As a skier, you see the world. Eating reindeer sausages and cloud berries in Finland. Drinking Glug in Norway on New Years. Watching a wild pack of moose trot briskly by on a suburban Alaskan street. Writing helps put in their rightful place the incomplete remembrance of roads taken, breakdowns, misdirections, potholes, and detours of my days on the road chasing snow. Being around people in sometimes such tight accommodations, you find out insights from...
Jens Arne Svartedal was following his World Cup second place in the Saturday’s 15-kilometer classic, awarded with the second leg on the Norwegian first team in Sunday’s 4 x 10-kilometer relay. He fought hard, skied well and tagged off as the leader and this way proved that it’s a job he wants to keep. Source: Langrenn.com
One of the top skiers in the country, Swedish-born Kristina Strandberg took the overall victory in last season's FIS North America Marathon series. She was also an NCAA champion in 2000. This year she looks set for another strong year on the marathon circuit, while simulatneously working on a PhD. We asked her a few questions here at West Yellowstone, where she is training with the rest of the factory team. Ok first things first:...
Marit Bjorgen’s press conference comments after winning the World Cup 10-kilometer at Beitostolen Source: Langrenn.com “Unbeatable†Marit Bjorgen won the 10-kilometer by 21-seconds over Virpi Kuitunen. The main competition ended far behind. She also increased the Norwegian team’s lead on the last leg of the relay to 21 seconds (from 3-4 seconds) after only 2-kilometer before she seamed to coast to victory. Bjorgen believes however that the other challengers will ski faster later in the...
Oscar Svard, the winner of the World’s largest ski race, the Swedish Vasaloppet, is ready for this weekend’s Swedish ski premiere. But the goal is further into the season. Source: Skidsport.com/Glid Svard won Vasaloppet for the second time last season. He is ready for a new season, but it didn’t start well for the long-distance specialist. – I was sick with myco plasma in May and June, but has been training well after that, says...
The 2005 50-kilometer classic World Champion, Frode Estil wants to race for gold in the 15-kilometer classic in the 2006 Torino Olympics. But he has not yet succeeded in finding a real “Estil hill†in the Pragelato courses. http://www.fasterskier.com/racing2032.html New Hill Climb Record For Frode Estil http://www.fasterskier.com/news2468.html One of Estil’s greatest trademarks is his enormous acceleration and turnover in hills toward the end of a race. He used that to perfection at the end of...
Anders Aukland captured silver in the 50-kilometer at Worlds last winter, but got the majority of the season ruined due to illness. He is now looking forward to fight for medals again. Anders Aukland
Leading the reigns of the U.S. National Team Trond, talk to us about leading the reigns of the U.S. National Ski Team. Mind sharing the ideas and objectives you have put on the table from taking over after Salt Lake? At the Ski Team we’ve been working on teamwork and being professional, pro athletes. These two, that been our biggest changes. As a team, coaches and athletes together, we’ve created a professional environment. We do...
He has never race a good 50-kilometer race, but Norwegian Tore Ruud Hofstad has geared his training toward the Olympic 50-kilometer skate race. Tor Ruud Hofstad and Norway cruised into the finish for the gold medal in the 4 x 10-k relay at Worlds. He also skied on the winning 2-person sprint relay team with Tor Arne Hetland.
FasterSkier.com did eight workouts in five days with Canadian National team skier and 2002 Olympic gold medalist Beckie Scott last week. We asked her some questions and included some photos from the workouts. Beckie, can you give us an update as to how your summer has gone and where you are in your training right now? – For the most part, things have gone really well. Spring was fairly typical for me with lots of...
Age: 26 Profession: Sales Clerk — Running Store Ski Club/Team: XC Oregon Hometown: Ripton, Vermont Current Residence: Bend, Oregon School: University of Vermont Athletic Accomplishments: • 2005 American Ski Marathon Series Champion • 6th in US National 10km, and 50km, 2005 • 2005 Champion: Minnesota Finlandia, Craftsbury Marathon, and Lake Placid Loppet Dave with girlfriend and biathlete Haley Johnson taking one for the team, USST Camp Lake Placid
A few days after I returned from New Zealand in August, I received a cryptic email from the US Ski Team boys who were still training down under: “What up? Skiing is still great. We’re starting to get a little bit bored, though. We heard a rumor that Chambo got married. Any information you can supply would be greatly appreciated.†David Chamberlain has quietly become one of the best skiers in the US. After a...
US top female skier, Rebecca Dussault didn’t ski to her potential last season and lost her national team spot. We asked her about what went wrong, USSA coaches, summer and fall training, altitude training, motivation and goals. Rebecca, we haven't heard much about you this spring and summer. Are you still training hard and preparing for the 2006 Olympics? – My preparations for the 2006 Olympics are on track.. I have been spending a much...
Age: 23 Profession: Bartender/Server Ski Club/Team: Auburn Ski Club Hometown: Brownsville, CA (aka. Podunkville). In the middle of nowhere, two hours from the snow. Current Residence: XL Fischer duffel bag Other times Valley of the Moon Park, Anchorage, AK School: University of Alaska — Anchorage Ride: 96′ Honda Civic EX. Black with gold trim. In the summer a Zebra striped Specialized Allez Comp or a 70’s Peugeot cruiser. Athletic Accomplishments: • 5th in 10km classic,...
Zack Simons Age: 24 Profession: Ski Racer… Some design work, graphic and web… Fair amount of XBOX. Ski Club/Team: Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation- Olympic Development Team Hometown: Straight off the streets of Park City… Utah Current Residence: the gems area- Ketchum, Idaho w/ roommate C. Cook School: University of Utah (2005 1st Round Draft Picks- NBA and NFL) Ride: 20AE VW GTI sitting on 19″ Oz Rims Other Ride: 46″ Sector 9 Longboard (Skateboard)...
Trond, the FasterSkier.com article on August 26 called: USST September and October Training Camp Schedule showed a very interval and strength oriented approach. USST skier Kris Freeman, photo courtesy of Fischer Skis Has your approach to intervals changed from last season? We have changed our intensity period a little from last year. Last year we did 14 L4 interval sessions in 10 days. The main problem we encountered was that the athletes did the intervals...
Years of hard work paid off with a bronze medal in the sprint at the 2005 Worlds for Canadian Sara Renner. FasterSkier.com asked her about support, motivation, training, goals and the 2006 Olympics. Background articles: Tuesday’s Big Event At Worlds: Individual Classic Sprint http://www.fasterskier.com/racing1988.html Comments From Bronze Medalist Sara Renner How does being a medalist change your own motivation and outlook for the 2006 Olympics? – I know I can fight to win now whereas...
Colin Rodgers on a training run in Alaska this spring
Over the next few days, FasterSkier.com and Fischer Skis will be introducing you to the members of the new FSx racing team. Here is the first profile. Why do you like ski racing? I enjoy ski racing because it challenges me physically and mentally, and offers a great lifestyle. I have traveled all over the world and met a lot of tremendous people through ski racing. It is a great community. Why are you excited...