Each year, Bend Nordic Team skiers travel to Newport, OR for a fall training camp coached by Ben Husaby and Brenna Knowles. The trip itinerary is simple. Surf, eat, intervals, eat, surf, rest, repeat! This year the ocean waves were kind to new surfers and fresh, raw oysters were a perfect post workout treat. The athletes enjoyed testing themselves at sea level. According to Dakota Blackhorse von Jess, “The roller-skiing at sea level was awesome because you can go as hard as you want without getting tired.It’s a great way to practice over speed at a high intensity level,” Now, the team has started their countdown to West Yellowstone.
Category: Camps
Reports from local, regional, national and international camps used to prepare for Nordic ski racing.
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Canadian Team Preview from the Mammoth High Altitude Camp
Canadian Team Preview from the Mammoth High Altitude Camp – “Eight Mustaches…”
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First Tracks at the Yellowstone Ski Festival
November 24-28, 2009
The West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the dates for the 2009 Yellowstone Ski Festival. Join over three thousand other Nordic ski enthusiasts in West Yellowstone during the Thanksgiving week. With the fourth Thursday in November falling late in the month, we anticipate another successful snow packed festival. Back again for 2009 are the ever popular ski clinics, on-snow demo show, indoor ski expo, wax demos, speakers, and of course the races. Complimenting this year’s program is an exciting new short sprint race and an expanded women only clinic. If you haven’t already, now is the time to reserve your room for the week and register for the clinics. We have an exciting line up with fun & snow for everyone. Here are a few highlights and early discounts.
- Nordic Ski Clinics. Register now and secure your space in one of the highly acclaimed Nordic Ski Clinics of the year. Choose from five, three, or one day clinics. Each day you will have two on-snow sessions with our elite instructors and an evening classroom session. Skiers of all abilities will find our clinics valuable. For beginners, there is no better way to learn than to spend a few days with a knowledgeable instructor for both on snow and off snow training. For experienced skiers, start your season off right by brushing up on your technique or learning a new skill. Ladies, sign up for the women only 3 day clinic and enjoy the camaraderie of an all female class taught by female instructors. Learn and laugh at the wine, women, and wax session presented by Swix technical advisor, Jack Hart. The 2009 Clinic Registration form is available online at http://www.yellowstoneskifestival.com/clinic-registration-form/
- On-Snow Demo Show. With the purchase of any November Rendezvous Ski Trail Pass, you can experience the industry’s largest on-snow demo show. All the major Nordic Ski manufactures will be at the Rendezvous Ski Trails demonstrating their new gear for the 2009-2010 season. The Try It and Buy It demo area will be open during the day for all five days of the show. This is your chance to shop for new Nordic gear and try it on snow before you buy it.
- Indoor Ski Expo. Spend Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday evening strolling the Indoor Ski Expo held at the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn. Talk to industry sales representatives, learn something new at a waxing seminar, or simply enjoy the presentations showcased nightly. The indoor trade show is a great way to cap off a day on the trails and is free of charge. Don’t forget to join us on Friday evening to listen to keynote speaker, Steve Gaskill.
- Racing. Competitive racing for the 2009-2010 season starts in West Yellowstone. As an Olympic year, we expect to see many of the top names in Nordic skiing on the Rendezvous Ski Trails this week. Premiering in West Yellowstone on Wednesday will be a Sprint Qualifying Only Classic race. This race is open to all skiers. Competitive racers can earn valuable points early in the season and recreational skiers can test their time against sponsored athletes and Olympic hopefuls. We will also be offering two biathlon events sponsored by Altius Handcrafted Firearms on Wednesday, a sprint and a novice race. Of course, a highlight of the week is the SuperTour races on Friday and Saturday. Capping off the race week will be a Juniors Freestyle event on Saturday afternoon.
- Ski Passes. Once again the Rendezvous Ski Trails will be open for the month of November. As soon as the snow flies, we will see expertly groomed corduroy and classic tracks throughout the Nordic ski system. If you plan on attending the Yellowstone Ski Festival or would like to ski in West Yellowstone this November, now is the time to consider a prepaid trail pass. For more information, go to http://www.yellowstoneskifestival.com/xc-ski-passes/
- Shuttle Service. Conserve your carbon footprint and let someone else do the driving. If you are staying in town, you are within walking distance to the Rendezvous Ski Trails and you will not need a rental car to get there. Take advantage of the shuttle service from the Bozeman airport and find the details here. http://www.yellowstoneskifestival.com/bozeman-shuttle/
- Where to Stay. Do not delay in reserving your hotel, motel, cabin, condo, or rental house in West Yellowstone for Thanksgiving week. A listing of West Yellowstone lodging can be found at http://destinationyellowstone.com/sleep/ and check out the specials page for discounted rates. http://westyellowstonechamber.com/specials/
For more information about the Yellowstone Ski Festival, go to www.yellowstoneskifestival.com. Be sure to check back often as we continue to update and confirm new details. Further questions can be addressed to Sara Hoovler at 406-599-4465 or info@yellowstoneskifestival.com
See you this November on the snow in West Yellowstone!
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Winter in Lake Placid??
Driving into the Adirondacks yesterday afternoon felt more like winter than early fall. The rain was mixed with a heavy amount of snow and the tops of the mountains were white!
As the NENSA group trickled in from various parts of New England, the weather cleared a bit and we had a nice double pole/classic session on Bear Cup Rd, across from the OTC. 8 athletes are here taking advantage of the opportunity to ski with programs like the US Ski Team, CXC, and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.
This morning we awoke to bright sunshine and enthusiasm for a distance skate ski on freshly paved quiet back roads in and around Wilmington. It is a good group up here- an older one for the most part. Having this many experienced athletes in one place makes the training sessions really awesome to watch and to ski in for the athletes. Our group consists of Ida Sargent, Tim Reynolds, Hannah Dreissigacker, Kaitlynn Miller (Craftsbury), David Chamberlain (MWSC), Jennie Bender, Caitlyn Patterson (UVM) and Patrick O’Brien (Dartmouth).
This afternoon all the groups will head out for an easy distance trail run. Stay tuned for more news.
Awesome roads for roller skiing 
Morgan A., Liz Stephen, Kristina Strandberg head up the women's pack 
Kris Freeman 2 hours into his distance ski. -
MWSC Biathlon Team Heads West
The Maine Winter Sports Center’s Biathlon Team heads to Utah for three weeks of training. The Team will train primarily at Soldier Hollow, the venue for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Joining the MWSC Biathlon Team will be both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams.
Training
Both Men’s and Women’s Teams will train alongside the very best biathletes in the U.S. Taking advantage of the high altitude and beautiful surroundings, the camp will be both challenging as well as a psychological boost. “The athletes have trained well while at home over the past six weeks”, stated Biathlon Coach Gary Colliander. “They’re really ready for this trip, to get out west, to be in a different environment, and see where they stack up with the others.”
Racing
During the camp the athletes will take part in two rollerski races. For the women these races are just an indicator to see how they rank amongst each other. For the men however, these races will finalize the December World Cup Team which has one spot still up for grabs.
MWSC Biathletes attending:
BethAnn Chamberlain – Caribou
Andrea Mayo – Soldier Pond
Grace Boutot – Ft. Kent
Bill Bowler – Wausau, WI
Eliot Neal – Wilson, WY
Russell Currier – Stockholm
Walt Shepard – Yarmouth
Follow the camp at mwscbiathlon.blogspot.com
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Canadian Ski Team Mammoth Camp Video
The Canadian Ski Team travels to Mammoth every year for a high altitude training camp. Sean Crooks provided this video update.
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XC Wraps Up Camp in Whistler
WHISTLER, BC (Sept. 14) – The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team wrapped up camp this week at its 2010 Olympic venue in Whistler and, according to Cross Country Coach Matt Whitcomb, everything is falling right in line with where the Team wants to be.
“This was our fifth time up here in the past two and a half years and everything is feeling right on time. Nothing is rushed, nobody is panicked. The Team is collected and confident, the training is hard and we wrapped up our preparation in Whistler on a high note,” Whitcomb said. “We’ve gotten a lot of work done up here with these camps and the whole team knows it.”
Whitcomb also added that the crew at the Olympic park in Whistler was key to the success of the Team’s camp.
“It’s been great training all week at the venue, and the folks at Whistler Olympic Park have been very accommodating to our group,” Whitcomb said. “And their roller ski track and trail system are excellent.”
According to rising star Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT), the Team’s athletes have come to know Whistler like the back of their hands.
“As a team we are all super knowledgeable and feel very comfortable with the Olympic venue,” Stephen said. “We have had a number of training camps here since the Olympics and it has become our second or maybe even first home!”
Whitcomb reported that, as far as fitness goes, the team is in top form.
“Everyone has been looking much improved in their training. Technique is strong and fitness is beginning to ramp up to higher levels,” Whitcomb said.
The team had a chance to test that fitness out as, in addition to their individual training, the athletes were able to race head to head.
“We have had one classic sprint race in which Andy Newell [Shaftsbury, VT] beat Torin Koos [Leavenworth, WA] by a scratch. Erik Bjornsen, a National Elite Group (NEG) athlete out of the Methow Olympic Development (MOD) team in Washington was on their tails in the last two heats which was great to see,” Whitcomb said. “Kikkan Randall [Anchorage, AK] dominated the women’s field, with Erik’s sister, Sadie, finishing second.”
For Whitcomb, having National Elite Group athletes able to attend the camp was very beneficial to the future of the cross country program.
“The group consists of our best 10 junior athletes in the country, and it’s been inspiring to watch them try to chase down the best in the U.S.,” Whitcomb said. “As a coach, you can step back from the path just a bit and see a big piece of our development pipeline working together. It’s incredible.”
With the camp wrapped up, athletes have returned to their dry land training in the lead up to another camp in Lake Placid in October.
“I am feeling really good about the way the camp has gone. From my perspective, the Team is training and getting along better than we ever have before. As always, every training session has a focus and as this is one of our first true intensity camps of the year,” Stephen said. “Hammering out hard sessions with your teammates is really beneficial and motivating, not to mention super fun. I feel very confident with the progress I have made over the training period so far.”
Source: USSA
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8th Annual Steamboat Nordic Camp
Kick off your ski season with area’s top coaches helping you improve your skills. A remarkable collection of coaching talent including former Nordic Olympian Sarah Konrad, special guests and top area coaches will assemble for the 2-day instructional camp to take place Friday evening at Ski Haus, and Saturday at The Lake Catamount Touring Center and Sunday at Steamboat Ski Touring Center
The Camp caters to all ability levels: true beginner to advanced and race oriented. Clinic groups are divided by ability and group size is small so that participants can get the most from their coach. Thanks to Ski Haus, 10/11 Nordic ski equipment will be available to demo at the “try before you buy” demo tents: Fischer, Salomon, Rossignol, Atomic, SWIX, Toko representatives will be on hand with equipment and information to assist you. Last but not least, hearty lunches, happy hour, great prizes and fun camaraderie add to this “not to be missed” Nordic event. For more information and to register:http://thenordiclink.com/Nordic%20Camp.htm.
Early registration fees are $165 for two days and $100 for one day through Dec. 3rd. Register online at Active.com or in person at Ski Haus. Sign up early, this camp will fill up.
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TeamToday Updates From Whistler
The US Ski Team recently completed their last training camp at the 2010 Olympic Venue before the Games. They were joined by the National Elite Group and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. A few highlights below. For photos and commentary:
Whistler – Final Post From Home
Whistler – September Camp Update 2
Whistler – September Camp Update 1
Head-to-head intervals. Torin Koos setting the pace. (Photo: TeamToday) 
Lindsay Williams (Photo: TeamToday) 
Some have all the right answers. Some work to find the best answer together. Who do you think will win? (Photo: TeamToday) 
Olympic venue 2010 the day before it closes until Feb 4. We call it home. (Photo: TeamToday) Source: TeamToday
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Registration for Silver Star Thanksgiving Camps Now Open
You’re invited you to start your cross country ski season at Silver Star Mountain Resort and join the 2009 Cross Country Ski Camps, November 28 to December 6.
We have incredible coaches that work with skiers of all levels, making the sport you love even more enjoyable.
Register before November 1 at www.xccamps.ca and you’ll be entered to win a Suunto T3C Wrist Top Computer.
New five day camp with the option to add a weekend on either or both sides.
Everyone taking the five day camp should arrive on Saturday November 28th to enjoy the National Cross Country Ski Team Fundraising Banquet and Auction.
Trailside accommodation like no other. SKI, EAT, SLEEP!
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Stratton Training Group Storms into August
The SMS training group finished the first half of their summer training with a great weekend of training. The group is progressing nicely and building an excellent endurance base that will help them be successful in the years to come.
The group of 18 regulars plus 8-10 who come for special workouts and the bi-weekly mini camps has been focusing on aerobic fitness and specific strength. The big hours don’t always lead to short term success, but they have proven invaluable for long-term success ( just ask the 13 SMS Nordic Olympians). Everyone is doing a great job of “putting money in the bank”. Last week we had five days with at least 3 hrs of training. The week started with a time trail up Moosilauke at our annual White Mtns camp and was topped off with a running race.
Each week we have 3 group workouts. Every other week we also have a weekend mini camp so people who live farther away can stay in touch.It has been great to have Andy Newell plus NCAA all-Americans Patrick O’Brien, Rosie Brennan and Sophie Caldwell training with us. Next weekend we expect skiers from Dartmouth, Middlebury, UNH and UVM to join us for ski bounding, skating and a 60 km classic ski.
The summer will finish with the SMS training camps for BKL and Junior skiers. We have 80 skiers signed up and they should have fun chasing Andy Newell in skate pick-ups and Justin Freeman up the mountain.
Follow us at smsxc.blogspot.com
Patrick O'Brien, Rosie Brennan and the gang doing jumps 
Andy Newell leading ski walking interval 
The group doing specific strength (single poling) up Terrible Mtn. -
Eager Skiers Take on New Paltz, New York Camp
New Paltz is home to the famous Shawangunk Mountains, a Mecca for rock climbing, trail running, mountain and road biking and paddling. This past weekend it was also home to 14 Nordic skiers eager to learn more about the sport.
Nick Mancuso, Camp organizer, had a goal of offering an opportunity for High School juniors to train together, and receive an overview on training and technique for Nordic skiing. In addition to the ski components, the area provided a unique array of sights not readily available at most ski camps.
Skiers had several chances to roller ski both skating and classic on the country roads around New Paltz, including Huegenot Street. This street boasts several of the oldest stone houses in the country and has varied terrain enabling everyone to practice different techniques on the distance workouts.
The Mancuso’s “campground” worked beautifully as home base and the athletes were treated to home cooked meals every day and access to the Wallkill River literally in their backyard.
Coaches included Nick Mancuso Sr., Wallkill HS Coach and Mid A JO Coach; Art Stegan, former Olympic Biathlon Coach and National Guard Biathlon Team Coach; Jason Hettenbaugh, Mid Atlantic JO Coach: Greg Malia Section IX Nordic Coach; Nick Mancuso Jr, currently attending UNH and Head Coach Janice Sibilia, JLS Sports and NENSA Competitive Program Director. Joe Rivera, who also works closely with the Wallkill Ski Team, was also instrumental in the camp organization and making it a success.Over the course of the camp, skiers took part in a very cool trail hike/run complete with large tallis rock scrambles and caves, a mountain bike session on the “Gunks” Escarpment trails leading to a swim in Lake Awosting, A skate and Classic distance ski with video analysis, Speed and agility on roller skis, a strength test and a Time Trial on the roads of West Point Military Academy. For non athletic endeavors, campers were able to see the sights and sounds of Times Square in Manhattan and enjoy a meal at the famous, albeit strange, Jeckyl and Hide Restaurant.
After today’s time trial at West Point, Art Stegan led the group on a tour of the Military Academy.The main focus was to introduce everyone to the different concepts that make up the life of a nordic skier…technique training, fitness training, the importance of proper recovery and balancing it all with a whole lot of fun!
It appears from the feedback that we accomplished our goals and many comments were heard about what a beautiful environment we have here for training. In November there will be another chance to experience the area with the Annual Kingston Roller Ski Races.
Level 3 Intervals 
West Point Military Academy 
Tour of West Point 
The Time Trial- 10km of climbing 
At the Finish Line -
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp
The 9th annual PNSA Trout Lake training camp welcomed nearly 40 junior and senior Nordic ski racers to Trout Lake, Washington July 15-19, 2009.
The camp is the second in a series of three Nordic development camps sanctioned by the Pacific Northwest Ski Association. The first camp was held in Bend, OR in June and the final camp will be a joint effort between PNSA and the Far West divisions August 12-16 in Somes Bar, CA.
Ben Husaby of the Bend Endurance Academy/Bend Nordic Team heads up the camp each year which draws athletes from the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and New England. Activities include skate and classic roller skiing, roller skiing agility drills, a time trial, a strength session including the Cross Country Canada Strength Test, a level 3 bounding session, intensely competitive soccer games, a rollerski demo session with Bert Hinkley of Webskis, a river adventure run/hike and a climb up Mt Adams.
Coaches included Scott Johnston from the Methow Olympic Development (MOD) Project, Chris (Flash) Clark, from the Methow Valley Nordic Team, TJ Owen from Wenatchee Valley Nordic, Brenna Knowles from the Bend Endurance Academy/Bend Nordic Team and Janice Sibilia from JLS Sports.
According to Husaby, “Trout Lake has a long history as a Nordic training venue. Bill Koch rollerskied on the paved logging roads that head north into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, dragging a weighted wagon. Later, Kurt Wulff, Eli Brown and Pete Vordenberg made connections with Connie and Roger Black who opened their doors to skiers for a few summers and continue to do the same for PNSA each year. We bring athletes to Trout Lake to enjoy those excellent roads with very little traffic.”
According to Janice Sibilia of NENSA/JLS Sports, “The formula for Trout Lake is simple: lots of challenging workouts and even more rest and relaxation time which is most appreciated by the athletes. The paved logging roads are still in great shape and offer sustainable 2 hour uphill climbs for which to practice technique and build the aerobic system. Much of the technical work at this camp is done ‘on the road’ while the athletes are training. There are minimal formal presentations. The foundational movements are the focus, and each skier is encouraged to work at their own pace in order to engrain proper movement. One of the cool things about this camp is the very high rate of repeat skiers from year to year. Skiers can begin to see pretty early on that consistency in work ethic and coaching builds the foundation from which big improvements can be made. Steady work pays off.”
The age range at the camp was between 14 and 25 years old. According to Husaby, “It was nice having the older MOD racers at the camp this year because the higher you set the bar the more the athletes will strive to rise to the challenge. “
In addition to the amazing training terrain, campers enjoyed a few extras. According to Sibilia,” it’s not every day that you get a chance to watch a piper cub landing or taking off from the nearby airstrip, slide down large snow patches, climb past Hell Roaring Falls, or get a good glimpse of a whole family of mountain goats! Trout Lake is not your usual Nordic camp.”For more information on the upcoming Far West/PNSA camp please visit :
http://www.bendnordic.org/register/summer-camps-2/
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp 
Trout Lake Nordic Training Camp -
The Road to Whistler: Tim Burke
Tim Burke is a member of the U.S. Biathlon A Team, and has already qualified for the 2010 Olympics based on his results from last year. In 2008-2009, he finished 25th overall in the World Cup standings, with two top-ten finishes: eighth in the pursuit in Khanty-Mansijsk, Russia, and ninth in the sprint in Trondheim, Norway. He competed in the Olympics in Torino in 2006, placing 37th in the sprint.
Burke on his way to his 8th place in Khanty-Mansijsk. FasterSkier: You’re currently at a training camp in Lake Placid with the biathlon team. It seems like you have a pretty close, competitive group between you, Lowell Bailey, Jeremy Teela, and Jay Hakkinen.
Tim Burke: We’ve had a three-week camp going on, and we’re half way through the first week. We’ve got the six guys on the national team and the six guys on the development team, as well. When we’re in camp like this, we do pretty much every session together as a team.
We have an awesome group of guys right now. I’ve never had a group of guys to train with like this—we’re a really competitive group, and it makes the training sessions a lot of fun. I think everyone gets a lot out of it.
FS: Is it hard not to get too competitive when you’re heading out with all of those guys?
TB: I would say that would be the only issue—when you head out for a level three interval session, it can easily escalate into max intervals. Everyone here’s pretty professional, though, and we all know the goals of each workout…I’ll admit that there are a few more sign sprints than are on the schedule.
FS: You wrote on your blog that you pre-qualified for the Olympics based on your results from last season—does that make your training approach easier for this year, not having to worry about skiing fast at the trials as well as at the Games?
TB: It was a goal of mine to pre-qualify last year. Now we’re going forward with the same plan that we’ve had all along. Training wise, things are pretty similar. I’ve been working with my coach Per Nilsson—this is my fourth year with him. This year it’s a combination of the best things from the previous three seasons. We’re really confident we have a good plan—we have a ton of information over the past three years from what works for me. Everything’s going forward in a really good direction.
Burke racing in the sprint in Antholz, Italy (Photo: US Biathlon) FS: You’re based out of Lake Placid, right? Tell us a little more about the training there.
TB: I’m based out of Lake Placed, and it’s a great place to train out of. We have the Olympic Training Center here—that offers a lot of things. With the cafeteria, I don’t have to do any cooking for myself. We’ve got a great weight room here, and I do quite a lot of intensity in the treadmill room. We have a camera on the front and a camera on the side, so we can do a lot of video work in there.
We also have a 1.5 kilometer rollerski loop with a four-point range right in town, at the ski jumps. It was all redone last week. We also have, in my opinion, the best road biking and rollerskiing on the roads, as well as trail running. Lake Placid to me really offers this whole package, and I can do a lot of that training right out my front door.
We also have a full time coaching staff here. I’m working with James Upham pretty much every day, and I’ve got someone there to do technique work, lactate, all that stuff.FS: Do you ever get out with the cross country or nordic combined guys when they’re in town?
TB: Definitely. Bill Demong’s from here as well, and he comes back not as much as we would like, but every time he’s home we try to get a session in.
We have a really good group of guys training here full-time. I guess there’s five or six of us here, and we train together pretty every day. Lowell [Bailey], Zach Hall, Bill Bowler—those are the guys that are here every day, and then also being in Lake Placid other athletes are coming through here pretty often, whether it’s cross country or nordic combined.FS: How much are you working on your shooting this time of year? You wrote on your blog that you were working with a U.S. Shooting Team coach this sprint?
TB: Shooting’s a really big priority for me this year. If I want to improve my results, the easiest place for me to improve is in my shooting. My shooting isn’t good enough to be where I want to be. I’m throwing everything at it this year. I worked with one of the U.S. shooting coaches in Colorado Springs—it’s really cool to go out there and see how they work. I got a lot of ideas from them.
Two years ago we had a shooting coach that left to go coach the Norwegian team. This year we hired Armin Auchentaller, who was the Italian men’s team head coach. I’ve been working with him now since the springtime, and it has been absolutely fantastic. He has come in and really restructured going about my shooting training.
FS: How so?
TB: One of my biggest problems in the past few years was that I was giving away a lot of time in the shooting range. When I’m fighting to get on the podium with someone like [Ole Einar] Bjorndalen, I can’t give away 10 or 15 seconds in just range time. So Armin has just helped me a lot with that, working through different drills and breaking the process down into really small steps, and working on a couple of those a day. Already I’ve seen my range times come down an average of 5 seconds per stage. If you look at a four-stage race I’m going to save an average of 20 seconds per race, which, if you look at a pursuit race, can be 10 places, 15 places.
FS: Psychologically, that must be a huge boost.
TB: Psychologically it’s really motivating, and it’s always great to have a different focus from time to time. [Armin] really kind of restructured things for me. It’s given me a greater focus and motivation for the shooting training aspect of our sport. I think lots of times in the past, I looked at myself as a skier who also shot, and he’s helped change that around for me. I’m really motivated to do everything possible to improve my shooting, because that’s what’s going to need to happen if I’m going to reach my goals.
Burke on course for the U.S. relay team in Oberhof, Germany (Photo: US Biathlon) FS: Biathlon is one of the most popular spectator sports in Europe, while it doesn’t get a whole lot of attention in the U.S. Is it a bummer to come home and not get any recognition for what you’re doing, or is it nice to be able to fly under the radar?
TB: I think it’s a little bit of both. It’s nice to come home and be training and have that quiet—I don’t have to worry about those other things. I know my European competitors have incredibly busy schedules with sponsor obligations, speaking, and other things. I don’t really have as much of that.
At the same time it would be nice to have more recognition on the home front, although I do have a lot of home support here in Lake Placid as well.
FS: One of our bloggers sparked some speculation earlier this year when he proposed a 15k skate race between you, Kris Freeman, and Billy Demong. Do you think you could take those guys?
TB: It would be a really fun race. It’s something that I’m not going to speculate on. I think both Kris and I still haven’t achieved what we both want to achieve in our own sports. Until I get where I want to be in my own sport, which is consistently able to reach the podium, I’m not going to spend too much time thinking about stuff like that.
FS: Would you ever consider doing a race like that, though?
TB: I’m very interested into doing more cross country races in the future. I think it would be a good test to see where I’m at, and I’m always up for a new challenge. I see myself in the next four years giving it a go, and trying a few more cross country races as well.
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National Group Trains at Center of Excellence
Inspired by the new Center of Excellence, U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Coaches Peter Vordenberg, Matt Whitcomb and Pat Casey are spearheading a select development training program this summer for young cross country skiers. The National Training Group (NTG), which is comprised of a group of rising athletes, allows the cross country coaches to use these exceptional resources to provide real exposure and superior training to the next group of future Olympians.
Through this program, the coaches’ goal is not only to offer specialized instruction, but also to provide contact with pro skiers in hopes that their living habits and training routines as elite skiers will influence those of the younger, developing athletes.
“It’s a program that is a start-up from around 2000 with athletes like Andy Newell and Kris Freeman. It’s the first year we’ve done it since 2001 and one of the goals is to use this new training center to its full potential and get some athletes here,” said Casey.
By offering the NTG athletes exposure to some of the top skiers in the circuit, and to one of the greatest training facilities in the world, they are getting a real glimpse into what it truly means to be a professional athlete, and to live the lifestyle of one as well. After this intensive summer program, which lasts eight weeks and lands between two camps, Bend and Whistler, the athletes will be able to realize if being on the national team is in fact what they want.
Spending a significant amount of time with national team athletes, whether that is in the van on the way to work outs, in the training center, or on the snow at future races, the younger athletes will “see what these guys bring to the table, in terms of preparedness and equipment. These may seem like small things but they end up making a difference,” said Casey.
Fresh from high school, the skiers have chosen to focus on becoming elite athletes. “They’ve either put their college career on hold or have committed fully. Those are the athletes we were looking for, the ones that wanted to just do this and do it right. It can be a really big motivator, but it can also be a really good educator,” Casey said.
One of the five athletes in the NTG program is David Norris of Fairbanks, AK.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity to build a relationship with these coaches, to learn from them and take advantage of all that they know,” Norris said. “I kind of saw it as a stepping stone to being on the U.S. Ski Team in the future.”
From the regional development pipeline, Matt Whitcomb, the Cross Country Head Development Coach, and Casey began the search for athletes who would be a good fit for the NTG.
“We were looking out there to see who was doing it right; who was taking the steps without our help,” Casey described.
For Norris, being able to work with the national team athletes will be the highlight of his summer.
“What will be especially valuable is when we start training harder, and seeing what these athletes like Andy Newell are doing to train during the summer,” Norris said. “Back at home, there is no one really faster to train with, so it’s cool being around such fast, professional skiers.”
According to Casey, while the program is a benefit to up-and-coming athletes, it also allows his team to plan and build for the future of the sport.
“This program represents working toward excellence at all levels. Lowering the ladder one step further and dropping it down so that we can introduce that lifestyle to the group below,” Casey articulated.
Maintaining a high standard of excellence, the program upholds the USSA’s vision to help make the United States the best in Olympic skiing.
“This is just one of many efforts to ensure that we continue our progress toward winning at the highest levels of the sport,” said John Farra, the U.S. Ski Team’s Nordic Program Director.
To maintain this athletic distinction, it is important to look to the future, to dedicate time and effort to developing the Olympians of the years ahead. Farra highlights, “Our top World Cup skiers are on track to win, but who is going to be next? Who will challenge our World Cup athletes?” These are the questions this program works to answer.
Only about two weeks into their joint training, both the national team athletes and the younger athletes have responded very positively so far.
U.S. Ski Team cross country skier Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) said, “We’ve all been training together. They are really motivated athletes so it should be awesome for them. I think that the program is really going to benefit these athletes, and hopefully it will grow into something even bigger in the future.”
For both the athletes and the coaches, it is invigorating to be working with passionate, energized people in a remarkable facility.
“It is an exciting time to be a part of this great sport. There’s lots of talent out there and great club programs pushing athletes to higher levels. This is a winning combination,” said Farra.
The NTG will remain with the U.S. Ski Team through July.
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Silver Star Announces 2009 Fall On-Snow Camps
You are invited to the 2009 Silver Star Mountain Resort Cross Country Ski Camps!
Registration is now open and I wanted to give you the first opportunity to check out the new look of the website. Be sure to check out the updated faculty page and let me know if you have a specific coach you hope to be with for the camps.
I’m sure you are enjoying your summer activities to the fullest…hiking, biking, paddling and much more. When you get a minute visit www.xccamps.ca to register.
NEW THIS YEAR!
Lunch is included with all camps! Same great chef as last year.
Five day camp (Monday to Friday) with the option to add a weekend on either or both sides.
Everyone taking the five day camp should arrive on Saturday November 28th to enjoy the National Cross Country Ski Team Fundraising Banquet and Auction. Tickets are $40.00 per person and you can pre-pay with your camp booking.
Air travel costs are at record low levels so now is the time to book your vacation to Silver Star! There are many direct flights into Kelowna International Airport which is a short 50 min shuttle ride from your trailside accommodation.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Have a great summer and hope to see you this fall!
Glenn Bond
Nordic Manager
Silver Star Mountain Resort
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USST Level 100 Technique Clinic, Boulder CO
This clinic is part of the USSA Level 100 Certification Process. You do not have to be working toward certification to attend.
Boulder Nordic Sport, Boulder, CO. Meet at the shop. Instruction from shop owner Nathan Shultz.
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USST Level 100 Technique Clinic, Alaska REG.
This clinic is part of the USSA Level 100 Certification Process. You do not have to be working toward certification to attend.
Instruction from U.S. Ski Team’s Vordenberg and Casey. Palmer AK. CL and FR roller ski.
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USST Level 100 Technique Clinic, Western REG.
This clinic is part of the USSA Level 100 Certification Process. You do not have to be working toward certification to attend.
Instructed by U.S. Ski Team’s Vordenberg and Casey. Classic and Freestyle Roller-ski
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USST Level 100 Technique Clinic, CXC
Ironwood, MI. Instructed by CXC. Contact Yuriy.gusev@cxcskiing.org.
This clinic is part of the USSA Level 100 Certification Process. You do not have to be working toward certification to attend.
![Snow in West Yellowstone](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/10/snow_on_trails_10_8_09.jpg" "Snow in West Yellowstone")
![Awesome roads for roller skiing](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/10/img_0507.jpg" "Awesome roads for roller skiing")
![Morgan A., Liz Stephen, Kristina Strandberg head up the women's pack](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/10/img_0509.jpg" "Morgan A., Liz Stephen, Kristina Strandberg head up the women's pack")
![Kris Freeman 2 hours into his distance ski.](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/10/img_0513.jpg" "Kris Freeman 2 hours into his distance ski.")
![Head-to-head intervals. Torin Koos setting the pace. (Photo: TeamToday)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/09/fp-men-interval.jpg" "Head-to-head intervals. Torin Koos setting the pace. (Photo: TeamToday)")
![Lindsay Williams (Photo: TeamToday)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/09/fp-lindsay-williams.jpg" "Lindsay Williams (Photo: TeamToday)")
![Some have all the right answers. Some work to find the best answer together. Who do you think will win? (Photo: TeamToday)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/09/af-mw-morgan-arritola.jpg" "Some have all the right answers. Some work to find the best answer together. Who do you think will win? (Photo: TeamToday)")
![Olympic venue 2010 the day before it closes until Feb 4. We call it home. (Photo: TeamToday)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/09/a-pv-venue.jpg" "Olympic venue 2010 the day before it closes until Feb 4. We call it home. (Photo: TeamToday)")
![Silver Star Logo](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/06/silver-star.jpg" "Silver Star Logo")
![Patrick O'Brien, Rosie Brennan and the gang doing jumps](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/08/100_3078.jpg" "Patrick O'Brien, Rosie Brennan and the gang doing jumps")
![Andy Newell leading ski walking interval](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/08/100_2763.jpg" "Andy Newell leading ski walking interval")
![The group doing specific strength (single poling) up Terrible Mtn.](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/08/100_3208.jpg" "The group doing specific strength (single poling) up Terrible Mtn.")
![Level 3 Intervals](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/07/img_0378.jpg" "Level 3 Intervals")
![West Point Military Academy](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/07/img_0429.jpg" "West Point Military Academy")
![Tour of West Point](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/07/img_0450.jpg" "Tour of West Point")
![The Time Trial- 10km of climbing](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/07/img_0386.jpg" "The Time Trial- 10km of climbing")
![At the Finish Line](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/07/img_0414.jpg" "At the Finish Line")
