Just as rollerskiing simulates skiing, physiology testing replicates, in isolated fashion, the demands of ski racing. For the third and final time this season the US National Sprint, Distance and Continental Cup teams came to Utah for poking, prodding and measurement. According to the USST sport science and coaching staff, fitness, speed and strength continue a positive trajectory.
 with the national team skiers. Trends like these indicate we’re on the right path. So far I’m ecstatic with what I’ve seen. I try to stay low-key and err on the other side of unbridled optimism, but what I’ve seen has only been excellent.</p><p>“Last year we learned quite a bit on the training we had to focus on in order to have all our athletes skiing faster. Our test protocol has served a useful purpose, but I’m sure we’ll make changes to our format next season. What these changes will be, I cannot say right now. We’ll look at all the data, compare that to what the results page says at the end of the year and what as coaches we observe, then come up with a better mousetrap to keep our guys and gals headed to the top.â€</p><p><BR><center><img src=)
Pete Vordenberg getting his golf on at Lake Placid’s Bushwood Country Club. (Andrew Johnson photo).
Day one of testing camp included blood draws and max speed velocity testing. A skate Vo2 max treadmill test highlighted day two, followed by a day of distance training. Day four centered on core, flexibility and max strength testing. The weekend highlight is the 8km classic time trial for the ladies and a 12km classic test for the men, minus Chris Cook, Andrew Newell and Torin Koos. The three sprinters head to Europe on Tuesday, in preparation for the World Cup opener in Dusseldorf, Germany (October 28 & 29).
.</font></center><BR></p><p>Sprint coach Chris Grover also sees a solid foundation from his skiers, but warns that his charges are not in tip-top race shape yet. Even with a couple early season competitions on the race calendar, this is by design. “I’m pleased with the progress the sprinters have been making, but I kind of expected this progress too,†said Grover. “I’m not surprised really where people are and we’re on course to be where we need to be by December. </p><p>“The key for me now is getting in as high quality of training that we can now without overstressing people, simply because we’re vulnerable when we travel. And we have a fair amount of travel on the plate right now. </p><p>“Along with maintaining 100% health, a priority is making the transition to on-snow race speed a successful one. So far our athletes have been doing pure speed training alone. Now we’re turning our focus into group speed — side-by-side skiing, group skiing, working on transitions, working on finishing, the finishing lunge in particular. We’ve developed efficiency with speed on an individual basis. Now we need to put this into more real life situations.â€</p><p>On the distance side, Andrew Johnson will meet up with the sprint team after Dusseldorf in Ramsau, Austria. Kris Freeman will meet up with the team November 8th in Kiruna, Sweden as Kris looks to spend a little less time away from the states, where he says he gets his best training in.</p><p>Just like last season, Kikkan Randall is skipping the early races to keep the focus totally on getting in solid training back in Anchorage. “I finished the season last year feeling like I needed to change nothing. I just knew I needed consistent training over the spring, summer and fall to come into this season charging, said Randall. “I’ve been training more, training harder and feeling better, so it’s been a productive summer this fall. I’m very excited to begin racing and show what I can do later this winter.â€</p><p><BR><center><img src=)
Could it be an even faster, fitter Kikkan Randall in 2007? Randall pushing hard at 14 m.ph.
