Quotes, observations and photos from the Frozen Thunder freestyle distance, classic sprint and skate-sprint qualifier last week in Canmore, Alberta. “Frozen Thunder is definitely a huge asset to western North America. There is no doubt that it helps get you into ski shape long before the season starts,” local skier Russell Kennedy states.
Who says work and play can't be mixed? Team Hardwood Head Coach Ron Howden shares a friendly hockey workout, played on rollerskis, that includes an agility drills warmup followed by a classic game of puck-chasing.
You've been waiting, and here it is: FasterSkier's comprehensive rollerski review of some of the best "whap sticks" out there for offseason classic training. Don't do much classic rollerskiing? You should change that.
Need to train hills, but you don't live in the mountains? Caitlin Gregg and Loppet Nordic Racing are here to show you how to get a killer interval workout off just 175 feet of vertical.
After a month of sending emails and sifting through footage, Hannah Halvorsen produced a five-minute video seeking to bring awareness about body image and disordered eating among cross-country skiers. Since she published it last Friday, it's accumulated more than 3,000 views.
U.S. Ski Team and Alaska Pacific University skier Sadie Bjornsen has seen a few changes this summer including an increase in monthly training hours and the number of those sessions with her teammate Kikkan Randall. "It was definitely a new level of training for me, but I felt like I was able to absorb it, so that was cool," Bjornsen said.
It's back to school and the World Cup for U.S. Ski Team A-teamer Ida Sargent. Based out of Craftsbury, the Vermont native has been mindful to keep her training quality high. As she readies for the first World Cup in late November, she'll also keep her mind sharp while taking online classes in public health.
Nordic has upstaged tubing in North Creek, N.Y., where a state-operated alpine area has made FIS-homologated, cross-country ski trails a priority. Along with 2.5 k and 3.3 k race loops, the Ski Bowl also has snowmaking, lights, and coming soon, Wi-Fi.
Not such a great summer for the Norwegian Ski Federation and Martin Johnsrud Sundby; now add Therese Johaug to that list. In this podcast episode, FasterSkier Editor-at-Large Chelsea Little discusses these doping cases and the recent IOC meetings where much was discussed, but perhaps not so much decided upon. Have a listen.
Often associated with Scandinavian culture, the concept of friluftsliv has helped shaped the nordic ski communities we all know. In Bend, Ore., a museum exhibit called "Winter Comes" celebrates the legacy of friluftsliv.
It’s not just a truism that one of the best ways to get good at going fast is to practice going fast. At least that’s the principle that Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center (APU) coach Galen Johnston brings to bear when working with his athletes, no matter their age level or experience.
U.S. Ski Team member Noah Hoffman tackles our "17 Questions" series, revealing a summer of concerts and cornhole while he tries to conserve energy and improve recovery from an increased training load.
To double pole or not to double pole: sometimes it's not even a question for strong-enough skiers. We spoke to a few well-informed individuals on FIS's 83-percent rule and gathered their opinions.
Either on snow or on pavement, this workout offers an easy approach to lending how to cue and fire the glutes while skate skiing, something physical therapist Dave Cieslowski says will improve your skiing efficiency.
Eleven Craftsbury Green Racing Project skiers and three coaches took their training to Slovenia and Austria this month to check out Planica's new ski tunnel (in a three-level parking garage) then more snow time 9,000 feet above sea level at the Dachstein glacier.
"The goals of the workout are to increase classic striding leg speed and explosiveness, make neuromuscular gains, and increase aerobic capacity," explains Chris Mallory, new head coach of the SVSEF Gold Team. "The workout is fairly short and sweet, but very effective, and it helps to sharpen the athletes up as we near race season."
Race results and records from the last 10 year of the Climb to the Castle rollerski race up Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, N.Y., courtesy of the New York Ski Educational Foundation. Guess who's won it five times?
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.