Canadian national team skier Sarah Renner (28) is gradually getting closer to the World Cup podium. Is this going to be her “break-through†season? FastersSkier.com got a chance to ask her some questions about her training and racing.
</font></center><BR></p><p><B>How many years have you been on the Canadian team and what’s you support level?</B><br />– I have lost count, but my support level is “World Cupâ€, which covers all camps and competitions including World Cup.</p><p><B>Describe last season's low-points and highlights? </B><br />– My best race was the World Cup Sprint in Nove Mesto where I finished eighth.<br />I struggled in the pre-Christmas World Cups and got bumped from the red group in regular World Cup distances. Racing in the Czech Republic was my first sign that I was regaining my form and gave me a boast in confidence. Europe is always more fun when you are racing well.<br />My lowest point of the season was the 10km classic in Nove Mesto which was the day<br />before the sprint (finished 47th)! I let myself get intimidated by the steep uphills on the<br />course and was (too) conservative. I felt like I wasted an opportunity.</p><p><B>What was the most valuable lesson you learned last season?</B><br />– I learned to take responsibility for my training. It is important to have a training program and use resources, like coaches and monitoring tests, but it is ultimately your own challenge to find out what works best for you.</p><p><B>What's your favorite event and why? </B><br />– I am training to be an all-round skier but with extra focus on sprinting. I like the event that I am the best at, but sprint racing is also an exciting event. It adds to our sport to get out of the woods and race downtown cities. </p><p><B>You are frequently scoring World Cup points. What's the difference on days<br />you score compared to days you don't. Is it physical, mental equipment or a<br />combination of the above?</B><br />– I have to get tougher. I can still get stronger with training but the biggest gains that I can make is to risk blowing up to stay with the pace at the start and to prepare to fight when things get painful.</p><p><BR><center><img src=)
Photo by Arnd Hemmersbach
You are getting closer and closer to the podium – have you decided that there are certain things you have to focus on in your training in order to take that “next step”?
– I am working at increasing the time I can spend at my high end speed. Basically, when things start to get tough I have to reach for that little extra. At that point it is mental.
What do you consider being the most important in your training going into
this season. Is it good intervals, high volume, speed, strength or other factors that will make you faster?
– It’s the perfect combination of all of the above. My challenge is not to put too many things on my plate. When you live in a place like Canmore, there are so many things that can be distracting. Sometimes I have to refrain from going up a mountain to do workout on the treadmill which is almost more painful than the interval.
What's your goal for the upcoming season?
– A World Cup podium
