Tad Elliott explains, "Sometimes you need a good OD, have some fun with friends and enjoy hiking in the mountains. Also where else can you bag three peaks in three hours?" The answer, he found, is in Waterville Valley, N.H., where he's been training with Kris Freeman.
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.
For the Canadian World Cup Team, September entailed a trip to the Italian Alps for altitude training. Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, Lenny Valjas, Graeme Killick, and their coaches ventured to Livigno and Stelvio Pass, and joined the Norwegian men's team for some workouts.
At long last, a top-to-bottom review of some of the best-known rollerski brands on the market, with a no-BS approach and review team of seasoned skiers, including an Olympic gold medalist, world champion and veterans of World Cup ski-testing protocols.
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.
Everything's better with a group -- at least in terms of threshold interval workouts. In this "Throwback Workout" from three years ago, U.S. women's coach Matt Whitcomb explains why this was one of the best workouts he had seen back then. “It doesn’t need to be incredibly hard — today was roughly threshold and above during bursts of speed — but it was about the terrain that helped push the pace for us,” he said.
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.
Exertional compartment syndrome can ruin a ski season if not a career. In this Wednesday Workout, physical therapist Dave Cieslowski presents two exercises designed to tame a compartment syndrome flare-up.
With more than 100 athletes at the US Biathlon's development camp last week in Jericho, Vt., one of the more interesting workouts of the week was an eight-station strength session. Mix human rock climbing and shooting and you've got plenty to keep you occupied.
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.
Heart rate monitors, activity trackers, smart watches -- there is a lot of technology out there at your disposal. But what can competitive athletes use to track both physiological stresses of training and activities of daily living? You've probably heard of Firstbeat; here's a comprehensive look at the system and software.
Announcing our picks for the best ugly race photo submissions! Warning: These images may provoke sympathy pains.
The Loppet Foundation in Minneapolis is looking to fill the positions of Adventure Center Director, Marketing & Communications Manager and Sponsorship Sales Manager.
After two weeks in Norway, U.S. Ski Team sprinter Andy Newell returned with some new ideas for double poling and a better sense of why skiing is so huge there. "Maybe the coolest part about training in Norway during the summer is not just the awesome roads and cooler weather but also to get a taste of that skiing culture," he explained.
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.
Strengthen the glutes and the skis will follow. Well, maybe it's not that simple. In this Wednesday Workout, physical therapist Dave Cieslowski, of Bend, Ore., explains how we can build stronger glutes in hopes of becoming more efficient skiers.
It's never too early to start thinking about winter, or even those not-so-hot outdoor training sessions in 35-45 degree temperatures. To help you prepare, we've outlined the ideal outfit from top to bottom for these conditions.
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.
Anchorage-based reporter Gavin Kentch observes and outlines the ins-and-outs of a U.S. Ski Team classic speeds rollerski. U.S. women's coach Matt Whitcomb explains how each session is deliberately engineered and how a single workout can vary among individuals. (Includes photos and video clips)