We caught up with USST coaches Trond Nystad and Pete Vordenberg after the recent
10-km running time-trial at Soldier Hollow. The coaches are confident and optimistic ahead of the upcoming World Cup opener
in Norway.
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<P><B>What’s the Team’s training schedule like in November and December?</B></P><br />
<P>"We were supposed to depart for an on-snow camp in Fairbanks, Alaska on<br />
Wednesday October 22. It’s currently cold and no snow there so we have<br />
tentatively delayed the departure to October 28. We are planning on taking part<br />
in the Super Tour races in Fairbanks on November 8 and 9. Torin Koos and Wendy<br />
Wagner will then be heading to Anchorage for the sprint races while the rest<br />
of the team returns to Park City. Carl and Kris will travel to Norway on November<br />
11<SUP>th</SUP> to get ready for the upcoming World Cup races at Beitostolen,<br />
Norway and in Finland the week after"</P><br />
<P><B>You did not send any skiers to the World Cup sprint opener in Düsseldorf<br />
on October 25 and 26?</B></P><br />
<P>"No, we feel we should give the Euros a chance to strut their stuff before<br />
– US Domination!"</P><br />
<P><B>You are only taking Carl and Kris to the World Cup races before Christmas?</B></P><br />
<P>"We wanted to take the whole team but couldn’t afford it"</P><br />
<P><B>What are your goals and expectations at the World Cup races?</B></P><br />
<P>"We expect extremely good results. Podium or close to podium. We don’t<br />
want to be a B-Nation. We want podium finishes in both individual races and<br />
relays. We want the skiers behind Carl and Kris to capture top-20 results and<br />
to get our skiers in to the red group. We will fall short of these goals occasionally<br />
but that’s what we are shooting for"</P><br />
<P><B>Is Carl’s period with specific cross country ski training (six weeks<br />
from the last bike race to the first World Cup ski race) long enough to expect<br />
good early results?</B></P><br />
<P>Yes, Carl is unique. He has a very sharp adaptation curve from bike racing<br />
to high-level ski racing. It’s the same the other way around. He does very<br />
well in high level bike races in the spring shortly after his last ski race"</P><br />
<P><B>Would you have liked to have Carl training for ski racing from May like<br />
the rest of the team?</B></P><br />
<P>"Carl likes his way of doing things and it would only work if Carl decided<br />
that a change would be good" </P><br />
<P><B>What about the team’s chance is classic sprint races?</B></P><br />
<P>"Torin looked great in a sprint time-trial last week"</P><br />
<P><B>We have posted a number of articles on Fasterskier.com lately featuring<br />
some very confident Norwegian skiers. It sounds like they are all ready to win<br />
World Cup races. Any comments?</B></P><br />
<P>"You have to think that way. They are confident and so are we. We got<br />
a good feeling about this upcoming season already in New Zealand. The atmosphere<br />
is good. We have had basically no sickness or injuries. The training has gone<br />
very well. We have seen improvement in just about everything from strength,<br />
technique endurance and speed. Lower lactates at higher speed"</P><br />
<P><B>What have you been focusing on in your technique work?</B></P><br />
<P>"Snappy application of power in both easy and hard training. Lots of video.<br />
Fast from one ski to another. Even push on both legs in skating. Engaging the<br />
core muscles. Be explosive especially in the first part of the poling motion.<br />
High frequency and short stride length but with individual variations. Carl<br />
is still skating with a slower frequency than Kris"</P><br />
<P><B>What’s on the agenda for the first two weeks on snow?</B></P><br />
<P>"We are resting up a little before departure for Fairbanks. We take it<br />
easy the first two day on snow and then we’ll gradually increase volume<br />
and intensity"</P><br />
<P><B>Trond, you had a serious bet going with Carl in today’s time-trial.<br />
You had boosted that you were going to beat him and you lost by a landslide.<br />
What impact will this have on your coaching and relationship to Carl?</B></P><br />
<P>"A lot. Lost pride and respect. I expect Carl to “rub this in” to the<br />
end of the season"</P><br />
<P><B>Why do you do the time-trials, Trond?</B></P><br />
<P>"It’s good for the coach (es) to see how it really feels to go all<br />
out in a race. It should make them more sensitive and selective in their comments<br />
during and after the races. It also makes the athletes excited to get a chance<br />
to "kick (my) ass"</P></p>
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US Team Is Ready To Go
FasterSkierOctober 30, 2003
