I never thought I would become 'one of those GPS people.' I'd seen them out on the trails occasionally. Skiers, bikers, hikers – all with a small GPS unit strapped to their arm, pack, or bike. I didn't understand the appeal. I know how to read a map, why would I ever want to carry that extra weight? Then Endless Pursuit offered to let me try out their GPS/website system. Boy has my opinion changed....
Sticky Wax One of Norway’s two top stone-grinders, Olav Stuveseth says that he will resign as “grinder†for the Norwegian National teams unless he sees some radical changes. The wax team can fall apart if Stuveseth quits. “I called Bjornar Hakensmoen on Monday and told him that I have lost the desire to be a part of this since they are not able to organize themselves. It’s impossible to do your best with the current...
It has been a very long time since the US have had skiers that can win a world cup, Olympics or a world championships. Today we have several skiers who have proven they can be competitive and contend for the win every weekend. We have not won a race yet, but it is close and it can happen any weekend. Not long ago, we were excited when an athlete scored world cup points. That has...
This past weekend was truly a great reminder of what many Olympic volunteers and Cross-Country ski enthusiasts pictured as the true Olympic legacy of Soldier Hollow. The venue was filled with 260 young junior skiers racing on much of the 2002 Olympic 5-km course (modified somewhat), starting and finishing in the Olympic stadium while their names were listed on the large scoreboards. At the same time, totally separated from the race venue, several hundred more...
FasterSkier coverage of US Nationals is
2-3 of Thomas Alsgaard’s best ski pairs are now in Norwegian National team skier Havard Bjerkeli’s possession. That can be an important factor and trump card during the season. Last years silver medal winner from the World Championship believes that the skis are equally as important in sprint racing as in regular competitions. Alsgaard “Thomas wax technician was very good in taking care of his skis. I hope my technician will do the same. I...
Former US Ski Team Coach and World Cup skier Jim Galanes says regarding Fasterskier.com October 18 Editorial article Dopers Tarnish the Sport for all of us “Thanks for posting the good article on doping”. He continues: “In light of the recent scandal in US Track & Field it is clear that bigger penalties must be exercised. This last event has shown that not only are team leaders, coaches and athletes looking for an advantage, but...
On October 21st, Canadian Beckie Scott will get her Muehlegg stole other athletes’ glory and money They make a joke of the Olympics, turn the event into a scandal, and they are welcomed back!? The only real solution, as far as I'm concerned is jail time for the offenders, and not ever a chance to race international competitions again. Some skiers never got a fair chance Last week I translated an article about
The Norwegians Cross Country Team wants to get ahead of their competitors and are (once again) spending a large amount of money on altitude training and ski testing. Norwegian Newspaper VG reports: A total of 32 Norwegian cross-country skiers are starting their Val Senales,Italy on-snow altitude camp on October 9th — 16 days before the start of the sprint World Cup in Düsseldorf. The Norwegian team hopes to accomplish a head start on their competitors...
This is meant to, among other things, be an attempt to start categorizing and recognizing those skiers who are really fit over the age of 40 (or maybe I should start at age 30?). I’m taking about skiers in the category that are not gunning for Olympic or National team status. It would be nice if someone representing US masters would take these ideas and develop some kind of nation wide point system and come...
The goal of the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is very clear — “to be the best in the World” (USSA President Bill Marolt). This statement is also repeated on most every statement and communication from the USSA Office, including the USSA Cross-Country office. How can this goal be reached in Cross-Country, a sport where progress goes painstakingly slow, and where it is commonly known that it takes 10 years of hard, systematic and...
About a month ago, I got my hands on Atomic's new RS:11 Skate ski. I immediately got them mounted and waxed and couldn't wait to try them out. Only one problem – no snow. The skiing in my neck of the woods has been marginal at best and I was not going to risk these new racing machines on minimal snow. So I waited, and waited. Finally, over the past week we have had great...
For years, I have been surprised when I have read articles in places like "Master Skier" where National Team skiers from the US and Scandinavia have been referred to as Masters Skiers just because they have just turned 30 years old. Olympic Champions like Bjorn Daehlie and Vegard Ulvang of Norway and US National Team members Justin Wadsworth, John Bauer and Patrick Weaver have all been categorized as master skiers — in my opinion they...
If any of you out there have friends who just don't get cross country skiing, you need to sit them down and make them watch the new video, Generation X-Ski. If your friends, co-workers, or fellow classmates still think of your sport as wool-knickers, wooden skis, and shuffling through the woods, then this video is your evidence to the contrary. Generation X-Ski is aptly titled because it features a younger generation of skiers who are...
Just when you think that the ski companies have thought of everything, they come up with something new. And I am pretty sure that not many people saw this one coming. Atomic Ski recently announced they have found that placing structure in the top sheet (ie. the top of the ski) of their high end classic and skate skis improves the flex and overall speed. “We have been putting very deep structure in the bases...
On Monday, January 6, I stood in the stadium at Black Mountain in Rumford, Maine looking over the results from the day’s 10K Freestyle race at US Nationals. I had finished 59th. And even though the last time we had Nationals in Rumford (1999) I had finished 4th, 6th, 6th and 10th in the races, I was not upset about my 59th place. In fact, I was feeling pretty good about my day, until… I...