It is barely four months since Thomas Alsgaard officially announced his retirement from international elite Cross-Country skiing. The victorious World Championship in Val Di Fiemme would be the last time we watched Thomas the way we will remember him, as the unchallenged Champion. Daily training sessions have been part of his life since his early youth, not as a burden, but as a joy – The joy of being outside, the joy of developing, and...
This mini-series of Coaches’ articles will include examples of workouts with some of our athletes, how we’ve structured the sessions, and what we’ve focused on during the workouts. With most of our residential and visiting athletes we early on like to determine their correct training zones. Training at the correct speed and heart rates is critical for the long-term effect and efficiency of the time spent training. In determining the correct training zones we use...
THE SWISS FEDERAL TRIBUNAL CONSOLIDATES THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT Lausanne, 24 June 2003 — In a judgment notified on 20 June 2003, the Swiss Federal Tribunal (FT) dismissed the appeal lodged by the two Russian cross country skiers Larissa Lazutina and Olga Danilova against the awards pronounced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 29 November 2002. Lazutina and Danilova were disqualified by the IOC after the Olympic...
Welcome to our Training Log Relay. In these articles we will feature the training plans and logs for some of the World’s best Cross-Country skiers in history. First out in our relay is 1992 Olympic Champion Vegard Ulvang, who will give you an insight into his training from when he was 15, 20 and 27 years old.
Summary of FIS International Coaches’ Seminar on CC Sprint training and competitions. Molde, Norway May 22 — 25, 2003 The International Ski Federation (FIS) every other year holds an International Seminar for Cross-Country coaches, often covering special interest topics. A couple of years’ ago, this seminar was held in the US (Midway, Utah) on topics related to coaching women. This year’s seminar was called a “Sprint Seminar”. Lecturers from several countries spoke, including several National...
Smart Training: Real improvements come from hard work and 10 months of smart specific training. The first of FasterSkier’s three camps to aid skiers at any level was held June 12 to 15th in Park City, Utah. This was a dry-land camp with rollerski technique training, training and training methods as the main focus. A Few Great Athletes Participants included a medalist from last seasons Masters Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska, one of the top...
The University of Maine at Presque Isle announces a 2-year fixed-length Cross Country Ski Coaching/Lecturer position beginning September 1, 2003, which may be renewed depending on the success of the program. The successful candidate must have a Master’s Degree and have demonstrated successful ski coaching experience. The position will consist of one-half coaching and one-half teaching within the university’s ski coaching concentration. The classes will include, but not be limited to, beginning, intermediate and advanced...
Job Title: HEAD CROSS COUNTRY/NORDIC SKI AND ASSISTANT TRACK AND FIELD COACH Department: ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT Salary: $24,000 Exempt (Y/N): YES Supervisor: ATHLETIC DIRECTOR __________________________ SUMMARY: Oversee the direction of the varsity Cross Country/Nordic Ski programs and assist track and field coach with distance events at the NCAA Division II level. Responsible for recruitment, scheduling, practice/event preparation, budget management, fund raising and promotion. Assist the Director in a leadership role to enhance the internal and external...
Title: Head Cross Country and Nordic Ski Coach Reports to: Director of Athletics Type: Staff Appointment: 9-10 months, part-time, salary Position Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred with evidence of further professional development. Minimum of two years collegiate coaching experience (or documented coaching success based on equivalent experience). Strong interpersonal, management and communication skills. Strong work ethic, integrity and a positive attitude. Adaptable to a dynamic environment characteristic of an institution experiencing enrollment growth and program development. Supportive of...
A few months ago, Torbjorn Karlsen wrote an article here on FasterSkier.com about his ideas for developing Masters racing in the US.
Tasha Betcherman is a cross country skier from Canada. She lives and trains in Canmore, Alberta. Her family is in Thunder Bay, Ontario as well as her home club of Lappe Nordic. She won two National Championship races in 2003 as well as represented Canada at the World Championships in Val di Femme, Italy. The Time is now Since spending a few weeks in Park City this spring working with Torbjorn Karlsen and John Aalberg...
Sarah Peters is a cross country ski racer from Canada. Her hometown is Navan, Ontario but will be skiing out of the Maine Winter Sports Center this season. Sarah represented Canada at the 2003 World University Games. She won the 2002 Keskinada World Loppet 50 km free. Her goals for the upcoming season is top 5 NorAm placing and to medal at Canadian Nationals. She hopes to represent Canada at the 2005 World Championships. Sarah's...
This mini-series of Coaches’ articles will include examples of workouts with some of our athletes, how we’ve structured the sessions, and what we’ve focused on during the workouts. This month we’ve had two of our most talented female skiers visiting Park City for a training camp. These athletes are relatively “new” for us, and through our workouts together we’ve discovered and determined the tasks and adjustments needed to improve their future racing performance. Example...
The following is the most recent draft of the US National race calendar for the 2003-2004 season. THIS IS NOT A FINAL DRAFT. Races on this schedule are subject to change, but for those who want to begin planning their season, it will give a good idea of what the schedule will look like. Date Location Race Nov. 8-9 Fairbanks, AK Nor/Am Opener Sprint F/Pursuit Nov. 15-16 Anchorage, AK Nor/Am 5/10km C, 5/10km F Nov....
By Top National level Canadian Cross-Country skiers Tasha Betcherman and Sarah Peters are currently in Park City for more than a two week long training camp as part of the Karlsen/Aalberg/Gundersen personal coaching program. This visit can be regarded as a “boot camp” for the two aspiring World Cup skiers, where the coaches are daily evaluating and assessing their new athletes’ strengths and training methods. The main goal for the camp has been to “get...
The White Rim is a 103-mile trail located about 30 miles west of Moab in some of the most spectacular desert landscape the area has to offer. The trail essentially encircles the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, located at the convergence of the Colorado and Green rivers. Most of the riding on the White Rim trail is non-technical on dirt jeep trails and one can drive the whole thing with a...