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Rob  Kiesel, Nordic Sage, Passes Away

October 25, 2011 - The former head coach of the US Cross-country ski team, Rob Kiesel has died. Kiesel, 65, was discovered dead yesterday of an apparent heart aliment at his home in Joesph, OR, where he lived on the family ranch.

 

Kiesel was hired by then USST Head Coach Marty Hall to serve as an assistant coach in 1975. He became Head Coach of the team in 1979 and served as Head Coach of the US Team at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. Kiesel, who came from an alpine skiing background and lived for years in Sun Valley, also had a long association with Swix Sport. more at http://skitrax.com/28895?c 

Rob, with his wisdom and prudence, acted as a sage and mentor to me, and numerous others, for many many years. He will be sorely missed.  Our heart felt condolences go out to his family.  Andy G

Hips High?

I'm curious on how these two technique aspects can coexist?     "Keep the hips high in classical skiing - through the whole stride" and "Initiate the skate or classical kick by dropping your weight onto the ski......" 

Coaches should absolutely teach their athletes to ski with high and forward hips.  But because words can be misleading:

I think of especially Virpi Kuitunen, Petter Northug, Bente Skari, Alex Harvey, Jacobsen, Longa, Majdic, Axel, Goering, Filbrich, Angerer, Russian 1 and 2 at the Olympics and basically any clip of Andy Newell... the more I think about it the easier it is to think of the very few top skiers who are more back like Emil in that shuffle sprint style acceleration, Kowalczyc slap-running up the hills.

The hips should begin literally high in order to be in a position where the center of mass is forward and up, which is a position that it can be dropped down onto the ski.  You can't drop something from the level of the floor - to over state the point.  And to turn the question around, how can you drop your hips if they aren't high?  And in terms kids understand - you have to get up, to get down.  The same is true for double pole and V2 and V2 alternate at higher speeds where the application of force is both lateral and up and down as well as applied more quickly like a classical kick.  It is less true in V1 where the motion is much more lateral and much less or not at all up and down as well as (except in the case of jump skating) applied over a longer period of time.

Anyway back to classical, to experiment, try putting force down from a low crouch.  Measure your force with an old-style bathroom scale.  Then try from a high position.  No question what the result will be.  Try to apply force down with your weight back and low.  What force you can apply cannot be applied quickly.  Try to apply force down quickly from anything but a high and forward position and it is slow and laborious.  To apply force down quickly, maximally and efficiently in any sport the hips should begin high and forward.  If your skiers are walking around on straight legs they are closer to good technique than if they are walking around in a low crouch.  And they are less fatigued.  But in neither case are they skiing.  Through the motions of skiing in different terrain and conditions and the differences you see in body type there is a range of high and forward.

Stride length is follow through.  

What is (obviously) the important outcome of position, motion and application of power is the speed they ski.  This is accomplished through power / effectiveness of the kick not stride length.  Stride length can result from a powerful kick and in a lot of terrain should but does not contribute to it.  Similarly and more importantly the length of the glide should result from speed but does not directly contribute to speed.  If anything skiers are trying too hard to have a long stride and this decreases the power they can put into the kick which decreases their speed.  This mostly results from trying to ski big and long, which puts them in a back and low position.  The number one fault of most skiers is over-striding.  It is also the technical fault of most runners.  Trying to ski with a long glide generally just leads to bogging down and most skiers should shorten their stride earlier in transitions to maintain momentum rather than try to milk a long glide.

Drive for 25

What: 4000 American cross country ski enthusiasts backing their nation's developing skiers on a single day.

When: November 15th, 2011

How: There are two ways to be involved.  The most impactful involvement is to become a Drive for 25 Ambassador and get at least ten of your friends to agree to donate on November 15th.  Send the email addresses of your friends to us and we will remind them.  Or, the simplest way is to log onto http://ccgeneralfund.causevox.com/ and donate $25 on November 15th.

Why: U.S. cross country skiing is in financial trouble.  While we have improved from a nation that seldom put a single skier in the top 15 on the World Cup to a nation with World Cup and World Championship podiums we are currently operating at a budget of less than a tenth of our toughest competitors.  And more importantly our budget shortfalls are making it impossible for our younger developing athletes to afford the racing opportunities they require to compete among the best.  This summer we have faced two rounds of budget cuts and another is looming.  This challenge offers the cross country community a chance to pull together and keep the momentum building. 

Who: You!

NNF, the National Nordic Foundation is stepping up to fill these budget short falls.  The NNF depends on you.

 How should I prep my new skis?

A ski's very first wax jobs are the most import wax jobs to be done on a new ski.  This is because a new ski's base is dry and at this point the most susceptible to damage from overheating.  You need to fill the base with a soft wax that melts at a low temperature and can fill the base. This base wax will then easily bond other harder waxes that are applied later while absorbing the more extreme heat from higher melting point waxes that are added later. SkiPost works with Start so we will make recommendation based on the Start wax.

1) Wipe the bases with evaporating wax remover moistened fiber tex, to remove surface dirt.

2) Melt Start BW Base Wax on the base.

3) Let base absorb the wax with a mild 110 C temperature moving the iron from tip to tail on base.

4) While still warm gently scrape all removable wax warm with sharp acrylic scraper to remove surface dirt.  

5) Repeat procedure with Start BW 2-3 times, but now let the wax cool down before scraping.

6) Dedicated waxers/racers should follow with Start BWG-Graphite to activate the properties of the graphite bases 1-2 times.

Follow with Glide waxing, but if is cold out do not move new skis straight to Green but step down with progressively harder waxes first.

Application of Base Wax Gliders Video  

Start Wax-Pole questions? 

Just email Start@endurance-enterprises.com  

Dinner with Bjorn Daehlie!

In Norway!

On Him!

Enter Bjorn Daehlie Apparel Video Contest 

for a chance to win.

Entry and Rules Here!

What's NEW at the 2011 Yellowstone Ski Festival

November 22 - 26, 2011 West Yellowstone, Montana

 Fischer Launches Offtrack series

"We are seeing tremendous growth in the popularity of cross country skiing" said Peter Ashley, vice president of the Fischer Skis U.S. Nordic Division. "Consumers are making a lifestyle shift based on several factors. Cross country skiing is family friendly, delivers a total body workout, is a relatively inexpensive sport to enter, and is an easy and exhilarating way to enjoy the winter close to home. In today's challenging economic times, people are turning to cross country skiing as a means of all-around entertainment."

Now there are more ways than ever for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy Nordic skiing. This season Fischer launched a new category called Offtrack skiing for individuals seeking adventure straight out their back door. Comprised of the Spider 62, Outback 68 and Adventure 60 models, Fischer's Offtrack skis are specifically designed for easy control and all-around enjoyment in any ungroomed terrain.

These skis feature Fischer's new Offtrack Crown pattern. The unique, progressive-depth molded pattern maximizes grip while maintaining superior glide. Designed exclusively by Fischer, the pattern sets a new standard of performance for waxless backcountry skis.

Fischer's Offtrack series is complemented by the new Offtrack 5, Offtrack 3 and Offtrack 3 BC boots designed with integrated gaiters, loden wool lining and Fischer's Sport Fit Concept for all-day comfort, warmth and support. The package is complete with the new Offtrack pole featuring a Comfort Strap, cork grip and 6013 aluminum shaft.

check out more at  

CXC Superfit Weekend at King Keyser

 October 28,  29,  30 

41 S. Washington St.
Hinsdale, IL 60521  

630-323-4320 

CXC Superfit Weekend in St. Croix Falls, WI!

with US Olympian and US Ski Teamers  

SkiRack Hosts Salomon SuperFit Event 

with US Olympian Garrott Kuzzy. 

SkiTrax Season Launch 2011/12 Buyer's Guide

 

Don't miss the season launch issue of SkiTrax featuring * annual Buyer's Guide with North American pricing * in-depth feature story on the Caldwell Clan and their XC Dynasty * interview with Canadian Head Coach Justin Wadsworth * profile of Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi's Paintbox Lodge * Kikkan Randall * Alex Harvey * CCSAA Best of Directory * Race Ready * Gear Tests... and much more

  

 

SkiPost/SkiTrax Special Offer click HERE.

 

 

 

    Donate $75 to CC or NC Pillar Projects get Calendar as NNF Gift!

Preview Calendar Here

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To place a team or retailer wholesale order contact nccsef@gmail.com