** Editors note: This will be 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.
Jon Kreamelmeyer, leaning heavily on age 60 (but NOT yet!!!), is Head Coach of the U.S. Disabled XC Ski Team.
Share with us some of your training methods?
I’d say our training is fairly traditional. We focus on volume to establish a solid base. Most members on the team train between 500-600+ hours per year. Along with volume we add intensity. I particularly like the threshold pyramid workouts that Pete Vordenberg has passed on to us. Then we intersperse max and core strength workouts throughout the year. Presently, we’re working in a close relationship with TOSH and the USSA sport science department to establish a VO2 protocol, which will hopefully guide our training in the future.
How do you train together with a group of athletes with varying limitations?
One of our biggest challenges during summer camps is dryland training. Due to disabilities, and possible injury, not everyone can ski-walk, hill bound, run or hike. Really, the only training method we all have in common is roller skiing. We’ve adapted sit-ski frames to roller skis and also to mountain boards, and our standing athletes ski on conventional roller skis. Needless to say, we spend a fair amount of time roller skiing. When the athletes return home, it’s easier for them to supplement their workouts with a hand-cycle, mountain bike, or kayaking.
What’s your most memorable moment of your time spent coaching?
Looking back over the years and evaluating the highs and the lows of coaching is a humbling experience. Success is due to many people and many variables coming together at the right time and in the right place. It’s important to remember that being on the podium is not because of one person or one coach. I firmly believe one of the most important elements of success is the mental aspect or the mental toughness of the athlete. A coach can guide the way, but it’s the athlete who’s “pickin it up and puttin it downâ€. I’ve been fortunate to be part of many athletes’ successes. Most memorable for me are winning four consecutive state championships in high school skiing during the late 80’s, Steve Cook winning the overall World Cup title in 2005, and winning two gold medals in Pragelato at the 2006 Paralympics, and my biggest smile comes from watching the 2002 Paralympic Relay Team, Bob Balk, Willie Stewart, and Steve Cook ski to a silver medal, losing the gold by one-half second to the Russians. It’s been a great ride.
2007 U.S. Disabled Team members:
Monica Bascio
Steve Cook
Sean Halsted
Greg Mallory
Chris Klebl
Dan Perkins
Kelly Underkofler
Assistant Coaches:
Rebekah Bunting
Clarke Sullivan
Scott Peterson
Jon Zdechlik
THANKS JON!
