Skiers are made in the Summer
by Nordic Dave
May is a time to reset your goals and annual training program. Some of us are still lucky enough to ski a few times a week.
Yet it is also a time of transition and cross training into biking, hiking, running,rock climbing, etc.. Personally I can't just jump into something like running full on as this old race horse needs to ease into it over weeks and months.
Never the less, I look down at the toll at what an unrestricted/ unstructured diet has done in a few short weeks and with little to no training and yup it's time. Unrestricted and unstructured you say? Definitely, the rest was good!
In so doing May is a month in which to lay the base work for the incrementally harder and higher volume training months to come. Each season will build on another until it's once again time to ski and ski race with renewed spirit and full of ELAN and PANACHE!
Meanwhile back in the month of May, it's time to say to yourself..."self" let's get going...
It's a bit early for me to think about roller skiing because by November I am ready to scream from many months of roller skiing. However cross country skiing is a quadrupedal activity, or full body sport. Keeping that in mind, blending in weight lifting, hillbounding with poles and swimming are great activities to work into your training plan. The hill bounding with poles also takes weight off my sore calf muscles as my upper body takes on some of the work load which then helps me have better subsequent uptempo running days. Swimming can also be a great way to recover from a hard day of training as my body is a lot more relaxed after I get out of the pool.
Core strength is a huge advantage to have over those focused solely on heart rate and distance over the summer. As we age, typically it is easier to log miles yet core strength is what we really need as it is the first thing we lose and sometimes hardest to bring back. Imagine having explosive power late in a ski race. That would be having what I call "Elan and Panache". The 41k point, a.k.a "Bitch Hill", at the Birkie comes to mind in this scenario. Those at their limit falter as you ski on with renewed strength.
Putting a plan together and phasing into it now through summer and fall will surely garner looks of surprise from your fellow competitors and friends next winter.
Setting some mid term goals like summer triathlons, mtn races, etc... will help you stay focused in the months ahead as well as having fun, yet keep in mind the eye on the prize is how you have become better prepared for next winter!
Skiers are definitely made in the summer!
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Is Rollerskiing Ski Specific?
Reprint
Dear SkiPost,
I enjoy roller skiing. And when I first started using roller skis, I made great improvements in xc skiing. Now, at the age of 50 and having skied hard for almost 25 years, I find that roller skiing seems to have a bad effect on my skiing. ... care to comment?
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Salomon Nordic at Passo Maghen-Nordic Focus |
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Dear Frank,
Rollerskiing is great for training the sliding dimension, but riding rubber wheels will never be exactly like gliding on snow. Without knowing anything about your skiing form or "techniques," your questions are likely related to the following items.
Classic rollerskis are equipped with ratcheted mechanical mechanisms allowing only forward travel regardless of motions and work patterns. Properly sized and waxed skis on snow are, in order to function, dependent on good weight shift and precise kick exchange. The skier's classic technique easily falls out of sync on rollerskis and it will take some time to catch up once on snow.
Corollary, effective skating is much dependent on how a person rides the skis, particularly with use of the edges. It is very possible to ride and roll off rubber wheels, but they will never fully simulate the feel for how a ski and its edge travels in and over snow.
You correctly point out there are multiple good training methods, some perhaps more effective than others, and most importantly that something works well for you. You will find that successful athletes use a multitude of workouts, training modes and methods and the trick is to find the right balance for optimum conditioning and performance. You have cracked the box open which is a perfect starting point for new discoveries!
All the best of luck forward,
Jon Engen
3 Time Olympian
xcskicoach.com
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Alexander Loginov
"Training is like brushing my teeth, I do it every day"
Part of an interview with rising star Alexander Loginov, a four-time champion of the junior world championships, and already a winner on the World Cup. Do you feel pressure with the Olympics games being in Russia next winter?
I do not feel any additional pressure in my preparation for the upcoming Olympic season. I just need to do similar training like I have done before. Yes, it is important to set a goal and work towards it, but I am not going to go crazy about it. If I start thinking about winning Olympic Games 24 hours a day, it will only lead to disaster.
What does one need to do in order to prepare well for the winter season?
Train as much as possible and stay focused. At the same time you have to be yourself or normal in a regular life.
What is helping you to be normal?
My girlfriend, friends, parents, my coach - Ekaterina Haliulina. I can always talk to her about any subject, not just sports related. I do not like to stay in my room in the hotel or in my apartment at home. I would much rather go out for a walk in the local park or a short run. When we had a period off in April, I could not miss a day without training. My body was demanding this! Hike/run for 2,5 hours in Kislovodsk was a joy for me! After two hours through the workout I finally began to feel tired, but it was a very pleasant feeling! I already know that in August I will be very anxious about the winter season!
Are you always being such a "workaholic" or is your success of the last season adding even more motivation?
I have been competing since the age of 7. For seven years I participated in karate. Then switched to Nordic skiing and biathlon. I am used to training, even when we have a day off. I am looking for another training session. It is my lifestyle. For me to have a workout every day is, I guess, is like when normal people brush their teeth every morning.
Do you ever get tired?
Of course! Sometimes we do, for example, interval sessions, when we are sprinting 10 times by 800 meters uphill. Or last year, we were using hike/run training sessions for over 4,5 hours. We ran for 15 minutes and then recovered with 5 minutes of speed walking. By the end of these sessions we were covering over 43 km!
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NNF and CXC Academy Announce Partnership
The National Nordic Foundation, America's grassroots Nordic foundation, and CXC Academy, an online training subscription service are partnering up for the 2013/14 season. CXC Academy will be contributing 50% of new annual training subscription to the National Nordic Foundation for the coming season.
We at the NNF are so thankful for programs like the CXC Academy who are stepping forward to support the NNF in its quest to provide opportunities and support to our developing American Nordic skiers.
This is a great opportunity for skiers of all abilities to get back to training with a focus for the 2013/14 ski season and at the same time support America's developing Cross-Country and Nordic Combined skiers.
The National Nordic Foundation (NNF) is a grassroots, 501(c)3 organization that supports our developing American Cross-Country and Nordic Combined skiers. This past season through the support of our American Nordic community the NNF was able to support 69 athletes with European racing opportunities in addition to domestic training camps and competitions.
CXC Academy is a program of Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC Skiing) and online subscription service that provides professional training plans and instructional videos for cross country skiers of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a beginner skier looking to finish your first 5K, a Master skier training for a big ski event, or simply looking to improve your overall strength and fitness, we have a training program to meet your goals.
For more about these organizations go to:
www.nationalnordicfoundation.org
www.cxcacademy.com
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MOUNTAIN BIKE BIATHLON
& Biathlon Clinic
The West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation (WYSEF) will host a Mountain Bike Biathlon on the Rendezvous Trails of West Yellowstone, Montana on June 22-23, 2013. This unique event combines mountain biking and target shooting and is open for all ages and abilities. On Saturday, racers will compete in a Sprint race, 9k for adults and 4.5k for youth, and two shooting bouts. The next day, racers will chase their competition in a Pursuit race, 12k for adults and 5k for youth. All athletes are welcome to participate and no shooting experience is required. Safety clinics, rifles, and ammunition will be provided for novice and youth participants. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. Pre-registration is required. Forms and more information can be found online at www.rendezvousskitrails.com/events
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Birkie Trail Run
September 21
10 New Reasons to Take On the Birkie Trail Run & Trek
1: IF YOU ARE A DIE-HARD BIRKIE SKIER ... this is one more notch in your Birkie belt.
- Plenty of chances to ask yourself, "Which is harder, skiing this or running it?"
- That same 4,500 feet of elevation gain--backwards, from south to north this time
- The chance to run down B Hill and Boedecker Hill
- Plus, you get credit as a "Birkie Warrior" - see Reason #9, below.
2: IF YOU ARE A TRAIL RUNNER FIRST AND ALWAYS ... read more and reasons 2-10 here.
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Bogus Basin Nordic Team
Coach opening
The Bogus Basin Nordic Team (BBNT) in Boise, ID is the club program serving youth skiers age 6-19 in Idaho's Treasure Valley. Currently, the team consists of around 10 high-school, 20 middle-school and up to 30 elementary aged skiers divided into 4 training groups. Boise has several times been selected as a Top Ten city in which to live, work and play. Boise has a nationally recognized outdoors community with a focus on whitewater and cycling but also a large Nordic and alpine skiing contingent with Bogus Basin ski area just 16 miles from downtown. There is an active and young population in town with several colleges and universities as well as a vibrant downtown. To learn more about BBNT please check out www.bogusbasinnordicteam.com
BBNT is seeking to hire a Part-time Head Coach for the middle school Comp-Devo Team/Assistant Coach for the high school Comp Team. Position requires availability for practice 4-6 days week and assistance with other aspects of running the team which can be flexibly scheduled around other commitments. Additionally there are 5-6 overnight trips scheduled each year in whichthe assistant coach would be expected to take part. Please contact Head Coach/Program Director Nick Crawford at ncrawfo2@gmail.com with any questions or to submit a resume.
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Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage is looking for a new Executive Director. This is a full-time, year-round position directing a dynamic Alaskan non-profit with a budget of $1.3 million. More information here: anchoragenordicski.com/jobs.html Send cover letter and resume to nsaa.job.opening@gmail.com
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Wax Tech Wanted
Sochi Olympics
Looking for an experienced wax tech (international experience preferred) for the Dominica National XC Ski Team (2 athletes). The team will be based in Bend, OR in May, in New Zealand Jul-Sep, and in Canmore Oct-Dec before heading to Europe/Sochi in mid Jan for the Olympics. The time/travel commitment is flexible (particularly from May-Oct), and can be mutually agreed upon with further discussion. There is the option to continue with the team for the balance of 2014 and into 2015. Additional experience on the coaching side would be valuable. Gary di Silvestri gdisilvestri@dsam.com
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XC/Nordic coach at Clarkson University
(Div. III/USCSA)
The position offers free tuition, healthcare and stipend. Perfect for someone looking to work on a graduate degree. The NCAA link is below.http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/5335767/assistant-coach
Questions? Email head coach Jim Allott at Jallott@clarkson.edu ,
Many thanks,
Jim Allott Head Coach
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Coaches looking for U.S. positions
Sondre Thune Lunde
DOB 22nd of November 1983
Skien, NORWAY
E-mail; thunelunde@gmail.com
My name is Sondre and I am working as a Head Nordic skiing coach at a Sports Academy in Norway. Toppidrettsgymnaset in Telemark
For the next season I look for a real adventure and I want to proffer my coaching skills abroad.
Objective
I thoroughly enjoy working with Nordic skiers who seek to get the most out of their talent. As a coach I believe that mutual respect for one another plays as important a role as the actual training, both on and off the field. Therefore, I strive for harmony and balance in all aspects of the athlete's lives. In order to achieve their sport's goals, discipline as well as good sportsmanship and positive life skills are of great importance. Every individual is a member of a team, and I always try to create a winning mentality in the group.
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Coaches looking for U.S. positions
Lars H�nel
Oberwiesenthal, Germany
Date of birth 27/11/1985
I have been studying sport science for two years, with an emphasis in winter sports (cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing). Professional cross-country skier in German national ski team for 5 years. Regular work as ski instructor for cross-country skiing and alpine skiing. Work as an assistant trainer at cross-country skiing center in Oberwiesenthal. "Trainer B"-Licence after finishing the bachelor study (09/2013) Good knowledge in waxing/ski preparation
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About SkiPost
Cross-Country skiing's community lodge. Where knowledge and stories are shared. The goal of SkiPost is to make the sport of Cross-Country skiing easier and more enjoyable for all who choose to participate. If you have questions on Cross-Country Skiing email us weanswer@SkiPost.com and visit SkiPost.com
Enjoy Winter,
Andrew Gerlach
Director/Editor- SkiPost
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BLIZ RX |
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BLIZ Dealers
KEEP FOCUSED
For more BLIZ USA info
bliz@endurance-enterprises.com
406-585-2660
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The one gift you receive at birth is time. You'll never have more than you have today. Find the Time. |
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February 26 - March 5, 2014
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