Imagine the clean fresh oxygenated air, scented of pine, and snowflakes beckoning you to venture out into snow-hushed woods for play, health, fitness and adventure. No wonder nordic skiing is the top family winter activity. What does it take to get involved in the way of commitment or co$t? The answer is: next to nothing, whereas benefits are unparalleled – fresh air and fun in the snow. Before venturing into the great outdoors here are...
Fine Tuning of technique demands a specific methodological approach. We would like to demonstrate that by looking at the example of upper body work and arm movements during the technique “V1 skateâ€. Specific movement analyses and skilled exercises lead towards perfection of technique. The initial position represents a decisive stage of “V1 skateâ€. The proper initial position is characterized by its completed weight shift. This is the prerequisite for an ideal push-off and even more...
After the nordic ski racing season wraps (Michigan Cup races went through March 21 this year due to excellent late season snow), I try to get in shape to run the 5/3 (Sponsoring Bank, Fifth Third Bank, isn't that something ?) 25km River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, MI, concurrently the USATF 25km National Championship. I normally have a tough time getting my road running mileage volume up in time to add speedwork, while avoiding...
Greater Experiences through specific training of skating techniques. Technical training is still a widely neglected issue. However, only the skiers who consciously deal with the skating motion and who work methodologically are able to improve their movement competence. How does technical training work? Lean back, think of a snowy day in winter, and imagine how you skate along in the V2 alternate skate: a dynamic push-off and a full arm swing. Which leg carries out...
TorbjornSport Press Release – May 19, 2004 TorbjornSport ( Technique: The CD includes basic explanations for every skating technique accompanied by video sequences of world-class athletes to get you in the mood. Concise descriptions inform you about the different techniques and when they are used. The core of the chapter features detailed analyses of the skating movements including picture sequences and explanations of the fundamental phases. Jigsaw puzzles round off the discussion and increase your...
Martin Koukal, the 50-kilometer World Champion from Val di Fiemme in 2003 has climbed the Cho Oyo Mountain in the Himalayas. http://www.radekjaros.cz/fotogalerie/
Members of the Norwegian women’s team will not have skis on their feet for a six month period in their preparation for the upcoming season. Women’s coach Svein Tore Samdal is not emphasizing summer skiing for his skiers. The women’s team trained on-snow in June with the men’s team in Tignes, France last summer. That was the only snow camp before the traditional October fall camp in Val Senales, Italy. There are no snow camps...
The focus on more altitude training toward the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy started already last season for the Norwegian national teams. They are making additional adjustments this year. The 2006 Olympics is an “altitude event†and correct altitude training will be of utmost importance for the skiers results. Norway has relatively young skiers on their team and the reason for the high number of skiers sent to altitude camps last season was to (among...
Mt Rainier has been the training ground for the first American ascents of Everest and K2. Skiing Mt Rainier usually brings to mind heavy alpine touring or telemark gear. On April 25th having dispaired at low quality of the snow at lower elevations, two of us Seattle skiers have gone to explore how far 4 cm wide racing boards would take us. The answer: to about 7000 ft, or 2000 feet up from Paradise Inn....
Swedish ski star Per Elofsson is back in training, but his coach Per Rawald says that he is facing the toughest fight of his life. Elofsson is normally resting for three weeks in the spring, but his break from early this winter until spring was four months. This was following the conclusion that he was over trained.
The training season has started for members of the various US cross country teams. Many of the skiers are currently training on their own at various locations around the country, while Justin Freeman, Wendy Wagner and Andrew Johnson are training in Park City, Utah. The “official†US Ski Team Camp program starts July 15. New this year is a low altitude, high intensity camp in San Diego, California. The traditional Fairbanks camp is not on...
Last weekend I was out canoeing and it occurred to me that while quite a few cross-country skiers do some canoeing or kayaking during the summer, little has been written about its benefits. Paddling of any kind is a great upper body workout, with cardiovascular benefits as well. Like other cross-training activities, it also can provide a welcome diversion from all the rollerskiing and running that we typically do. Finally, it is a good way...
Crust Cruising the High Country on the Lightest of Skis It’s always a source of amusement for my skiing friends and I to read about the springtime “exploits†of our cross country ski brethren east of the Rocky Mountains. Their season often doesn’t start until the middle of December, and then by the end of February (or whatever day comes immediately after the American Birkebeiner), internet newsgroups are filled with questions about roller skiing, along...
Kristen Skjeldal was kicked off the Norwegian national team ahead of last season. He is now back (on the team) after a fantastic season. Skjeldal believes that the year outside the national team made him do more of what he believes in himself (as opposed to what he felt he should do for training). He was curious going into last season how he would handle loosing his national team spot and support. – I was...
Editor's Note: Fred Griffin is the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) Executive Director. This article originally appeared on I hear it from both sides. I hear it from coaches frustrated working with athletes of varying ages in middle school/high school programs, or from Bill Koch Youth Ski League (BKL) Leaders in despair over dealing with the even wider BKL age group, 4 — 13. “Some want to race. Others just want to socialize. What...
The last of the snow is melting off your ski trails. Skiers around the country are putting the storage wax on their skis while simultaneously eying the rising mercury of their thermometers. As the warm spring days beckon us outside, too many skiers step out their front door and into a trap. The “spring-time trap” has hit most of us in our training at one time or another. Feeling fit from a year of training,...
To Register: http://www.fasterskier.com/training.php?id=1013 To get an idea of what we do at a FasterSkier.com camp, read this article from last year's June Camp:
The Norwegian men’s team announced a (closer) working relationship with the former ski stars Bjorn Daehlie, Vegard Ulvang and Thomas Alsgaard when they presented their plans for the upcoming season a few weeks ago. The famous skiers have been recruited to aid their skiers with training guidance and motivation ahead of next season.
Frode Estil (Norway), the 2002 Olympic Pursuit Champion (tied with Thomas Alsgaard) is happy with this past season’s results. He is now planning on listening to the biathlon skiers in order to make him a better skater next season. Estil did pretty well skating to tied Alsgaard for Olympic Gold
The month of April is usually the recovery month for most high level skiers. May is when the same skiers officially start their preparation toward the upcoming season. Skidsport.com of Sweden announced on May 2 that “the season started yesterdayâ€, while sprint World Cup winner Marit Bjorgen was quoted in Norwegian newspaper VG on May 1, saying: “we are now resuming full normal training. My goal is sprint gold and sprint relay gold in Oberstdorf...