Cami Thompson is a former member of the US Ski Team and was a member of the
1985 World Championship Team. She has been the women's cross-country ski coach
at Dartmouth College for thirteen years.
Age: 41
Single or married: SINGLE
Hometown: STOWE, VT
Current town of residence: HANOVER, NH
Full-time or part-time coach: FULL TIME
On salary/paid or volunteer coach: ON SALARY
Athletes or Team working with (or has worked with): DARTMOUTH SKI TEAM
Favorite movies (elaborate if you’d like): FINDING NEMO (I
ONLY WATCH MOVIES WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER)
Favorite food: FRESH, HOMEMADE PLAIN DONUTS
Favorite musical artist: DIANA KRALL, SANTANA
Favorite book or TV show: FOUNTAINHEAD, BY AYN RAND
Did you take a vacation after this past race season ended?
NO
What is your (or your athletes) favorite place to ski?
TRAPP FAMILY LODGE (HOME)
Favorite place to race?
LAHTI
Favorite place to train?
HANOVER (DRYLAND), STOWE (ON SNOW).
Why do you enjoy being a ski coach? What part of being a ski coach don't
you enjoy?
I LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE TEAM; THEIR ENERGY AND DESIRE TO LEARN, THEIR EXCITEMENT
FOR THE VICTORIES AND BREAKTHROUGHS AND THEIR GRACE IN DEFEAT.
If you weren't a ski coach, what would you rather be doing?
I THINK ABOUT THAT ONCE IN A WHILE BUT HAVEN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE YET.
What are the five main philosophies you coach by?
WORK HARD, KEEP IT FUN, KEEP IT HUMAN, ENJOY THE VICTORIES, DON'T LET THE BAD
DAYS DRAG YOU DOWN.
What do you spend most time with when you are on the road at races or training
camps?
OTHER THAN COACHING? PROBABLY READING.
What were your best or most memorable races (for your athletes) – last season
or earlier?
DARTMOUTH CARNIVAL 1999, 10K CLASSICAL, ALL SIX ATHLETES FINISHED IN THE
TOP 9.
How do you deal with bad races?
DECIDE WHAT WENT WRONG AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
What are your coaching goals for the upcoming season?
ALWAYS WORKING ON OPEN COMMUNICATION AND TEAM DYNAMICS PLUS HOPE TO MAKE
SOME CHANGES IN STRENGTH TRAINING AND IMPROVE SKATING TECHNIQUE IN GENERAL WITH
THE GROUP.
How do you feel about the changes in the international race formats over
the past few years? SO FAR I THINK THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN POSITIVE.
THEY HAVE MAINTAINED INTEGRITY WHILE MAKING THEM MORE INTERESTING IN GENERAL.
I AM SAD TO SEE THE LADIES 5K DISAPPEAR THOUGH!!
What changes will you be making to your athletes’ training plan for this
year?
MORE MAX AND CORE STRENGTH, PLYOS AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON BASICS OF BALANCE
AND TECHNIQUE (PARTICULARLY SKATING).
Do you have a favorite interval or hard workout?
YES, WE DO SOME STEEP, TOUGH BOUNDING INTERVALS AT OAK HILL. I LIKE
TO SEE WHO CAN TAKE IT…
Can you give us a single piece of advice for aspiring Junior skiers?
NO, I HAVE TWO; KEEP IT FUN AND INTERESTING BY VARIETY IN YOUR TRAINING AND
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!
