FasterSkier.com visited the Olympic arena at Soldier Hollow outside Heber,
Utah this weekend and tested the new additions to the rollerski course. The
biggest news is that a (approximately) one kilometer loop has been added and
this loop includes the main climb up Hermod Hill! At the top of Hermod it's
a flat/gradual down/rolling section before it connects to the old loop close
to the bridge that goes over the steepest hill on the sprint-course.
We stopped one rollerskier (see photo) coming up Hermod Hill and asked for
name and ski team affiliation… The answer was – Halvor Hanevold of the
Norwegian biathlon team. Not exactly your average slacker.
There is also a new short section added at the lodge making it possible to
better use the hill at the parking lot and continue on to the course behind
the lodge.
Both additions adds good value to how you can train at Soldier Hollow.
Check with Soldier Hollow before you make plans to test the rollerski
course!
The rollerski course at Soldier Hollow is built and meant for serious elite
level training. There are many short steep hills and a number of high speed
downhills with turns. The rollerskiing at Soldier Hollow is therefore
limited to national teams and other high level athletes with permission to
use the course. It's therefore smart to check with the administration at
Soldier Hollow if you will be allowed to use the facility prior to making
plans for a visit. Plan on having to sign a waver, pay at small fee and
helmet usage is of course mandatory.
