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From the FasterSkier archive — posts syndicated from athletes’ and coaches’ own blogs between 2004 and 2012, kept online as published. Current coverage is at fasterskier.com.

Tag: Fairbanks Cross Country

The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Seeks Head Coach
The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) is seeking an energetic and enthusiastic head coach to lead its Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC) junior racing and training program.

Position details
- Salary: $45,000 to $59,000 DOE
- Benefits: Flexible personal time off during training breaks and a $5,000 health stipend
- Relocation assistance: Negotiable
About FXC and NSCF

FXC has been a cornerstone of competitive skiing in Fairbanks for 20 years, growing from fewer than a dozen participants to more than 60 skiers, ages 10–18. The program includes seasonal and year-round training at the Competition, Prep, and Junior Development levels.

The FXC coaching team consists of:
- One year-round assistant coach
- Part-time seasonal coaches for additional support
Beyond FXC, NSCF offers other programs:
- Junior Nordic (for younger skiers up to middle school)
- Adult lessons
- Biathlon
- Masters training
Why Fairbanks?

Fairbanks boasts one of the longest natural snow ski seasons in the U.S. — late October through April — at an elevation under 1,000 feet. The Birch Hill Recreation Area serves as FXC’s home venue, featuring an outstanding trail network and world-class facilities.

FXC resources include:
- Dedicated training space at Birch Hill
- A 12-passenger van and gear trailer
- A robust race schedule, including local races, JNQ events across Alaska, and U.S. National Championships
- Opportunities to coach on the Alaska Junior National Team
Living and coaching in Fairbanks

The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks, with close to 1,000 members and a strong financial foundation, has been a leader in cross-country skiing for more than 50 years. Fairbanks has a strong high school ski culture and a deeply supportive ski community.

Beyond skiing, Fairbanks offers:
- Outdoor recreation: World-class Nordic trails, running, mountain biking, road biking, fat biking, and mushing
- Arts and culture: A vibrant music and arts scene
- Higher education: Home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which has its own cross-country ski team
- Travel connectivity: Excellent airline connections to major U.S. airports
- Community: A welcoming, tight-knit borough with a population of roughly 100,000
How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and résumé to executivedirector@nscfairbanks.org by the end of the day on May 20, 2026. A selection committee from NSCF will conduct interviews in person or electronically with qualified applicants.

For more information

Contact Thad Keener at executivedirector@nscfairbanks.org or (907) 978-6343.

Join us in leading and inspiring the next generation of Nordic skiers.
May 7, 2026
Wednesday Workout: Bog Running Intervals with Swedish Juniors
Swedish juniors from the Järpen Skidgymnasium climbing Grovfjellet during a distance run in Åre, Sweden, the day after bog-running intervals. (Photo: Alasdair Tutt)

Today’s workout comes from Alasdair Tutt, head coach and program director at the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks/Fairbanks Cross Country (NSCF-FXC) in Fairbanks, Alaska, who recently attended a training camp with Swedish skiers (ages 15-19) at the Åre Ski Gymnasium in Järpen, Sweden. Have a workout of your own (or your club’s) that you’d like to share? Send submissions to info@fasterskier.com with the subject line “Wednesday Workout”.

***

On a recent trip to Sweden for study, I was fortunate enough to attend a training camp with Järpen Skidgymnasium, which is an RIG ski program supported by the Swedish Ski Federation for their top junior skiers. There are five RIG “Kingdoms Sports Schools” aimed at future international level skiers and 12 NIU “National Sport Education” programs aimed at national level skiers in Sweden for cross-country skiing.

Järpen Skidgymnasium nordic coaches Martin Persson (second from l) and Kicki Fransson (r) observe a bog-running workout as athletes warm up near Åre, Sweden. (Photo: Alasdair Tutt)

The training camp was cross discipline with 70 athletes from cross-country, alpine and freestyle in attendance as a bit of a team-building experience after the first week of school. All athletes did the following swamp-running workout with varying “on” time depending on age and sport. You might be a bit surprised that some of the alpine/freestyle athletes got through the entire set with good speed and form.

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In addition, the athletes completed a strength, obstacle and mobility circuit, and a 2-3 hour long distance tour on the final day – running for the cross country athletes and cycling for the others. As part of the school orientation, groups of 7-10 students and coaches also produced an anti-bullying short film. A lot of effort went into the production of these, with some drone footage and high quality of execution.
Bog Running Intervals:

Warmup jog to the bog: About 10 minutes at Level 1 and 5 minutes at Level 2, running around the loop to get orientated.

Interval set:
- Pyramid: 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1*, 2, 3 minutes of “on” time in Level 4-5, with half recovery time except the 1-minute intervals, which had 1-minute off afterwards.
- Running or running with poles for the “on” time and walking or slow jogging between intervals.
- *Athletes had the option of stopping after the first pyramid for first-year students and alpine/freestyle, or doing the additional 5 minutes of intervals.
Cool down: A game of bog soccer by year level (1-4) with 2 x 5 min. halves, an easy jog back to camp and some gentle mobility.

Alternative: Some athletes who couldn’t run did a strength circuit for the session.

Total time: About an hour and a half, which struck me as incredibly time-efficient.
According to the athletes, they perform a bog-running interval session maybe once every month or two during the warmer months, mostly for something different, but lots of distance runs tend to end up traversing such terrain. The biggest surprise for me was just how fast some athletes were moving in the difficult terrain, running 5-5:30min/mile pace with poles in shin-deep bogs, but then walking significant portions of the 22-kilometer distance workout we did the next day. Really, it just reinforces the polarization of training that they have built into their culture, and it’s something I think we still need to work on, especially in distance training, with my program in the U.S.
September 12, 2018
NSCF-FXC Seeks Head Coach/Director of Skier Development

(Job posting)

The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks (NSCF) is looking for an energetic and enthusiastic individual to lead its junior racing and training program, Fairbanks Cross Country (FXC) as Head Coach. This person would also serve as the Director of Skier Development, overseeing FXC and the club’s other instructional programs.

Salary starts at approximately $45,000, plus reimbursements for retirement and health care costs, depending upon experience. The Head Coach/Director of Skier Development reports directly to the Skier Development Oversight Committee, which committee reports to the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks Board of Directors.

Ideally, the candidate who is selected would arrive in Fairbanks to start leading the program by late summer. NSCF/FXC will assist with travel and/or moving costs.

Interested parties should send letters of interest and resumés to administrator@nscfairbanks.org. The position will remain open until filled. A selection committee from the NSCF will conduct interviews via telephone with qualified candidates.

Information about the program, the club and the community:

FXC has been in existence for 12 years, growing in that time from a program with less than a dozen skiers to a program with 100 or more skiers involved in seasonal and year-round programs at the Competition, Prep, and Junior Development levels, as well as a modest Masters program. Besides the head coach there is one year-round assistant coach as well as part-time coaches. The club’s other instructional programs include the Junior Nordic program for skiers up to middle-school age, and an Adult Lessons program.

Fairbanks is blessed with one of the longest ski seasons in the nation on natural snow – from late October to late April – at an elevation of under 1000’ above sea level. The home venue for the program is Birch Hill Recreation Area, known around the US for its outstanding trail network and world class facilities.

FXC has dedicated space in buildings at Birch Hill. FXC also owns a 2016 passenger van and trailer for hauling gear. FXC skiers participate in a full schedule of local races, as well as JNQ races elsewhere in Alaska. Top skiers in the program participate in US National Championships. FXC coaches are part of the coaching staff on the Alaska Junior National Team.

The 50-year-old Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks has approximately 1000 members and is in sound financial condition. It has provided strong support for cross country skiing in general and for FXC in particular since its inception in 2006. Fairbanks also has a strong tradition of high school cross country skiing.

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There are exceptional opportunities for a wide variety of exciting outdoor recreational opportunities in and nearby Fairbanks. Fairbanks has a full array of dining, entertainment, lodging and shopping options and is the home of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which has a cross country ski team. Fairbanks has excellent connections by passenger jet to major airports throughout the US. The population of the Fairbanks North Star Borough is approximately 100,000.

The job descriptions for the FXC Head Coach / Director of Skier Development positions are available at: http://www.nscfairbanks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/FXC-Job-Descriptions-Head-Coach-and-Director-of-Skier-Development.pdf

June 18, 2018
Fairbanks XC Junior Racing Program Seeks Assistant Coach

(Press release)

Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks’ Fairbanks Cross Country (NSCF-FXC) junior racing program is searching for an assistant coach to work as part of a team of professional and volunteer coaches in helping guide its junior and masters athletes as they pursue their goals and dreams in Cross Country skiing.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a program that has been steadily growing and improving since its inception in 2006; the program currently engages more than 120 athletes on an annual basis.

The NSCF-FXC program is part of an integrated development path that begins with the club’s highly successful Junior Nordics program, which instructs over 200 young skiers ages 5-13 each winter. Athletes in the FXC junior program are split among three tiers: the Jr. Devo Team for late elementary skiers, the Prep Team for middleschoolers and the Comp Team for high school and post-graduate athletes. There is also a growing Masters program that was begun in 2013.

We are fortunate to have great opportunities as ski racers in Interior Alaska, due in large part to a strong and exceptionally supportive local ski community. Our home trail system at Birch Hill Recreation Area – one of two primary groomed ski trail networks in Fairbanks (and one of several in the Fairbanks area) – includes over 40 km of trails, 11 km of lighted trails, a full array of FIS homologated race loops, a terrain garden for ski play, and a 10,000-square-foot ski center with various outbuildings. The club provides grooming throughout the 6- to 7-month ski season, and our nationally recognized competition crew organizes a full slate of races ranging from youth events, to marathons, JN qualifiers, National Championships and FIS races. The long days of summer offer great dryland training opportunities particularly for activities on trails, and ready access to some of the most expansive wilderness in North America.

This position would start as a summer position with the potential to expand to year-round (our preferred scenario). Summer would include coaching with all levels of our junior program, while winter would involve both the juniors and work with our Masters program as part of an expansion of our programming at the masters level. Summer training would involve morning and afternoon and/or evening workouts 5-6 days per week with middays free; winter would be primarily afternoons and evenings with some weekend duties.

The ideal candidate would have raced at the collegiate level or higher, be enthusiastic about and have experience working with or coaching youth, possess excellent communication and organization skills, and be able to complete miscellaneous projects in a timely manner with minimal oversight. The assistant coach must be able to pass a background check and possess a valid driver’s license. If not already certified, it would be expected that the candidate completes the USSA Level 100 certification within 90 days of hire (with educational costs covered by the club).

The typical hourly commitment during the busy summer and winter seasons would be 15-25 hours of coaching per week plus 5-10 hours of organization and miscellaneous tasks. Weeks involving training camps, trips or important races would likely exceed 40 hours. The schedule allows for potential additional employment within the local ski community (coaching, lessons, grooming, etc.) and the Fairbanks community at large. The University of Alaska offers a wide variety of college and graduate level courses at its Fairbanks campus for those wishing to further their education.

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For a broader sense of the NSCF as a whole, please consult our website: www.nscfairbanks.org, or the NSCF-FXC Facebook page for a better picture of our program. For questions or to submit an application, contact NSCF-FXC Head Coach and Director of Skier Development Pete Leonard at pete@peterleonard.net or (907) 978-6325. Applications should be submitted to the aforementioned email address and should include a cover letter, resume and three references. Initial review of applications will begin April 27, and the position will remain open until filled. Applicants should expect to be on the ground in Fairbanks by early June.

April 16, 2015
NSCF-FXC Seeking Assistant Coach

Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks’ Fairbanks Cross Country (NSCF-FXC) junior racing program is searching for an assistant coach to work as part of a team of professional and volunteer coaches in helping guide its young athletes as they pursue their goals and dreams in Cross Country skiing.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a junior program that has been steadily growing and improving since its inception in 2006; the program currently engages 75+ athletes on an annual basis and has become one of the top junior programs in the country – ranking 4^th for boys and 6^th overall in the 2013 JN club trophy.

The NSCF-FXC program is part of an integrated development path which begins with the club’s highly successful Junior Nordics program which instructs over 200 young skiers ages 5-13 each winter. Athletes in the FXC program are split among three tiers: the Jr. Devo Team for late elementary skiers, the Prep Team for middle schoolers and the Comp Team for high school and post-graduate athletes.

We are fortunate to have great opportunities as ski racers in interior Alaska, due in large part to a strong and exceptionally supportive local ski community. Our home trail system at Birch Hill Recreation Area – one of two primary groomed ski trail networks in Fairbanks (and one of several in the Fairbanks area) – includes over 40 km of trails, 11 km of lighted trails, a full array of FIS homologated race loops, a terrain garden for ski play, and a 10,000+ square foot ski center with various outbuildings. The club provides grooming throughout the 6- to 7-month ski season, and our nationally recognized competition crew organizes a full slate of races ranging from youth events, to marathons, JN qualifiers, National Championships and FIS races. The long days of summer offer great dryland training opportunities particularly for activities on trails, and ready access to some of the most expansive wilderness in North America.

During the course of the year, the assistant coach works with all three levels of the racing program, while focusing on the Comp Team and either the Prep or Jr. Devo Team during the busy winter season. Primarily this work involves helping to run motivational, high-quality, age-appropriate training sessions for each of these levels, but can also include various other aspects of running a successful year-round ski-training program. The assistant is expected to coach at summer and winter training camps, travel to and support athletes at major races in Alaska plus other races as needed throughout the country, and help with various other aspects of operating the program. The total hourly commitment varies during the year, but is often around 20-30 hours per week split between about 15 to 25 hours of coaching and 5-10 hours for additional tasks.

The ideal candidate would have raced at the collegiate level or higher, be enthusiastic about and have experience working with or coaching youth, possess excellent communication and organization skills, and be able to complete miscellaneous projects in a timely manner with minimal oversight. The assistant coach must be able to pass a background check and possess a valid driver’s license. If not already certified, it would be expected that the candidate completes the USSA Level 100 certification by the end of 2013 (with educational costs covered by the club).

The job is part-time, year-round, with a salary of $17,000-$22,000 annually and a moving stipend upon arrival in Fairbanks. The schedule allows for potential additional employment within the local ski community (coaching, lessons, grooming, etc.) and the Fairbanks community at large. The University of Alaska offers a wide variety of college and graduate level courses at its Fairbanks campus for those wishing to further their education.

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For a broader sense of the NSCF as a whole, please consult our website: www.nscfairbanks.org, or visit our off-and-on blog nscffxc.blogspot.com, or our Facebook page for a better picture of our program. For questions or to submit an application, contact NSCF-FXC Head Coach and Director of Skier Development Pete Leonard at pete@peterleonard.net or (907) 978-6325. Applications should be submitted to the aforementioned email address and should include a cover letter, resume and three references. Initial review of applications will begin by July 8, and the position will remain open until filled. Applicants should expect to be on the ground in Fairbanks by September 1.

June 23, 2013