FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • Kincaid Adventure Camp

    Since school was out for the summer, I helped out with the Kincaid Adventure Camp down at Kincaid park. It’s a camp for local youth with three different week-long sessions, each focusing on a different zone of the outdoors. One week focused on terrestrial life, the second on things that fly, and the final week on aquatic life. The really cool thing about these camps was that the main focus was outdoor recreation so our goal was to be active while exploring the outdoor world.

    On one of the days we were paddling the kids were super jazzed up to get out into the lake. We had to go over all of the water safety and how to paddle talks first.

    The kids were psyched to finally get into the water, practice their canoeing strokes, and explore the riparian zone from the water side.

    After they got comfortable with the canoes, we let them “upgrade” to kayaks.

    It was super fun to get involved with another activity during summer break, hanging out with kids is a refreshing way to see the world!

  • Recovery Week

    After a quality week of training in Utah, this past week was a recovery week…a chance to get rested and do different activities! Recovery weeks are not always easy for me; I am one who does not like to take a day off. Instead of filling my recovery week with “off days,” I used “active recovery” to fill those days. In other words, I used low impact activities such as biking, swimming and double pole to let my body rest and recover. Every other day I either swam or biked to all my legs to recover from the fatigue I’d been feeling for the past couple weeks. This was a good way to give my legs a break and get them back under my feet.br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWkwYBGAI/AAAAAAAAAZo/6NWA7b0m_-Y/s1600-h/nic+003.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWkwYBGAI/AAAAAAAAAZo/6NWA7b0m_-Y/s320/nic+003.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365571195519440898″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”Double pole intervals/spanbr //divbr /In addition to doing new and different activities, recovery weeks are a good chance to get out and explore and travel new areas. This past week I drove through Yellowstone National Park, over Beartooth Pass, and into the Gallatin National Forsest in Montana. The drive was absolutely beautiful and I saw several buffalo, grizzly bears, coyotes, and moose. I went for a run at the Insideout Trailhead and explored the beauty of the Gallatin National Forest.br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZXhXYBTfI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/MbjvPbdKPBE/s1600-h/nic+007.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZXhXYBTfI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/MbjvPbdKPBE/s320/nic+007.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365572236780588530″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”The beautiful scenery in Yellowstone National Parkbr /br //span/divdiv style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWlE7rUaI/AAAAAAAAAZw/JRwAQIf-ltg/s1600-h/nic+004.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWlE7rUaI/AAAAAAAAAZw/JRwAQIf-ltg/s320/nic+004.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365571201037717922″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”We saw hundreds of buffalobr /br //span/divdiv style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZXg4rcShI/AAAAAAAAAaI/7hwz-Ni_O8M/s1600-h/nic+006.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZXg4rcShI/AAAAAAAAAaI/7hwz-Ni_O8M/s320/nic+006.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365572228540549650″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”…and yes, they have the right of waybr /br //span/divMy recovery week also allowed my to spend some time at the YMCA Kids Summer Camp. We had fun making “kitchen creations” ranging from rice krispie treats to chocolate covered bananas. We also had fun painting eachothers faces…although Alonzo wouldn’t let me paint his face after he painted mine!br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWkbDGqRI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Xch8xs2L8h4/s1600-h/nic+002.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWkbDGqRI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Xch8xs2L8h4/s320/nic+002.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365571189794580754″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”Alonzo and I with our painted faces!br /br //span/divdiv style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWkYKO–I/AAAAAAAAAZY/xpe1zPJibG4/s1600-h/nic+001.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SnZWkYKO–I/AAAAAAAAAZY/xpe1zPJibG4/s320/nic+001.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365571189019180002″ border=”0″ //aspan style=”font-style: italic;”Sara, showing off her butterfly face/spanbr //divbr /It was a good week and I feel rested and ready to hammer into my volume week!div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5903545846797966075-6666987163873639065?l=in-the-arena-nicole.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • CCC (3 for 3) [1]

    My bike racing season continued (and ended) with the OBRA version of the Cascade Cycling Classic (aka the Cascade Stage Race), which is where you end up if you’re a Cat 4. After my huge successes at High Desert I decided to extend the season for two weeks. That let me get in a sweet “training ride” at Crater Lake and then a little intensity block in the form of 4 stages in three days.

  • CCC (3 for 3)

    My bike racing season continued (and ended) with the OBRA version of the Cascade Cycling Classic (aka the Cascade Stage Race), which is where you end up if you’re a Cat 4. After my huge successes at High Desert I decided to extend the season for two weeks. That let me get in a sweet “training ride” at Crater Lake and then a little intensity block in the form of 4 stages in three days.

  • South Island in Pictures

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/SnUaHARNF9I/AAAAAAAAAPc/yqQJefSszZ8/s1600-h/Skate2Yelo.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/SnUaHARNF9I/AAAAAAAAAPc/yqQJefSszZ8/s400/Skate2Yelo.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365223238715381714″ //aspan style=”font-style:italic;”br /(Photo by Justin Wadsworth)./spanbr /br /Every year, for the last eight years, I’ve made a southern trek to New Zealand’s South Island to find some time on the magic white stuff. The training load during my days here always tilts a bit to the side of volume. As a coach of mine use to say, “There’s a certain quality to quantity.” br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/SnUaG-uVaNI/AAAAAAAAAPU/1awfp-oTMbE/s1600-h/speeds2.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/SnUaG-uVaNI/AAAAAAAAAPU/1awfp-oTMbE/s400/speeds2.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365223238300690642″ //abr /span style=”font-style:italic;”(Photo by Justin Wadsworth)./spanbr /br /Since I’m down in the country of Murray Halberg, Peter Snell and Co. it might be apt to steal a line, or at least paraphrase, a thought of Arthur Lydiard’s – from distance work comes speed. Speed training has been far from a focus so far this season. Still, the speed over the snow feels good.br /br /Run to the Top… Ski to the Top…br /br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/SnUaGrr938I/AAAAAAAAAPM/dTa4eeLJmlw/s1600-h/email+-+snow+%2B+fences.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/SnUaGrr938I/AAAAAAAAAPM/dTa4eeLJmlw/s400/email+-+snow+%2B+fences.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365223233190485954″ //abr /span style=”font-style:italic;”(Photo by Torin.)/spanbr /br /Living above the treeline atop a mountain, weather moves in easily at the Wairaou SnowFarm. And sometimes with a nasty disposition. Other days, it’s just beautiful. With a combination of snowfences and sunshine, this counts as one of the latter.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2691525267872963085-6742989994408551918?l=in-the-arena-torin.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • A New Take on South Sister (via Green Lakes)

    The route

  • YOU ARE INVITED

    Come join Sun Valley’s own 2010 Olympic hopefuls for a night of music, food and inspiration. Bryon Friedman, a former pro alpine racer, will be providing the majority of the auditory ambiance. br /br /Bryon skied on the US Ski Team before a premature retirement due to a leg injury in 2005. As a National Champion and top 10 World Cup skier, we are lucky to have Bryon supporting our current dreamers and do-ers.br /br /An acoustic/folk rock rhythm, his music can be listened to

  • Keep Your Friends Close, and Your Enemy Closer

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SnQnDhWljRI/AAAAAAAACO8/1cIPc_dQRHA/s1600-h/P7310217.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/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SnQnDhWljRI/AAAAAAAACO8/1cIPc_dQRHA/s400/P7310217.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364955997551299858″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SnQnDbzjx-I/AAAAAAAACO0/ispQQqTAigI/s1600-h/P7310214.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/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SnQnDbzjx-I/AAAAAAAACO0/ispQQqTAigI/s400/P7310214.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364955996062205922″ //aHave been training fro the last week in Lake Placid and Jericho, VT. Training is progressing incrementally.  Get to be a full time athlete for one more week finishing off with the North American Biathlon Championships in VT.  Concentrating on shooting especially speeding up the range procedure. That is working on getting the rifle off your back and getting ready to fire the first shot , shooting, then getting out of there.divHave had the opportunity to train with Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey.  Although the are both great people.  Don’t become complacent. They represent the enemy.  Young Athletes representing the USBA.  I have been keeping them under close watch and against all odds and reason waiting for Winter to unleash the beast.  The plan is to give htem some more confidence next week at the races.  They both are the real deal.  They both have the ability, opportunity and support staff to be in contention for top results this winter./divdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6647112093689702615-7340708747515692828?l=www.jackedupoldman.com’//div

  • A Note from the Haig Glacier

  • Day to Day

    10 days

  • Skiing on Snow in July

    pspan style=”font-size:85%;” The other day I only made it to ‘The Club for our quick Treasure Hunt. I had to take off early though in order to catch a plane to Canada. My teammate, Matt and I are joining a group of Canadian skiers to the Haig Glacier where we can cross country ski during the summer. We are looking forward to a great volume block with eight days on snow./span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Canmore%20017.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / Thanks to Steve for putting us up in Canmore. It is great to get to know your family. Your alligator is pretty cool too, I wish we could take him with us to go sledding on the Glacier.br //span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Canmore%20018.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / Kit and Matt at the trail head ready to run in. We dropped our gear off to be flown in by Helicopter so we only had to carry water and a light jacket for the 18km run in to base camp.br //span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Canmore%20026.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / The Canadian Rockies are beautifulbr //span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Canmore%20033.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / Matt Ready To Ski on the Haig Glacier (background)/span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Canmore%20032.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / Our home for the next week. 45 minute hike to the trails/snow. /span/pdiv style=”text-align: center;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Haig09%20005.JPG” width=”500″ border=”1″ height=”667″ /br //divp align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;” We have a 45 minute hike to get to the snow each morning. This is a long hike to do before the real workout even starts. /span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Haig09%20020.JPG” width=”534″ height=”400″ /br / Beautiful Conditions and Excellent Training. /span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Haig09%20022.JPG” width=”500″ height=”667″ /br / Matt testing out this years new Salomon boots/span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Haig09%20027.JPG” width=”500″ height=”667″ /br / We are skiing nice and easy up here. I have been trying to keep the heart rate low. The altitude (2700m) makes it feel really hard up here. We did some lactate testing today and I am pleased to be at 1.0mmol for 130bpm. We are looking to stay under 1.5-2mmol./span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Haig09%20036.JPG” width=”534″ height=”400″ /br / The afternoon the weather really cleared up and we enjoyed a nice run followed by a stretch on the heli pad.br //span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/haig%20006.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / Thanks John and Joel for the excellent grooming/span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/haig%20009.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / The trail loops back and forth on the glacier for 7.5km/span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/haig%20018.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / Prepping skis for tomorrow/span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/haig%20029.JPG” width=”550″ height=”413″ /br / This has to be the coldest water I have ever iced my legs in/span/p p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/Haig09%20001.JPG” width=”550″ height=”734″ /br / John prepping the mussels for dinner. /span/p p align=”left”span style=”font-size:85%;”John and Joel have been treating us really well. I have never eaten so well at a training camp. My appetite has been suppressed with the altitude but everything is so good that I have been getting enough still. It is luxurious up here with great food and warm showers. I am off to see which movie is playing tonight. Let me know how what you all are up to at ‘The Club.’/span/pdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8083254037538554650-8686546519314987848?l=in-the-arena-brian.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Clear Day at 9000′

    A

  • Awesome Ashleigh in Australia

    SMS winter termer, Ashleigh Spittle is having an excellent winter at home in Australia. She is getting tons of compliments on her technique and her results. It looks as if all of her hard work is starting to pay off. Congratulations Ashleigh, we’re all proud of you. Keep it up!br /Here she is leading the pack in the Australian U16 Pursuit Championships. Notice the yellow bib. She lived up to bib color and brought home the gold.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnImybu5OGI/AAAAAAAAAec/1DKeP1JCBeM/s1600-h/3_DSC03770+(Custom).jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnImybu5OGI/AAAAAAAAAec/1DKeP1JCBeM/s400/3_DSC03770+(Custom).jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364392754031442018″ //abr /Ashleigh following a National Team member on a nice Aussie day.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnImqQ4Eo8I/AAAAAAAAAeU/PfTkQvD66HM/s1600-h/2_DSC03345+(Custom).jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SnImqQ4Eo8I/AAAAAAAAAeU/PfTkQvD66HM/s400/2_DSC03345+(Custom).jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364392613678195650″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-4967635190187172471?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’//div

  • Was it something I said?

    Last week, I mentioned the new Alaska Birkie bike race.  I wrote that even though I thought it sounded like a fun race, I wouldn’t be able to do it this year.  I also thought they should change the name of the race.
    Well, I just saw an announcement that this year’s race is cancelled because […]

  • July Time Trialing – Photo Gallery

  • July Time Trialing – Photo Gallery

  • Pikes Peak, Part Deux…the rest of the story

  • Beautiful Day of Skiing Today

    A

  • An update from the NENSA Camp

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3c1Nv5NLyNg/SnD5oYDNI4I/AAAAAAAAAtk/XyyevAp4mDo/s1600-h/JB+Leads+Girls”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3c1Nv5NLyNg/SnD5oYDNI4I/AAAAAAAAAtk/XyyevAp4mDo/s400/JB+Leads+Girls” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364061628244239234″ border=”0″ //aLeading a group of New England Juniors up the big hill at the Olympic Jumping Complex. We are trying to match cadence here–not bad!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3c1Nv5NLyNg/SnD5oL0aJxI/AAAAAAAAAtc/2pMLlTQqnIs/s1600-h/Fun+Rollerski”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3c1Nv5NLyNg/SnD5oL0aJxI/AAAAAAAAAtc/2pMLlTQqnIs/s400/Fun+Rollerski” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364061624960952082″ border=”0″ //aWe also worked on agility and making the skis a part of our body. Here we are running through a fun slalom complete with a stick jump. This type of drill seems silly at first, but it teaches invaluable skills and promotes safety.br /br /Hello from the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. I’m over here helping out with the J2/EHS camp with Abbey Weissman and Pete Phillips. There are fourteen athletes from around New England training and working on technique. Today we did a benchmark Double Pole test on John Bliss Road.br /br /br /br /See the links on

  • Intervals, Strength, and thoughts on Technique

    We were at the track again today, in the beautiful morning sun. Mile repeats for the gals, 2km repeats for Mr. DK. It was hot, humid, and awesome.br /br /div style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cBFLp0vFuic/SnCg1uCKUDI/AAAAAAAAADM/asFQSZccnVI/s1600-h/kaitlin-stitt.JPG”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cBFLp0vFuic/SnCg1uCKUDI/AAAAAAAAADM/asFQSZccnVI/s400/kaitlin-stitt.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363964000948867122″ border=”0″ //aMs. Stitt and Ms. Fitzgeraldbr //divdiv style=”text-align: center;”a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cBFLp0vFuic/SnCg1XF4xfI/AAAAAAAAADE/z-q0uRp9OjY/s1600-h/danny-kuzio.JPG”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cBFLp0vFuic/SnCg1XF4xfI/AAAAAAAAADE/z-q0uRp9OjY/s400/danny-kuzio.JPG” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363963994790479346″ border=”0″ //aDanny Kuzio, Bates-boundbr /br /div style=”text-align: left;”After the intervals, Kaitlin and Emily joined me for some power-lifting. Well, not actually power-lifting, but strength with a focus on power. Both this week and next week we are focused on fast motions — in the weight room and also on skis. The Ski Ergs were one aspect of the strength routine, so the gals got their first few pulls on the new machines. Flaws and inefficiencies really become obvious when poling on the erg — such as the “pre-crunch” that I see a lot with middle-aged skiers (teenagers).br /br /The pre-crunch is something that happens to a lot of kids that hear the idea “you have to put lots of power early in the double-pole”. However, if proper technique and strength are not already ingrained, then the idea of a powerful initiation to the double-pole becomes a moot point. Kids start to crunch violently, again, thinking to themselves “I’ve gotta be powerful”, however the technique and proper range of motion often suffer. So, let’s focus on good technique (which is independent of power, and partially independent of strength), and proper range of motion. Once those motions are ingrained, power will build gradually, as the athlete builds general and specific strength. In other words, don’t worry so much about power, until you have strength.br //div/divdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1847564486460994594-4599179456169752277?l=gmvsxc.blogspot.com’//div