FasterSkier.com editor John Aalberg recently conducted a training camp in Michigan with the GRand Rapids Nordic Ski Team. A major part of this camp was getting skiers to understand the different training zones. Camp participant Mike Muha has written about his experience with John's training zone interval workout. The article is very informative for anyone with questions about the different training zones/levels.
Ushuaia, Argentina by SkiFire and Subaru Factory Team Academies In 2002, an avid amateur skier named Matt Muir was in the middle of a graduate degree in Spanish, relocation with his wife back to their home, and hankering for a re-immersion in a Spanish speaking country. A profitable home sale, a little bit of vacation time, and an idea hit him all at once: he could go skiing in the middle of August; there must...
Newly hired Norwegian Sprint Coach Ulf Morten Aune is emphasizing more specialized sprint training, but also says that the sprinters more than ever can do well in other races. Cross-Country sprint is still a new sport, and there are many unknowns when it comes to training for it. – Within Cross-Country skiing, sprint is still something new, and there are few other sports to compare with and learn from. The closest may be the 1500m...
This mini-series of Coaches’ articles will include examples of workouts with some of our athletes, how we’ve structured the sessions, and what we’ve focused on during the workouts. With most of our residential and visiting athletes we early on like to determine their correct training zones. Training at the correct speed and heart rates is critical for the long-term effect and efficiency of the time spent training. In determining the correct training zones we use...
Welcome to our Training Log Relay. In these articles we will feature the training plans and logs for some of the World’s best Cross-Country skiers in history. First out in our relay is 1992 Olympic Champion Vegard Ulvang, who will give you an insight into his training from when he was 15, 20 and 27 years old.
Smart Training: Real improvements come from hard work and 10 months of smart specific training. The first of FasterSkier’s three camps to aid skiers at any level was held June 12 to 15th in Park City, Utah. This was a dry-land camp with rollerski technique training, training and training methods as the main focus. A Few Great Athletes Participants included a medalist from last seasons Masters Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska, one of the top...
Summary of FIS International Coaches’ Seminar on CC Sprint training and competitions. Molde, Norway May 22 — 25, 2003 The International Ski Federation (FIS) every other year holds an International Seminar for Cross-Country coaches, often covering special interest topics. A couple of years’ ago, this seminar was held in the US (Midway, Utah) on topics related to coaching women. This year’s seminar was called a “Sprint Seminar”. Lecturers from several countries spoke, including several National...
Tasha Betcherman is a cross country skier from Canada. She lives and trains in Canmore, Alberta. Her family is in Thunder Bay, Ontario as well as her home club of Lappe Nordic. She won two National Championship races in 2003 as well as represented Canada at the World Championships in Val di Femme, Italy. The Time is now Since spending a few weeks in Park City this spring working with Torbjorn Karlsen and John Aalberg...
Sarah Peters is a cross country ski racer from Canada. Her hometown is Navan, Ontario but will be skiing out of the Maine Winter Sports Center this season. Sarah represented Canada at the 2003 World University Games. She won the 2002 Keskinada World Loppet 50 km free. Her goals for the upcoming season is top 5 NorAm placing and to medal at Canadian Nationals. She hopes to represent Canada at the 2005 World Championships. Sarah's...
This mini-series of Coaches’ articles will include examples of workouts with some of our athletes, how we’ve structured the sessions, and what we’ve focused on during the workouts. This month we’ve had two of our most talented female skiers visiting Park City for a training camp. These athletes are relatively “new” for us, and through our workouts together we’ve discovered and determined the tasks and adjustments needed to improve their future racing performance. Example...
By Top National level Canadian Cross-Country skiers Tasha Betcherman and Sarah Peters are currently in Park City for more than a two week long training camp as part of the Karlsen/Aalberg/Gundersen personal coaching program. This visit can be regarded as a “boot camp” for the two aspiring World Cup skiers, where the coaches are daily evaluating and assessing their new athletes’ strengths and training methods. The main goal for the camp has been to “get...
The White Rim is a 103-mile trail located about 30 miles west of Moab in some of the most spectacular desert landscape the area has to offer. The trail essentially encircles the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, located at the convergence of the Colorado and Green rivers. Most of the riding on the White Rim trail is non-technical on dirt jeep trails and one can drive the whole thing with a...
Wow! I have to start off by saying that because I know I said it about one hundred times during my latest go at adventure racing. The race was my debut in the longer format, and would be my first experience pushing through sleep depravation and the night. The location of this event was well chosen, and took place on the island of El Hierro, which is the furthest west in the Canary Island chain....
Retiring from ski racing isn't exactly what I thought it would be. What I've chosen to do isn't sitting on the beach in Baja sipping margaritas and waiting for the next big swell. In fact it's probably about as far from that as possible. There are warm climates involved though, but instead I'll be bushwhackin’ around in search of the next CP, which means, “check point” in adventure racing lingo. Yep, I’m one of those...
Soldier Hollow is the second stop on the eight-city Balance Bar Adventure Sprint Series this summer. Adventure racers, ranging from coed elite teams to first-time challengers, will be competing at Soldier Hollow on June 8. Participants will be testing their skills in trail running, mountain biking and kayaking across and adjacent to the same terrain that hosted the Olympic biathlon and cross-country skiing events. Additionally, team dynamics and mental strength will be challenged by the...
Mountain Biking for Ski Training? Introduction See the www.torbjornsport.com if you are looking for a personal coach to help you with training planning and workouts. John and myself have decades of racing, training and coaching experience. We even studied sport and XC skiing in College (who else in the US can brag about a College degree in XC Coaching)! We’ll help you get fit, create and reach goals, ski faster and have more fun....
Join Us For your best Summer Training Camp ever Ski better and Train smarter — get better results! Torbjorn Karlsen and John Aalberg are inviting you to the Cross-Country summer-training camp we are hosting in Park City and Heber Valley, Utah, from June 12 — 15th. The camp can be done either as a 3-day or as a 4-day camp. Our goals for the camp is to teach you proper summer training and training zones,...
As readers of previous this column know I am always in search of the sure-fire way to improve my fitness. Recently, my wife and I decided to buy a hot tub or, I should say, portable hydrotherapy spa in today terms. If you read the sales literature, portable hydrotherapy spas or hot tubs are today’s fountains of youth. Hot tubs will restore the natural well being to your body, what ever that is. Simply by...