U.S. Ski Team and Alaska Pacific University skier Sadie Bjornsen has seen a few changes this summer including an increase in monthly training hours and the number of those sessions with her teammate Kikkan Randall. "It was definitely a new level of training for me, but I felt like I was able to absorb it, so that was cool," Bjornsen said.
This week, Boulder Nordic Junior Racing (BNJR) Team Head Coach Adam St.Pierre shares a progressive track workout. “If you look at how many juniors in particular just go out at the start of a 5 k race and are just cooked within the first k, by putting them on a track and teaching them how small the changes in effort are to achieve different paces is a pretty powerful tool,” St.Pierre says.
After notching a World Cup top 20 last season, Canadian national-team member Julia Ransom is feeling more ready than ever for the upcoming season. On top of racing, she also volunteers with a local youth biathlon program in Canmore and is working toward a management degree.
Eleven Craftsbury Green Racing Project skiers and three coaches took their training to Slovenia and Austria this month to check out Planica's new ski tunnel (in a three-level parking garage) then more snow time 9,000 feet above sea level at the Dachstein glacier.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Ski Team returned to New Zealand's Snow Farm for on-snow training and racing. “The primary goal was extended time on snow working on group and individual technique needs,” head coach Chris Grover explained. “Another goal of the camp was to touch base with racing." Ten U.S. skiers started 2-4 races, and several racked up podiums.
If you're looking to be faster in speed workouts, 2006 Olympian Justin Freeman suggests adding some technique drills and accelerations to your warmup. “We do ten to fifteen minutes of running technique drills, focused on sort of generating power, quick foot strike, kind of getting off your feet,” he says of his Netherlands-based running club.
Dubbed “The Dirty 30” by Drew Holbrook, this L4/5 rollerski workout (with repetitions of 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off) comes from Gear West's Matt Liebsch. “Between 20-40mins the workout will feel unbearable at times… this is where mental fortitude comes into play," he explains.
Seven weeks, four countries, one van. For US Biathlon A-team members Leif Nordgren and Sean Doherty, this might sum up their summer, or at least how they spent the last month and a half training. "We wanted to expand our boundaries a little bit," Nordgren said. "Mostly just get out and experience new stimuli and train in other cool places with new people.”
Wrapping up their Australian camp, three Sun Valley skiers reached the podium at the 42 k Kangaroo Hoppet, part of the Worldloppet marathon series. Deedra Irwin edged teammate Mary Rose, and Matt Gelso won the men's race ahead of Australian national-team skiers. One weekend later, the U.S. Ski Team swept first and second New Zealand's Merino Muster.
With plans to begin research this fall, CXC's Madison-based Center of Excellence is on the brink of bringing new scientific studies to nordic skiing. “Our goal is to have top sports science facility to study latest innovations in the sport, potential application in cross country skiing to improve training, recovery and performance," CXC Executive and Athletic Director Yuriy Gusev explained.
When the SVSEF Gold Team found out that Falls Creek, a ski resort located in Victoria, Australia, had premium on-snow training in August, several team members said yes to the trip Down Under for a monthlong camp.
What would you do with $250,000? After winning this year’s Kraft Heinz Project Play grand prize, Nakkertok Nordic plans to invest in snow machines and improving its 75 kilometers of club trails. "We were really appreciative of everyone, not just in the area, but across Canada and literally across the world who jumped onboard and gave a us a hand to make it happen," said Sue Holloway.
While biting into a deep-fried, jelly-filled doughnut is not what every athlete daydreams about during interval workouts, U.S. 50-mile trail run champion Corrine Malcolm doesn’t take issue with digging deeper for dessert. Here's a sample of one of her "tune-up" workouts before a big race.
As athletes continue to prepare for the upcoming Paralympics taking place exactly one month from Sunday in Rio, those sporting the white, blue and red flag of Russia will not. On Sunday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced its decision to suspend the Russian from competition in Rio and upcoming IPC competitions.
After competing at the 2012 London Paralympics in rowing and 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic in skiing, Oksana Masters is tripling up after qualifying for the 2016 Rio Summer Paralympics in handcycling. “It’s going to be a good challenge and I’m really looking forward to being able to represent the U.S. Paralympic team and to be able to represent it in more than one sport," she said.
The nordic baby boom continues with US Biathlon veteran Lowell Bailey, who welcomed his first child on June 15. On top of being a father, Bailey is also continuing his career as a biathlete with his sights on the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Olympics, as well as recently joining the Bridger Biathlon Club Board of Directors.
After spending this past winter as a wax technician for Caldwell Sport and previous years coaching juniors, Austin Caldwell is following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father by becoming a full-time coach with the Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman, Mont.
Know a spot where the pavement is ideal for rollerskiing but the loop just isn't long enough to keep your interest? Austin Caldwell, head coach of the BSF elite team, has the threshold workout for you: 4 x 15-minute intervals on the same loop to track progress.
After four years of dating, Stratton Mountain School teammates and couple Andy Newell and Erika Flowers are engaged. "So much can happen in professional athletics and Erika and I wanted to enjoy each other’s company before we have to grow up and get serious," Newell said.
After making the US Biathlon team and later coaching in Bozeman, Mont., Corrine Malcolm has broken out as a trail runner. While earning her master's degree, she won USATF's 50-mile trail running championship in May and earned a trip to 2016 Trail World Championships.