One of the things that I always feel like skiers in the US are missing is a certain inherent knowledge of good technical skiing.  We simply don’t see technically proficient skiers enough to be able to construct and deconstruct the motions within our mind.  Without that understanding it becomes difficult to make the necessary changes on snow.

Enter the internet and Norwegian television (NRK rocks!).  Check it: some great classic skiing shots from today’s World Cup 10/15 km race in Finland.  There’s nothing like seeing to appreciate the energy and power that is put into every technique cycle in a World Cup race.

Watch it and mimic:

Men’s Race

Women’s Race

You can also catch a bunch of the races on universalsports.com

Clips from Norwegian television of the men’s and women’s finals:

Women’s Sprint

Men’s Sprint

A frightening trend in our country. Stay active, eat well.

Town Race 1 today:

The masses: always a cool sight

Overall for the group it was a positive day.  At this stage of the game, there is still much to be worked on and it is merely a piece of the puzzle of these young athlete’s careers.  Results are rarely as important as coming away from each race knowing something that can be improved next time, allowing each race to be a point to be built from, and not an end in and of itself.

The event felt a bit more special with the teams up from Anchorage (Thanks!).  Here are some of the better photos I managed to take during the excitement.

Joe gets a little off balance around the corner at the top of the ramp. Max follows close behind.

The women's lead pack after one kilometer or so

Men's winner, Raphael Wunderle from UAA

Jacob

Besh Cup 3: Homer, January 2008.

Hey, that almost rhymes!

You can sign-up by going here or following the link from the CCAK website.

From an Email I just wrote to the Devo crew, but good advice to all:

Finally at this time of year, particularly with the traveling that occurs around the holidays, we are often more susceptible to illness than normal because of the introduction of new pathogens into our environment.  Having watched many athletes struggle with sickness for extended periods of time in the winter (sometimes months) because they never give their body a chance to recover, I want to encourage everyone to skip training or races and take time off if they are sick.  Compounding this in Fairbanks is the fact that we have lots of cold, dry weather which when combined with respiratory infections, greatly increases an individuals chances of developing Exercise Induced Asthma.  Having seen a couple of athletes over the past two years work with EIA, I can assure you that it is a nuisance to deal with.  In the Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science of Cross Country Skiing, put out by the International Ski Federation (FIS), I have a sentence highlighted from the chapter entitled ‘Medical Aspects’ written by Ola Ronsen, MD:

“If one particualar piece of advice should be emphasized it must be the precaution of not exercising in cold weather while having symptoms of respiratory infections - even for several days after the fever and fatigue has passed.” (p.121)

And a little further thought (not in the email):

Often times people ask about cold weather masks for training.  Personally, while I don’t have one (yet) I think they are a good idea.  The same chapter mentioned above, also mentions that the risk factors “contributing to EIA are: high intensity of exercise, exposure to cold and dry air, respiratory infections, allergens and dust, air pollution, fatigue and stress.” (p. 122)  While I (a ski coach, not a pulmonary medical specialist) don’t think training with a heat/moisture exchange mask is a miracle cure-all or a replacement for avoiding other risk factors (such as training in polluted areas (like the valleys at certain times during the winter), or ignoring the above advice about resting or training inside when recovering from illness), it seems logical to minimize the risk factors involved.  While the masks have only been available overseas in the past, Beaver Sports has begun carrying them this year for about $45.  At the very least, breathing through a neck warmer or balaclava on the coldest days is highly recommended.

Saturday was the first official race of the season and a good chance to get the feeling for racing again.  It’s always nice to ski some trails that you don’t know inside and out too.

As an early season race, results don’t count for much.  For the comp athletes in particular, results can fluctuate a lot depending on who has recovered from the previous week’s training.  We use these races as merely a way to begin sharpening the body for the more important races that come later in the season.  It is still over a month to the first significant race weekend of the season (in most people’s mind) and most of the important ones come between 2 and 4 months from now.  With our goals, it would be silly to be aiming (or hoping) for peak form at this point.  That isn’t to say that these races aren’t important, as they provide a fantastic opportunity to practice racing and everything that goes with it (warming up, warming down, mental strategies and preparation, pacing, tactics and so forth).  As with any time you put on a bib, the goal is simply to go as fast as you can with everything you’ve got in the tank on that day.  If you’ve done that, you’ve done your job.

Some photos:

Keegan has been working hard, and it showed

Hannah looked awesome: quick tempo, nailed the transition, just on fire

Maddie is a natural skater

James has made huge strides in both classic and skate technique

Flashback: Kipp looked like he could have been doing the same race in the late 80s (with prototype equipment, of course...)

Norwegian Season Openers (Friday 11/14):

Men’s Sprint

Women’s Sprint

I realize that the schedule was rather vague for Sunday’s OD classic ski, so here is the plan:

Those looking for 3 hours of easy skiing (generally speaking, J1 and older skiers) should show up at 2:30 to wax and ski.  Those looking for 2 hours (generally speaking, J2s) should come at 3:30.  If you aren’t sure which group you fall into, ask.  Assuming everyone waxes relatively quickly, we should be done shortly after 5:30.  The building closes at 6:00, so that will allow those who want to leave their skis in the cages a chance to do so.  Hopefully the early start times will also allow us to spend some time off the lighted loops at Birch, since I’m sure we’ll all see plenty of those over the course of the winter!  It is quite early in the season, so we are simply aiming to put in some easy aerobic hours to support our training and racing later in the season.  Coaches will be circulating during the ski to help with technique, etc.

I know some of you coach Jr. Nordics, so you won’t be able to start skiing until after that - if you are going to finish after 6, then you should be prepared to move your stuff to the old warming hut.  Everyone should be aware that it is pretty crazy and busy at Birch between 2 and 3 with Jr. Nordics on Sundays, so be prepared to park in the lower lot, and for hoards of skiers young and old in and around the stadium area.

Finally, bring your water belt and some food for right after and maybe a little something for during your ski.  This should always be a habit, but it is especially important for long days. Your body will thank you when it recovers more quickly and gets more out of the training!

It's already been over a month since our first OD on snow!

If you are planning on putting a bib on for the Salcha Sprints this Saturday 11/15 and are not on a high school team please contact Pete by midday Thursday 11/13.  I will then get you on the startlist for the race.

Race Start is at 11 AM, and the organizers have asked everyone to be there by 10 AM (at the latest) for registration.  Registrations cost is $5.

Those Comp athletes not on the HS teams will have waxing supplies available at Birch Hill from 5 to 7 PM on Friday (Devo will wax for the last hour of practice on Friday).

Stefan on the final climb at Salcha last year