Fasterskier.com has watched 23 year old Torin Koos develop from a talented junior skier and runner, to suddenly take the step into the World’s elite during the 2001 World Cup at Soldier Hollow with a 12th place in the individual Sprint competition. His vertical jumping ability, size and strength (6’2”, 175 lbs) make him a perfect sprinter. We recently talked to him from the National Team’s training camp in Fairbanks, Alaska, where they are currently skiing on a combination of thin snow, thick leaves and small rocks.
Torin Koos
Torin, how are you training differently (as a Sprinter) from the rest of the National Team?
Not that different, since we are all training together almost 10 times per week. However, there are subtle differences; for example, I rarely do any distance training over 2 hrs. My intervals are also a little different than the others, I focus more on building my lactate tolerance. It has also helped to have some of the Development Team skiers around this summer and fall. Chris Cook and Andy Newell are also two very good sprinters.
How high have you seen your high lactate value at, by the way?
It’s been measured at 18.9 Mmol this year.
Fasterskier.com knows that seeing such high lactate values is not common among Cross-Country skiers, and should mean that Koos has a developed a natural ability to sustain muscular inhibition and pain from lactate buildup.
 races through the US National Championship in Rumford in January. After Nationals the National Team skiers are all heading over to the World Cup races in Europe.<br />
My main racing goal is to make it through the Qualification rounds at the World Cup sprint (top 16), – and you never know what can happen in the final heats.<br />
I have also set some process goals this year, related to training volume and quality.</p>
<p><B>We know you’re also an excellent track runner, what were your best times on the track this last spring season?</B><br />
On the 1500m – 3:49<br />
On the 800m – 1:51</p>
<p><B>Wow, that would probably make you the fastest 3 minute runner on the Cross-Country World Cup ski circuit. What do you think about Sprint races being in classical technique in the next World Ski Championship?</B><br />
I like that both skiing techniques will become equally used in Sprint World Cups and Championships, and enjoy having the opportunity to also sprint in classical technique. I think I have the ability to “ski big” in classical technique, and think my chances are at least as good in classical sprints.</p>
<p>For those of our readers that were able to watch EuroSport live during last year’s 2003 World Ski Championship in Val Di Fiemme, Italy, you would have heard the voice of University of Utah’s Communication’s major Torin Koos as the expert commentator next to Eurosport’s David Goldstrom. In 2005, at the next World Championship in Oberstorf, Germany, let’s wish for hearing the same voices, but with Eurosport interviewing Koos as the medal winner in the classical technique Sprint Championship event.</p>
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