Category: XCFeeds

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

New boots, training camp and now recovery

A

July 21, 2009
Eagle Glacier Photos July 2009

I had my second of three weeks on the glacier this last week. Because of the ash cover from the Mt. Redoubt eruptions the landscape took on an eerie appearance. Skiing 20+ hrs over the week gave me plenty of time to focus on my technique and wonder at how the ash changed the melting patterns of the glacier snow. Thankfully we had the pisten bully up and running to clear a path through the ash for us so that, for the most part, we got to ski on precious white snow.

July 21, 2009
Eagle Glacier Photos July 2009

I had my second of three weeks on the glacier this last week. Because of the ash cover from the Mt. Redoubt eruptions the landscape took on an eerie appearance. Skiing 20+ hrs over the week gave me plenty of time to focus on my technique and wonder at how the ash changed the melting patterns of the glacier snow. Thankfully we had the pisten bully up and running to clear a path through the ash for us so that, for the most part, we got to ski on precious white snow.

July 21, 2009
Eagle Glacier Photos July 2009

I had my second of three weeks on the glacier this last week. Because of the ash cover from the Mt. Redoubt eruptions the landscape took on an eerie appearance. Skiing 20+ hrs over the week gave me plenty of time to focus on my technique and wonder at how the ash changed the melting patterns of the glacier snow. Thankfully we had the pisten bully up and running to clear a path through the ash for us so that, for the most part, we got to ski on precious white snow.

July 21, 2009
Eagle Glacier Photos July 2009

I had my second of three weeks on the glacier this last week. Because of the ash cover from the Mt. Redoubt eruptions the landscape took on an eerie appearance. Skiing 20+ hrs over the week gave me plenty of time to focus on my technique and wonder at how the ash changed the melting patterns of the glacier snow. Thankfully we had the pisten bully up and running to clear a path through the ash for us so that, for the most part, we got to ski on precious white snow.

July 21, 2009
..best computer generated model ever.

img src=”http://4.media.tumblr.com/COiZNt422q5ma89rkx63e2VYo1_500.jpg”/br/br/..best computer generated model ever.

July 20, 2009
A few headbands left…

send along your request if you still want one: johnnyklister@gmail.com

July 20, 2009
Elbow pads

One of the best things about our sport of Nordic skiing is that it is a sport for all ages. How many high school football players are still playing at 50 (or even 25) years old? This makes it a great family activity, as everyone can participate. I have it particularly good, as my dad has always been a skier (although mostly downhill when I was growing up) and is always willing to hop into a race or some crazy endurance adventure. My wife is also my best training partner, and by far my greatest motivation to work out (I have to keep up with her!). She has also been a fantastic sport and has been willing to leave the comfort and speed of her running shoes to wobble around on span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_0″rollerskis/span trying to learn a sport that can take frustratingly long to feel comfortable.br /br /This year, even my mom has gotten into the act. She has always been an avid walker (and she can really move!), but she never did much more than the occasional cross country ski in the winter. However the past couple of winters she (I think feeling a little sorry for Nichole, as well as wanting to improve her fitness) has been out more, and even got skate span class=”blsp-spelling-corrected” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_1″equipment/span. My dad and I have been giving some pointers, but this spring he (and Greg) managed to talk my mom into joining span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_2″Sisu/span Skiers. She has loved it so far! She got a pair of span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_3″Marwe/span span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_4″combis/span, and has been going out on her own and practicing. I worried about how she would get the balance (since she has had minimal skating on snow experience, and she had a pretty serious knee injury in the span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_5″BWCA/span a couple years ago), but she has actually picked that part up quite well (I think years of downhill skiing and some limited rollerblading with my sister have helped). The irony is all that worrying about span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_6″rollerskiing/span didn’t account for other freak accidents… since last Thursday at span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_7″Sisu/span Skiers practice (a emspan class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_8″dryland/span/em practice at battle creek) one of the guys there span class=”blsp-spelling-corrected” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_9″accidentally/span ran into her and she landed awkwardly on her arm. Unfortunately the ensuing trip to the ER revealed that she broken the end of her radius at her elbow, and her span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_10″rollerskiing/span will be on hiatus for the near future. span class=”blsp-spelling-corrected” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_11″Hopefully/span she will have the speediest of recoveries, since I know she would much rather be out with her group of span class=”blsp-spelling-error” id=”SPELLING_ERROR_12″Sisu/span Skier newbies.br /br /Winter days on snow are wonderful, but not nearly so when spent alone every day. I just want to thank my family for participating in this great sport, and in doing so supporting me and all the fun I have skiing.br /br /Hopefully I won’t kill you all in the process :)div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1572647974447867713-7449936663265102323?l=vakavaraceteam.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

July 20, 2009
July Glacier Camp

July 20, 2009
Whiteface Mtn Prior to Sunset

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SmS5g4EcW2I/AAAAAAAACOs/8l0SAbKyxx0/s1600-h/P7180122.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/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SmS5g4EcW2I/AAAAAAAACOs/8l0SAbKyxx0/s400/P7180122.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360613430935706466″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SmS5gQGPb8I/AAAAAAAACOk/-RDcGUl_OJo/s1600-h/P7180110.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/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SmS5gQGPb8I/AAAAAAAACOk/-RDcGUl_OJo/s400/P7180110.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360613420205830082″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SmS5gLPDggI/AAAAAAAACOc/D2En_MtW3dk/s1600-h/P7180101.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/_n7a3IKFYbqU/SmS5gLPDggI/AAAAAAAACOc/D2En_MtW3dk/s400/P7180101.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360613418900619778″ //aSaturday evening I found myself at the summit of Whiteface Mtn after a a leisurely 20 mile ride from my house. It was awesome to have the whole place to myself. Wish I could go up there every night and enjoy the world.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6647112093689702615-1417538768726270972?l=www.jackedupoldman.com’//div

July 20, 2009
When in Rome…

I’m fresh back from the AK Regional Elite Group camp in Palmer. Heather, Kelsey and Jordan received invites to the 20-athlete camp and had a chance to work with US Ski Team coaches Pete Vordenberg and Pat Casey, and train alongside a great group of many of the top juniors in Alaska. The week’s training involved a lot of roller skiing with a heavy emphasis on technique and technique review, coupled with a strength test and an uphill rollerski time trial.

In the midst of all of this training, Thursday afternoon afforded us some time off, an opportunity to recreate, clear our minds and get away for a couple hours. As the self-appointed fun coach (appointed after the fact – in fact, I appointed myself just now), I took it upon myself to come up with a fun activity that would give us a little local flavor (cultural experience). Since the camp was taking place in ‘the valley,’ there were some natural options: explosives, firearms or internal combustion. Upon review, however, firearms, explosives and internal combustion are either not safe, not easy to come by for an afternoons recreating, or incapable of interesting 20-30 skiers for an adequate portion of said afternoon.

So, we settled on some good ol’ fashioned bowlin’ in the bucolic hometown of our now former Governor Palin. Northern Bowl looked like the sort of place Joe Six-pack could hang out at, unfortunately for the owners, it was just us that afternoon. After a couple of games, and some intriguing styles of play it was clear that we should stick to skiing.

J-man

Forrest

Laid out

S. P. Jerome: that cat can roll…

The two-handed heave (left)

The 'professional' (looking) shot

The straight-up gutter ball…

…will get you scores like this

the flop

the run and drop

and of course: backwards between the legs

July 20, 2009
Hayward Camp, Week 2

Today concludes the CXC Elite team’s second training camp of the year. Bryan, Gus and I drove back to Marquette this afternoon and we are sitting at Caitlin and Nielsen’s house watching the end of today’s Tour stage. It is always great to be home after a long training camp. I miss the lake, my garden, and my Marquette friends when I am gone.
Last week was a recovery week for me, but most of the team participated in an intensity block. I have been writing my own training this year and I did not think the intensity block would fit in well with what I had been doing. It was a little different for me to be watching some of the hard interval sessions. I did get a chance to do some of the intensity with the group, including the OO Skate time trial on Saturday. I felt very rested and was able to drop about 30 seconds off of my time from the previous week.

On Friday, some of the CXC Elite women stopped by the Ski and Tea’s practice. Then, my good college roommate and friend Emalea Landgraf came to visit us in Hayward. We went to the Ideal Market in Cable for a beer, tried out the Sawmill’s Friday fish fry in Seeley, and watched a movie with the rest of the team. She brought us some of Dave Landgraf’s home roasted coffee which is always amazing.

Emalea Landgraf

July 19, 2009
Update

A

July 19, 2009
Alaskan REG

Put yourself in a position to succeed.

July 19, 2009
Alaskan REG

Put yourself in a position to succeed.

July 19, 2009
Take it easy

The life of a researcher is tough… especially when conferences are held in the middle of the summer in a happening “town” like Oslo. At the end of June I hopped a plane to Norway with my ears ready for some serious listening and my USB stick (with my own presentation on concurrent strength and endurance training in recreational runners about 98% ready) in my bag. Upon arrival, I found the sun shining (didn’t stop once during our stay) on a beautiful city with lots of good dining/outdoor activities/shopping/parks/museums… the only disappointment was that BlogItemURL

July 18, 2009
A little more solid training

We are just finishing a medium easy week in preparation for the “big one” coming up. Thursday we had another good Weston d-pole workout and today we warmed up, did some hip mobility and jumps and then did 4X 7minutes of L3 ski walking up Stratton. Special guest Rosie B is looking tough and our young future stars (pictured below in a tricky pose) made it to the top and were rewarded with a ride down the gondola and power bars.br /Everything is good!br /On Monday we head to the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge for our 3 day White Mtn. camp. We plan to do the famed Moosilauke hill climb, ski the Kancamagus (followed by a run to Waterville Valley) and hike the Franconia Range. Next weekend we have 4 workouts including jumping in “The race for the cure” on Sunday. Should be fun!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmITzz_rfqI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/EsvepMeDRNY/s1600-h/100_3066.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmITzz_rfqI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/EsvepMeDRNY/s400/100_3066.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359868287375867554″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmITU8YzkYI/AAAAAAAAAZs/g9zhUDreiZA/s1600-h/100_3078.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmITU8YzkYI/AAAAAAAAAZs/g9zhUDreiZA/s200/100_3078.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359867757052793218″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmITBNqyMdI/AAAAAAAAAZk/z7kRFwauqQ4/s1600-h/100_3073.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 168px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmITBNqyMdI/AAAAAAAAAZk/z7kRFwauqQ4/s200/100_3073.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359867418094219730″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmISi_iGLNI/AAAAAAAAAZc/cyWF2TdirFg/s1600-h/100_3074.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 200px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SmISi_iGLNI/AAAAAAAAAZc/cyWF2TdirFg/s200/100_3074.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359866898903608530″ //abr /Click on a picture to make it bigger.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-3298195570443010661?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’//div

July 18, 2009
Coming soon…

July 17, 2009
Stop the bleeding.

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July 17, 2009
An Open Letter to Canada:

pDear Canada,/p
pWe’re taking back our female coaches. Clearly, you didn’t know what you had. We MIGHT still be friends, however, but only if you bring us some

July 17, 2009