FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • Upcoming Schedule– Thank You Sponsors!

  • A quick call from Caitlin, another long post from me.

    We had a big group at practice tonight. Seems to always be the case when span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_0″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Ahvo/span is going to be there. He really is span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_1″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”something/span to see. He is so good with picking out minor (or major) changes in people’s technique, and he is so quick for a 63 year old guy. We were working on V1 turnover on short uphills, and he can still “dance” up those hills with the best of them.br /br /At the end of practice we had a group call with Caitlin Compton. All of us huddled around the phone and got to span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_2″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”congratulate/span her for making the span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_3″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”Olympic/span team. Caitlin seemed really excited to have everything work out. She said that when she got the call yesterday that she almost didn’t want to answer it in case it was bad news. It has certainly not been an easy (or typical) road for her, but she has span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_4″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”definatly/span put in the work and deserves her spot on the team. She told us that she is looking forward to putting in a good block of training at altitude before heading to the races in span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_5″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Canmore/span. She was also looking forward to catching up with fellow Twin Cities skier Garrott span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_6″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Kuzzy/span, and was quite span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_7″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”optimistic/span that he would be on the team too within the next two weeks.br /br /Last weekend was the second span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_8″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”skinnyski/span series race at Boulder Lake. span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_9″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Vakava/span had a strong showing, although we will have to wait until the after Jan 22span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_10″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”nd/span to hear which cheaters that Peter Hanson will cherry pick for his team. We are hoping to have a strong team for this year to at least give him a run for his money. The hardest part is picking a roster of only 12 (our team is 20+ skiers strong this year).br /br /Personally my race was tough but fun. The conditions were not at all what I expected. I had visions of a fast, firm trail after the warmer weather earlier in the week, but the trail was mashed span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_11″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”potatoes/span, and my poles punched in 6″ or more every time I polled. In my opinion the conditions favored a skier with stronger legs and a bigger engine. I am more of an arms skiers and I tend to exploit my glide – span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_12″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”neither/span of which was easy to do. That and I am not in quite as good of shape as I was hoping to be in this year. From the gun the pace was fast (the 10k skiers start at the same time and do one lap instead of three). There were only 3 guys who were able to go with the fastest 10k guy, and I was in the first chase group (which was probably 12 guys big). I spent most of the race in the first 3 of that group, spending what I considered to be a fair amount of time at the front doing some leading. At about the 20k point of the race I was in second or third in the group when my ski hit one of the large span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_13″ class=”blsp-spelling-corrected”divots/span of mushy snow and in my state of off balance I polled between my legs. I went down hard, crotch first onto the trail. The other skiers in the group were able to avoid me, but I was left to pick myself up, try to convince my stomach move out of my span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_14″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”throat/span, and make my way back to the group. That took me a couple of kilometers, but I was soon able to hang at the back and recover. By the last few kilometers as the pace was picking up I was able to move through the group to the top 3, and in the sprint across the lake I was only beaten by Nikolai span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_15″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Anikin/span to the line. It was a pretty good showing and a lot of fun.br /br /span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_16″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Vakava/span results this weekend:br /strongspan id=”SPELLING_ERROR_17″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Seeley/span Hills/strong:br /22k classic:br /5) Dave Bridgesbr /22) Pete span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_18″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Thurmes/spanbr /br /11) Michele span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_19″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Oja/spanbr /br /42k classic:br /18) Derek span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_20″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Wallen/spanbr /37)Brent span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_21″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Oja/spanbr /47) Kevin span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_22″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Ivens/spanbr /br /1) Jojo Winters (winner… by almost 5 minutes)br /11) Allie span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_23″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Rykken/spanbr /br /strongBoulder Lake/strong 31k freestyle:br /5) Nathan span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_24″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Porath/spanbr /11) Andy span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_25″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Schakel/spanbr /15) Dave span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_26″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Christopherson/span (once again with the top age-adjusted time for MN skier of the year standings).br /36) Mark span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_27″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Ahlers/span-Moorebr /74) Kevin span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_28″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Ivens/span (pulling the big 2-day double)br /br /1) Mary Beth span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_29″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Tuttle/span (continuing her winning ways, both overall and age-adjusted)br /3) Angie Robinsonbr /6) Cheryl span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_30″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Dubois/spanbr /8) Kathleen span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_31″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Dewahl/spanbr /10) Mel span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_32″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”MacMillian/spanbr /11) Katie span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_33″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Splan/spanbr /12) Nichole span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_34″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Porath/spanbr /(span id=”SPELLING_ERROR_35″ class=”blsp-spelling-error”Vakava/span ladies pretty much dominating the top of the standings with 7 of the top 12!)br /br /Sorry if I missed anyone. That is a lot of people racing!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1572647974447867713-5022428381798006063?l=vakavaraceteam.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Nordie Fast Week Begins

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e4ezynkgI/AAAAAAAAAfw/MCRbEZLOMjQ/s1600-h/photo.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e4ezynkgI/AAAAAAAAAfw/MCRbEZLOMjQ/s320/photo.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429010715256525314″ //abr /Here are the eight 6th and 7th graders visiting and training with us for the week. After our morning skate intervals and no pole leg strength session, they hit the books in the library. They also attended a few classes to get a feel for the daily life of an SMS student athlete.. Then after a game of pictionary, Poppet gave them a nice lesson on all the different waxes. Tomorrow we will focus on classic and get up some action shots.br /br /Below are a few pics from last week around campus.br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e3u24A7KI/AAAAAAAAAfo/Xk71CKMIdAA/s1600-h/IMG_0111.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e3u24A7KI/AAAAAAAAAfo/Xk71CKMIdAA/s320/IMG_0111.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429009891450743970″ //abr /Mac Daddy skiing the campus sprint loop. See the old beat up grey Subaru, that’s mine. See the nice green new one? That’s Kate’s. Yet another reason to get engaged!br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e3P6z0wHI/AAAAAAAAAfg/nKschNzIQt4/s1600-h/IMG_0108.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e3P6z0wHI/AAAAAAAAAfg/nKschNzIQt4/s320/IMG_0108.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429009359930966130″ //abr /We got our campus trails groomed up for a classic sprint practice last week. Those yellow houses are where Rachel and Ashleigh live. br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e2kAT809I/AAAAAAAAAfY/TfR6UTckqtY/s1600-h/IMG_0107.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e2kAT809I/AAAAAAAAAfY/TfR6UTckqtY/s320/IMG_0107.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008605493646290″ //abr /Awesome skating on our newly excavated Sun Bowl trails. Now with the Solstice loop we have about 10k of cat groomed skating 1k from campus!br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e2OSZOUCI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/_PFr6ayayhk/s1600-h/IMG_0119.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xxDw1qNK1JA/S1e2OSZOUCI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/_PFr6ayayhk/s320/IMG_0119.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008232390479906″ //abr /Issy, try not to hit Cam in the face on this one.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-4588759192429233558?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Germany Living

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gZCfqrWPI/AAAAAAAAAPA/NjDU3vNwMEc/s1600-h/stadium+3.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gZCfqrWPI/AAAAAAAAAPA/NjDU3vNwMEc/s320/stadium+3.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429116881446066418″ //adiv style=”text-align: center;”view of stadiumbr //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gY7U7yt4I/AAAAAAAAAO4/Tqrvd2mM-kc/s1600-h/stadium+2.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gY7U7yt4I/AAAAAAAAAO4/Tqrvd2mM-kc/s320/stadium+2.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429116758305978242″ //adiv style=”text-align: center;”br //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYyCk0kOI/AAAAAAAAAOw/qRGG2KPgJYE/s1600-h/sprint+practice.jpg”img src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYyCk0kOI/AAAAAAAAAOw/qRGG2KPgJYE/s320/sprint+practice.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429116598758969570″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 168px; ” //adiv style=”text-align: center;”Today is our fourth day in Germany and we have the day off so I figured it would be the best time to write an update. The internet here is pretty slow as more and more people arrive in the hotel and start sucking up the limited supply of service- so uploading photos could take several hours. I hear rumors that some of the boys upstairs are downloading movies…. which seems to be slowing down everyone. The last couple of nights I have sat underneath the internet box out in our hall while I talk to my mom on skype to avoid the 5 second delay in our talking. br //divdivbr //divdivThe last four days in Germany have brought many new things. I am finally starting to get on the sleeping schedule. I still seem to wake up pretty early- but when you try to be in bed by 9:30 that is still quality sleep. I am rooming with Kate Fitzgerald from APU, and she is quite the sleeper. This is her first trip to Europe so it is fun to watch her figure out the whole jetleg and all the changes a foreign country brings. She seems to be pretty damn experienced in my opinion! The most amazing part is she is able to take naps in the middle of the day and still sleep a full 9-10 hours every night!br //divdivbr //divdivThe last two days we have been driving up to the racing courses, which are about 25k away. The courses are really great. They are truly grinders. I would say there is maybe 200 yards of flat section on the entire course- and that is coming into the stadium. It sure does keep you on your toes though. There are 2, 3 and 3.75 km loops. All the courses open up with a big uphill and follow with continuous climbing and sharp downhill cornering. There is one point on the course that you actually feel like an alpine racer as you come ripping down some hill and it takes a sharp left at the same time you are trying to suck in the air that you receive from a little hump in the trail. Even though I have skied it about 15 times since I have been here it catches me by surprise every time. The sprint course is also really great. It has lots of hills and will benefit the strongest skier out there. Both courses the skiers with the motors are going to be dominating! Tomorrow we are planning on skiing the sprint courses hard together so we can see if there are any slingshot corners or technical areas that we should plan ahead for. /divdivbr //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gWnmwwCgI/AAAAAAAAAOA/1eBpZLyw2d0/s1600-h/big+hill.jpg”img src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gWnmwwCgI/AAAAAAAAAOA/1eBpZLyw2d0/s320/big+hill.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429114220470864386″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; ” //adiv style=”text-align: center;”One of the many huge climbs on the coursebr //divdiv style=”text-align: center;”br //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gW2A1Q3kI/AAAAAAAAAOI/xBCaKGUUo0c/s1600-h/getting+skis+waxed.jpg”img src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gW2A1Q3kI/AAAAAAAAAOI/xBCaKGUUo0c/s320/getting+skis+waxed.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429114467987283522″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; ” //adiv style=”text-align: center;”Getting a nice wax job from Randy Gibbs- Team USA wax techbr //divdivbr //divdivThe food here has been really great! Of all the four previous world junior trips I have been on- this is by far the best! All the meals are buffet style so we can actually pick what we want!/divdivbr //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gXRT1XLFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/jAE8T06bJaM/s1600-h/good+food.jpg”img src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gXRT1XLFI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/jAE8T06bJaM/s320/good+food.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429114936944438354″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; ” //adiv style=”text-align: center;”Fruit options near the end of the buffetbr //divdivbr //divdivWe have been taking some trips into town during the daytime between workouts. The hotel we are staying at is just some pull-off on the side of the highway. There is actually a town name- but the only thing here is our hotel and a little gift shop that we have taken over and turned into our waxroom facilities. To avoid cabin fever we try to keep ourselves occupied during the day various ways. The first day we took a trip into the host town of Hinterzarten. Yesterday we ventured a few more kilometers down the road to a town called Titisee. Both towns are fairly small but all of them have not failed on a) a bakery b) a grocery store and c) a bank. That is enough to keep you entertained for a couple of hours. Today we are going to go on a longer trip and take the train into the larger city of Freiburg. My guess is there will be more options for shopping and more entertainment. /divdivbr //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gXpP99ezI/AAAAAAAAAOY/Rgi7OxSspE0/s1600-h/hotel.jpg”img src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gXpP99ezI/AAAAAAAAAOY/Rgi7OxSspE0/s320/hotel.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429115348223621938″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px; ” //adiv style=”text-align: center;”Our wonderful Accommodations- Best Westernbr //divdivbr //diva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYfqCS-cI/AAAAAAAAAOo/eXp8wbiWi7k/s1600-h/sadie+and+erik.JPG”img src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYfqCS-cI/AAAAAAAAAOo/eXp8wbiWi7k/s320/sadie+and+erik.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429116282934065602″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; ” //adiv style=”text-align: center;”Erik and I soaking up some sun after a ski up at the venuebr //divdivbr //divdivAll of the last athletes arrived last night- so now we are a full team. Everyone is really excited and getting more and more pumped as we get closer to the races. We have some serious potential for some great results this year! The first races start on the 25th. Erik races the sprint on the 25th, the pursuit on the 29th and hopefully the relay on the 31st. I will be racing the sprint on the 26th, and the pursuit on the 30th. Unfortunately there is no relay for the u23’s. /divdivbr //divdiv- Thanks to Sverre Caldwell for many of these pictures. Click to enlarge the photos./divdivbr //divdiv style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYyCk0kOI/AAAAAAAAAOw/qRGG2KPgJYE/s1600-h/sprint+practice.jpg”br //a/divdiv style=”text-align: center;”Pursuit Exchange Practice- out of the pit first :)br //divdivbr //divdiva onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYFEsapFI/AAAAAAAAAOg/DES8dkzGQ4s/s1600-h/pursuit+exchange.jpg”img src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l4L_01UOs1s/S1gYFEsapFI/AAAAAAAAAOg/DES8dkzGQ4s/s320/pursuit+exchange.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429115826233582674″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; ” //a/divdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2910103639238326543-8257094135614295595?l=methowolympicdevelopment.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Big Weekend in Hayward, WI

    A whole slew of people from the CXC Team Vertical Limit were in Hayward last weekend for the Seeley Hills Classic, Ski and Tea Clinic number four, and a SuperFit event at The Riverbrook Ski Shop.
    It was a beautiful weekend.  JoJo Winters (CXC Team VL) won the Seeley Hills Classic 42K women’s race after skiing […]

  • Man On A Roll: Brian Gregg

    If I were asked to name the one athlete on the circuit this year who is excelling to great heights, one who deserves such excellence, I would name Brian Gregg. A local Methow skier who races for CXC Team Vertical Limit out of Wisconsin, Brian and I grew up together racing and training. This season he has reached a new level of success, finishing in the top-10 three different times at US Nationals in January and qualifying for the Canmore World Cups in early February. More than anyone else out there I believe Brian is deserving of this success for his humility and quiet dedication, and I’m psyched to see a fellow Methow native doing so well! It’s been great to have a few training sessions with him while he’s been in the Valley, as well as to race alongside him in last Saturday’s sprints at the Methow SuperTour.br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Mg2hQbkHkNs/S1eLf50ac9I/AAAAAAAAAV4/Iclw6Wgvc3g/s1600-h/IMG_3639.JPG”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Mg2hQbkHkNs/S1eLf50ac9I/AAAAAAAAAV4/Iclw6Wgvc3g/s320/IMG_3639.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428961256031286226″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”Brian leading out a semi-final in last weekend’s sprints (Photo courtesy Kristen Smith/span)br //divbr /Good luck, Brian – you’ve got the MOD Squad and the whole Valley behind you!br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Mg2hQbkHkNs/S1eMWKfgLEI/AAAAAAAAAWA/Po4wKJkfS1E/s1600-h/Snoqualmie+Sprints+3.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Mg2hQbkHkNs/S1eMWKfgLEI/AAAAAAAAAWA/Po4wKJkfS1E/s320/Snoqualmie+Sprints+3.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428962188219919426″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”Brian, his brother Chad, and I racing back in high school – faster every year!br //span/divdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2910103639238326543-7505610570569934291?l=methowolympicdevelopment.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Stone Grinding Schedule

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://www.ultratune.net/pdfs/workorder.pdf” target=”_blank”img style=”margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_T8lplfcx_Ro/S1cYMdVbOyI/AAAAAAAAAak/SSfmpM2neTQ/s320/Compton_MV_Supertour.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428834478130412322″ border=”0″ //aThe big events are on the horizon. Big events are rocking now and the schedule of marathons, 10 K’s, biathlons, tours, and loppets are right in front of us.br /div style=”border: medium none ;”br /Prepare all of your skis to run their best with a fresh grind and hotbox service. At Nordic Ultratune, a grind batch starts every Thursday and those skis are ready for shipping on the following Monday — just 4 days later. Return shipping is FedEx Express Saver, which is 3rd day delivery. So, skis that are shipped out on Monday will arrive back to you on Thursday.br //divbr /div style=”border: medium none ;”Here’s the upcoming service schedule at Nordic Ultratune. Use these dates to make sure you get your skis ready before your most important races.br //divulli style=”border: medium none ;”Skis in by Jan 21st will ship out on Jan 25 th and arrive by Jan 28th./lili style=”border: medium none ;”Skis in by Jan 28th will ship out on Feb 1st and arrive by the Feb 4th./lili style=”border: medium none ;”Skis in by Feb 4th will ship out on Feb 8th and arrive by the 11th./lili style=”border: medium none ;”PRE-OLYMPIC WEEK skis will be pushed in and out as quickly as possible.br //lili style=”border: medium none ;”No grinding for commercial customers during Olympics, but FedEx and UPS deliveries will continue, and skis will be serviced as quickly as possible after the Olympics.br //li/ulYou can see that there are still a few service batches scheduled before the big racing events. span style=”color: rgb(204, 0, 0);”BIRKIE SKIERS DO NOT DELAY!/span There is still time to get a fast grind on your skis before your most important ski days! But don’t delay… …fast boards are a joy to ski on, and they’re a real advantage.br /br /Download a

  • European Trips Heating Up

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3c1Nv5NLyNg/S1dSd6bZwkI/AAAAAAAABKc/0trdJGsz7hM/s1600-h/kling+U23″img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3c1Nv5NLyNg/S1dSd6bZwkI/AAAAAAAABKc/0trdJGsz7hM/s400/kling+U23″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428898549672297026″ border=”0″ //aPeter Kling getting ready for U23’s in

  • Deutschland

  • WJC/U23 Wednesday update

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b-CEVyxPI/AAAAAAAACAg/VLB-Bwu53U8/s1600-h/IMG_2382.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/S1b-CEVyxPI/AAAAAAAACAg/VLB-Bwu53U8/s400/IMG_2382.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428805712320054514″ //aWe had another great morning of skiing. Sunny skies and temps in the low to mid 20’s. Most everyone took it pretty easy but did a couple of pick ups to wake up their bodies.br /We are taking the first 4 days easy, then we will crank it up for the races. Everyone is good spirits and feeling healthy.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b90PcyJQI/AAAAAAAACAY/y19gdtFxFDo/s1600-h/IMG_2385.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b90PcyJQI/AAAAAAAACAY/y19gdtFxFDo/s400/IMG_2385.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428805474783995138″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b9l91vPfI/AAAAAAAACAQ/Aw64SLa8qGE/s1600-h/IMG_2392.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/S1b9l91vPfI/AAAAAAAACAQ/Aw64SLa8qGE/s400/IMG_2392.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428805229538655730″ //abr /One of the morning highlights was the pursuit exchange practice for the Jr girls. Coach Holt explained the rules and the girls practiced switching their equipment on the fly.a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b8g_-XOjI/AAAAAAAACAI/9dOJoS_7ILQ/s1600-h/IMG_2397.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/S1b8g_-XOjI/AAAAAAAACAI/9dOJoS_7ILQ/s400/IMG_2397.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428804044700727858″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b74rr68kI/AAAAAAAAB_4/O_e89vvFf78/s1600-h/IMG_2406.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b74rr68kI/AAAAAAAAB_4/O_e89vvFf78/s400/IMG_2406.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428803352059900482″ //aThe boys were happy to watch and offer suggestions.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b7a78EOeI/AAAAAAAAB_w/Jc-dTCirDkM/s1600-h/IMG_2410.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b7a78EOeI/AAAAAAAAB_w/Jc-dTCirDkM/s400/IMG_2410.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428802841026509282″ //aThis is why we practice. I guess that skiing through the pole strap of your discarded pole is not a good idea.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b7O2k-BUI/AAAAAAAAB_o/djrZUZyKV94/s1600-h/IMG_2411.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b7O2k-BUI/AAAAAAAAB_o/djrZUZyKV94/s400/IMG_2411.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428802633429026114″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b6_pk3mjI/AAAAAAAAB_g/Nw7PG948XQo/s1600-h/IMG_2415.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/S1b6_pk3mjI/AAAAAAAAB_g/Nw7PG948XQo/s400/IMG_2415.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428802372240906802″ //aSadie shows the Junior girls how it’s done.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b6m3AgtuI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/c4WJNJLMA-Q/s1600-h/IMG_2426.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/S1b6m3AgtuI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/c4WJNJLMA-Q/s400/IMG_2426.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428801946349778658″ //aThe stadium.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b6LP2j43I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/xLBYBrXoTH0/s1600-h/IMG_2432.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/S1b6LP2j43I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/xLBYBrXoTH0/s400/IMG_2432.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428801471982592882″ //aWe have an awesome wax room at the race site…it will be filled with skis soon enough.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b55IaqSFI/AAAAAAAAB_I/YyuAUsDlbfY/s1600-h/IMG_2433.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/S1b55IaqSFI/AAAAAAAAB_I/YyuAUsDlbfY/s400/IMG_2433.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428801160748877906″ //aLunch buffet. I know one person who won’t be losing weight on this trip!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/S1b5iSO9XZI/AAAAAAAAB_A/7P63ExziDaI/s1600-h/IMG_2434.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/S1b5iSO9XZI/AAAAAAAAB_A/7P63ExziDaI/s400/IMG_2434.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428800768247160210″ //aThe Dartmouth crew and Caitlin arrive today so we will almost be at full strength.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-3398801815479324952?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Endorsed by strippers.

    img src=”http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kwjox6swfL1qzt3xbo1_400.jpg”/br/br/pEndorsed by strippers./p

  • Purgatory

    The initial US Olympic Cross Country team was announced this morning.  The final team will be announced, according to USSA, on January 29.  This will be done after the final reallocation of start spots awarded to each nation by FIS.  You can read more about this at fasterskier.com.

    I’ve been more concerned about getting myself in top form and making every workout count, than about Olympic selection.  However, given the announcement this morning, I felt it worthwhile to share my thoughts.

    First of all, congratulations to Kris, Andy, Torin, James, Kikkan, Liz, Morgan, and especially Caitlin Compton, my Minneapolis teammate!  These guys are awesome and have proven one-hundred percent that they deserve this team selection.

    Last spring when I sat down and wrote my goals for the 2010 season, one of my goals was to be the “O.C.” for “obvious choice.”  That means not being on the bubble.  At the time, I was ranked 11th in the country after having fallen back a bit last year.  I refocused on what worked best in my training over the past few years, especially with my coach Bryan Fish and the CXC Team.  Classic skiing was a major priority, given the classic sprint at the Games and I’ve been very happy with my improvement.

    So far during the season, I moved myself from 11th up to 5th on the National Ranking List.  In any past Olympic year, this would’ve likely been more than enough to be an OC.  This fall, however, FIS announced a new quota system, which made it more difficult for the US to earn Olympic start spots.

    While I still don’t entirely understand the new system; it is what it is.  For now, we’ve got 8 spots for the initial team named today.  There is still a chance that we will earn several more spots over the next two weeks when the final team is named.  Until then, I remain in purgatory.  Right now, I’m heading to the gym for my third workout today in what has been a very productive altitude camp so far in Park City.  Get ‘er done & save the best for last.

  • Confessions of a Training Addict

    My New Training Partner
    He constantly heckles me
    “Is that all you got?” , “You can’t wipe me out!!”, As He Wips my leash “GO Horsey GO!”

    Warning what follows is perseveration. To proceed may alter your thought patterns.
    I’m not kidding.

    Sounds simple at first. Addicted to training. Not Exactly. Definitely not addicted to plodding along through anything. Not a Day, not a second, not any workout, ski, bike, hike, run, kayak. Abhor even wasting a second. Am on a mission to achieve excellence in all its varying aspects and forms.

    Understand??
    JackedUp are you addicted to training? Definitely!!
    Not plodding though. Am forever seeking the state where the mind is in control and the body just responds. The “Flow”, ” Nirvana” , and or “Something”.
    Don’t assume that I’m crazy, yes driven but not crazed. If I really wanted to make the Olympic team I would have quit my job, sequestered myself from my family created a support team to facilitate peak performance.
    Does anyone realize what goes into obtaining orchestrated peak performance. Analyze the support staff behind most successful athletes.
    Don’t think or assume that this implies that I did not give 100% in order to tryout for the 2010 Olympics, with my limitations and constraints I gave 110%. Through this journey I have received unfathomable support from my Family, my Coworkers and National Guard Biathlon. Not forgetting help from Friends and Acquaintance’s. ( For some strange reason, probably prefer to remain anonymous.)
    As one gets older we get distractions, commitments, and limitations for me that is a family and a job. Yes I would’ve been thrilled to race in another Olympics and would not have tried if it wasn’t possible.
    The truth of the matter is that I just love training and racing. This is a similar situation to back when I would bring extra stuff home that I would collect a the dump then return 90% of it letting my wife think that she had won. When the actually I had claimed the Victory and Wife never knew it.
    Remember as Tsen Tsu taught in the China 5th Century BC ” When a Victorious Warrior is Victorious: No one knows he has attained Victory”
    Training to make this Olympics in a way was akin to the dump analogy in that it allowed me to train logarithmically more then if I wasn’t training for something big.
    In a Machiavellian way the ends justified the means. Due to the enlistment of Wife and Kids was able to train copious amounts of hours. Now I need some outlandish justification to go on another training mission. Right now I have JackedUp’s version of the “Tour De Ski” and the World Military Championship at the end of March.
    While I have heard countless so training maniacs say that if they were to become paralyzed, lose a leg that they would rather die. For me a die hard training addict I find those statements repulsive and spurious to my training mission for life. No matter what the handicap there would be a new training mission and an odyssey for excellence. If I was locked in(means totally paralyzed, not even your eyes move. No way to communicate your alive except brain scan) with only brain waves functioning I would just imagine excellence and live it through some alpha waves working on a virtual perfection of sport. Never say die, never give up.
    Unfortunately Racing is a necessary evil but it can get in the way of optimal training. Now I can train for training sakes. Optimal training.
    Stay tuned for elaboration on the Training Wars.
    Next???
    Stay tuned for elaboration on training Wars.

  • Confessions of a Training Addict

    My New Training Partner
    He constantly heckles me
    “Is that all you got?” , “You can’t wipe me out!!”, As He Wips my leash “GO Horsey GO!”

    Warning what follows is perseveration. To proceed may alter your thought patterns.
    I’m not kidding.

    Sounds simple at first. Addicted to training. Not Exactly. Definitely not addicted to plodding along through anything. Not a Day, not a second, not any workout, ski, bike, hike, run, kayak. Abhor even wasting a second. Am on a mission to achieve excellence in all its varying aspects and forms.

    Understand??
    JackedUp are you addicted to training? Definitely!!
    Not plodding though. Am forever seeking the state where the mind is in control and the body just responds. The “Flow”, ” Nirvana” , and or “Something”.
    Don’t assume that I’m crazy, yes driven but not crazed. If I really wanted to make the Olympic team I would have quit my job, sequestered myself from my family created a support team to facilitate peak performance.
    Does anyone realize what goes into obtaining orchestrated peak performance. Analyze the support staff behind most successful athletes.
    Don’t think or assume that this implies that I did not give 100% in order to tryout for the 2010 Olympics, with my limitations and constraints I gave 110%. Through this journey I have received unfathomable support from my Family, my Coworkers and National Guard Biathlon. Not forgetting help from Friends and Acquaintance’s. ( For some strange reason, probably prefer to remain anonymous.)
    As one gets older we get distractions, commitments, and limitations for me that is a family and a job. Yes I would’ve been thrilled to race in another Olympics and would not have tried if it wasn’t possible.
    The truth of the matter is that I just love training and racing. This is a similar situation to back when I would bring extra stuff home that I would collect a the dump then return 90% of it letting my wife think that she had won. When the actually I had claimed the Victory and Wife never knew it.
    Remember as Tsen Tsu taught in the China 5th Century BC ” When a Victorious Warrior is Victorious: No one knows he has attained Victory”
    Training to make this Olympics in a way was akin to the dump analogy in that it allowed me to train logarithmically more then if I wasn’t training for something big.
    In a Machiavellian way the ends justified the means. Due to the enlistment of Wife and Kids was able to train copious amounts of hours. Now I need some outlandish justification to go on another training mission. Right now I have JackedUp’s version of the “Tour De Ski” and the World Military Championship at the end of March.
    While I have heard countless so training maniacs say that if they were to become paralyzed, lose a leg that they would rather die. For me a die hard training addict I find those statements repulsive and spurious to my training mission for life. No matter what the handicap there would be a new training mission and an odyssey for excellence. If I was locked in(means totally paralyzed, not even your eyes move. No way to communicate your alive except brain scan) with only brain waves functioning I would just imagine excellence and live it through some alpha waves working on a virtual perfection of sport. Never say die, never give up.
    Unfortunately Racing is a necessary evil but it can get in the way of optimal training. Now I can train for training sakes. Optimal training.
    Stay tuned for elaboration on the Training Wars.
    Next???
    Stay tuned for elaboration on training Wars.

  • Confessions of a Training Addict

    My New Training Partner
    He constantly heckles me
    “Is that all you got?” , “You can’t wipe me out!!”, As He Wips my leash “GO Horsey GO!”

    Warning what follows is perseveration. To proceed may alter your thought patterns.
    I’m not kidding.

    Sounds simple at first. Addicted to training. Not Exactly. Definitely not addicted to plodding along through anything. Not a Day, not a second, not any workout, ski, bike, hike, run, kayak. Abhor even wasting a second. Am on a mission to achieve excellence in all its varying aspects and forms.

    Understand??
    JackedUp are you addicted to training? Definitely!!
    Not plodding though. Am forever seeking the state where the mind is in control and the body just responds. The “Flow”, ” Nirvana” , and or “Something”.
    Don’t assume that I’m crazy, yes driven but not crazed. If I really wanted to make the Olympic team I would have quit my job, sequestered myself from my family created a support team to facilitate peak performance.
    Does anyone realize what goes into obtaining orchestrated peak performance. Analyze the support staff behind most successful athletes.
    Don’t think or assume that this implies that I did not give 100% in order to tryout for the 2010 Olympics, with my limitations and constraints I gave 110%. Through this journey I have received unfathomable support from my Family, my Coworkers and National Guard Biathlon. Not forgetting help from Friends and Acquaintance’s. ( For some strange reason, probably prefer to remain anonymous.)
    As one gets older we get distractions, commitments, and limitations for me that is a family and a job. Yes I would’ve been thrilled to race in another Olympics and would not have tried if it wasn’t possible.
    The truth of the matter is that I just love training and racing. This is a similar situation to back when I would bring extra stuff home that I would collect a the dump then return 90% of it letting my wife think that she had won. When the actually I had claimed the Victory and Wife never knew it.
    Remember as Tsen Tsu taught in the China 5th Century BC ” When a Victorious Warrior is Victorious: No one knows he has attained Victory”
    Training to make this Olympics in a way was akin to the dump analogy in that it allowed me to train logarithmically more then if I wasn’t training for something big.
    In a Machiavellian way the ends justified the means. Due to the enlistment of Wife and Kids was able to train copious amounts of hours. Now I need some outlandish justification to go on another training mission. Right now I have JackedUp’s version of the “Tour De Ski” and the World Military Championship at the end of March.
    While I have heard countless so training maniacs say that if they were to become paralyzed, lose a leg that they would rather die. For me a die hard training addict I find those statements repulsive and spurious to my training mission for life. No matter what the handicap there would be a new training mission and an odyssey for excellence. If I was locked in(means totally paralyzed, not even your eyes move. No way to communicate your alive except brain scan) with only brain waves functioning I would just imagine excellence and live it through some alpha waves working on a virtual perfection of sport. Never say die, never give up.
    Unfortunately Racing is a necessary evil but it can get in the way of optimal training. Now I can train for training sakes. Optimal training.
    Stay tuned for elaboration on the Training Wars.
    Next???
    Stay tuned for elaboration on training Wars.

  • Confessions of a Training Addict

    My New Training Partner
    He constantly heckles me
    “Is that all you got?” , “You can’t wipe me out!!”, As He Wips my leash “GO Horsey GO!”

    Warning what follows is perseveration. To proceed may alter your thought patterns.
    I’m not kidding.

    Sounds simple at first. Addicted to training. Not Exactly. Definitely not addicted to plodding along through anything. Not a Day, not a second, not any workout, ski, bike, hike, run, kayak. Abhor even wasting a second. Am on a mission to achieve excellence in all its varying aspects and forms.

    Understand??
    JackedUp are you addicted to training? Definitely!!
    Not plodding though. Am forever seeking the state where the mind is in control and the body just responds. The “Flow”, ” Nirvana” , and or “Something”.
    Don’t assume that I’m crazy, yes driven but not crazed. If I really wanted to make the Olympic team I would have quit my job, sequestered myself from my family created a support team to facilitate peak performance.
    Does anyone realize what goes into obtaining orchestrated peak performance. Analyze the support staff behind most successful athletes.
    Don’t think or assume that this implies that I did not give 100% in order to tryout for the 2010 Olympics, with my limitations and constraints I gave 110%. Through this journey I have received unfathomable support from my Family, my Coworkers and National Guard Biathlon. Not forgetting help from Friends and Acquaintance’s. ( For some strange reason, probably prefer to remain anonymous.)
    As one gets older we get distractions, commitments, and limitations for me that is a family and a job. Yes I would’ve been thrilled to race in another Olympics and would not have tried if it wasn’t possible.
    The truth of the matter is that I just love training and racing. This is a similar situation to back when I would bring extra stuff home that I would collect a the dump then return 90% of it letting my wife think that she had won. When the actually I had claimed the Victory and Wife never knew it.
    Remember as Tsen Tsu taught in the China 5th Century BC ” When a Victorious Warrior is Victorious: No one knows he has attained Victory”
    Training to make this Olympics in a way was akin to the dump analogy in that it allowed me to train logarithmically more then if I wasn’t training for something big.
    In a Machiavellian way the ends justified the means. Due to the enlistment of Wife and Kids was able to train copious amounts of hours. Now I need some outlandish justification to go on another training mission. Right now I have JackedUp’s version of the “Tour De Ski” and the World Military Championship at the end of March.
    While I have heard countless so training maniacs say that if they were to become paralyzed, lose a leg that they would rather die. For me a die hard training addict I find those statements repulsive and spurious to my training mission for life. No matter what the handicap there would be a new training mission and an odyssey for excellence. If I was locked in(means totally paralyzed, not even your eyes move. No way to communicate your alive except brain scan) with only brain waves functioning I would just imagine excellence and live it through some alpha waves working on a virtual perfection of sport. Never say die, never give up.
    Unfortunately Racing is a necessary evil but it can get in the way of optimal training. Now I can train for training sakes. Optimal training.
    Stay tuned for elaboration on the Training Wars.
    Next???
    Stay tuned for elaboration on training Wars.

  • Since Nationals

    Reports from Kikkan, Morgan Arritola and Liz Stephen… photos from Utah, Alaska, a word on Olympics…

  • Congratulations 2010 Olympic Team

    The 2010 Olympic team was chosen today.  Congratulations to:
    Morgan Arritola, Ketchum, ID, 23, 5/13/86
    Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, 29, 11/7/80
    Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 29, 10/14/80 (2002, 2006)
    Torin Koos, Leavenworth, 29, 7/19/80 (2002, 2006)
    Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT, 25, 11/30/84 (2006)
    Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, 27, 12/31/82 (2002, 2006)
    James Southam, Anchorage, 31, 6/5/78 (2006)
    Liz Stephen, Montpelier, VT, 22, 1/12/87
    Click HERE to […]

  • USSA Announces 2010 Olympic Team

    2010 U.S. OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY SKI TEAM

    Morgan Arritola, Ketchum, ID, 23, 5/13/86
    Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, 29, 11/7/80
    Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 29, 10/14/80 (2002, 2006)
    Torin Koos, Leavenworth, 29, 7/19/80 (2002, 2006)
    Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT, 25, 11/30/84 (2006)
    Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, 27, 12/31/82 (2002, 2006)
    James Southam, Anchorage, 31, 6/5/78 (2006)
    Liz Stephen, Montpelier, VT, 22, 1/12/87

    (name, hometown, age as of opening ceremonies, birthdate, (past Olympics))
    Source: USSA

    More info:

    http://fasterskier.com/2010/01/ussa-announces-2010-olympic-team/

  • Weekend in the UP

    Here are just a few pictures from an AWESOME weekend in the UP!

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    Dog sledding at Snowy Plains Kennel

    First skijor race at the Michigan Tech ski trails in Houghton.

    First skijor race at the Michigan Tech ski trails in Houghton.

    Epic snowshoe near Calumet

    Epic snowshoe near Calumet