SkiPost
Volume 15 Issue 10: July 4, 2013
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Birkie Fever, I'm a True Believer...

By Debbie Kolp

 

Birkie story 2  

... or, how much fun can one person squeeze into five days?

 

 

"That number does a number on you.

Because it stands for the whole journey. Because it reminds you that you had the courage to click "submit" on that online entry form. Because you trained and trained and trained and told friends and traveled and woke up at an ungodly early hour on race day and took that last minute nervous pee in the filthy port-a-potty and had butterflies at the start line and then flew on pure adrenaline and out-rode yourself. Because you did it.

Because it's more than just a number." Brian Miller

I've done four Norwegian Birkebeiners and four Swedish Vasaloppets, and traveling to Europe is always wonderful, but you know one of the cool things about doing a big ski marathon right here in America? So many of my friends were there! Usually I travel alone, but this time, I saw people I knew at the Seattle airport, at the Minneapolis airport, at the expo, at the Blast from the Past, at the start line, and even at the airport on the way back home. So fun!

There were so many highlights to my visit, but a big one was being invited to stay with Joe and Cheri at their gorgeous home right on the Birkie trail, in Mosquito Brook. Joe and Cheri were wonderfully warm and gracious, and their friends were funny and welcoming, even though they took advantage of my Birkie virginity by feeding me some pretty tall tales. We ate delicious meals, we told stories, we waxed skis and listened to tunes. Brian even took me to the New Moon ski shop, just because I wanted to see what it was like to be in a store devoted only to skiing. It was pretty cool!

Joe and Cheri have passes that allowed them to drive us right to the start line, instead of taking the bus, and I felt like a princess, sitting warm and snug in their car, changing my clothes twenty times, watching the elite skiers pick up their skis from the Gear West waxing truck, and dancing along to the Birkie Fever song, which only played about a million times while I was there. I jumped out to watch the elite skiers take off-go, Rune!-and to hug the legendary Marty Hall-Marty!-then ducked back into the car to wait for my start.

The race itself was everything I had been told it would be: a million never-ending uphills, fast downhills, big swooping corners, friendly skiers (I stepped in front of a faster skier, then quickly stepped back and said sorry; he said, "Darlin', we're going to ski all the way to Hayward together; it's not a problem!"), and even friendlier volunteers (when I accidentally dropped a cup and bent to pick it up, the volunteer said, "Honey, don't even try to pick it up-I've got it!"). My skis were lightning fast, thanks to Per's expert high fluoro wax application the day before, and my kick was perfect all day, with ten thin layers of Swix Blue Extra mixed with a couple thin layers of Toko green for durability.

The only thing I couldn't be prepared for was the snow conditions. It had been bone-cracking cold in the week before the race, which dried out the snow, and then it snowed eight inches the day before, and then it snowed some more on race day afternoon. Even though there were five groomers out there all night, the snow was too soft and dry to hold its shape, and it very quickly turned into a sea of sugar. Plus, back in the ninth wave where I was, the dear little ninth wave Kortie skiers, so timid and fearful, herringboned up every uphill and snowplowed slowly and carefully down every downhill, effectively wiping out any possible hint of a track. So there was nothing for me to do but herringbone up most of the uphills myself, more herringboning than I've probably done in the last five years, torqueing the little stabilizing muscles in my ankles and hips so much that they started pinging at me near the end of the race, warning me that they. were. not. happy. My fitness level was fine, though; I felt great all day long, and was able to put on a burst of speed once we finally got to the lake and the tracks reappeared. What a joy that was, to stretch out and fly along the lake and down Main Street to the finish line as fast as I could move my legs and arms! One of the snowmobilers sitting alongside the trail said, "Now YOU are having fun!" and indeed I was. My time was nothing impressive, especially compared to all my elite and first wave friends, but I'm told it's fast enough to move me into the seventh wave next time. Goodbye, little timid ninth wave skiers!

After the race and the sauna and the delicious dinner at Joe and Cheri's, I headed to Mike and Jane's for wine and warm and mellow conversation and delicious sleep and, the next morning, another ski on the freshly re-groomed trail. It was an easy recovery ski for Mike, a little bit more of a huff and puff for me, but such a pure joy to be out there in the perfect tracks! Afterward, Mike showed me his various roller ski routes, and now I understand the kind of training that gets you to first place in your age group, which is where Mike finished. Let no one tell you that Wisconsin is flat; he has found some awesome challenging hills to roller ski, and I was busy trying to figure out which of my local routes would be comparable.

And then Tony came back and we drove to Minneapolis and our flights home. Long car drives are great opportunities for conversation, and I absorbed all of his good information about training and nutrition and racing, plus his funny stories about traveling and glider flying and family. I am very lucky to have friends who are so good at the sport I love and, even better, are so willing to share what they know with me.

And that was the end of the adventure. Will I be on the start line next year? You'd better believe it; I have Birkie Fever!

 

 

Rollerskiing Tendinitis one more thought 

 

I seem to remember that having too hard of a grip for a long time being a factor in tennis elbow.  As, most rollerskiers are using light or no gloves on the same poles they may use in winter, this is a reminder to make sure you can adjust your pole grips appropriately so your hand has a nice lose grip on the pole.

Jim 

 

Plyometrics for Skate Skiing
Plyometrics for Skate Skiing


Snow Farm New Zealand
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Black Mtn and the Nordic Center 

call out for help

By Marty Hall

 

Hello Everyone---Black Mtn and the Nordic Center are in trouble and I'm sure when it comes to this mailing list I'm throwing out there, that most of you if not all of you have been to Black Mtn at some time in your skiing careers.This place has such a huge history in Nordic skiing that we can't let it stop now in helping to continue being a big part of Nordic skiing's future and our future stars. Thank you for you contributions---every dollar counts---BIG TIME!!!!----thanking you in advance---Marty

  

Maine's Historic Black Mountain Ski Resort Needs Your Support

Release by the Maine Winter Sports Center

July 02, 2013 (Rumford, Maine) - 

As many of you may know, the Maine Winter Sports Center announced last week that its ending its 10-year relationship with Black Mountain effective at the end of July. While Maine Winter Sports Center will not be involved in the ownership, or operations moving forward its very important to me that this historic resource continue and thrive for generations to come. We are very proud of the work that has been done at Black Mountain and proud of the progress that's been made to advance skiing in Maine. If Black Mountain is to continue it will require strong support from the community so please give generously.

Andy Shepard

President & CEO

Donate to Black Mountain

Historic Black Mountain of Maine, a non-profit ski area that has been an epicenter of Nordic racing and alpine skiing, as well as the healthy, active outdoor lifestyle in Maine for three generations, had its best year ever last year, but lost its funding source.

The Nordic trails have hosted every level of competition from World Championships, to USSA National Championships, Maine State high school and middle schools state championships, Bill Koch Festivals, J2 championships, Eastern High School Championships, the Sassi Memorial - Maine's unofficial all-class state championship and the Chummy Broomhall College State Championships. Black Mountain, the Chummy Broomhall stadium and the hundreds of Chisholm volunteers in their red jackets, have been the force behind Nordic skiing in the East.

The alpine ski mountain is 1,385 feet of vertical, Maine's 4th tallest, has a beautiful post and beam lodge with two museums, two fireplaces, a cafe and Last Run lounge, a new snowmaking system, as well as four paved parking lots. Last year, in an effort to expand our mission of making skiing accessible to all Mainer's, we began charging $15 for day tickets, even for vacation week, and $150 season passes with no blackout days. The result was dramatic growth, and a lot of new, young faces at the mountain.

We need your help to continue making healthy lifestyle choices accessible to everyone. Your tax deductible donations will help fund operations to keep Black Mountain open. I hope you will remember the role Black Mountain has played in your skiing career, or that of someone in your family and are inspired to give generously and pass the word to your friends to help as well.

Events & Destinations
 GEAR WEST NORDIC SUMMER CAMP 2013
Friday July 12th, Saturday July 13th, and Sunday 14th
41
st ANNUAL AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER 

 REGISTRATION OPENED  

Total participant cap is 10,300 register at birkie.com

 

Birkie Trail Run
September 21
 
10 New Reasons to Take On the Birkie Trail Run & Trek more Here.
Nordic Job Openings

Nordic Job Opening? email [email protected] to post

Seeking Coaching Assistant at Harvard (NCAA Div. I)

 

4 month position.  Salary commensurate with costs of living in the Boston area; highly subsidized health care; free access to extensive athletic facilities.  Please contact head coach Chris City [email protected]

 

FAIRBANKS SKI CLUB 

Looking for Assistant Coach for Jr Program

 

 Info at the link below: http://www.nscfairbanks.org/new/

 

 Bogus Basin Nordic Team

Coach opening  

 

The Bogus Basin Nordic Team (BBNT) in Boise, ID www.bogusbasinnordicteam.com  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 [email protected] with any questions or to submit a resume. 

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 [email protected] ,

Many thanks,

Jim Allott Head Coach

 

International Coaches looking for U.S. positions
Sondre Thune Lunde

DOB 22nd of November 1983

Skien, NORWAY

E-mail; [email protected]

 
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. 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. 
 
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

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 [email protected] and visit SkiPost.com

 

Enjoy Winter,

Andrew Gerlach
Director/Editor- SkiPost

 

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In This Issue
A Birkie Story
Plyos
Black Mountain
Events and Destinations
Nordic Job Openings
Coaches looking for US position
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