Norwegian national team skiers are tired and frustrated of knowing that that many of their competitors are seldom being doping tested. They are now demanding that FIS is stepping up in their hunt for doping violators, reports Norwegian newspaper VG (
Source: Norwegian newspaper VG: French cross country skiing star Vincent Vittoz has tested positive for doping only two weeks before the start of the Nordic World Championship in Oberstdorf, Germany. Vittoz is number two in the overall World Cup. Vittoz is tested positive in tests taken at the World Cup races in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic on January 15. The name of the substance that was found in the sample has not been released yet....
Source: Langrenn.com Vibeke Skofterud and Kine Beate Bjornas have been sent home from the Norwegian altitude camp in Italy. Both of the girls came down with diarrhea and had to miss the pre-Olympic World Cup in Pragelato. -Kine got it first. It lasted for 12 hours. She was living in the same room as Vibeke who then also got it, says head coach Svein Tore Samdal. For Vibeke Skofterud the illness is most unfortunate since...
“Nordicly” speaking it has been a less than stellar winter to the mid-point of January trying to contest and train for the Michigan Cup. Chapter One; we had a fantastic start with a foot of great snow on Thanksgiving. It was gone in about 36 hours for most of the area. Chapter Two was the forecasted but missed snow storms. There were five of them ! Other areas (with skiers in those areas !) were...
We are frequently getting requests from (new) readers for information on skate and classic technique. Here is some information on recent technique articles, a very good skate CD-ROM called Perfect Skating and some skate and classic videos. www.fasterskier.com/training.php?id=1386 Perfect Skating CD-Rom The authors of the skate articles above made a great CD-Rom that covers all aspects of skating (race techniques, drills and exercises). Hundreds of video clips and great ideas. A great gift as well!...
The December 9-12 FasterSkier.com on-snow camp had it all: interval training, speed, strength, physiology and training talk by famous professor of physiology, wax clinic, training planning talk, lactate testing, a 10-kilometer race, video analyzes and best of all – Great Skiing! All but one ski session were held at the Olympic trails at Soldier Hollow. Some comments we got after the clinic: – I need to go home, rest and absorb all this. – This...
We are currently looking at great skiing condition at all four local cross-country ski areas for the upcoming December 9-12 on-snow training camp. Coaching staff has been added to supplement head coaches John Aalberg and Torbjorn Karlsen, and registration is still open. For more camp details see: Modern endurance and strength training Former Norwegian national team head coach and world-renowned sport physiologist Jan Helgerud will give a training talk at the Best Western/Landmark camp hotel...
In an article called Get Ready For Racing With A Time-Trial Or Pace Workout posted on November 10th I discussed some physiological advantages from doing time-trials and pace workouts. Here are some technical benefits from doing this type of training. To view the Get Ready For Racing With A Time-Trial Or Pace Workout article go to: Doing only distance training will make you realize when you get in a race that you have a long...
The Park City, Utah area is currently receiving lots of new snow and the conditions for the upcoming FasterSkier.com annual on-snow December training camp should be ideal. A former Norwegian national team Head Coach and World-renowned sport physiologists will give a eye-opening training and physiology lecture and participate as a guest coach in some of the camp workouts. The lecture should be of great interest to both athletes and coaches and will be open to...
The November issue of Fasterskier.com’s Club subscription service was sent to subscribers on November 20. The Club provides detailed, in-depth coverage of modern and interesting issues in the sport of Cross-Country. Most of the Club’s articles will cover issues related to training and racing, and will also include material for all ages and abilities, from World Cup skiers’ training to important elements of youth and age group training and skiing. The November issue This month...
Many people have been wondering about the snow conditions in West Yellowstone. We received the following report and photos today from Andy Canniff of Fischer Skis: There is plenty of snow in West Yellowstone. 3 inches of new snow as of Wed morning. We are skiing in town and the races are on. More snow for tonight and Thursday.
John Aalberg and Torbjorn Karlsen are offering an Internet based coaching service called Personal Coaching Service – or click on Detail about the program can be found by logging on to the link above, but here are is a summary: The coaches John and Torbjorn have raced and coached for many decades. John is a US National Champion, NCAA Champion, Two-time Olympian and coach of skiers of all age groups. Skiers we have coached includes...
FasterSkier posted two articles last week regarding cold weather racing. One was about cold weather racing guidelines for children ( http://www.fasterskier.com/training.php?id=1494 ). Â The technical delegate (TD) for last years Norwegian championship in Bardufoss, Petter Gronas, felt it was responsible to run the races even if it was cold. Â National team skiers Jens Arne Svartedal and Kristian Horntvedt developed asthma problems following the races at last year’s Norwegian championship that was held under very...
The race season has already started for some elite level skiers, while most racers get their season debut in late November, December or early January. The first races of the season are often a struggle, especially if you haven’t done the optimal training for racing which is time-trials or pace workouts. By struggle I’m talking about having a hard time skiing technically well, not being able to find a good start speed and finding yourself...
The popular annual Fasterskier.com on-snow December 9-12 training camp in Park City, Utah is almost fully booked. There are only eight spots left so don’t wait to sign up. This is a great opportunity for anyone that is planning on racing this season to improve his or her upcoming race results. The camp’s focus will be on how to optimize your training, get the most out of your workouts, technique and how to race faster....
The US Cross Country Team is currently in Muonio, Finland preparing for the regular World Cup opener in Ostersund Sweden on November 20-21. FIS races are on the agenda already this weekend and coach Trond Nystad reports that they currently have great training conditions. Trond, can you give us a quick situation report from Finland? – We are now in Muonio, northern Finland. The skiing is great. We have about 12-kilometers of great skiing and about...
The cold weather guideline for children decided by the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) is currently being heavily criticized. Experts are claiming that it’s irresponsible and is putting thousands of children at risk. “Craziness,” says Professor Ulf Aaseboe, chief physician of the pulmonology department at the University hospital of North Norway about NSF’s cold weather guide for skiers under 15-years old. Today it’s set at -15 Celsius (5 F).  Source: Langrenn.com
I’m Feeling Good And Has Never Been Better. Norwegian national team skier Vibeke Skofterud disappointed big time in the recent World Cup sprint race in Düsseldorf, Germany and ended up second to last in the prolog. She feels that despite this result that she is fitter and in better shape than ever.
Four Years Without Outside Competition Doping Tests For World Championship Winner Norwegian newspaper VG reports that Martin Koukal (25), of the Czech Republic who sensationally won the 50-kilometer skate race at the 2003 Worlds has not been doping- tested outside competition for more than four years. It was Koukal himself who revealed this lack of follow up from the anti-doping sector in his own country in a meeting among the racers in Pragelato this spring.