Editors note: This is a weekly column highlighting our ski coaches from around the country… including elite coaches, college coaches, high school coaches, volunteer coaches, and learn-to-ski coaches. This is an effort to sample a diverse group of coaches and recognize the people who are the backbone of today’s skiers. If you would like to nominate a coach for an interview, please email robertwhitney99@hotmail.com. Please give coach’s name, email, phone, and a small paragraph describing the nominee. The more diverse, the better.
Will Sweetser, 36, is the cross-country coach for Maine Winter Sports Club (MWSC).
 from other ski coaches?</b></p>
<p>Just what is an elite ski coach? I mean we pretty much all spend too much time screwing around with wax and then strap on a host of gadgets, truck our fat butts out onto the course and watch people in tight, awful suits, ski around in little circles. How elite can you be?</p>
<p><b>5. Which one of your past ski coaches influenced you the most?</b></p>
<p>My high school (non) coach probably influenced me the most in that he did not coach the Nordic team at all. He'd slow the bus down as it passed the touring center on the way to the alpine hill, kick the Nordies out, and often forget to come back and pick us up. I learned three very important lessons: 1. you need to be your own best coach 2. your teammates can teach you a lot if you're willing to work together 3. a little extra running or skiing (back to town) will probably help in the long run</p>
<p><b>6. Altitude tents were a hot topic this past summer with WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). Care to comment on altitude tents?</b></p>
<p>Where do you stop on this line of reasoning? Training at altitude is alright, but altitude tents are artificial. So, how about the ski tunnels? Air conditioned gyms? Strength training equipment? Heart rate monitors? The desire to keep sport pure is certainly admirable, but we've arrived at a point where sorting this entire mess out is a great big philosophical nightmare. </p>
<p>We have an altitude tent for use with some of our senior athletes. As long as they are legal, we'll continue to use it.</p>
<p><b>7. How come 90% of skiers can’t play basketball if their lives depended on it? Any comments? (this is a standing joke….FYI)</b></p>
<p>The problem is that most other sports aren't enough of a challenge. Even if you do manage to get your heart rate up enough to really know you're working, you're still on solid ground and hardly have to work to balance at all. I suggest trying to play a pick up game of hoops on ice. We did a bit of this in college, and I continued it from time to time when weather allowed during the year I lived in Bend. It really adds that something extra that basketball needs to be challenging–you'll find that it levels the playing field a bit, too.</p>
<p><b>8. Any closing remarks? Here’s your chance!</b></p>
<p>Looking forward to seeing everyone back in Presque Isle for the U.S. Distance Championships/SuperTour finals this spring!</p>
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