Category: Camps

HAYWARD, WI – The CXC Elite Team ladies, in conjunction with Ski and Tea, are proud to announce a series of women specific clinics in the Hayward area. Ski and Tea is an exciting new women’s training group in the Hayward area. They focus on having fun and building a sense of camaraderie that encourages women to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The CXC ladies are very excited to share their vision by hosting a series of clinics specific to nordic skiing. There will be five clinics in all, each led by one of the CXC ladies. The progressive style series will begin with dryland technique work, progress to rollerskis, on snow work, and culminate with a pre-Birkie race clinic.

Ski and Tea is helping to organize the clinics, but you don’t have to be a member to enjoy this opportunity. All women interested in improving their technique, learning more about the sport, and having a great time within a supportive women’s only environment are encouraged to attend. Prior knowledge of nordic skiing is not necessary, although experienced veterans will still benefit from the fun drills designed to teach and cement proper technique. “We’re hoping to attract women of all levels and abilities. The only requirement is excitement for skiing and improvement”, CXC Team member and Hayward resident Heather Zimmerman.

Kristina Owen, another CXC Team member living in Hayward says, “The clinics will be progressive and build on each other, so if you can, I’d recommend attending all five. But we also know that people are busy, and we’ll make sure you’re not lost if you have to miss one. Come to what you can, they’re going to be a blast!”
Each four-hour clinic will cost $50.00 per person. You can register for each clinic separately or all of them together. Registration and payment must be received at least five days before the clinic date. Registration forms and more information can be found at www.kristinaowen.com/skiandteaclinics.htm.

Lodging packages are available at Cresthill Resort www.cresthillresort.com . Cresthill donates lodging year round for the Hayward resident CXC Team athletes.

CLINIC DATES

Clinics will be held rain, snow or shine near the “OO” warming hut on the Birkie Trail from 8:00 AM – Noon.

Saturday, October 11, 2008 Fundamentals of Skiing Technique on Dry Land. Taught by Maria Stuber

Saturday, November 8, 2008 Dryland Skiing Technique and Introduction to Rollerskis Taught by Kristina Owen

Saturday, December 20, 2008 “ On snow” fundamentals of ski technique for both skate and classic. Taught by Johanna Winters

Sunday, January 18, 2009 More advanced Ski Technique for both skate and classic. Taught by Heather Zimmerman

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Race strategies and packed snow skiing tactics. Taught by Caitlin Compton

October 7, 2008

Even though the calendar says autumn, it was truly a summer-like feel to the final dry-land (hopefully!) training camp of the Far West Nordic season. For the second year in a row, 14 top athletes from the division met in the Eastern Sierra for an all-too-brief weekend of high-altitude/high-intensity workouts at the Virginia Lakes Fall Training Camp.

Set in an unbelievably beautiful lakes basin at 9,600 ft. elevation, between the eastern California hamlets of Lee Vining and Bridgeport, athletes were treated to the “luxury” of staying at the Tiernan Family Cabin in order to meet, eat, and lounge without too much fear of possible inclement High Sierra weather. And unlike 2007, where campers were greeted with frigid temperatures and a dusting of early snow, this year’s edition enjoyed perfectly blue skies and warm temperatures, resulting in most campers enjoying a couple nights under the stars.

October 2, 2008

13 CXC Team athletes recently completed their 2 week September training camp at Cresthill Resort in Hayward, WI. The weather threw everything at them and was basically spectacular. The efforts put forth by the athletes mimicked what Mother Nature offered. Following are the weekly reports on the activities by CXC Team members Bryan Cook and Alastair Duncan:

September 24, 2008

Getting ready for an Olympics close to home is a big advantage… and
we're using it!

Today my fellow US Ski teammers and I traveled out to the 2010 Olympic
cross-country venue, Whistler Olympic Park (becoming affectionately
known as WOP), for a team sprint simulation on skate roller skis.

Unfortunately the ski trails are not fully accessible by roller skis,
so the coaches improvised and we held the time trial on the access road
leading up to the biathlon stadium. Every time we lined up for the
start, we passed the giant stone inukshuk, reminding us that in just
under 530 days, we'll be here competing for Olympic glory.

Read the full report and view many more photos from the Time Trial, the visit to the Olympic Village, and the Whistler Bungee Jump.

Read Zach Caldwell's report on the sprint relay time trial and view Andy Newell's bungee jumping video.

All photos courtesy of TeamToday.org

September 8, 2008

Today was Sprint Relay day at the September USST Whistler Camp. This training session is of particular interest to Kris because he’s one of a handful of guys who are on the list as potential members of the two-man team that will represent the US in the sprint relay at World Championships. Today was one of a number of events and training sessions that will be considered in picking the team. Of course, the most important consideration will be who is going fast as the race itself draw near. But the coaches need to see the skiers in the event enough times to know what to expect.

Semi-final
9:49 Andy Newell
9:56 Kris Freeman
9:59 Pat O’Brien
9:59 Mike Argue
9:59 Fred Bailey
10:02 Torin Koos
10:02 Dan Roycroft
10:05 Nick Klein
10:12 Chris Cook
10:12 Dave Chamberlain
10:59 Noah Hoffman (equipment issues)

Final
9:30 Andy Newell
9:36 Pat O’Brien
9:37 Kris Freeman
9:39 Noah Hoffman
9:43 Fred Bailey
9:44 Torin Koos
9:44 Mike Argue
9:48 Chris Cook
9:48 Nick Klein
9:52 Dan Roycroft
10:02 Dave Chamberlain

It’s worth noting that the gaps Newell has came in the last lap of each heat. In fact, they came in the last third of the last lap of each heat. The man is fast.

As you can see, rollerski speed can make a big difference. But it also makes for a good simulation. A World Cup sprint relay is a mixed-up affair – there’s no guarantee you’re going to be rubbing elbows with people you’ve heard of. So who does it hurt to have Pat O’Brien and Fred Bailey in the mix?

You can read Zach's full report at www.krisfreeman.net

Several days after the sprint relay, some athletes participated in an uphill running time trial. Noah Hoffman posted the fastest time on a day that Zach describes as “rough” for all the competitors. Kris struggled with blood sugar issues, and while he was still able to better his July time in this time trial, he is clearly frustrated – you can read his reaction on his FasterSkier blog, and can read Zach's detailed report at www.krisfreeman.net.

Source: http://www.krisfreeman.net

Even though there’s still a few weeks of summer, the Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the transition to the Fall training season, and Far West Nordic has wrapped up a highly successful series of summer Junior training camps for 2008.

JUNE LAKE CAMP (recap by Nancy Fiddler)

Our first “all-comers” camp of the season was the ever-popular, traditional June Lakes Camp, held in the beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada area in July. Led by Far West’s Head Coach Ben Grasseschi, with able assistance from Nancy Fiddler and Martin Benes, twenty four Far West Junior athletes from Truckee to Bishop gathered at the Oh! Ridge campground for 4 days of training, including running, strength, hill bounding, swimming, hiking, and even some rock climbing.

September 4, 2008

We are happy to report that the first MBSEF Mt. Bachelor Dryland Camp was a huge success! Instead of basing the group of 20 at one location, we loaded up the vans and moved campsites for the two nights, sleeping out under the stars, finally moving into the Mt. Bachelor Alpine Lodge for the last three nights.

During the day, workouts varied from distance rollerskis and adventure hikes with gorgeous views of central Oregon to bounding intervals, a classic rollerski time trial, a killer strength session, and a final morning of climbing at Smith Rock.

The five nights and six days outside brought out some great ghost stories, cougar stories, rifleman skills, and a few more tales detailed below.

September 3, 2008

With summer coming to an end, TeamToday again features new content – a photo summary of the last months and a look at the current training camp at the Olympic venue.

Whistler, BC

Photos from testing in Park City, Utah…

http://www.teamtoday.org/Stories/tabid/391/ctl/Details/mid/763/ItemID/1176/Default.aspx

Source: TeamToday.org

Two CXC Teams, Senior and Junior, recently concluded their monthly training camp at the US Olympic Education Center in Marquette, MI. Following are weekly reports from Elite Team members Caitlin Compton and Maria Stuber:

The weather has been extremely cooperative and all training sessions have been very high quality. The CXC Junior Development Program had the opportunity to join the Elite athletes for most of the workouts this first week, which created an impressive mass of rollerskiers with over 20 skiers on the bike-paths as well as awesome interval sessions and time trial competitions.

The week started with track intervals on the Marquette High School Track. One of the best parts of training in Marquette is the access to Lake Superior after almost every workout. The clean cool water is always a refreshing way to end an intense or long training session. Another Marquette icon, the Superior Dome, offered us plenty of space to work on running technique, ladder drills, hurdle jumps and a great weight room for our afternoon strength session.

On Thursday morning our intensity focus shifted to rollerskiing as we headed inland to the gradual climbing, low traffic roads of Skandia, MI. Again, the Seniors and Juniors trained side by side and completed a long L-3 focused skate workout followed by a hydration study. The study had us check our weight before and after our workout to see exactly how much fluid we really loose during a workout. Even in the cool UP weather and after drinking an entire drink belt filled with sports drink we all lost a great deal of fluid. The conclusion: We all sweat a lot and hydration is extremely important!
The distance skiing in Marquette often brought us to the waterfront bike-path with a beautiful maritime backdrop complete with sail boats, seagulls, and the occasional iron ore boat or Laker! As we skied inland we had the opportunity to ski up some great sustained climbs which allowed everyone to continue the focus on technique drills that begin every distance training session.

Saturday was a big day filled with isometric exercises before breakfast, Marquette Mountain ski walking, a favorite past-time of mine from my days at NMU, and a classic sprint time trial. Marquette Mountain is the alpine ski area here in Marquette and our workout started with 4×2 moosehuffs followed by 5-7 X 7min ski walking intervals. The time trial consisted of a double pole only sprint format of qualification lap and semi and final rounds shortly afterwards. The Juniors were incredibly strong and gave the Seniors some great competition. Although Gus Keading won the men’s sprint a number of juniors including Ben Hugus were not too far behind. In the women’s race Jesse Diggins, a Junior, was victorious and showed the women’s field, junior and senior, how to race a double pole sprint! Saturday’s weather started out with a down pour during breakfast but the skies cleared for the workouts and the temperatures we near perfect for training!

The final day of the week brought the best weather and the best scenery yet. The juniors had left for home, so just the senior athletes drove to Munising and ran a 4 hour over-distance session along the coast of the Pictured Rocks Lake Shore. This was probably one of the most beautiful runs I have ever been on. The footing was soft and the water was almost Caribbean in color. We ran along the sandy shore, through the forest and out onto some amazing rock ledges, discovering some incredible natural rock formations. After the O.D. the fun didn’t end The steady breeze across the lake brought some good size waves that a few team members, Garrott and Brian, couldn’t get enough of even after 4 hours of training!

Train wisely. Check out some great training ideas at www.cxcacademy.com Caitlin Compton

The second week of the Marquette training camp was significantly scaled down from the first, both in intensity and in numbers, the Junior Program having departed after their week. Monday was a rest day, as usual. We started things off on Tuesday with some 30 second sprint intervals on the hills in my neighborhood. Wednesday the team went for a beautiful run along Lake Superior and to the “Top of the World.” Thursday we got to do some harder skate intervals in the morning and specific strength in the afternoon. Friday was an easy distance classic rollerski. Saturday consisted of a running and bounding workout through some pretty treacherous long grass (so I hear) out at the Al Qual ski trails. Then, on Sunday, we ended the training camp with an over-distance skate around the big mine in Palmer.

The sun was shining all week and the temperatures remained comfortable in the mid 70’s. The only place unbearably hot was the weight room, which could have been due to the humidity, or the new strength program that the CXC girls have been working on. The lake has finally warmed up to perfect “after-training” swim temperatures and most of us took advantage of that. The USOEC dorms created a very inspiring environment for the team. As you walked down the hall filled with athletes, all TV’s were tuned in to the Olympics. We got to see some very inspiring performances including Jamaica’s Usian Bolt easily breaking the 100m World Record and brining home the first gold medal in that event for his country and Michael Phelps collecting eight golds and becoming the most decorated swimmer of all time.

The NMU alumni on the Elite Team had a great time showing their CXC team mates favorite training venues. We also had some fast-looking NMU skiers join us for a couple of workouts. It was wonderful to have Kristina Owen back from Norway; however, we had to say good bye to our team physiologist as she heads to Bozeman to continue her education. Good Luck Sarah Willis, and thank you for all that you have done for us this summer! You will be missed. Maria Stuber

Source: CXC

August 24, 2008

On the tenth of August 17 athletes, two coaches and three coach / assistants gathered in Keene, NY for Burke Mountain Academy’s August training camp. Described as “Hard” in pre-camp information, the week was designed to test athletes’ fitness levels and to give them a guide for training going into the Fall. The schedule had an intensity bias, with hard workouts following hard workouts and recovery periods requiring attention so as not to waste them.

Camp Schedule

Sun 10 Arrive in afternoon. PM session Run, moosehooves, short intervals: 20 x 3 x 15/15. Jackson Road.

Mon 11 AM RS L1-2 2hr Skt inc 30-40 min No poles L2 +, 9N to Jay, PM; Cls L1-2 2hr Behind Jay.

Tue 12 AM L 3, Long Ints Cls 2,3,4 x 7-8 min. 3 min rest. Steep terrain Bark Eater Road 73-end of pavement. PM Technique Training easy terrain, Speeds, transitions, incl Impulse Strength. Probably Hull's Falls.

Wed 13 FM TimeTrial: Old Style Pursuit. 7.5 K Classic in Am, 5 k flat-out skate in PM followed by Recovery cool down.

Thu 14 Off Town Day

Fri 15 FM L 4, 4+ Intervals (f.eks capacity 4x4x L4x 4 min rest), Ist Year J1’s (4 x 3 x L4 x 3 min rest) PM Str DP Cls 2hr @ 30-45 effective time Stickney Rd. Incl impulse strength

Sat 16 Ll-2 RS Skt 2-2:30 hr incl 40 min NP in L2-3. Elizabethtown-Lewis. PM Off

Sun 17 long day…multi sport in teams…Roll/Hike / Circuit / River Run / Sprint Relay/ Lunch/ round Robin Tourney/ Roll /. 5-6 hrs. BBQ at McClellands.

Mon 18 Cabin clean up. Homeward bound.

Adirondack weather was typical of this summer; a mix of steamy heat and sun, hammering rain, and seductively beautiful days. The river was perfect swimming temperature the whole time, and the falls and pools a balm to hot, sore muscles.

Participants included the entire Burke team for the up-coming season, guests from programs throughout New England and a lone regular from Wilson, Wyoming. We had help and guest appearances from Burke Alumni Harry Poole, a junior this year at Bates College, Paul Smith from UVM, Alyssa Devlin from Harvard, Caitlin Curran, who is off to Bates, and Carina Hamel, a Burke and UVM alum and last year’s assistant coach. Other guests were Matt Briggs from Colby, Fritz Horst from UVM, Sophie McClelland and Tim Reynolds from Middlebury, Tim Baucom, Andrew Morehouse, and Sylvan Ellefson from UNH and Bates, Liza Goodwin, studying for a another year in Norway before she enters Colby, NYSEF Coach Margaret Maher, and athlete Sam Cowan.

The featured guest was Jesper Johnsson, a member of the coaching team at Are Ski Gymnasium in Jarpen, Sweden. BMA skiers enjoyed Jesper’s hospitality two years ago during a visit to Sweden and we have been trying to get him over to return the favor since then. His help proved not only inspiring and educational, but, as another scheduled coach had to drop out at the last minute, essential. He was no guest…he was a “workin’ fool”!
Seriously spoken, Jesper’s work environment at home puts him in constant contact with current developments in our sport and his observations and creative suggestions about workouts and technique were an invaluable resource to all of us. Armed as well with a great sense of humor and fun he was a perfect foil to the GOF who was nominally in charge.

Things went as planned until the third day. We were on schedule for the time trial and people were warming up for the 30 second interval start. Time grew closer and only a few athletes were milling about. Someplace in the back of the mind an ominous gong began to toll. Four athletes came streaming down the hill with shouts of “Wreck!” “People all over the road!” “So-and-so is trashed!”. If hearts make a noise when they sink, it could have been heard a long way off.

In short, there were no head injuries, no one broke bones or suffered life threatening trauma of any kind. There were no cars involved. At the end of the blur of the period of assessment it became clear that we had been very, very lucky. We were able to do the cleaning and the decision was made not to take all seven to the ER. There was going to be work to do, and there would be some very sore bodies but we were all going to be OK.

The following is not meant to preach, but to share what was a rather awful moment of reality in our training environment. It is a reminder that comes home more clearly with the writing down. Excuse the self-indulgence here, but that clarity is needed.

What happened? In brief, the old adage about “ assume” came true. Even with experienced athletes, and absolutely with inexperienced ones, directions and reminders need to be given every time, all the time. The warm up peloton started up the steepest hill in the course. Why? There was no reason to climb that to warm up for a time trial…turning at the bottom and coming back up the gentle incline leading in would seem logical. Having missed that easy question, once up the steepest hill with its fall-away S turns and 6-10% grade it would seem logical again to either walk down, or ski out the whole course. Start time was now approaching, so the latter didn’t seem to make sense. The Norns were weaving. Someplace, somewhere in one little brain a switch turned off and it turned off in every brain around it. The Rubicon had been crossed. Someone started down the hill, and herd mentality took over. Only one independent thinker, one lone wolf, one island of rationality and common sense buffeted in a sea of fools and followers took off her skis and walked down. “It looked like D-day on the beach!” was her description later on.

In the end…well, sort of the end because some folks are going to be pretty sore for quite a while and will miss a bit of good training…it was clear that I had made a bad mistake in not going over things that seemed self evident. They are not. In the end it was good that we had some first aid background, and that we had good kits. Like cereal, the prices of that stuff are absolutely absurd, but be sure to have it! If you need hints about must-haves in an XC summer “black bag” give us a call! In the end, and already thankful that no one was in danger of bleeding to death nor had suffered head injuries or fractures, we were lucky to have good help, and to have places to go to get cleaned-up and do the necessary triage that let us 1) decide we did not need to go to the hospital, and 2) get the healing process underway.

A long time ago when I was in my third or fourth season of commercial fishing in Alaska, I worked around a wonderful guy we all called “Per”. He had been brought up in a fishing family and was looked up to by everyone as a good fisherman and a cool head. No macho dumb decisions about trying to fish in the roughest weather, or act aggressively on the grounds, but always a fish-hold a little fuller that the rest. It was fun for me, a hopeless romantic about fishing, to learn the goofy superstitions that went along with it; don’t leave port on a Friday, keep the cups facing away from the galley door, don’t turn hatch covers up-side down, don’t whistle in the wheel-house, no buckets of water on deck and more, mentionable and not so. I clearly remember one night around the galley table when we had been listing them off and Per looked up and said “I don’t believe in any of that ****! ….But there’s no sense in takin’ chances!” Uff da. Why didn’t I remember? No more time trials on the 13th or talk of “blood and hair on the walls” before a camp for me! It shall forevermore be humility not hubris in the face of fate and nature.

Suggested reading for all: “The Glass in the Field” from Fables for Our Time by James Thurber. It is very short. It is very wise. And I, full of contrition, shall, like the devout of another faith, fall to my knees and read it aloud at least 100 times.

The rest of the camp was good. Easy money! A little chafing, some blisters, a knock-out and a broken (but straight!) nose in Ultimate Frisbee, but home free!

Intervals were attacked, technique worked on and Jesper’s message of having a purpose and a goal to each workout and each drill sank in. He and I had talked over a concern of mine about the effect and use of low intensity training here in the US. I have always felt that we weren’t getting the most out of it, and that we needed to give a little more thought to how we used it. I think we made some real progress there and that the gang will have more involvement in the process when L 1 and 2 are on the schedule. Think continuous work. Simple, but easy to miss. The key? There are many roads to Rome but for us at Burke; individual commitment to the workout, independence, and more understanding of why you are doing what you are doing.

The camp ended with a 5-6 hour Multi-sport day for three teams. After a 30 minute warm up it included 1) a four K, 250 vertical meter classic ski, 2) a 10K 400 m vert, run / hike, 3) 30 minutes of core strength with each team sprinting between stations and finishing as many laps as possible, 4) 1000 meter river run…in the water carrying a med ball as a team, 5) 200 meter flat out sprint relay, 6) Lunch, 7) 5 K easy ski to Round Robin Ultimate, Speedball, and Basketball Shoot-out, and 8) another vertical classic ski of 275 m in 4 k to the finish.

Afterward a barbecue, and wood-fired sauna thanks to the McClelland family and early bed.

We made it. Thanks to everyone and special thanks to athlete leadership, Guest coach Jesper Johnsson, and the appearance of Florence Nightingale (Middlebury alum, and Burke friend Andrea St. John) at the darkest moment. For those who had to go home early and nurse wounds; get back on the horse. Go for it. But read “The Glass in the Field” first..

August 23, 2008

HAYWARD, WI – XC kicked off the 12th annual Technique Development Camp at Telemark Resort on Monday, July 28. The camp is sponsored by the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation and included participants ranging from beginning J3-J4 skiers to master skiers and a coaches education block. The majority of the skiers were high school age.

Meals, lodging and most training was provided by the excellent staff and facilities at Telemark. Sessions were led with a solid coach-athlete ratio by CXC coaches including Elite Team coach Bryan Fish, Junior Development Program coach Bill Pierce, Youth Program Director Everett Myers, as well as Scott Wilson and Yuriy Gusev. Guest coaches for the camp were Sarah Willis, CXC physiologist, Garrott Kuzzy of the US Ski Team and CXC Elite Team and Jay Tapper, personal trainer. CXC past President Dennis Kruse acted as camp co-director.

The goal of the camp was to offer skiers as much exposure to good technique habits as possible in a fun, positive environment. With this in mind, the majority of workouts were done on roller-skis, with a few dryland drills to practice different concepts. Skiers typically spent two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon roller-skiing and working on technique drills and games.

During the camp, there were a variety of fun activities involving the group. The first evening, Garrott Kuzzy gave a presentation on the “Pipeline” from youth skiing to the US Ski Team. The athletes had an interesting question/answer session and really benefited from his wisdom.

Pre breakfast morning exercises were led by Jay Tapper, personal trainer and owner of ActivEdge (www.activedgewi.com). Jay led warm up and stretching sessions focusing on how to get the edge over the competition by initiating movement from the core and always keeping good posture. He followed up later in the day with a core strength presentation.

In the second evening session, Kuzzy inspired the group with recap of his 9th Place World Cup finish through race coverage video clips. This helped the athletes envision the future and get a first-hand version of the excitement of international competition. Athletes were impressed with the ability to learn and train with a World Cup athlete during the day, and listen in the evening while he recapped some of his winter’s escapades. Afterwards, Gusev and Fish unveiled the new CXCACADEMY (www.cxcacademy.com) to the athletes, offering them the opportunity to get on line/on demand coaching support with training plans, videos, and extras. This website is a great new resource for athletes and coaches of all abilities. It should be especially valuable for those without year-round coaching and training programs.

During their down time, the campers were able to take advantage of Telemark’s pool to cool off during the hot and humid north woods camp. The final evening, the group went to Lake Owen for a long ski and ended the afternoon with a barbeque, water skiing, and some agility/strength games. It was a great way for the athletes to get to know each other and create and strengthen friendships they made throughout the camp. This camp was a valuable learning experience for all. Many athletes made huge improvements with breakthrough technique tips and by learning what it takes to become a top skier!

August 4, 2008

Lake Placid, NY – The New York Ski Educational Foundation XC Program hosted 17 athletes from around the state at the Olympic Training Center July 8-13 in Lake Placid. The week was to be a high volume week and a chance to continue working on technique.

Athletes had three focuses for the week:
1. preparation (for training and the upcoming winter)
2. focus while training
3. technique (improve efficiency)

All three of these areas were linked together through thinking while training — think about what you are doing and how you are using your muscles while skiing.
The first evening athletes were checked off for their first day of training on the “Are you ready?” board. Many of the kids had 1s, 2s, or 3s for day one, rather than the ideal 8 points per day. The board showed each athlete listed for each day of training and had areas such as on time for training, water bottle with a carrier, watch, snack, dry shirt and shoes, correct gear, recovery in between sessions and a coaches' surprise for the day. Each day was scored and totaled up for the week. By the end of week, all athletes were getting the max daily score on the board. Charlie Bencze (J2) was the grand champion and won a NYSEF hooded sweatshirt.

The week of training looked like this:
Tuesday PM – trail run, mobility and core circuits at Mt. Van Hoevenberg (1.5 hour)
Wednesday AM – classic easy distance with technique stations (2 hours)
Wednesday PM – skate easy distance with technique and video (2 hours)
Thursday AM – 20 mile double pole with 20 x 30 sec repeats (2 hours)
Thursday PM – soccer, agility and core (1 hour)
Friday – High Peaks hike including five 46er peaks of Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics and Sawteeth (5 hours for the boys, 6 hours for the girls – the boys went the opposite direction of the girls and bet them back by 1 hour!)
Saturday AM – 17 mile distance ski, skate followed by classic (2 hours)
Saturday PM – off from training, trip to the summer ski jump competition and town
Sunday AM – skate time trial (1.25 hours)
Total for the week: 16.75 hours for the boys, 17.75 hours for the girls

Athletes finished up a great week of training with the famous Franklin Falls skate rollerski time trial — 7 km for the ladies and 9km for the men. It's a real tough course with the last half of the course climbing steep uphill. Everyone pushed through and finished the week off strong.

Special thanks to James Upham (USBA Development Coach), Zach Hall (USBA B Team), Sara Studebaker (USBA B Team) and Eric Carter (UVM Student-Athlete Intern) for providing group meetings on technique, nutrition and principles and adaptations of xc ski training.

Athletes attending: Dan Stevens (Scotia), Willie Bencze (Tupper Lake), Charlie Bencze (Tupper Lake), Wayne Clark (New Paltz), Judd Collier (Plattsburgh), Will Frielinghaus (Queensbury), Alex Goff (Lake Placid), Sam Phanuef (Old Forge), Sam Cowan (Lake Placid), Colin Delaney (Lake Placid), Alex Madden (Lake Placid), Elizabeth Izzo (Lake Placid), Carly Wynn (Queensbury), Amanda Moreland (Bloomfield), Kati Christoffel (Clifton Park), Mairead Fogarty (New Paltz), Heather Mooney (Keene Valley/Saxtons River, VT).

Coaches: Margaret Maher (NYSEF), Jason Hettenbaugh (Rochester Nordic Racing), Eric Carter (UVM Student-Athlete Intern)

Franklin Falls Skate Time Trial
Women 7 km Date Skis Time
Carly Wynn 7/13/08 Elpex 30:11:00
Amanda Moreland 7/13/08 Marwe 30:39:00
Elizabeth Izzo 7/13/08 Marwe 32:06:00
Audrey Mangan 7/13/08 35:10:00

Men 9 km Date Skis Time
Sylvan Ellefson 7/13/08 Marwe 29:19:00
Matt Delaney 7/13/08 V2 105S? 29:58:00
Eric Carter 7/13/08 Marwe 31:41:00
Paul Smith 7/13/08 Marwe 32:46:00
Harry Poole 7/13/08 Marwe 33:00:00
Colin Delaney 7/13/08 Marwe (pursuit wheels) 34:56:00
Alex Madden 7/13/08 Marwe 35:33:00
Charlie Bencze 7/13/08 Marwe 36:24:00
Dan Stevens 7/13/08 Marwe 37:11:00
Sam Cowan 7/13/08 Marwe 37:16:00
Willie Bencze 7/13/08 Marwe 39:54:00
Alex Goff 7/13/08 Marwe 41:30:00
Cooper Dodds 7/13/08 V2 850 41:35:00
Judd Collier 7/13/08 V2 940C 46:03:00

July 29, 2008

Central Cross Country Ski Association recently concluded a week of testing, training, and technique work at Cresthill Resort in Hayward, WI. Participants included the 12 CXC Elite Team members, 11 Junior Development Group athletes, 4 Regional Elite qualified juniors, 23 members of the qualified State Development Group and 10 juniors and seniors that petitioned in to the camp. Also attending were 8 coaches participating in the 3 day Coaches Education program. Coaching staff included US Ski Team coaches Pete Vordenberg and Matt Whitcomb along with CXC staff members Bryan Fish, Bill Pierce, Yuri Gusev, Scott and Kay Wilson, Everett Myers, and Sarah Willis.

Following are daily reports from Junior Development Group athletes:

Wednesday by Molly Burger: Today, was one of the best days of the REG camp this year because it included a killer strength test, crazy sprint race, and lots of Coop's pizza. We started out the morning with our usual warm-up jog and stretching. After second breakfast, most of the juniors went down and watched the CXC Elite team do their strength testing. It was inspiring to watch the senior athletes hard work pay off as some of them pumped out over 30 pull-ups and 60 dips. It got me really excited to do my own strength test, and has inspired me and many of the other juniors to work harder in the weight room and during specific strength training the rest of the year.

After lunch, followed by some swimming and napping, all the athletes went out for technique pointers during an easy skate rollerski in small groups with the coaches. When we returned, everyone participated in the first annual Road Rash Sprint to test our speed and agility. The Vordenberg designed course started up the small hill on Cresthill Resort's driveway. We had to jump off into the steep ditch at the crest and run on our skis around a pylon. The course then led through a very tight v-board slalom course back down the hill with a duck under a limbo bar and stretch for the finish. Posting top finishes for the men were Luke Gesior in second and Andrew Tilman in first. Tilman won with an amazing flying leap into the ditch and around the garbage can. Getting second place in the ladies was Libby Ellis, who was having a great final round until she took a nasty crash, but still finished the course. Melanie Hoffman won the women's side with a quick, clean run. The winners were presented with U.S. ski team caps by Pete Vordenberg. USST coach Matt Whitcomb also participated with his usual energy and commitment (see photo).

After the caps were awarded and we all showered (well most), the entire camp headed into Hayward for a delicious dinner of pizza donated by Coop's Pizza Parlor; thanks Craig!

Thursday, by Libby Ellis: Around 10:30 am on Thursday the parking lot at the Birkie Trail at Cty Rd 00 was swarming with more than 50 enthusiastic adolescents and a few mosquitoes. These adolescents aren't your typical rowdy, noisy, disrespectful teenagers; these were the select few who came to train with the US Ski Team coaches as well as the CXC coaches at the R.E.G camp. Thursday morning’s workout was bounding and pole walking, led by Pete Vordenberg. After a small follow-the-leader type run in the parking lot these not so typical teens were led off into the ups and downs of the Birkie trail to a sizable hill at the base of which they dropped their poles and water bottles and formed three lines. Athletes proceeded to do various bounding exercises including “bunny hops”, one legged jumps, skate hops, and of course bounding with and without poles while the coaches watched and critiqued, sometimes pulling someone aside for more detailed help. The process slowly progressed from going up about 10 strides to using the whole hill, all the while trying to stay relaxed and focused on technique. After about an hour of very successful bounding things wrapped up and the group was led back to the parking lot where the workout ended.

The bounding workout was really a great opportunity for everyone because all the coaches and athletes could work together (including the CXC Elite Team) as opposed to the skiing workouts where everyone was divided into groups and assigned to just one coach. Being able to work with any of the coaches was phenomenal; they all had a wealth of knowledge and a different view on the way a certain person skis which is really important, and to top it off they remembered names. The dedication given to this workout, athletes as well as coaches, was awesome. Everyone was very concentrated and drank up as much information from Pete as they could get even though the mosquitoes were everywhere at once. Side talk was minimal and the positive energy was infectious. All in all it was a job well done by everyone.

Friday, by Erik Fagerstrom: It was an early morning start on Independence Day as athletes prepared for the infamous 5km skate time trial up County Road 00 from Seeley to the Birkie Tail. There was plenty of nervousness as the athletes saw the course on the drive in and during the short warm-up. The course is said to be pretty difficult as it is mostly up hill. It starts out as a long flat until you hit the first hill; I believe it’s the longest on the course. Followed by a flat section and a longer gradual downhill that leads into the steepest hill on the course. The “wall” can be quite difficult as it is just before half-way point and is of quite a steep grade. After the wall the athletes have some rollers and long gradual downhills until they hit the final twisting climb up to the 00 Birkie trailhead. There were some great results from both the CXC Elite athletes as well as junior athletes. Garrott Kuzzy and Maria Stuber took home top finishes overall while junior athletes Jessie Diggins and Doug Debold finished at the top of their fields. It was a fun event and I think everyone received some inspiration and motivation from Matt Whitcomb’s motivational audio/visual presentation the night before.

After a cool down there was some downtime at a nearby park to go swimming, stretch, eat watermelon and Clif bars, and relax before heading into Cable to take part in the Fourth of July parade. All 60 athletes and coaches were wearing their matching CXC t-shirts that were given to them at the camp. Overall it was a good time. The athletes skied slowly around the two CXC vans for an hour and a half level 1 ski, giving little kids high-fives, chatting up the adults and handing out CXC brochures. There was plenty of support from the parade watchers and I think many were impressed with Garrott Kuzzy and Brian Gregg’s synchronized V2 display. Following the parade it was time to head back to Cresthill where the junior athletes packed, cleaned, and headed for home while the CXC Elite Team hunkered down for a second week of group training and testing. It was a great way to end a fantastic week. I believe everyone had a good time and leaned a lot from skiing with coaches during technique sessions, learning from the nightly presentations, and living the life of a competitive ski racer.

Source: CXC

July 14, 2008

“The way to beat the Europeans is to take advantage of
training in our high mountains.” — Vlady

Members of the Junior National Biathlon Team and several fellow senior athletes came together from across the United States for a two week camp that began at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and later moved to Winter Park. This camp pushed these hopeful athletes to a higher level with a primary focus on a high training volume. The time at the training center allowed for these athletes to pay special attention to shooting while maintaining fitness. The second week in Winter Park provided a nice complement with plenty of opportunities for training at high altitude.

Highlights of the time in Colorado Springs included a hike/run up Pikes Peak (7,000 ft elevation gain) and regular strength workouts in the extensive training complex at the training center. After acclimating for a few days in Winter Park (9,000 ft and above), these junior and senior athletes were able to post 23 hours in three days. This was primarily accomplished by a 190-mile road bike ride (total gain over 20,000 feet) for the older athletes and an 80-mile mountain bike up Rollins Pass for the women and youth men. Other high points of the camp included hiking up two more of Colorado’s famous 14’ers — Gray’s and Torris, a rollerski from Breckinridge to Vail Pass (twice), and shooting at Snow Mountain Ranch.

All of those in Colorado would like to thank the Colorado Biathlon Club for the use of their range at Snow Mountain Ranch, the Smith family for housing and showing the group a good time over the 4th of July, Alan Dettmer for his knowledgeable healing advice, and Mark Miner for donating essential groceries.

July 11, 2008

Central Cross Country Ski Association with the support of the American Birkebeiner is pleased to announce the 2008 Regional Technique Development Camp for Regional Development Group, State Development Group, and Open category athletes and Master skiers. This camp blends upper level regional athletes in combination with entry level and first time participants.

The goal of the camp will be technique development in small groups (4-6 athletes per coach) of similar levels and individual video analysis for instant feedback.

“We gained a lot of new knowledge in the field of cross country ski technique in last two years with our CXC Ski Team and by working closely with the US Ski Team coaches. We also understand that personal attention and feedback are critical components in technique development. This camp is the best opportunity for athletes at every level to improve their technique. Small groups separated by ability level will be a very effective tool and method to improve technical skills,” commented Yuriy Gusev (CXC Skiing Chief Executive Officer).

Space in this annual camp is filling quickly.

Coaches:

– Scott Wilson (CXC)
– Bryan Fish (CXC Elite Team)
– Bill Pierce (CXC Junior Development Program)
– Yuriy Gusev (CXC)
– Caitlin Compton (CXC Elite Team)
– Garrott Kuzzy (CXC Elite Team/US Ski Team)

Schedule:

Day 1 (Monday 7/28)
10:00am to Noon – Check in (registration at Telemark Resort, Cable, WI http://www.telemarkresort.com/)
Noon – Lunch on your own
1.00pm – Classic rollerski technique assessment
3.00pm – Skate rollerski technique assessment
5.30pm – Dinner
6.30pm — From Nordic Kids to US Ski Team Presentation (Garrott Kuzzy)
7.30pm – Free time

Day 2 (Tuesday 7/29)
7.30am – Warm up run and stretching
8.30am – Breakfast
9.30am — Classic technique sessions
12.00pm – Lunch
1.30pm – Classic technique sessions
4.30pm – Open swim-pool
5.30pm – Dinner
6.30pm — World Championships Stories (Caitlin Compton)
7.30pm – Free time

Day 3 (Wednesday 7/30)
7.30am – Warm up run and stretching & J3/J4 participants check in
8.30am – Breakfast
10.00am – Skate technique sessions
12.00pm – Lunch
3.00pm – Skate technique sessions
5.00pm – Picnic/Barbeque/ Water Skiing at Lake Owen picnic ground
8.00pm – Free time

Day 4 (Thursday 7/31)
7.30am – Warm up run and stretching
8.30am – Breakfast
10.00am – Technique video taping
12.00pm – Lunch
1.00pm — Technique video analysis
3.30pm – Departure

Activities:
– Classic technique (diagonal stride, double pole, kick double pole and dryland drills)
– Skate technique (V1, V2, V2 alternate and dryland drills)
– Video analysis

Cost Includes coaching, room and board and perks:
$295.00 — Open Category
$455.00 — Master Skiers (two per room)
$295.00 — State Development Group & Midwest/Great Lakes Junior Olympic Teams members
$295.00 — Regional Elite Group
$150.00 — J3/J4 2 day camp

Each participant will receive a custom t-shirt and choice of DVD:
– US Ski Team Technique Fundamentals
– CXC Wake Up! It’s Time to Train
– X-Country
– US Ski Team Core Training

For more information, visit http://www.cxcskiing.org

July 5, 2008

The 2008 CXC Regional Elite Group (REG) camp kicked off last weekend at Cresthill Resort in Hayward, WI. Over 50 of the Midwest’s best junior skiers are attending the camp as well as the CXC Elite Team and Junior Team. Skiers at the camp receive coaching from US Ski Team coaches Pete Vordenberg and Matt Whitcomb, as well as CXC Elite Team coach Bryan Fish, Junior Team coach Bill Pierce, and St. Scholastica College coach Chad Salmela, and CXC coaches Scott Wilson and Yuri Gusev.

The REG camp began on Saturday, June 28 with a VO2 max test for all athletes. Several years ago CXC purchased their own state of the art Oxygen Analyzer. The test consists of running on a treadmill with an oxygen mask attached to your face that’s connected to a VO2 max analyzer. The treadmill starts easy and increases speed and grade until skiers can’t run anymore. . .not an easy way to start a camp, but as Pete Vordenberg says, “This isn’t summer camp, it’s ski camp!” It took two full days to test all the skiers. Many skiers were able to see how their fitness had improved during the past season, while others took the test for their first time and were able to get test results to use to measure fitness in the years to come.

Monday was a full day of technique work, with skiers dividing up by group and getting attention from coaches in small groups. After the daily warm-up jog, stretching, and breakfast, skiers broke into groups and hit the road for a two hour technique session. During the morning skate, coaches taught drills to practice important skills such as balance, weight shift, and application of power. After the workout, many skiers took advantage of Placid Lake to cool down after a humid morning of skiing, while others simply ate lunch and napped before the afternoon classic ski. Again, skiers were out for two hours working on classical technique. They arrived back at Cresthill to a dinner of chicken and hamburgers on the grill. After dinner, Vordenberg gave a presentation about the “Pipeline” and how to get to the next level of ski racing. Pete included slides from the World Cup and told a few inspiring stories of recent US success.

The four hours of training on Monday were just a warm-up for Tuesday’s 3000m running time-trial on the track, an annual fixture at the REG camp and a chance for the track stars to strut their stuff. The CXC Elite team athletes led the way with Caitlin Compton and Garrott Kuzzy taking the top time in their respective events. Other juniors posted impressive results, sticking with the elite athletes for much of the time-trial. Elizabeth Simak from Hayward and Chris Bowler from Wausau took the top spots for the juniors. The results from the running time-trial will be used for seeding in the skate time-trial up County Road OO on Friday morning. Skiers who were disappointed by their results in the running time-trial will have the opportunity to show what they’re made of during the six stage strength assessment on Wednesday.

The afternoon ended with another classic technique session and dinner by the lake. CXC’s Yuriy Gusev wrapped up the day with a presentation on goals and an interpretation of the VO2 max results for the athletes. While they have a 10:30pm curfew, Katie Walsh of Stillwater said after the presentation “I’m so tired after today, I’m heading off to bed an hour early.” While many skiers are tired from the long day, Andrew Poffenberger from the Gustavus Ski Team summed it up best: “This week has been a great opportunity to focus skiing and see what it’s like to ski full time.”

As well as athlete activities, a cross section of regional high school and club coaches are attending through the CXC coaches education program. They have been observing technique sessions and participating in round table discussions with USST coaches. Yuri Gusev also presented two discussion topics on organizing athlete training plans and general training protocols. Several coaches in attendance commented that they are really enthused to return to their programs and implement their new-found knowledge.

While it’s been a busy start to the camp, the rest of the week will continue at the same high pace with strength testing, the annual pizza dinner and Coop’s Pizza in Hayward, and a skate time-trial. This year’s camp will end with the REG athletes rollerskiing in the Cable, WI Fourth of July Parade on Friday morning.

Source: CXC

July 4, 2008

Crested Butte, Colorado

With over 1000 inches of snow falling in the mountains above Crested Butte, Colorado this winter, a blizzard was a fitting start to the June Ski Camp that opened today. The new snow cleaned up the trails and made for great skiing during the morning’s classic ski session on Kebler Pass. The four-day camp continued through Sunday with a focus on skiing and technique development. Afternoon dryland training and touring the town’s restaurants for evening meals complemented the morning ski sessions.

Crested Butte Nordic Council, Western State College and Boulder Nordic Sport collaborated to produce the camp, bringing Juniors, Seniors and Masters together for one last opportunity to get on snow and have a fun time training and learning. For more information, see http://www.bouldernordic.com.

June 9, 2008

This is only a partial list of camps around the country. If you have a camp to add, please email us at info@fasterskier.com and post it on the FasterSkier Calendar.

Maine Winter Sports Center Training for Success Summer Camp

Come join the coach of Maine’s newest college ski program, Petr Jakl, University of Maine Presque Isle head coach, to get a jump-start on your ski season with other high school skiers from around the state.

Place: Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, ME

Date: Aug 1 — 3, 2008

Coaching: Petr Jakl, Head Nordic coach at University of Maine Presque Isle and MWSC Staff

Assistant Coaches: University of Maine Presque Isle Student/Athletes from the Coaching Degree Program and Maine Winter Sports Center athletes.

Who is the Camp for: Intermediate and advanced cross-country skiers between the ages 14-18.

Cost: $100 — includes T-shirt, training camp and lunches. (Arrangements can be made for overnight accommodations if that is of interest. Rollerski’s can also be rented for $8/day.)

Program: For young cross-country skiers who are interested in learning specific dry-land training techniques as essential preparation for a successful competition season. The dry-land activities will include running, roller skiing, strength, plyometrics, games and stretching.

Contact: For more information contact Petr Jakl at (207)768-9689 (Work), (207)764-4882 (Home) or by e-mail:petr.jakl@maine.edu

Deadline: Please return registration information (see the registration form) and the $50.00 deposit by July 5, 2008 to: Sheri Sirios, 552 Main Street, Caribou, ME 04736.

CXC Summer Training Camps

In the last several years CXC has established outstanding opportunities for skiers at all levels to participate in training camps, from introduction to high performance training. “These camps are instrumental for athletic development. They provide exceptional opportunities for not only working with top level regional and national coaches but also to live, train and learn with some of the top athletes in the country. We welcome athletes and coaches to participate in our camps and look forward to providing CXC expertise and experience, ” commented Yuriy Gusev, CXC Executive and Athletic Director.

CXC Birkie Camp, Telemark Resort, Cable, WI
July 28 — 31, 2008

This is an open camp for all level athletes, from novice to advanced. The camp goal is introduction to structured training and technique improvement. All sessions are organized in small groups of similar levels. Staffing by a variety of top regional coaches provide athletes a wide range of experiences. The CXC Birkie Camp is very popular among middle school and high school athletes and brings a large group of participants together every year. This camp offers opportunities for Master Skiers and Coaches Education as well.

CXC Regional Elite Camp, Cresthill Resort, Hayward, WI
June 28 — July 3, 2008

This is the top level regional camp for athletes who are training seriously and are prepared to elevate their athletic endeavors. This camp targets qualified Regional Elite Group and State Development Group and offers a few slots for petitioned athletes. US National Team coaches attend this camp to coach and observe regional talent. Coach’s education is a critical aspect of this camp as well.

CXC High Performance Camp, US Olympic Training Center, Lake Placid, NY
September 26 — October 5, 2008

This is the best opportunity for the athletes to experience how professional athletes live and train along with members of the US National Team and top athletes from around the country. Participants of this camp are selected from participants of the CXC Regional Elite Camp attendees by US National Team coaches based on commitments to professionalism and athletic excellence.

New England Summer Training Camps
For more information and to view a schedule of Invite Only camps held by NENSA, visit http://www.nensa.net

June 25-28, 2008, 2nd Annual GMVS Nordic Camps Green Mountain Valley School, Waitsfield, VT

Event Info: The staff of the Green Mountain Valley School will be offering two dry land camps between June 25th and July 3rd for XC skiers. Each session will last four days and three nights. Room and board will be provided on the GMVS Campus. The camps are designed to bring junior skiers together to train and have fun. Athletes will focus on conditioning, training education and refining their technique. Each camp will end with a roller ski challenge / time trial. Session 1: June 25-28 Designed for 12 to 16 year old skiers. Session 2: June 30-July 3 Designed for 14 to 18 year old skiers. Training will occur throughout the Mad River Valley. Skiers should be prepared for running, ski bounding/walking, roller skiing and strength training. Campers will also have the opportunity to play soccer and swim in the afternoons. Camps will also include slide shows from the past season and motivational presentations by accomplished athletes.

Registration: The cost of each four-day session is $275. Room and board will be provided at GMVS. Camps will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. 20 maximum. To reserve a spot, return this form with payment to: Justin Beckwith, 271 Moulton Road, Waitsfield, VT 05673 Please contact Justin Beckwith at beck@gmvs.org with any questions.

Contact:Justin Beckwith at beck@gmvs.org

July 7-11, 2008, Gunstock Nordic Dry land Camp Gunstock Nordic Center, Gilford, NH

Event Info: Geared towards ages 13-16. Training includes 9 practices with roller skiing, running,ski walking, swimming and games.

Link to flyer: http://gunstocknordic.com/gunstock_nordic_association.files/Ganstock%20camp08.pdf

Registration: Mail Deposit of $100 to: Gunstock Nordic, PO Box 7493, Gilford, NH 03247

Contact:Nina or Igor, 603-293-0379

Website:gunstocknordic@msn.com

July, 16-20, 2008, JLS Sports 7th annual Trip to Trout Lake, Trout Lake, WA

Event Info: This trip will encompass time in Bend, Oregon prior to departing for the Trout Lake Camp. Our group will fly into Portland Oregon and make our way to Bend where we will spend a few days with a host family. Camp participants will have an opportunity to train with MBSEF/PNSA skiers as well as take in the local sights such as Mt Hood's spectacular beauty, Smith Rock climbing area (and its renowned hiking trails) and the Deschutes River and its activities. On Wed July 16th our caravan of MBSEF, Methow Valley, JLS Sports and other western athletes will make its way to Trout Lake Washington for the start of camp. First session begins that afternoon. At last years camp, the presence of two former Olympians, seven junior national champions, and three world junior team members brought a level of accomplishment to the group that is certainly unique. What can campers expect? Rustic lodging or camping, the best swimming hole around, a myriad of paved logging roads for roller skiing that wind up the mountain, and the opportunity to learn from your peers and a great coaching staff. Second year J1's and OJ's will be allowed to scale Mt. Adams with a qualified group leader ( pending conditions). The training at this camp will be challenging. If you are a first year J1 or older with a goal of competing in Eastern Cups, JOQ's and Junior Nationals, time spent on roller skis prior to camp is required. There will also be appropriate groups for those new to Nordic skiing and roller skiing. Link to last years camp summary and pictures: http://www.fasterskier.com/training4412.html Contact Janice Sibilia at jansibilia@aol.com to register or for more info.

Registration: Deadline for sign up: June 8th. Limited Spots available for this trip!

Trip Dates: Depart the East on July 13th, return on July 20th. Cost: $1300.00. Cost is based on 5 skiers and includes ground transportation while west, meals prior to and during camp, gas, camp and coaching fees, and airfare, based on current rates. Contact Janice Sibilia at jansibilia@aol.com to register or for more information.

Contact:Janice Sibilia, Jansibilia@aol.com, (914) 475-5494

August 3-10, 2008, Jerico Roller Ski Camp Ethan Allen Training Center (Army Base), Jericho, VT

Event Info: Nordic training camp with an emphasis on roller skiing. There will also be ski bounding, running, strength and games. Ages 16-24.

Link to flyer: http://gunstocknordic.com/gunstock_nordic_association.files/Jericho%20camp08.jpg

Registration: Contact Nina or Igor to register for the camp. 603-293-0379, or email gunstocknordic@msn.com

August 10-18, 2008, Burke Mtn Academy Camp, Adirondacks

Event Info: The BMA August camp (10-18 August) welcomes Jesper Johnsson, a member of the coaching team at the Jaerpen Ski Gymnasium in Sweden, as a guest coach for the camp. (Jesper joined Jaerpen when Magnar Dalen moved to take over the Finninsh National team, and often is the “voice” at major Swedish events. A good coach and a lot of fun!) Burke’s August Camp is meant to evaluate and build on the summer's training. It will be geared to different levels of experience and different ages but it is focused at athletes who have followed a summer plan. Assessment, and making individual plans for getting the most out of the remaining months of the fall is the primary goal of the camp. Interval sessions, and intensity will play a significant role. This is a Burke Team camp, but we eagerly welcome skiers from other programs, or those who have primarily trained on their own and want to get an idea of where they are. Camp to be held in the Adirondacks.

Registration: Cost $450

Contact:Pete Phillips, pphillips@burkemtnacademy.org, 802-626-1516 ext 1010 or 518-524-4127

August 17-20, 2008, Stratton Mountain Junior XC Camp Stratton Mountain School, Stratton Mountain, VT

Event Info: The Junior Camp is designed for 14-18 year old skiers. The emphasis is on technique, specific training and education. Campers train with top National ranked skiers, work on skills and leave with an understanding of what they need to do to improve their fall training in order to ski faster than ever. Activities include classic and skate roller skiing, ski striding, hiking, soccer, swimming, skits and more! Cost for the 4 day camp is $260. General Camp Information: Both SMS camps are run by Sverre Caldwell and the Stratton Mountain School coaches. Additional staff includes National Champion skiers and coaches from around the region. The camp fee includes room, board, coaching and a camp t-shirt. Everyone stays at Stratton Mountain School. There is at least 1 adult for every 8 campers and there is an adult living on each floor of the dorm.

Registration: For more information or a registration form, write to Sverre Caldwell, Stratton Mtn School, Stratton Mtn., VT 05155 or e-mail Sverre at scaldwel@gosms.org. Both camps are filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact:Sverre Caldwell. scaldwel@gosms.org

August 21-24, 2008, Stratton Mountain BKYSL Camp Stratton Mountain School, Stratton Mountain, VT

Event Info: The BKYSL camp is designed for 10-14 year old skiers. Campers are exposed to roller skiing and core strength as well as long term training theory and technique, but the emphasis is on BEING ACTIVE, MAKING FRIENDS AND HAVING FUN! There are a wide variety of activities which include: soccer, roller skiing, hiking, camp Olympics, swimming, skit night and ultimate Frisbee. Cost for the 4 day camp is $260. General Camp Information: Both SMS camps are run by Sverre Caldwell and the Stratton Mountain School coaches. Additional staff includes National Champion skiers and coaches from around the region. The camp fee includes room, board, coaching and a camp t-shirt. Everyone stays at Stratton Mountain School. There is at least 1 adult for every 8 campers and there is an adult living on each floor of the dorm.

Registration: For more information or a registration form, write to Sverre Caldwell, Stratton Mtn School, Stratton Mtn., VT 05155 or e-mail Sverre at scaldwel@gosms.org. Both camps are filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact:scaldwel@gosms.org

Michigan Tech Hosts Cross Country and Mountain Bike Camp

Capitalizing on the area's beauty and variety of trail systems, Michigan Technological University will offer an endurance training camp, July 9-13, for students entering grades 8-12. Campers can choose between a cross country running camp and a mountain biking camp.

All participants will train on the trail systems in and around Houghton, Michigan, including the Michigan Tech Trails, the venue for the U.S. cross country skiing championships for the last two years. Also available to runners and cyclists are the Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids system in Hancock, and Chassell Recreation Trails in Chassell, as well as miles of logging roads.

These are all unpaved trails, with technical single track. Mountain bikers are required to bring their own bike (with good brakes and appropriate gearing for serious off-road riding) and a helmet.
All campers should be prepared for 1.5 to 3 hours of training per day, with instructors teaching students how to train at an appropriate pace. Campers will also swim in Lake Superior and gain information about the science of training, nutrition and hygiene.

Coaches will include Joe Haggenmiller, head coach of the Michigan Tech cross country and Nordic ski teams. He has coached national qualifiers and all-Americans and has competed at U.S. and Canadian national skiing events. Also coaching will be Margot Hutchins, head track and field coach and assistant coach for cross country and Nordic skiing. An active endurance athlete, she competed in cross country and track and field at Michigan Tech and has won the Whistlestop Marathon in Ashland, Wisconsin, four times. John Durocher is a certified personal trainer, certified health/fitness instructor and has mountain biked for 15 years.

Registration is limited to the first 60 applicants. For more information, or to register, go to www.aux.mtu.edu/syap or call (906) 487-2975 or toll-free (888) 829-9688.