selection and tester favorite. The Transistor FS trail shoes are super light, ideal for logging long, fast miles, and feature the Vasque FootSync Fit System for maximum fit and performance on uncertain terrain. Vasque Mindbenders, Moehl’s shoe of choice, are a stable ride offering a wider toe box to ensure is your foot is comfortable while trekking mile after long mile.

    For more information about the domestic Trail Team, international trail athletes, as well as supported events that are part of the Vasque PROJECT, please visit www.vasque.com.