Presque Isle, ME—The University of Maine at Presque Isle just completed the first round of elite Nordic athlete testing in cooperation with the Maine Winter Sports Center. The university has invested more than $5 million in its physical education, exercise physiology and health facilities during the past year. A significant portion of those funds were dedicated to establishing a world class exercise physiology testing lab. Now, the lab has been put to the test—or more accurately, put MWSC’s athletes to the test.
Professor Suzanne Beaudet used her sabbatical to brush up on athlete testing protocols at the famous Vuokatti Sport Institute in Vuokatti, Finland. With the completion of Gentile Hall, the new health and wellness facility at UMPI, Beaudet has a brand new home for her expertise.
“We’re so excited to have the ability to offer this kind of service to high caliber athletes,†said Dr. Beaudet. “This is a dream that has been many years in the making. It’s fantastic for us, especially for the students coming through our programs in physical education, athletic training and exercise physiology.â€
Athletes testing at UMPI can choose to be tested using sport specific protocols for running, Nordic skiing, and cycling. Beaudet and her team offer blood lactate testing, max VO2 testing and upper body specific max VO2 testing for Nordic athletes. MWSC’s Cross-Country Team used the UMPI facility last week to determine base-line values for early-summer training. The U.S. Biathlon Development Team is slated to test at UMPI over the course of the next few weeks.
“The investment that UMPI has made in health and sport is tremendous,†said MWSC Cross-Country Coach Will Sweetser. “The testing lab provides valuable information for me as a coach, and for athletes like David Chamberlain and Russell Currier. Our partnership with UMPI is helping to create Olympic-caliber athletes right here in Northern Maine.â€
UMPI has been selected as the site for the NENSA/NEG Elite Camp in August. Top junior and senior athletes from New England, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska will have the opportunity to tour the lab and discuss laboratory and field testing with Dr. Beaudet. Testing opportunities for individual athletes are currently under consideration at the university. For more information about the University of Maine at Presque Isle and its facilities, visit: www.umpi.maine.edu
