Opinion Archives - Page 2 of 6

After Jamaican Doping News, Johaug (and Others) Should Be Mad

Plenty of athletes, such as Therese Johaug, have been suspended from sport based on the concept of "strict liability": they are responsible for any prohibited substance which enters their body. The IOC has forgone that principle in dealing with Jamaican sprinters at the 2008 Olympics.

Guest Editorial: Why Norway Withdrew Olympic Bid, and What We Can Learn

John Aalberg, senior consultant to the Oslo Bid Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games, weighs in on why Norway pulled out of the game this month, while encouraging Salt Lake to aim for 2026.

Rollerskiing for the Rest of Us? A Beginner’s Guide

Are your a winter warrior but springtime sally when it comes to skiing? This author asks the question that several not-so-elite skiers might be dying to ask: are rollerskis right for us mortals, and if so, how do we use them without risking road rash?

Consequences of Northug’s Mess Up Can Be a Lesson (Editorial)

One author's take on the whole Northug fiasco, including the consequences it could hold for the 28-year-old Norwegian skiing star.

Adventures in Birkie Land: A First-Timer’s Experience at the American Birkebeiner

This past weekend, nearly the entirety of the adult population of Midwestern skiers made their way to Hayward for the annual get-together of the ski community: The Birkie. The American Birkebeiner (or Birkie, for short), is the biggest ski race in North America. For many skiers, the race represents their culmination of training for the whole year. Read a first-timer's perspective on the race, the trail, and Birkie Fever.

Fast & Female…and Classy

With the Super Tour in our neighborhood last week we got to see some fast skiing! Craftsbury Outdoor Center hosted the tour finals and closed out the week with a Fast & Female Clinic on Sunday. Several girls in our...

Magical City Sprinting

All 2012 FIS World Cup Finals coverage is brought to you through the generous support of Fischer Sports USA, proud sponsors of Kikkan Randall, 2012 overall Sprint Cup Champion. STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Just about every athlete...

More on Rob Kiesel’s History Making

Former USST coach Rob Kiesel died in Joseph, Ore., on October 24th. While the nordic community across the globe mourns his loss, Kiesel was also remembered for his innovative work during the glide-wax revolution. Marty...

UNH Coach Weighs In On Committing to Skiing and the Value of Networking

FasterSkier had the chance to catch up with Corey Schwartz, Head Ski Coach of University of New Hampshire (UNH) to get some of his thoughts on skiing. Schwartz has been the head director of the UNH ski program for 25 years,...

Strong Finishes for North Americans on IBU Cup, but is Increased European Presence Best for Domestic Biathlon?

This year, the U.S. Biathlon Association (USBA) had a radical shift in its athlete development strategy: instead of sending a full squad to the World Cup and leaving the rest of the American biathlon field at home, they...

Södergren Frustrated By Evolution of XC Skiing

The lack of a World Cup 50K race has Soedergren frustrated. “XC skiing is well on its way to lose its identity and its character,” Soedergren said to zsport.se.

2010 US Olympic Cross Country Ski Team – 8 of 10 Use Swix Ski Poles

Morgan Arritola, Ketchum, ID,23 SWIX Holly Brooks, Anchorage, AK, 27, SWIX Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, MN 29, SWIX Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 29, SWIX Torin Koos, Leavenworth, WA, 29, EXEL Garrott Kuzzy,...

US Nationals: Half-Full or Half-Empty

Another US Nationals has come and gone - and as usual the week featured big fields, great battles, enthusiastic crowds, and lots of hard work by organizers and volunteers. It seems that every year that there is a burst of...

A Failure of the US Ski Community: Will you even bother to read this?

We launched the Sean McCabe Memorial Fundraiser just over a week ago. In that time we have raised $2500 - reason to celebrate? I don't think so. Last night a reader posted the following comment on the fundraiser update....

Nordic Skiing Must Become Greener

One month ago, the nordic ski world participated in an international day of action in conjunction with 350.org. Some elite racers sponsored events of their own, while numerous others participated in the assorted events of the...

Nordic Club or High School Athletic Program

I was asked to comment on high school and club Nordic skiing. I’ll take this opportunity to discuss my personal thoughts and experiences on how high school and clubs can work together to be extremely effective.

The Clash of Clubs And Teams

Two weeks ago, Matthew Voisen put together an article describing blanket regulations enforced by associations that govern high school athletics, and how they appear excessive when applied to high school skiing programs. Some readers posted very informative comments about similar situations around the country, and it quickly reminded me of the extremely contentious relationships between high school programs and their elite club counterparts.