FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • REGISTER IF YOU ARE IN UTAH!!!!

    LESS THAN A WEEK TO THE EVENT!
    Make sure to share this info with all your athletes!
    GIRLS AND PARENTS! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
    Park City, UT / Canmore, AB (September 1, 2011) – A dynamic and inspiring group of world-class female athletes is preparing to host a once-in-a-lifetime Fast and Female event in Park City on October 8, 2011 at the USSA’s Center of Excellence.

    Held in partnership with the U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and open to girls ages 9 to 19 practicing all sports, the event will feature an afternoon of fun and non-competitive dryland training followed by a motivational presentation. The activity will conclude with a yoga segment and an autograph signing session.

    The highlight of the Fast and Female Park City event will be the presence of the following 25 world-class female athletes representing the sports of Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, and Speed Skating:

    – Shannon Bahrke (Moguls)
    – Erin Bartlett (Short Track Skating)
    – Sadie Bjornsen (XC Skiing)
    – Brittany Bowe (Long Track Skating)
    – Holly Brooks (XC Skiing)
    – Sarah Chen (Short Track Skating)
    – Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Snowboardcross)
    – Annelies Cook (USA Biathlete)
    – Emily Cook (Aerials)
    – Alexa Devereaux (Aerials)
    – Jessie Diggins (XC Skiing)
    – Alyson Dudek (Short Track Skating)
    – Kaitlyn Farrington (Halfpipe)
    – Faye Gulini (Snowboardcross)
    – Morgan Izykowski (Short Track Skating)
    – Zina Kocher (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jana Lindsey (Aerials)
    – Chelsea Marshall (Alpine)
    – Andrea Mayo (Biathlete)
    – Netanya Mintz (Long Track Skating)
    – Kikkan Randall (XC Skiing)
    – Melanie Shultz (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jessica Smith (Short Track Skating)
    – Kathryn Stone (Biathlete)
    – Liz Stephen (XC Skiing)

    On this special occasion, more than 150 aspiring female athletes will get first-hand experience from this select group of athletes – all of which are active World Cup/Europa Cup competitors and the majority of which are Olympians.

    “Sports have taught me so many important life lessons and have made me the person I am today,” said Shannon Bahrke silver medalist in moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and 2003 World Cup Champion.

    “Setting lofty goals, working hard to achieve them, and never giving up when things get hard are just a few of those lessons that I want to instill in young female athletes. I know they can do anything because girl athletes are awesome and we rule,” concluded Bahrke who became the first US women’s freestyle skier to win multiple Olympic medals with her bronze medal in 2010.

    The key objective for the afternoon will be to motivate girls to stick to sports by exposing them to inspiring and positive female role models. It is said that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys.

    “I chose to be a part of ‘Fast and Female’ because I know the difference it has made for me to live a fun and active lifestyle,” said Emily Cook, a two-time Olympian with five career World Cup podiums. “I am really excited to help pass on the lessons that I have learned through sport like teamwork, leadership, being confident and having fun to young women in our community and to have some time to play and sweat with these amazing ladies,” she added.

    As a non-profit and North-America-wide program started in 2005 by Chandra Crawford – Canada’s 2006 Olympic gold medalist in cross country – Fast and Female is intensely focused on delivering effective programming to keep girls in sports. So far in 2011, Fast and Female has hosted a total of 10 events, reaching 1,030 girls. The Park City event marks the fourth event held on U.S. soil this year and also the first U.S. event ever held with ambassadors from sports other than cross country skiing. Past Fast and Female events held in the U.S. in 2011 took place in Maine, Alaska, and Sun Valley – all on snow.

    “It’s been a fun journey bringing Fast and Female to the US in cross-country,” said Kikkan Randall, lead Fast and Female ambassador in the US and double World Cup winner on the Cross-country circuit in 2011. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to expand into more disciplines with this Park City event,” added the full-time athlete who has held three Fast and Female events in her hometown of Anchorage since 2009.

    To complement the youth programming, parents and coaches are invited to join the “Amazing Tips Seminar”. While the girls will be taking part in the dryland stations, adults will have the opportunity to attend three insightful presentations on Sport Psychology/Mental Toughness with Dr. Lauren Loberg, NCC, CC-AASP (Director of Athlete Career and Education), on Nutrition/Fueling the Fast Female with Adam Korzun (High Performance Dietician) and on Injury Prevention and Body Maintenance with Jess Tidswell, PT. DPT, ATC (Medical Resident Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer). All three guest speakers are experts in their respective fields and employees of USSA.

    The registration fee for the youth segment is $20 per participant and includes a Fast and Female t-shirt, a Buff, a snack, an autograph poster. Parents and coaches can also secure a seat by purchasing a ticket for $20 which includes access to the seminar and a Fast and Female t-shirt valued at $20.

    All registrations are compiled online at http://ffparkcityoct2011.eventbrite.com/. Please note that financial assistance is available for participants in need. Please contact info@fastandfemale.com to inquire.

    The deadline to register online is October 6, 2011. On-site registrations will be at a rate of $25 per participant.

    This activity is made possible thanks to valuable local partners such as USSA, US Bank, Einstein’s Bagels, and Knead a Massage. Fast and Female’s national sponsors – including Best Buy, Buff Multifunctional Headwear, Cold-FX, LUNA Bars, and LIT Glitter – are also providing key resources to make this event possible. For a complete list of Fast and Female national program supporters and sponsors, please visit: /default.asp?lang=&mode=webpage&id=89.

  • REGISTER IF YOU ARE IN UTAH!!!!

    LESS THAN A WEEK TO THE EVENT!
    Make sure to share this info with all your athletes!
    GIRLS AND PARENTS! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
    Park City, UT / Canmore, AB (September 1, 2011) – A dynamic and inspiring group of world-class female athletes is preparing to host a once-in-a-lifetime Fast and Female event in Park City on October 8, 2011 at the USSA’s Center of Excellence.

    Held in partnership with the U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and open to girls ages 9 to 19 practicing all sports, the event will feature an afternoon of fun and non-competitive dryland training followed by a motivational presentation. The activity will conclude with a yoga segment and an autograph signing session.

    The highlight of the Fast and Female Park City event will be the presence of the following 25 world-class female athletes representing the sports of Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, and Speed Skating:

    – Shannon Bahrke (Moguls)
    – Erin Bartlett (Short Track Skating)
    – Sadie Bjornsen (XC Skiing)
    – Brittany Bowe (Long Track Skating)
    – Holly Brooks (XC Skiing)
    – Sarah Chen (Short Track Skating)
    – Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Snowboardcross)
    – Annelies Cook (USA Biathlete)
    – Emily Cook (Aerials)
    – Alexa Devereaux (Aerials)
    – Jessie Diggins (XC Skiing)
    – Alyson Dudek (Short Track Skating)
    – Kaitlyn Farrington (Halfpipe)
    – Faye Gulini (Snowboardcross)
    – Morgan Izykowski (Short Track Skating)
    – Zina Kocher (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jana Lindsey (Aerials)
    – Chelsea Marshall (Alpine)
    – Andrea Mayo (Biathlete)
    – Netanya Mintz (Long Track Skating)
    – Kikkan Randall (XC Skiing)
    – Melanie Shultz (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jessica Smith (Short Track Skating)
    – Kathryn Stone (Biathlete)
    – Liz Stephen (XC Skiing)

    On this special occasion, more than 150 aspiring female athletes will get first-hand experience from this select group of athletes – all of which are active World Cup/Europa Cup competitors and the majority of which are Olympians.

    “Sports have taught me so many important life lessons and have made me the person I am today,” said Shannon Bahrke silver medalist in moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and 2003 World Cup Champion.

    “Setting lofty goals, working hard to achieve them, and never giving up when things get hard are just a few of those lessons that I want to instill in young female athletes. I know they can do anything because girl athletes are awesome and we rule,” concluded Bahrke who became the first US women’s freestyle skier to win multiple Olympic medals with her bronze medal in 2010.

    The key objective for the afternoon will be to motivate girls to stick to sports by exposing them to inspiring and positive female role models. It is said that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys.

    “I chose to be a part of ‘Fast and Female’ because I know the difference it has made for me to live a fun and active lifestyle,” said Emily Cook, a two-time Olympian with five career World Cup podiums. “I am really excited to help pass on the lessons that I have learned through sport like teamwork, leadership, being confident and having fun to young women in our community and to have some time to play and sweat with these amazing ladies,” she added.

    As a non-profit and North-America-wide program started in 2005 by Chandra Crawford – Canada’s 2006 Olympic gold medalist in cross country – Fast and Female is intensely focused on delivering effective programming to keep girls in sports. So far in 2011, Fast and Female has hosted a total of 10 events, reaching 1,030 girls. The Park City event marks the fourth event held on U.S. soil this year and also the first U.S. event ever held with ambassadors from sports other than cross country skiing. Past Fast and Female events held in the U.S. in 2011 took place in Maine, Alaska, and Sun Valley – all on snow.

    “It’s been a fun journey bringing Fast and Female to the US in cross-country,” said Kikkan Randall, lead Fast and Female ambassador in the US and double World Cup winner on the Cross-country circuit in 2011. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to expand into more disciplines with this Park City event,” added the full-time athlete who has held three Fast and Female events in her hometown of Anchorage since 2009.

    To complement the youth programming, parents and coaches are invited to join the “Amazing Tips Seminar”. While the girls will be taking part in the dryland stations, adults will have the opportunity to attend three insightful presentations on Sport Psychology/Mental Toughness with Dr. Lauren Loberg, NCC, CC-AASP (Director of Athlete Career and Education), on Nutrition/Fueling the Fast Female with Adam Korzun (High Performance Dietician) and on Injury Prevention and Body Maintenance with Jess Tidswell, PT. DPT, ATC (Medical Resident Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer). All three guest speakers are experts in their respective fields and employees of USSA.

    The registration fee for the youth segment is $20 per participant and includes a Fast and Female t-shirt, a Buff, a snack, an autograph poster. Parents and coaches can also secure a seat by purchasing a ticket for $20 which includes access to the seminar and a Fast and Female t-shirt valued at $20.

    All registrations are compiled online at http://ffparkcityoct2011.eventbrite.com/. Please note that financial assistance is available for participants in need. Please contact info@fastandfemale.com to inquire.

    The deadline to register online is October 6, 2011. On-site registrations will be at a rate of $25 per participant.

    This activity is made possible thanks to valuable local partners such as USSA, US Bank, Einstein’s Bagels, and Knead a Massage. Fast and Female’s national sponsors – including Best Buy, Buff Multifunctional Headwear, Cold-FX, LUNA Bars, and LIT Glitter – are also providing key resources to make this event possible. For a complete list of Fast and Female national program supporters and sponsors, please visit: /default.asp?lang=&mode=webpage&id=89.

  • REGISTER IF YOU ARE IN UTAH!!!!

    LESS THAN A WEEK TO THE EVENT!
    Make sure to share this info with all your athletes!
    GIRLS AND PARENTS! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
    Park City, UT / Canmore, AB (September 1, 2011) – A dynamic and inspiring group of world-class female athletes is preparing to host a once-in-a-lifetime Fast and Female event in Park City on October 8, 2011 at the USSA’s Center of Excellence.

    Held in partnership with the U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and open to girls ages 9 to 19 practicing all sports, the event will feature an afternoon of fun and non-competitive dryland training followed by a motivational presentation. The activity will conclude with a yoga segment and an autograph signing session.

    The highlight of the Fast and Female Park City event will be the presence of the following 25 world-class female athletes representing the sports of Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, and Speed Skating:

    – Shannon Bahrke (Moguls)
    – Erin Bartlett (Short Track Skating)
    – Sadie Bjornsen (XC Skiing)
    – Brittany Bowe (Long Track Skating)
    – Holly Brooks (XC Skiing)
    – Sarah Chen (Short Track Skating)
    – Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Snowboardcross)
    – Annelies Cook (USA Biathlete)
    – Emily Cook (Aerials)
    – Alexa Devereaux (Aerials)
    – Jessie Diggins (XC Skiing)
    – Alyson Dudek (Short Track Skating)
    – Kaitlyn Farrington (Halfpipe)
    – Faye Gulini (Snowboardcross)
    – Morgan Izykowski (Short Track Skating)
    – Zina Kocher (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jana Lindsey (Aerials)
    – Chelsea Marshall (Alpine)
    – Andrea Mayo (Biathlete)
    – Netanya Mintz (Long Track Skating)
    – Kikkan Randall (XC Skiing)
    – Melanie Shultz (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jessica Smith (Short Track Skating)
    – Kathryn Stone (Biathlete)
    – Liz Stephen (XC Skiing)

    On this special occasion, more than 150 aspiring female athletes will get first-hand experience from this select group of athletes – all of which are active World Cup/Europa Cup competitors and the majority of which are Olympians.

    “Sports have taught me so many important life lessons and have made me the person I am today,” said Shannon Bahrke silver medalist in moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and 2003 World Cup Champion.

    “Setting lofty goals, working hard to achieve them, and never giving up when things get hard are just a few of those lessons that I want to instill in young female athletes. I know they can do anything because girl athletes are awesome and we rule,” concluded Bahrke who became the first US women’s freestyle skier to win multiple Olympic medals with her bronze medal in 2010.

    The key objective for the afternoon will be to motivate girls to stick to sports by exposing them to inspiring and positive female role models. It is said that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys.

    “I chose to be a part of ‘Fast and Female’ because I know the difference it has made for me to live a fun and active lifestyle,” said Emily Cook, a two-time Olympian with five career World Cup podiums. “I am really excited to help pass on the lessons that I have learned through sport like teamwork, leadership, being confident and having fun to young women in our community and to have some time to play and sweat with these amazing ladies,” she added.

    As a non-profit and North-America-wide program started in 2005 by Chandra Crawford – Canada’s 2006 Olympic gold medalist in cross country – Fast and Female is intensely focused on delivering effective programming to keep girls in sports. So far in 2011, Fast and Female has hosted a total of 10 events, reaching 1,030 girls. The Park City event marks the fourth event held on U.S. soil this year and also the first U.S. event ever held with ambassadors from sports other than cross country skiing. Past Fast and Female events held in the U.S. in 2011 took place in Maine, Alaska, and Sun Valley – all on snow.

    “It’s been a fun journey bringing Fast and Female to the US in cross-country,” said Kikkan Randall, lead Fast and Female ambassador in the US and double World Cup winner on the Cross-country circuit in 2011. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to expand into more disciplines with this Park City event,” added the full-time athlete who has held three Fast and Female events in her hometown of Anchorage since 2009.

    To complement the youth programming, parents and coaches are invited to join the “Amazing Tips Seminar”. While the girls will be taking part in the dryland stations, adults will have the opportunity to attend three insightful presentations on Sport Psychology/Mental Toughness with Dr. Lauren Loberg, NCC, CC-AASP (Director of Athlete Career and Education), on Nutrition/Fueling the Fast Female with Adam Korzun (High Performance Dietician) and on Injury Prevention and Body Maintenance with Jess Tidswell, PT. DPT, ATC (Medical Resident Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer). All three guest speakers are experts in their respective fields and employees of USSA.

    The registration fee for the youth segment is $20 per participant and includes a Fast and Female t-shirt, a Buff, a snack, an autograph poster. Parents and coaches can also secure a seat by purchasing a ticket for $20 which includes access to the seminar and a Fast and Female t-shirt valued at $20.

    All registrations are compiled online at http://ffparkcityoct2011.eventbrite.com/. Please note that financial assistance is available for participants in need. Please contact info@fastandfemale.com to inquire.

    The deadline to register online is October 6, 2011. On-site registrations will be at a rate of $25 per participant.

    This activity is made possible thanks to valuable local partners such as USSA, US Bank, Einstein’s Bagels, and Knead a Massage. Fast and Female’s national sponsors – including Best Buy, Buff Multifunctional Headwear, Cold-FX, LUNA Bars, and LIT Glitter – are also providing key resources to make this event possible. For a complete list of Fast and Female national program supporters and sponsors, please visit: /default.asp?lang=&mode=webpage&id=89.

  • REGISTER IF YOU ARE IN UTAH!!!!

    LESS THAN A WEEK TO THE EVENT!
    Make sure to share this info with all your athletes!
    GIRLS AND PARENTS! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
    Park City, UT / Canmore, AB (September 1, 2011) – A dynamic and inspiring group of world-class female athletes is preparing to host a once-in-a-lifetime Fast and Female event in Park City on October 8, 2011 at the USSA’s Center of Excellence.

    Held in partnership with the U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and open to girls ages 9 to 19 practicing all sports, the event will feature an afternoon of fun and non-competitive dryland training followed by a motivational presentation. The activity will conclude with a yoga segment and an autograph signing session.

    The highlight of the Fast and Female Park City event will be the presence of the following 25 world-class female athletes representing the sports of Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard, and Speed Skating:

    – Shannon Bahrke (Moguls)
    – Erin Bartlett (Short Track Skating)
    – Sadie Bjornsen (XC Skiing)
    – Brittany Bowe (Long Track Skating)
    – Holly Brooks (XC Skiing)
    – Sarah Chen (Short Track Skating)
    – Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Snowboardcross)
    – Annelies Cook (USA Biathlete)
    – Emily Cook (Aerials)
    – Alexa Devereaux (Aerials)
    – Jessie Diggins (XC Skiing)
    – Alyson Dudek (Short Track Skating)
    – Kaitlyn Farrington (Halfpipe)
    – Faye Gulini (Snowboardcross)
    – Morgan Izykowski (Short Track Skating)
    – Zina Kocher (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jana Lindsey (Aerials)
    – Chelsea Marshall (Alpine)
    – Andrea Mayo (Biathlete)
    – Netanya Mintz (Long Track Skating)
    – Kikkan Randall (XC Skiing)
    – Melanie Shultz (Canadian Biathlete)
    – Jessica Smith (Short Track Skating)
    – Kathryn Stone (Biathlete)
    – Liz Stephen (XC Skiing)

    On this special occasion, more than 150 aspiring female athletes will get first-hand experience from this select group of athletes – all of which are active World Cup/Europa Cup competitors and the majority of which are Olympians.

    “Sports have taught me so many important life lessons and have made me the person I am today,” said Shannon Bahrke silver medalist in moguls at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and 2003 World Cup Champion.

    “Setting lofty goals, working hard to achieve them, and never giving up when things get hard are just a few of those lessons that I want to instill in young female athletes. I know they can do anything because girl athletes are awesome and we rule,” concluded Bahrke who became the first US women’s freestyle skier to win multiple Olympic medals with her bronze medal in 2010.

    The key objective for the afternoon will be to motivate girls to stick to sports by exposing them to inspiring and positive female role models. It is said that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys.

    “I chose to be a part of ‘Fast and Female’ because I know the difference it has made for me to live a fun and active lifestyle,” said Emily Cook, a two-time Olympian with five career World Cup podiums. “I am really excited to help pass on the lessons that I have learned through sport like teamwork, leadership, being confident and having fun to young women in our community and to have some time to play and sweat with these amazing ladies,” she added.

    As a non-profit and North-America-wide program started in 2005 by Chandra Crawford – Canada’s 2006 Olympic gold medalist in cross country – Fast and Female is intensely focused on delivering effective programming to keep girls in sports. So far in 2011, Fast and Female has hosted a total of 10 events, reaching 1,030 girls. The Park City event marks the fourth event held on U.S. soil this year and also the first U.S. event ever held with ambassadors from sports other than cross country skiing. Past Fast and Female events held in the U.S. in 2011 took place in Maine, Alaska, and Sun Valley – all on snow.

    “It’s been a fun journey bringing Fast and Female to the US in cross-country,” said Kikkan Randall, lead Fast and Female ambassador in the US and double World Cup winner on the Cross-country circuit in 2011. “I’m really excited for the opportunity to expand into more disciplines with this Park City event,” added the full-time athlete who has held three Fast and Female events in her hometown of Anchorage since 2009.

    To complement the youth programming, parents and coaches are invited to join the “Amazing Tips Seminar”. While the girls will be taking part in the dryland stations, adults will have the opportunity to attend three insightful presentations on Sport Psychology/Mental Toughness with Dr. Lauren Loberg, NCC, CC-AASP (Director of Athlete Career and Education), on Nutrition/Fueling the Fast Female with Adam Korzun (High Performance Dietician) and on Injury Prevention and Body Maintenance with Jess Tidswell, PT. DPT, ATC (Medical Resident Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer). All three guest speakers are experts in their respective fields and employees of USSA.

    The registration fee for the youth segment is $20 per participant and includes a Fast and Female t-shirt, a Buff, a snack, an autograph poster. Parents and coaches can also secure a seat by purchasing a ticket for $20 which includes access to the seminar and a Fast and Female t-shirt valued at $20.

    All registrations are compiled online at http://ffparkcityoct2011.eventbrite.com/. Please note that financial assistance is available for participants in need. Please contact info@fastandfemale.com to inquire.

    The deadline to register online is October 6, 2011. On-site registrations will be at a rate of $25 per participant.

    This activity is made possible thanks to valuable local partners such as USSA, US Bank, Einstein’s Bagels, and Knead a Massage. Fast and Female’s national sponsors – including Best Buy, Buff Multifunctional Headwear, Cold-FX, LUNA Bars, and LIT Glitter – are also providing key resources to make this event possible. For a complete list of Fast and Female national program supporters and sponsors, please visit: /default.asp?lang=&mode=webpage&id=89.

  • Sprint Practice

    This morning I took Nick and Skyler down to Shaftsbury for a sprint practice with Andy and Bryan Cook. We actually drove over to Cambridge, NY where there are some great roads with very little traffic. We picked a 1.6 km course that included several steep uphills, 1 downhill and a tough finish.
    The boys warmed up for 30 minutes and then got to work. We started with a prelim. and then ran 3 heats. We gave 25 minutes recovery after the prelim, 20 minutes after the 1st heat and 15 minutes recovery after the 2nd heat. Our goal was to mimic races where the recovery time tends to get smaller as you move on in the heats.
    Here you can see the type of area where we were.
    Prelim times:

    Andy 3:31
    Bryan 3:44
    Skyler 3:46
    Nick 4:07
    1st Heat (Andy lead all the way at a slighlty more conservative pace and hammered the finish).
    Andy 3:41
    Bryan 3:44
    Skyler 3:45
    Nick 4:05
    2nd Heat (Bryan lead the first 3/4’s at a good pace)
    Andy 3:36
    Bryan 3:42
    Skyler 3:49
    Nick 4:15
    The boys gather and smile after their tough workout. They worked hard and did well. You can see from the times that the last one was getting tough (less rest and accumulated fatigue).
    3rd Heat (Andy led the whole way)
    Andy 3:40
    Bryan 3:48
    Skyler 3:59
    Nick 4:06
    This afternoon we all did a run with some pick-ups and strength.

    Picture of campus from below the soccer field.

  • Sprint Practice

    This morning I took Nick and Skyler down to Shaftsbury for a sprint practice with Andy and Bryan Cook. We actually drove over to Cambridge, NY where there are some great roads with very little traffic. We picked a 1.6 km course that included several steep uphills, 1 downhill and a tough finish.
    The boys warmed up for 30 minutes and then got to work. We started with a prelim. and then ran 3 heats. We gave 25 minutes recovery after the prelim, 20 minutes after the 1st heat and 15 minutes recovery after the 2nd heat. Our goal was to mimic races where the recovery time tends to get smaller as you move on in the heats.
    Here you can see the type of area where we were.
    Prelim times:

    Andy 3:31
    Bryan 3:44
    Skyler 3:46
    Nick 4:07
    1st Heat (Andy lead all the way at a slighlty more conservative pace and hammered the finish).
    Andy 3:41
    Bryan 3:44
    Skyler 3:45
    Nick 4:05
    2nd Heat (Bryan lead the first 3/4’s at a good pace)
    Andy 3:36
    Bryan 3:42
    Skyler 3:49
    Nick 4:15
    The boys gather and smile after their tough workout. They worked hard and did well. You can see from the times that the last one was getting tough (less rest and accumulated fatigue).
    3rd Heat (Andy led the whole way)
    Andy 3:40
    Bryan 3:48
    Skyler 3:59
    Nick 4:06
    This afternoon we all did a run with some pick-ups and strength.

    Picture of campus from below the soccer field.

  • Home for fall

    blog4

    Fall has arrived and it’s great to be home!  I can’t think of a better place to be in September and October than in Vermont. It’s not quite peak foliage but each day a few more shades of reds, oranges, and yellows shine through.  I love shuffling through the fallen leaves while running on the trails.  I swam in the lake after my workout this morning and it was definitely refreshing.  Almost everything has been harvested from the garden and we’ve had fun making applesauce, pickles, and pumpkin bread with the last of the crops.  And of course the cold nights and crisp morning air is an exciting reminder that winter is on the way.

    The US team is currently together in Park City for the last training camp of the off season.  While I have really enjoyed going to the camps this summer, I opted to skip the camp and instead stay in Craftsbury and train with Pepa and the GRP.  Travelling to new places and training with different teammates is awesome but it can also makes me appreciate being at home.  We have a great training setup here with quiet roads for rollerskiing, lots of great trails and singletrack for running and biking, a lake for sculling, and a gym that nobody else uses.  We are also lucky to be part of a very supportive and active community.  Yesterday evening I did a short recovery rollerski on a loop around the town and I was honked at by four different cars.  However these  were not the “Get the hell off the road” type of honks that rollerskiers are accustomed to but were instead the “Hello! Good job! Keep up the good work!” kind of honks that were accompanied by a smile and a wave.  They made me be very excited to be in Crafsbury for next month while making the final preparations before the start of the season!

    blog5

  • Home for fall

    blog4

    Fall has arrived and it’s great to be home!  I can’t think of a better place to be in September and October than in Vermont. It’s not quite peak foliage but each day a few more shades of reds, oranges, and yellows shine through.  I love shuffling through the fallen leaves while running on the trails.  I swam in the lake after my workout this morning and it was definitely refreshing.  Almost everything has been harvested from the garden and we’ve had fun making applesauce, pickles, and pumpkin bread with the last of the crops.  And of course the cold nights and crisp morning air is an exciting reminder that winter is on the way.

    The US team is currently together in Park City for the last training camp of the off season.  While I have really enjoyed going to the camps this summer, I opted to skip the camp and instead stay in Craftsbury and train with Pepa and the GRP.  Travelling to new places and training with different teammates is awesome but it can also makes me appreciate being at home.  We have a great training setup here with quiet roads for rollerskiing, lots of great trails and singletrack for running and biking, a lake for sculling, and a gym that nobody else uses.  We are also lucky to be part of a very supportive and active community.  Yesterday evening I did a short recovery rollerski on a loop around the town and I was honked at by four different cars.  However these  were not the “Get the hell off the road” type of honks that rollerskiers are accustomed to but were instead the “Hello! Good job! Keep up the good work!” kind of honks that were accompanied by a smile and a wave.  They made me be very excited to be in Crafsbury for next month while making the final preparations before the start of the season!

    blog5

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Ski Ball – November 11, 5:30 PM Red Barn

  • Skating at the Sun Bowl

    Beautiful fall day at SMS! To end the school week, we headed out to the Sun Bowl before lunch for some skate speed and agility work. This afternoon we’ll be out for a run and then hit the gym for some strength. Tomorrow we’ve got a busy day – several of our seniors are taking the SATs in the morning, then heading up to Thetford, VT with the rest of the team for the Woods Trail Run with Sverre and Liz. Our PG athletes and those who can’t run will be doing a workout on campus with Matt.
    Tess, Rizzo, & Kate.
    Seniors leading the team through the drills – Paddy & Issy.
    Fall colors are here in Vermont!
    Calvin’s looking great on his rollerskis.
    Mollie’s psyched to be back on skate skis – we’re taking it one day at a time. : )
    Hamish & Paddy.
    Gino & Issy.
    Coaching. Best job ever!
    Wrapping up with a quick game of keep away.
    Brooke comes up with a block!
    Congestion in the middle.
    Gino and Calvin play defense.
    Mac pursued by the ladies.

  • Park City

    The last couple of days I’ve been in Park City, Utah. The US Ski Team is hosting a two week camp starting the 1st of October. A couple of us met up a little early to get some testing done. The first day I was here we were suppose to just get use to moving at 7,000 ft. So, Kris Freeman and I went on a rollerski in the morning and a run in the afternoon. Here are some pictures and videos from the camp so far.
     A view from the run. This is Deer Valley, hard to see but Park City is on left side of picture.
    Top of Deer Valley
     Park City is a pretty sweet place. This is a chair lift that starts from the middle of town.

  • Ski Selection Trip to Ogden

    This week I took a quick trip to Ogden, UT, to pick skis at Atomic & Rossignol.  Ultratune has a lot of beautiful new skis on the way.   The first stop was Atomic, on the 27th, and things went really smoothly.  

    This year’s Atomic skis look particularly good.    The introduction of the new hard track skate ski the Atomic World Cup HT gave added reason to take a careful look at the ski picks, and discuss the new skis, at their facility.

    Checkin’ it out.   (All Photos: Kristina Owen)

    As always, Rick Halling was very accommodating and helpful.    The Atomic warehouse is quite tidy and well organized – for a warehouse – but the lighting is still a little dim.   Next year I think I’ll bring a headlamp.

    Examining flex data for a pair of Atomic skate skis.

    I start with a pick list, then make preliminary selections from a huge rack of skis that are sorted by model and size.     Each of these pairs is then unwrapped, tested for a few key parameters, and repacked.   The pair is either saved or returned to the rack.     This process makes sure that I get the spectrum of flexes that I need, and also screens out a few pairs that I don’t find satisfactory.  

    Re-packing some skis. 

    It’s not particularly exciting work, at least not after getting through the first dozen pairs or so, but Rick Halling is a very amicable guy with a lot to add to the conversation, and the day was very enjoyable.    Careful measurements for sure, but also enjoying a relaxed, conversational, atmosphere.

    After picking all the skis, they get checked by warehouse staff, then packed for immediate FedEx shipment to Ultratune.      With a little luck, they’ll arrive at the shop before Oct 1st.

  • Ski Selection Trip to Ogden

    This week I took a quick trip to Ogden, UT, to pick skis at Atomic & Rossignol.  Ultratune has a lot of beautiful new skis on the way.   The first stop was Atomic, on the 27th, and things went really smoothly.  

    This year’s Atomic skis look particularly good.    The introduction of the new hard track skate ski the Atomic World Cup HT gave added reason to take a careful look at the ski picks, and discuss the new skis, at their facility.

    Checkin’ it out.   (All Photos: Kristina Owen)

    As always, Rick Halling was very accommodating and helpful.    The Atomic warehouse is quite tidy and well organized – for a warehouse – but the lighting is still a little dim.   Next year I think I’ll bring a headlamp.

    Examining flex data for a pair of Atomic skate skis.

    I start with a pick list, then make preliminary selections from a huge rack of skis that are sorted by model and size.     Each of these pairs is then unwrapped, tested for a few key parameters, and repacked.   The pair is either saved or returned to the rack.     This process makes sure that I get the spectrum of flexes that I need, and also screens out a few pairs that I don’t find satisfactory.  

    Re-packing some skis. 

    It’s not particularly exciting work, at least not after getting through the first dozen pairs or so, but Rick Halling is a very amicable guy with a lot to add to the conversation, and the day was very enjoyable.    Careful measurements for sure, but also enjoying a relaxed, conversational, atmosphere.

    After picking all the skis, they get checked by warehouse staff, then packed for immediate FedEx shipment to Ultratune.      With a little luck, they’ll arrive at the shop before Oct 1st.

  • Ski Selection Trip to Ogden

    This week I took a quick trip to Ogden, UT, to pick skis at Atomic & Rossignol.  Ultratune has a lot of beautiful new skis on the way.   The first stop was Atomic, on the 27th, and things went really smoothly.  

    This year’s Atomic skis look particularly good.    The introduction of the new hard track skate ski the Atomic World Cup HT gave added reason to take a careful look at the ski picks, and discuss the new skis, at their facility.

    Checkin’ it out.   (All Photos: Kristina Owen)

    As always, Rick Halling was very accommodating and helpful.    The Atomic warehouse is quite tidy and well organized – for a warehouse – but the lighting is still a little dim.   Next year I think I’ll bring a headlamp.

    Examining flex data for a pair of Atomic skate skis.

    I start with a pick list, then make preliminary selections from a huge rack of skis that are sorted by model and size.     Each of these pairs is then unwrapped, tested for a few key parameters, and repacked.   The pair is either saved or returned to the rack.     This process makes sure that I get the spectrum of flexes that I need, and also screens out a few pairs that I don’t find satisfactory.  

    Re-packing some skis. 

    It’s not particularly exciting work, at least not after getting through the first dozen pairs or so, but Rick Halling is a very amicable guy with a lot to add to the conversation, and the day was very enjoyable.    Careful measurements for sure, but also enjoying a relaxed, conversational, atmosphere.

    After picking all the skis, they get checked by warehouse staff, then packed for immediate FedEx shipment to Ultratune.      With a little luck, they’ll arrive at the shop before Oct 1st.