The New England Nordic Ski Association’s Janice Sibilia reports that the 2011 Junior Olympic Championships, to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will feature a unique “Athlete’s Village,” modeled on the standard Olympic format. All athletes from all teams will stay in the same housing complex. Sibilia and other attendees at this past weekend’s USSA Coaches Conference toured the 5km and sprint courses.
Writes Sibilia in her recap of the Conference:
In addition to the classroom presentations, coaches had an opportunity to preview the 2011 JO 5km and sprint courses. The event will take place at the Theodore Wirth Golf Course about 10 to 15 minutes from home base. A unique flavor for these JO’s will be the creation of an Olympic Village. Athletes will be housed in one location and shuttles will run to the race venues, removing the need for a huge amount of vehicles.
The courses will be challenging and fun and there are a lot of places where making good transitions in gear and technique will add up. Though the climbs are not super long, it is a very rolling course and some short steep sections the athletes will ski through. More info on JO’s will follow as the details come together.
Read Janice Sibilia’s complete report on the USSA Coaches Conference at NENSA.net.
