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Why Skiing (and Am I in the Right Birkie Wave?): Part III

FasterSkierFebruary 23, 2018

In March of 2016, we published an article penned by Scott “Bjorn” Cummings, a Postbaccalaureate student working towards his Academic Behavorial Strategist K-12 (ABS) Special Education License at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), titled “Part II” update in September. Here’s his latest Birkie leadup piece. *** The annual benchmark nordic ski race is here. The American Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wisconsin, for nordic skiers is like the Hajj in Mecca for Muslims. Everyone who is physically and...

Biathlon Biathlon Canada Canadian National Ski Team General Lifestyle Olympics Racing Resources US Biathlon US Ski Team

FasterSkier’s Unofficial Guide to 2018 Olympic Cross-Country and Biathlon Suits

Jason AlbertFebruary 16, 2018

FasterSkier would like to thank Fischer Sport USA, Concept2, Olympic cross-country and biathlon cheat sheet, and not long after, we received a comment from a reader asking for a uniform cheat sheet. We, too, found ourselves sometimes befuddled. During Saturday’s skiathlon, this reporter found himself looking for the emblematic stars on the U.S. Ski Team’s new unis. There were stars, think Diggins and Kalla, just no obvious stellar-like branding on the USST suits. So for you and for us,...

Interviews Lifestyle Multimedia Nordic Nation Podcasts

Nordic Nation: Vordenberg’s Call to Action/Climate Challenge

Jason AlbertFebruary 9, 2018

Part 1, and here. Does your team already have a climate or climate activism project? Let us know what it is and we can share it with our community! Contact Pete Vordenberg with questions, ideas and to register your team. pvatuphillskier@gmail.com (To subscribe to the Nordic Nation podcast channel, download the iTunes app. If you have iTunes, subscribe to Nordic Nation here.)

General Health Lifestyle Training

Closing the Gap: Head Games

FasterSkierJanuary 16, 2018

Editor’s Note: The following is part of a series proposed by Maks Zechel, a 20-year-old Canadian cross-country skier embarking on his first season training abroad. In August, he made the big move to Norway, where he’ll be training and racing with Team Asker for the entire winter. Through these updates, Maks hopes to share his personal “observations, stories and lessons learned” to help close the gap between North American and Scandinavian nordic skiing. Previous posts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. ...

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Opinion Resources Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 12

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 25, 2017

DDay 2 | Day 4 | Day 6 | 7 | Day 9 | Day 11 *** Day 12: Masters World Cup Total World Domination Package Day Twelve. We made it. Wow. Sure, we lost a few along the way, good men (and women, though most women were likely smart enough to not set foot on this sinking ship in the first place) As a quick aside, I bartended at Smullin’s rehearsal dinner, so I naturally wore a name tag...

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Opinion Racing Resources Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 11

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 24, 2017

DDay 2 | Day 4 | Day 6 | 7 | Day 9 | Neck Gaiter Since the alpine vs. nordic debate can be a bit of a contentious one, we’re going to easy into today’s offerings with a product that straddles the line nicely — a neck gaiter. These are awesome for both alpine and nordic — and this is not just any gaiter, this is the “$22 at BeccaRorabaugh.com *** $30 – $99 L.L. Bean U.S. Ski...

Gear Reviews General Lifestyle Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 10

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 23, 2017

DDay 2 | Day 4 | Day 6 | 7 | Day 9 *** Day 10: Tech Tech — what exactly does that mean? Technology? Phones that cost >$1k but still die after being exposed to cold for less than an hour? Michigan Tech? The dudes who stay up late drinking and prepping skis? All of these? None of these? Inquiring minds want to know. In the vernacular that I am establishing here is it really more of the...

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FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 9

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 21, 2017

DDay 2 | Day 4 | Day 6 | 7 | Ride your bike? I rode my bike across the country several years ago and while it was awesome, it’s probably not the most time-efficient manner of travel, in particular in the winter. And that was before cell phones, so nowadays, thanks to distracted drivers, you’d probably be dead within 50 miles of your house. Walk? We’re not far from this being your best option. Thankfully, all is not...

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Opinion Resources Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 7

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 18, 2017

DDay 2 | Day 4 | Day 6 *** Day 7: Nordic Tech Since no one has more style, steez and flow than the FBD, we’re going to mix it up a bit today and bring in, for lack of a better expression, an expert guest speaker to help walk us through today’s gift suggestions for Nordic Tech. I actually tapped into two experts for today’s gift ideas, Nathan Schultz from Boulder Nordic Sport and Zach Caldwell...

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FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 6

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 15, 2017

Day 1 | Day 3 | Day 5 *** Day 6: Kick-Ass Gear There is gear and then there is kick-ass gear. You know what I’m talking about — that backpack that you got in college, have taken all over the world, and is still going strong? Those skis that always seem to do well in testing despite getting “a little long in the tooth.” Your lucky “windies,” the wind briefs that have help guide you...

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 5

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 13, 2017

Day 1 | Day 3 | Great Dane/neighbor pizza incident, thanks to the Tactipup collar “restraint handle,” I was able to apprehend my monster as he was making a run for the delicious smelling pizza before any real damage was done. Sure adequate training and even a slightly above average canine I.Q. would also be effective abatement, but sadly, those both seem to be in short supply with this particular beast. These collars are also incredibly...

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FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 4

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 12, 2017

Day 1 | Day 3 *** Day 4: Casual Wear Even though I clearly established on Day 2 with training clothing, and on glove model, but did you know that this hunky Dartmouth graduate also has a vision to “Make Skiing Great Again?” It’s true. Now before everyone gets all worked up that we (really, he, in particular if you are mad – write Zach, NOT me) are normalizing the theme that this hat is...

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FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 3

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 11, 2017

Day 1 | Day 1, since one loves you like I do, I am going to share my tried and true path to enlightenment, happiness and ski speed: Step 1: Embrace the grind. Step 2: Buy all of the gear listed below and use it exactly as prescribed. Step 3: Go ski. Step 4: Bask in the awesomeness that we have together created. Step 5: Lather, rinse, repeat. Step 6: (Optional) Buy a Great Dane....

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FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 2

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 8, 2017

his SuperTour win last Sunday and I told him that it was nice to see a good guy win. His response was excellent too, as he asked me, “Thanks FBD, but honestly, are there any guys out here who aren’t good guys that you wouldn’t want to see win?” This is such a good point and it goes to show you that even at the highest level in the sport, those fighting tool and nail...

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FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 1

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 7, 2017

Right off the line with the hole shot, the first item is probably also one of the most effective. And certainly the most cost-effective: the trusty foam roller. Available for less than $20, my entire test team (along with countless other athletes) all agreed that some form of this item is basically indispensable. In fact, physical therapist to the stars (and U.S. Ski Team), Dave Cieslowski, once told me, “FBD, probably about 80 percent...

General Lifestyle Places to Ski

Reminder: Tell Us Where There’s Snow!

FasterSkierNovember 2, 2017

Just a friendly reminder that the deadline to let us know about early season ski destinations or venues is fast approaching. We’ll extend it through the weekend (and give Mother Nature a little more time to shape up into her winter self), but if you’d like your favorite spot featured in this year’s U.S. or info@fasterskier.com with the subject line “Fall Skiing” by Sunday, Nov. 5.

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Closing the Gap: Brain Training

FasterSkierOctober 31, 2017

Editor’s Note: The following is part of a series proposed by Maks Zechel, a 20-year-old Canadian cross-country skier embarking on his first season training abroad. In August, he recently made the big move to Norway, where he’ll be training and racing with Team Asker for the entire winter. Through these updates, Maks hopes to share his personal “observations, stories and lessons learned” to help close the gap between North American and Scandinavian nordic skiing. Previous posts: #2, #4, #6....

General Health Interviews Lifestyle Masters News Racing Resources Training

Going It Alone, with Help from Friends: Social Support and Exercise Behavior in Birkie Racers

Chelsea LittleOctober 19, 2017

Part I of this interview discussed findings about general health and exercise habits of American Birkebeiner participants compared to the general public. You can catch up on that piece said at the time. Researchers Paul Anderson and Ralph Bovard received survey responses from more than 5,000 people who had participated in the American Birkebeiner, a cross-country ski marathon held every year in Wisconsin. While the survey asked about exercise, general health status, and behavior, it...

General Lifestyle Places to Ski

Early Snow in Canada, Call for Submissions

Gerry FursethOctober 17, 2017

When you think of skiing in Canada in October, Canmore’s Frozen Thunder is probably one of the first places that comes to mind. There are more options and some snowmaking that might surprise you. This month, Canadians are skiing on natural snow, machine-made snow and farmed snow. We know skiers are already out and about in Alaska and other parts of the U.S. as well, which is why we want this year’s early season “U.S....

General Health Interviews Lifestyle Masters News Racing Resources Training

Birkie Health Survey Underscores Link Between Exercise and Healthy Behavior

Chelsea LittleOctober 16, 2017

Back in 2014, Paul Anderson and his colleague, Ralph Bovard, set out to study the health habits of cross-country skiers by surveying those who participated in the American Birkebeiner (“the Birkie”), a cross-country ski marathon in Wisconsin. “We wanted to understand and characterize the role of social support for exercise among Birkie skiers,” Anderson explained in an email this month. “Dr. Bovard and myself are both Birkie skiers and we have both experienced how the...

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