US Biathlon is looking for "talented endurance athletes who are interested in becoming world-class competitors" to attend its third-annual talent identification camp June 19-23 in Lake Placid, N.Y.
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There is really only one way to become a faster skier. Train. We will keep you inspired with training reports from the best around, as well as articles on specific workouts and suggestions on how to improve your own training. Use the links below to view articles in a specific sub-category, or srcoll down to view all Training articles.
To kick off the offseason, we bring you a Throwback Workout from two years ago: hill climbing then descending ("norpining") at the Middlebury Ski Bowl, or whatever somewhat snow-covered hill is near you.
One name notably absent from the World Cup results this year is Kikkan Randall. As the U.S. Ski Team veteran nears the due date of her first child, she talks about pregnancy, training and how next season might look. "We'll go over to Europe early next year as a family," she explains. "While it’s a lot to figure out, we've got some time and we've got some good options."
An APU skier and University of Alaska-Anchorage professor shares the story of his experience at last month's Marcialonga. "The Italians are famous for their snowmaking, but it's still impressive to see a 70 k long white stripe of manmade snow that runs along an otherwise brown valley," the author recalls.
Wednesday Workout: Mid-Season Speed with Annika Taylor
Kaitlyn PattersonFebruary 10, 2016
Looking for a mid-season workout that's both effective but not too taxing? Annika Taylor of the British World Cup team has one for you: a sprint workout with short intervals on varying terrain. "The workout focuses both on the neuromuscular (limb speed) required in sprinting and improving anaerobic capacity," describes Taylor.
Add a little "speed play" into your training, following the natural variation of terrain and conditions, and you could find the less-regimented workout has a lot of benefits. Push yourself and keep track of progress with an app like Strava.
Double-pole Revolution? Thirty Percent of Teams Penalized at Norwegian Nationals Relay
Chelsea LittleFebruary 2, 2016
"It was a tough decision," TD John Aalberg told FasterSkier. "But we wanted to prove a point or put it on the agenda: if everybody starts to double pole, and if you loosen up the rules at the same time, that’s the end of classic skiing." The race jury released video of the infractions to the public.
Välbe’s Asthma Comments Off The Mark, Medical and Scientific Community Says
Chelsea LittleJanuary 29, 2016
A few things are clear: athletes, in particular winter endurance and pool athletes, have a high incidence of airway hyper-responsiveness, much of which may be undiagnosed. This can be treated with inhalers, which are not banned by WADA and have been repeatedly shown not to be performance-enhancing. And - those athletes can win.
Living the Dream: Ultimate Puffies Gear Review
FasterSkierJanuary 27, 2016
For the second installment of the "Living the Dream: The Gear Review You'll Actually Enjoy Reading", columnist and reviewer FBD takes us through an assortment of puffies: the big-boy, hard-hitting and weather-withstanding ultimate puffies, and even a bonus snorkel jacket.
What's the hardest workout Tad Elliott did before winning the 30 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals? The Crumble Workout. It involves all-out intervals and reduced rest in between. The goal: to blow up on the last or second-to-last interval.
Shin pain is no joke -- shin splints, bony stress injuries and exertional compartment syndrome are becoming increasingly common among cross-country skiers. Here is some help in identifying and differentiating between the three causes of lower-leg pain.
The winner of the last World Cup sprint in Oberstdorf, Germany, Sophie Caldwell shares some insight on race prep: “A lot of skiers do a bit of a shorter harder workout to wake the body up the day before a race. I found that doing this right before a race often tired me out..." she explains.
This week's workout comes from the eastern edge of the U.S. in Fort Kent, Maine. With plenty of snow ski on, the Maine Winter Sports Center biathlon program completed a head-to-head shooting workout that can be adapted to a non-shooting interval workout for cross-country skiers.
At long last, for the big items on your list (or what could be), $200-and-up gift ideas. And with that the Holiday Gift Guide is complete. Happy Holidays!
2015 FasterSkier Holiday Gift Guide: $75-200
Alex KochonDecember 17, 2015
Oh, the things you can buy for the cross-country skier or all-around winter enthusiast! Go crazy with a cool duffel, toasty warm boots or overboots, a Strider bike made for little skiers, and more!
2015 FasterSkier Holiday Gift Guide: $25-75 (Updated)
Alex KochonDecember 16, 2015
Willing to spend a little more than $25 but less than $80? Check out these extra-thoughtful and wicked-cool gift ideas.
It's here! FasterSkier’s Holiday Gift Guide, divided into four categories by price points, is meant to help you manage the holidays, whether it's browsing you seek or last-minute shopping ideas.
Looking for a workout you can do year-round, with or without snow? Momentum Northwest's Sam Naney has one for you, and it incorporates strength, speed, endurance, and agility/technique, all in one.
This week's workout comes from Kari Øyre Slind, and it's one the 24-year-old Norwegian cross-country skier only does once or twice a year. “This workout is really tough, but I also feel that it really lifts me to a new level," she explains.
Colds and flu are an inevitable part of winter. Athletes who limit their exposure, get vaccinated for seasonal flu and follow a physician-approved return to training plan can protect themselves from the dangerous consequences of getting sick and maximize their time out on the snow.