Category: XCFeeds

We had a good group today for the first day on our weekend mini camp. Most of the regulars plus some visitors from Utah, UNH, Middlebury, UVM and Dartmouth. We started with our jumps and ski striding workout on Stratton. The gondola started up just as we got to the top so we got to ride down in style.br /After some strength, lunch and a relaxing early afternoon, we did some skate drills, pick-ups, sprint starts and an easy cruise followed by a swim and cookout at Hapgood Pond.br /Here are a bunch of pictures. Most of them are small, just click on them to enlarge.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4QursHwBI/AAAAAAAAAi0/Q4jbxPf0fKI/s1600-h/100_3339.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4QursHwBI/AAAAAAAAAi0/Q4jbxPf0fKI/s200/100_3339.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367746200060018706″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4QM78IAyI/AAAAAAAAAis/gWMxyN0jtIc/s1600-h/100_3344.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 200px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4QM78IAyI/AAAAAAAAAis/gWMxyN0jtIc/s200/100_3344.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367745620306559778″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4PmMpR3dI/AAAAAAAAAik/9WuOxWl4mpU/s1600-h/100_3346.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4PmMpR3dI/AAAAAAAAAik/9WuOxWl4mpU/s200/100_3346.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367744954776018386″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4PBO2yHwI/AAAAAAAAAic/8Gh6QlMxqwk/s1600-h/100_3356.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4PBO2yHwI/AAAAAAAAAic/8Gh6QlMxqwk/s320/100_3356.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367744319714369282″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4OlnTn-CI/AAAAAAAAAiU/7ZQhqF4lflU/s1600-h/100_3353.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4OlnTn-CI/AAAAAAAAAiU/7ZQhqF4lflU/s200/100_3353.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367743845241452578″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4ODOVyFGI/AAAAAAAAAiM/4KXzYj9vgBc/s1600-h/100_3357.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4ODOVyFGI/AAAAAAAAAiM/4KXzYj9vgBc/s200/100_3357.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367743254424065122″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4NfP7vwEI/AAAAAAAAAiE/YpMUcg829l0/s1600-h/100_3358.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/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4NfP7vwEI/AAAAAAAAAiE/YpMUcg829l0/s320/100_3358.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367742636376440898″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4NAaaUAnI/AAAAAAAAAh8/WyAqDcx2M7o/s1600-h/100_3360.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 153px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4NAaaUAnI/AAAAAAAAAh8/WyAqDcx2M7o/s200/100_3360.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367742106613056114″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4Mk3QOmaI/AAAAAAAAAh0/q0-nBGsFK_A/s1600-h/100_3376.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4Mk3QOmaI/AAAAAAAAAh0/q0-nBGsFK_A/s200/100_3376.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367741633319049634″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4MLobRy0I/AAAAAAAAAhs/k_G4k5ChIow/s1600-h/100_3382.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 108px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4MLobRy0I/AAAAAAAAAhs/k_G4k5ChIow/s200/100_3382.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367741199842134850″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4LTt8my7I/AAAAAAAAAhk/JjQrWS1-MvU/s1600-h/100_3362.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4LTt8my7I/AAAAAAAAAhk/JjQrWS1-MvU/s200/100_3362.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367740239251426226″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4K3-y85OI/AAAAAAAAAhc/29edihpN3qk/s1600-h/100_3381.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4K3-y85OI/AAAAAAAAAhc/29edihpN3qk/s200/100_3381.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367739762737997026″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4KiRkrLEI/AAAAAAAAAhU/MoC8f15A0ng/s1600-h/100_3400.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4KiRkrLEI/AAAAAAAAAhU/MoC8f15A0ng/s200/100_3400.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367739389821267010″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4J8ZTkFuI/AAAAAAAAAhM/ZWOKKp4CPVI/s1600-h/100_3396.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4J8ZTkFuI/AAAAAAAAAhM/ZWOKKp4CPVI/s200/100_3396.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367738739061954274″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4JUn-icNI/AAAAAAAAAhE/0QFmOEoKzOA/s1600-h/100_3398.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4JUn-icNI/AAAAAAAAAhE/0QFmOEoKzOA/s200/100_3398.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367738055805530322″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4I6UYV1KI/AAAAAAAAAg8/swJ_jXo7row/s1600-h/100_3392.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Sn4I6UYV1KI/AAAAAAAAAg8/swJ_jXo7row/s200/100_3392.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367737603868447906″ //abr /Tomorrow we will classic ski to Putney (65 km) and have a sauna.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-5564445664121110032?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’//div

I was probably a little too excited for this week’s orienteering meet. I was merely going to run around in the woods for a hour or two by myself. At the end, I would compare my time to a few other people. Not exactly a big deal. I really should not have been so nervous before the start.

In New Zealand, we live up atop the Pisa Mountain Range at the Waiorau Snow Farm. Now, I’m on my way back to the U.S.A. Before I lift off over the Pacific, here are a couple of the pictures from the last days here. br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cIeOfilI/AAAAAAAAAP8/N5ZvNtCsQrE/s1600-h/email+-+strandberg.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cIeOfilI/AAAAAAAAAP8/N5ZvNtCsQrE/s400/email+-+strandberg.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367477262773881426″ //abr /br /Kristina Strandberg striding it out with a background that makes me think of skiing on the moon.br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cIE7wYaI/AAAAAAAAAP0/1wQyRjiKGlk/s1600-h/email+-+klebl.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cIE7wYaI/AAAAAAAAAP0/1wQyRjiKGlk/s400/email+-+klebl.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367477255984406946″ //abr /br /Chris Klebl putting the kilometers in. It’s cool to share the trails here with athletes who overcome unique challenges everytime they hit the cordoroy.br /br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cHZyvITI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Zl-LI7YMgiM/s1600-h/chemical+sky+2.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cHZyvITI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Zl-LI7YMgiM/s400/chemical+sky+2.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367477244403851570″ //abr /br /Chemical soon-to-be-nighttime Sky above the Southern Alps.br /br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cHFfZEGI/AAAAAAAAAPk/h15phnrcoNI/s1600-h/email+-+tin+can+van.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Sn0cHFfZEGI/AAAAAAAAAPk/h15phnrcoNI/s400/email+-+tin+can+van.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367477238954004578″ //abr /br /Ahh, nothing like an underpowered ten passenger van with bald tires on snowy, curvy dirt roads. Makes getting to town a bit of an adventure. Also makes learning how to put on chains a necessity.br /br /I”m off. First to Southern California for a couple days in the Santa Ynez Valley sun, then back home to the Pacific Northwest…div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2691525267872963085-3922796831767444836?l=in-the-arena-torin.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

The Appalachian Trail runs from Maine to Georgia. The Long Trail runs the length of Vermont. They join together in Southern VT and go over Stratton. Needless to say, we spend lots of hours on the trails. Most of our favorite OD combi workouts (roll and run) involve part of the AT/LT. It is great for coordination and the footing tends to be soft. br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnxoLpapZZI/AAAAAAAAAg0/1pxPciACPnk/s1600-h/100_3333.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnxoLpapZZI/AAAAAAAAAg0/1pxPciACPnk/s400/100_3333.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367279405224256914″ //abr /This summer we have been asked to help on a couple of projects on the trail. In July we helped relocate a rough part of the trail and today we helped replace some rotten boards. It is a good way to give back a little to the community and it is a great general strength workout too. Thanks to the Bigelows, Caldwells and Doug Amos for helping with the projects.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnxnxcWebpI/AAAAAAAAAgs/D-q7cO5Tw5c/s1600-h/100_3330.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnxnxcWebpI/AAAAAAAAAgs/D-q7cO5Tw5c/s400/100_3330.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278955040501394″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnxnYWTF7eI/AAAAAAAAAgk/vI6t6y0FmpI/s1600-h/100_3331.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/SnxnYWTF7eI/AAAAAAAAAgk/vI6t6y0FmpI/s400/100_3331.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367278523918970338″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-1799230725162492442?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’//div

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsT-5XdPsI/AAAAAAAAAgc/QXEu5THfHm8/s1600-h/100_3292.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/SnsT-5XdPsI/AAAAAAAAAgc/QXEu5THfHm8/s400/100_3292.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366905352214101698″ //abr /Ball Mtn Dam is one of favorite places to train. The pavement is great, the terrain is varied, but most importantly, it is quiet. Today we were skiing for over 2 hours and we only saw 1 car. It is a great place for us to do technique, speed and intensity because we can ski in groups and not have to worry about traffic. br /The road is a dead end road that drops down to the dam (pictured above). From the Dam, the road climbs up a 850 meter hill (site of our d-pole test) and then levels out and rolls past the gazebo and out to rte 30. The road is only 2.5 km long (making a 5km loop) so distance can get boring, but for everything else, it is perfect.br /Today we had a nice day, dry air and temperatures at 60, you gotta love it!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsSEmAObbI/AAAAAAAAAgU/kuiXMlM1Bgw/s1600-h/100_3295.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsSEmAObbI/AAAAAAAAAgU/kuiXMlM1Bgw/s320/100_3295.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366903251072347570″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsRm9T5G6I/AAAAAAAAAgM/xrQB8MVmEu4/s1600-h/100_3296.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsRm9T5G6I/AAAAAAAAAgM/xrQB8MVmEu4/s320/100_3296.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366902741932776354″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsQ9ItEWrI/AAAAAAAAAgE/3uck6DtrefA/s1600-h/100_3305.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsQ9ItEWrI/AAAAAAAAAgE/3uck6DtrefA/s320/100_3305.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366902023436655282″ //abr /For todays workout, we started with 30 minutes of warm-up/technique drills, then did 2X1km level 3 uphills, our uphill test (1km) and then a warm down with 6-8 group leg speeds. Here is Russell doing a pick-up.br /Times: Patrick 2:42, Skyler 2:42, Doug 2:45, Bridger 2:46, Cameron 2:51, Austin 3:04, Megan 3:29, Rachel 3:37, Mae 3:44, Karmen 3:47, Maddie 3:49, Heidi 3:51, Gage 3:56, Alyssa 4:17, Russell 5:20, Mackenzie R 6:53. br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsLq7bzhEI/AAAAAAAAAf8/cIF-g26ic9s/s1600-h/100_3299.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsLq7bzhEI/AAAAAAAAAf8/cIF-g26ic9s/s320/100_3299.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366896213078803522″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsLL6sYGgI/AAAAAAAAAf0/hX0i334NqbA/s1600-h/100_3301.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsLL6sYGgI/AAAAAAAAAf0/hX0i334NqbA/s320/100_3301.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366895680303929858″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsKodA3bnI/AAAAAAAAAfs/6nq94K5y38o/s1600-h/100_3303.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsKodA3bnI/AAAAAAAAAfs/6nq94K5y38o/s320/100_3303.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366895071041384050″ //abr /And, for our nature shot of the day, check out the worlds smallest frog jumping from Mackenzies hand (frog is right below her thumb… click on the picture to make it bigger if you can’t see it).br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsJ0teNHLI/AAAAAAAAAfk/S490rnLxlFI/s1600-h/100_3302.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnsJ0teNHLI/AAAAAAAAAfk/S490rnLxlFI/s320/100_3302.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366894182106209458″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-8626123972055019922?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’//div

div align=”center”Cam MacKugler has been joining us faithfully this summer. I already introduced him on the blog in June. It’s been real nice having him at workouts. Also joining us pretty regularly is Patrick O’Brien (SMS ’06, Dartmouth ’10). Patrick’s looking pretty tough these days. He flew past all of us on the single sticking on Tuesday and looked like he was just going for a stroll up the steepest part of the hill. I blasted him with some choice words as he glided past me!br /br /But, more importantly, let’s take a look at Patty ‘O B’s vehicle….br /

pb1. You mentioned you’re fired up this year for xc skiing in the US,br/ particularly for Bird?  Why?/bbr/br/ I’m fired-up in general because I see reasons for optimism. We’ve gotbr/ some rising stars in US skiing right now – skiers with realisticbr/ expectations of consistent international success. It’s exciting. I’mbr/ not being all pollyanna-ish here – I can point to discouraging aspectsbr/ of the ski racing scene as well as anybody. But we’ve got some skibr/ racers coming along.br/br/ I’m fired-up with respect to Kris for a different reason. I feel thatbr/ we’ve seen a break-through that I can only describe by analogy. It’sbr/ as if we’ve been studying physics – doing equations, proofs, whateverbr/ it is that theoretical physicists do – and the grand unification theorybr/ has just come into focus. We’ve had glimpses, but we’ve been toilingbr/ away without the vision required to see the shape of success. I feelbr/ that I can see it, and more importantly, I feel that Kris can see it. Asbr/ a result he has the calm and patience of true confidence. His judgmentbr/ is sound. His vision is intact. He’s a fighter who has stopped fightingbr/ himself. That’s going to make him much more dangerous to whoever goesbr/ up against him.br/br/ It’s worth remembering that August has just started and that Kris hasbr/ looked great this time of year in training plenty of times. The same isbr/ true now – he looks great. It’s also worth remembering that there’sbr/ plenty of time for things to go bad before race season. But it’s notbr/ his current fitness that has me fired-up – it’s everything that he’sbr/ learned about himself and the sport, and everything he’s taught mebr/ along the way. It’s thrilling to feel it all come into focus and to bebr/ along for the ride./p
br/b2. What’s happening with BNS / Caldwell Sport?/bbr/br/pMy family has moved to Boulder. Watch for more announcements. Ourbr/ presence in Boulder is hardly the most exciting news coming from BNS.br/ We’re like a bunch of giddy school-kids here – we’re about to eat thebr/ canary. How many similes and metaphors do you want?/p
br/bbr/3. If you were bound to one kick one glide wax, which would they be?/b br/br/pWhat a stupid question. Can I get you on a technicality? What do you meanbr/ by “bound to”? Does that mean I can’t use any other waxes, or that Ibr/ have to pick waxes that are going to be strapped to my body? Startbr/ Universal Wide klister and FC10/LF3 mixed./p
br/bbr/ 4. Why are you “grumpy”?/bbr/br/pPick an answer:br/ 1- I’m not grumpy. I indulged myself with grumpiness for a while thisbr/ past season because of a variety of circumstances. I could complainbr/ about a lot of things but it wouldn’t help, so I’m done. Not grumpy.br/ Still, there are some people that should be careful if they see mebr/ coming. But they won’t.br/br/ 2 – I’m not grumpy and I never was. The name is a tribute to my unclebr/ John, who’s also not grumpy, but likes it when people think that he is.br/ JC has been the most important influence in my life as it relates tobr/ skiing – and therefor in my life as a whole. I wouldn’t pick the fightsbr/ that he has picked from time to time, but I would absolutely standbr/ shoulder to shoulder with him against anybody who would derogate hisbr/ contribution to the sport or the relevance of his perspective andbr/ experience. So I’m working on an affectation of grumpiness in order tobr/ ensure that there is an appropriate Caldwell presence in the sport forbr/ decades to come. He’s probably only got about another twenty years ofbr/ haranguing left in him!/p
br/b5. What from the ski world would you like to see go away and never return?/bbr/br/pI take a holistic view of the ski world – it’s not my place to say whatbr/ is wheat and what is chaff. Innovation has been great for the sport andbr/ I’m prepared to accept all of it. Like the pilot classic binding -br/ brilliant! All those moving parts! The sheer functionality! Love it!/p
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