FasterSkier

Tag: Ian Tovell

  • 2017 American Birkie: An Experience I’ll Never Forget

    2017 American Birkie: An Experience I’ll Never Forget

    The scene at 2017 BirkieFest on Feb. 25 at the American Birkibeiner trailhead near Cable, Wis. The iconic race was canceled this year due to a lack of snow and a casual ski on a 5 k loop and festival at the trailhead was held in its place. (Photo: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation)

    The following firsthand account was written by FasterSkier intern Ian Tovell, who attended this year’s American Birkebeiner in February, which was canceled due to lack of snow. Instead, the 2017 BirkieFest was held on Feb. 25 at the new Birkie trailhead and start area near Cable, Wis., with an estimated 10,000 people coming out for a casual ski on a 5-kilometer loop, on-snow demos, live music, food and a beer garden. Photos from Ian, FasterSkier contributor Vince Rosetta, and the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation.

    ***

    The 2017 American Birkebeiner will be a race that no one will ever forget. It will be remembered for a tremendous amount of effort from Ben Popp and his hard-working staff. Even though there was no race, it was a great event with 10,000 of likeminded friends and a lot of great food, live music, and the ability to check out the latest-and-greatest gear.

    I was very excited to race in my third Birkie after missing the race in 2016. Heading into Birkie week, I was obviously worried, like most racers were, as the weather did not look like it was going to corporate. With high optimism, I left Boston to head to Hayward, Wis., with my two travel companions in hopes the race would still happen.

    On Friday we headed to the OO trailhead to see if we could get some skiing in. As we were headed to the trail, we got the news the race was going to be canceled and turned into a non-competitive ski in Cable at the start. After traveling all that way, that wasn’t going to stop us from getting in some skiing.

    However, my friend forgot his boots that day. Knowing the skiing was not going to be that great, I offered to run the trail so he could ski. We were able to do about 10 k worth of skiing on icy and grassy trails, but it was great just to be out on the Birkie Trail. We were not the only ones that had the same idea as we saw a bunch of other hopeful skiers getting some kilometers in as well.

    On Saturday, we headed to Cable to join some 10,000 skiers that wanted to check out the 5 k loop and get some more skiing in. All things considered, the loop was in great shape. As the day went on and more people joined in, the trail became crowded to the point that it was difficult to ski with much speed.

    The famous 39K Club Shot Ski trailside at 2017 BirkieFest near Cable, Wis. (Photo: American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation)

    The highlight of the course was at 4.8 k, where the 39K Club was there with its shot ski, making sure that the Birkie spirit was alive and well and getting everyone excited just to be at BirkieFest.

    After a quick two-lap ski we were off to the food tent to get the famous on-course cookies and chicken-noodle soup. We were fortunate to test out some fat bikes at the demo, which was a ton of fun because we were able to ride them on the Fat Bike Birkie race trail. After listening to some live music, collecting our fair share of free ski ties and other goodies, we headed back to our hotel to start planning our trip for Birkie 2018.

    Though my 2017 Birkie experience was not the one I was hoping for, just being on the Birkie trail with 10,000 other people felt like any other Birkie. The atmosphere and camaraderie at this race is unmatched in my experience, and being a part of it is truly special. This year was such a great time even without skiing that I know that it will be the most memorable Birkie of my career. I am looking forward to returning to Cable and Hayward in 2018.

    ***

    Editor’s note: 2018 Birkie registration opened May 1. The 2017 event marked the second official cancellation in the Birkie’s 44-year history. An article in the Birch Scroll 2017 spring edition (page 15) confirmed that 2017 race fees will not be refunded and presented numbers to explain why. The total cost of organizing the 2017 Birkie Week amounted to more than $854,000 dollars. Read the article here.

  • Wednesday Workout: Testing the (Endurance) Waters

    Wednesday Workout: Testing the (Endurance) Waters

    FS intern Ian Tovell is a longtime skier and triathlete training for his first Ironman. Here, he provides an indoor-swimming workout for anyone looking to measure their endurance.
    FS intern Ian Tovell is a longtime skier and triathlete training for his first Ironman. Here, he provides an indoor-swimming workout for anyone looking to measure their endurance.

    Living in New England, the adult version of Christmas is waiting for the first snowfall. For most skiers in New England usually by the time the first race comes around you have skied once or twice on snow if you are lucky. The key to be race ready without going on snow is to train your body in race conditions. We do this by rollerskiing, running, strength, etc. One workout that I do to make sure my endurance is up where I need it to be is swimming. Swimming being one of the best aerobic exercises you can do (after nordic skiing, of course) is one of the main reasons a lot of skier use that in the offseason.

    Ian Tovell getting ready to dive right in.
    Ian Tovell getting ready to dive right in.

    Swimming is a great way to keep up your ski fitness while changing up your daily routine. As a nordic skier and triathlete, I like to mix up my workouts so that I can work on other muscles while still staying in shape for nordic in the winter. Being able to get to the pool and work on my endurance has made the transition to skiing quite easy.

    This past week, I did two hard workouts to really test the endurance level and see what I need to work on. The key was to make sure that the two workouts were separated by a few days to ensure I was rested between the two tests.

    Swimming Workout 1

    Warmup: 800 yards:

    • 300 choice
    • 100 kick
    • 6×50 strong (Level 3), each followed by 15 seconds rest
    • 100 easy

    Main Set: 950 yards (at Level 3-4):

    • 50 freestyle (1-minute recovery)
    • 100 freestyle (1:30-minute recovery)
    • 800 freestyle (2-minute recovery, or as long as you need before the cool down)

    Cool down: 250 yards

    • 5×50 Free

    Total Distance: 2000 yards

    Swimming Workout 2

    Warmup: 800 yards:

    • 300 choice
    • 100 kick
    • 4×75 build (Level 2-3), with each pool length (25 yards) faster than the last
    • 100 easy

    Main Set: 600 yards:

    • 200 freestyle as fast as you can (2-minute recovery)
    • 400 freestyle as fast as you can (2-minute recovery or as much time as you need before the cool down)

    Cool down: 350 yards:

    • 100 Choice
    • 5×50 easy

    Total Distance: 1750 yards

    During your warmup you should focus on your technique. This is the time to make sure that your technique doesn’t fall apart during the main set. The warmup is also the best time to get the junk out of your system and really gauge how your main workout will go.

    When you get to the main set, this is where the fun begins. The effort should be between Level 3-4, but be at a pace that you can sustain for the whole workout. For example, you shouldn’t do the 200 freestyle as fast as you can, then by the time you get to the 400 you die halfway through it. The times for each interval will be dependent on how fast you swim. Just like in skiing, you want to be as consistent as possible with your perceived effort. Both Workout 1 and Workout 2 should be done at the same effort to get the most accurate times.

    During the main set, one of the most important things is to make sure you take the appropriate rest between each set. During the rest, catch your breath, drink water and refuel your body before the next interval. Like in skiing, rest is just as important as the interval itself so ensuring you take the accurate rest is critical. The total time for each workout will vary depending on how long it takes you to warm up, race and cool down, but it usually will take about 40-60 minutes to complete from start to finish.

    Ian Tovell after the swim leg of a triathlon. Ian is training for Ironman Mont-Tremblant.
    Ian Tovell after the swim leg of a triathlon. Ian is training for Ironman Mont-Tremblant.

    The cool down is the final part of the workout and should be done fully. This will help to ensure that your muscles relax and you won’t be sore or unable to move your arms the next day. The cool down should be slow and easy with the effort being Level 1 or less.

    A little background about myself is that I am not only a nordic skier, but I am also an avid triathlete. I am currently training for Ironman Mont-Tremblant, and this is part of my own Ironman training plan. I have done triathlons for the last 12 years and have been a nordic skier for the last 16 years. I have found a great balance between both and have found that each helps me prepare for the other. I have a great coach, Kyle Burnell, who works for PBM Coaching and provides me with workouts to help reach my full potential.  He gave me this workout in order to test my “Critical Swim Speed” so that when I am in the pool I will have paces to hit based on the perceived effort for each workout.

  • Ian Tovell

    Ian Tovell

    Ian Tovell

    Ian Tovell began skiing when he went to a practice with his friend to see what it was all about, and after that the rest is history as they say. Ian skied throughout middle school and high school where he raced at a high level at Vermont Academy. He attended University of Vermont where he decided to “hang up the skis” and pursue his other passion, cross-country running. After an injury sidelined him from running, he picked up triathlon and has been racing triathlon across the country for the last eight years. After graduation, Ian found his love of skiing again, and now races the American Birkiebeiner every year.