BSF skier Jennie Bender answers common questions about recovery: "How do you know when to listen to fatigue, and when to slap it in the face?" she writes. "If you take a rest week from training, how should you feel? What does a rest week mean?"
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Skiing is more than just a sport, it is a way of life. Articles discussing the life style of a Nordic skier, as well as suggestions to bring balance.
It's that time of year, and we've got a quick-and-easy recipe for the time-crunched athlete -- a spiced-up alternative to traditional oatmeal for those autumn mornings.
Skier, Lawyer and Advocate: Williams Accepts CCC Women’s Committee Chair Role
Alex KochonOctober 7, 2014
We caught up with new CCC Women's Committee Chair Madeleine Williams, a former national-team member and 2010 Olympian who's passionate about keeping Canadian females in elite sports and has made public recommendations on gender equality.
At 22, Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt hasn't taken the most conventional road as an up-and-coming Canadian skier, but she's developed training smarts through experience and is now working toward U23 World Championships, Canada's 2016 World Cups and the 2018 Olympics with Rocky Mountain Racers in Canmore.
Fresh off his wedding day, Bryan Fletcher gives some advice for how to keep your energy levels high, stay productive and get the most out of your workouts even during the busiest of times.
The Hungry Skier: Fall Single-Serving Smoothies
BrainspiralSeptember 29, 2014
Beets, kale, apple crisp, maple syrup -- these are ingredients you could be using in your smoothie this morning, afternoon or evening -- before or after your workout. Check out some creative ideas from Runner's World.
NDC Thunder Bay Returns to Birkie Land for Hayward Camp
BrainspiralSeptember 5, 2014
The National Development Centre of Thunder Bay made its way south for its final dryland camp of the year. From Aug. 16 to 27, NDC Thunder Bay athletes could be found rolling along the roads near Hayward, Wis. "There was a nice variety of terrain so we could concentrate on exactly the technique and training aspect we were focusing on for any particular training session,” coach Timo Puiras explains.
We caught up with Canadian Junior National Team member Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier, of Montreal and now Quebec City, who reached his goal last season of a top 20 at Junior World Championships in placing 14th in the 10-kilometre classic in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
Put to Work in Nicaragua, Nine Canadians Got Dirty for Skiers 4 SchoolBOX
Ezekiel WilliamsAugust 26, 2014
Nine Canadian skiers, headed by Olympian Perianne Jones, were involved in the fundraising and on-site construction work of a school in Nicaragua. Fasterskier talked earlier this month with Jones and a couple of her "Skiers 4 SchoolBOX" accomplices about their experience this spring.
Good Monday morning! Hungry? We've got you covered. How about a nice bowl of Oat Bran with Cherries & Almonds to get you started?
Ultimate Refueling Contest Winners and Other Entries
BrainspiralAugust 19, 2014
The results are in for the Ultimate Refueling Contest! We had some pretty amazing submissions which made the task of choosing three winners incredibly tough. However, after much deliberation we have chosen the Katrina Howe and her "Energy Bombs" as our grand prize winner!
With another World Cup crystal globe in hand, Finnish biathlete Kaisa Mäkäräinen, 31, is gearing up for another season and World Championships at home in Kontiolahti. It hasn't been easy: she was sick for two months from May through June.
A swimming prodigy in his younger days, Andy Newell, 29, still goes back to the water for workouts a couple times a month. "I always do open-water swimming because it's way more exciting," he says of one of his go-to aquatic activities. The others? Surfing and stand-up paddling.
Defunding Deadline in the Rearview, U.S. NoCo Forges Ahead with USA Ski Jumping
Alex KochonAugust 1, 2014
Back in April, July 31 seemed like dark cloud looming in the distance. But it wasn't that far off, and fortunately for U.S. Nordic Combined, it wasn't all that dreary. "Things are moving forward for sure, and it’s a little bit more hopeful than in April," head coach Dave Jarrett says, explaining that he kept his job and hopes to have two other coaches and two wax techs help him this season.
From June 28 to July 1, the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center held its third-annual Masters Glacier Camp, hosting nine skiers ranging in age from their 30s to their early 70s. While Pyeongchang may be decidedly out of reach for these nine older athletes, it could be argued that no group of Eagle Glacier skiers — this month or ever — will have more fun.
Dasha Gaiazova was on the fence about continuing her ski career after the 2014 Olympics.The Russian-born Canadian had competed at back-to-back home Olympics, and in May, she wasn't named to Canada's World Cup or senior development teams. "I felt like I wanted to keep racing," she recalled. “The team got announced and I didn't get on the team, and I was like, I gotta think about some things.”
Cool off with a protein-packed, peaches-and-cream dessert that you can make in an afternoon and enjoy for the rest of the weekend.
No, no, it's not paddle boating: stand-up paddle boarding requires balance, strength and technique, all things that could translate to improved skiing come winter. Plus, it's a fun cross-training option for oh-so-hot summer days.
Sometimes a complicated meal just isn’t going to happen. This postworkout meal, one-pot quinoa, chicken and veggies, is brimming with high-quality carbohydrates and protein without a lot of fuss. If you have leftovers, it also makes a great lunch.
Post-Retirement, Crawford Hits the Books Hard, Gets into Calgary’s MBA Program
Alex KochonJune 19, 2014
Chandra Crawford stuck with skiing long after winning gold as a U23 at the 2006 Olympics because she remembered when Beckie Scott and Sara Renner explained "it would take ten years to get good." She committed, and after three Olympics, Crawford, 30, retired from the sport to pursue higher education -- cutting right to the chase with an MBA to better serve Fast and Female.