Photos from the Kelly Brush Century Ride
Alex KochonSeptember 13, 2012
The seventh annual
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Alex Kochon
Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) is a former FasterSkier editor and roving reporter who never really lost touch with the nordic scene. A freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom of two, she lives in northeastern New York and enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks. She shares her passion for sports and recreation as the co-founder of "Ride On! Mountain Bike Trail Guide" and a sales and content contributor at Curated.com. When she's not skiing or chasing her kids around, Alex assists authors as a production and marketing coordinator for iPub Global Connection.
Bounding Up Whiteface: Video from USST Elite Camp (Updated with Quotes)
Alex KochonSeptember 13, 2012
WILMINGTON, N.Y. — The view from partially up Whiteface Mountain on Wednesday morning was about as picturesque as they get. From the trail, one could see that the leaves had started to turn shades of red and yellow — just in time for the U.S. Ski Team’s fall training camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. Way down below, a few small dots proceeded up the dirt access road: first to warm up, then to get after...
Far West Nordic ‘Farm Team’ Taking Applications for the 2012-2013 Race Season
Alex KochonSeptember 11, 2012
(Press release) coach@farwestnordic.org. Application Deadline is September 21, 2012 and the Team will be named October 1, 2012. Contract period is from 1 October, 2012 to April 30, 2013. *All previous Farm Team members will need to re-apply to be considered.
Injured APU/USST Teammates Randall and Bjornsen Keep Kicking
Alex KochonSeptember 10, 2012
Last week in Anchorage, a freak windstorm rolled through that would have devastated most mainland Americans. Gusts estimated at 130 miles per hour spewed trees across Alaska’s largest city, leaving at least a thousand residents without power through Saturday – almost four days after the storm hit Tuesday night. In a phone interview, U.S. Ski Team member Kikkan Randall said the electricity and all the lights at her home came on at 2:15 a.m. Saturday....
Canadian Men Leave NZ ‘Feeling Good,’ Cracking Jokes
Alex KochonSeptember 7, 2012
Just over two weeks ago, the Canadian men’s cross-country ski team made the long journey to New Zealand in search of some low-altitude, on-snow volume training. According to head coach Justin Wadsworth, they Snow Farm – New Zealand – August 2012” to sum up their time there, which was mostly a laughing matter. In one scene, the four men stand stand on a treeless trail high above the landscape while taking a break during training....
Elite Team Preview: Callaghan Valley TC
Alex KochonSeptember 6, 2012
This is the fourth and final preview in a quick-and-dirty series about Canadian national-training centres. We asked coaches to send their 2012/2013 rosters and tell us what’s new for the coming season. Teams were presented in no particular order. Team: Callaghan Valley Training Centre (roster and five junior males, this team doesn’t have a single woman, and Manhard explained why. “With one coach for a centre, it was very difficult balancing the boys training and social...
Birkie Trail Run & Trek Preview Video
Alex KochonSeptember 5, 2012
The 10th annual 26.2 mile Individual Marathon 13.1 mile Individual Half Marathon 5K Fun Run/Walk The 10th Birkie Trail Run & Trek offers several fun and challenging events including the Individual Marathon Run, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, Birkie Trek Nordic Walk and the 5K Fun Run! The events are guaranteed to challenge even the strongest runners and Nordic Walkers. All events take place on the famous and hilly Birkie trail at one of the most...
From Paddleboarding to Pounding Pavement, Blackhorse-von Jess Talks Training
Alex KochonSeptember 4, 2012
When Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess shows up at a race, he’s hard to miss. If his backward baseball cap doesn’t give him away, his bubbly personality, bearded face or black, red and white-striped spandex will. One of the staples of Bend Endurance Academy’s nordic program, the 26-year-old Blackhorse-von Jess grew up in Bend, Ore., and skied for Dartmouth College before returning to his native state – and town. Back in Bend, Blackhorse-von Jess trains mostly with...
Thousands of miles from the U.S. mainland on the northern island of Hawaii, Sylvan Ellefson tweeted photos from his honeymoon in Kauai. He University of New Hampshire skier – is from. Then they went to Boulder, where Sarah lives while studying physical therapy, to watch the USA Pro Am Cycling Challenge last weekend. “I’m jazzed to be moving around again,” Ellefson said. “The wedding week was pretty crazy and then the honeymoon was nice and...
Note: This story accompanies came to life under SMS Nordic Program Director Sverre Caldwell. Sophie’s father, Sverre dreamed up the team years ago, but seriously revisited the idea in a conversation with Kaeding last summer. Earlier this year, the two laid the framework to make it happen. Several months later in June, four SMS skiers and Sinnott strapped on their rollerski gear for a three- to four-hour skate in upstate New York. It was the...
Summer Training with Stratton’s T2 Team (Videos)
Alex KochonAugust 24, 2012
Since its six-skier strong elite club based in the resort town of Stratton, Vt. Stratton Mountain School (SMS) graduates Andy Newell and Skyler Davis were originally part of the program. This year, the two U.S. Ski Team (USST) members are joined by three Dartmouth graduates — Eric Packer, Sophie Caldwell and Erika Flowers — and USST member Jessie Diggins, formerly of Central Cross Country (CXC). Head coach Gus Kaeding also came from CXC, where he was an...
KELLY BRUSH CENTURY RIDE READY TO ROLL SEPTEMBER 8 RIDERS SUPPORT ADAPTIVE SPORTS, SPINAL CORD INJURY PREVENTION BURLINGTON, Vt. (Aug. 22, 2012) — Vermont’s largest charity bike ride, the Kelly Brush Century Ride powered by VBT Bicycle and Walking Vacations, rolls on Sept. 8 in Middlebury Vt. The seventh annual ride benefits adaptive athletes and supports spinal cord injury prevention. In addition to being the largest ride of its type in the state, the event...
CXC Coaches Conference Set for Oct. 19-21
Alex KochonAugust 22, 2012
CXC Coaches Conference Oct. 19-21 at Telemark Resort in Cable, Wis. LOCATION Telemark Resort 42225 Telemark Rd., Cable, WI 54821 REGISTRATION FEE $75.00 – Conference only $125.00 – Conference with meals ON-LINE REGISTRATION Online registration: https://www.wepay.com/events/cxc-coaches-conference-1 LODGING Special lodging rate of $69.00/night is provided by Telemark Resort & Convention Center. To make a reservation please call (715) 798-3400 or (888) 757-1943. PRESENTERS – Walt Evans, USSA Sport Development Director – Jon...
What’s in a Recovery Day? USST Members Weigh In
Alex KochonAugust 21, 2012
It’s almost September, and let’s be honest, you’re in great shape. Or you’re almost there. Just a little longer distances, some slightly harder efforts and bam! You suddenly feel a tickle in your throat. Your head’s pounding, your legs are shot and your heart races when you start working out. You’re having trouble sleeping and this head cold is something you hadn’t bargained for. What gives? Probably overtraining. “Pish-posh,” you think. “I’m not an elite...
Scattered throughout Canada on Sunday, four World Cup team members and their coaching and support staff started their long journey to the land down under – that is, New Zealand. Alex Harvey ate handmade chocolates and sipped a steamed drink while waiting for his 16-hour flight out of Québec International Airport, then got upgraded to business class, according to first time in 10 years, the U.S. Ski Team will not be training in New Zealand...
Welcome the land of fried chicken. That’s what Alberta World Cup Academy and Canadian development team skier Kevin Sandau saw on his drive down to Whitefish, Mont., when he tweeted a photo of a license plate: Montana. Treasure State. FRDCHKN. The entire World Cup Academy (AWCA), with two weeks in Sweden, where she trained with the U.S. and Swedish national women’s teams in Sälen and Torsby. She’s taking a little breather in Canada first. In...
NYSEF CLIMB TO THE CASTLE ROLLERSKI RACE Saturday, September 15, 2012 WILMINGTON, N.Y. — The New York Ski Educational Foundation and the Olympic Regional Development Authority announce the 6th annual NYSEF Whiteface Climb to the Castle Rollerski Race on Saturday, September 15 at 8:00 am. The course starts at the Whiteface Toll Booth, climbing for 5 miles with an average 8% grade up the Whiteface Memorial Highway to the castle on the summit of Whiteface...
Elite Team Preview: Alberta World Cup Academy
Alex KochonAugust 15, 2012
This is the third preview in a quick-and-dirty series about Canadian national-training centres. We asked coaches to send their 2012/2013 rosters and tell us what’s new for the coming season. We will be publishing additional reports over the next few weeks. Teams are presented in no particular order. Team: Alberta World Cup Academy (AWCA) Coaches: Chris Jeffries (head coach/women’s coach), Mike Cavaliere (racing director/men’s coach), George Grey (women’s assistant coach), Stefan Kuhn (universal coach/men’s assistant), Jeremy Hecker (summer intern), Rob Soffer (strength...
After London Paralympics, Dana Could Aim for Sochi
Alex KochonAugust 14, 2012
Like most athletic children of a certain era in Putney, Vt., Alicia Dana grew up cross-country skiing. She learned the ropes from the legendary John Caldwell, a Putney School coach who went on to lead the U.S. Ski Team, and took up racing at an early age. It wasn’t long until Dana, formerly Brelsford, developed an affinity for other sports as well. By the time she was 16, she had competed at two cycling nationals...
Between training on an Austrian glacier and inside a ski tunnel in Germany, a guy’s got to have some off-snow fun. Not that skiing isn’t fun, but when it’s your job, an offer to play pickup soccer with several top Norwegian and German nordic skiers is difficult to pass up. For Andy Newell, the invite came nonchalantly from Norwegian men’s coach Trond Nystad, who previously headed the U.S. Ski Team. With little notice, the 27-year-old...