Eagle Glacier – FasterSkier

A Summer Without Snow: Athletes and Coaches on a Year with No Summer Skiing

Gavin KentchOctober 12, 2020

The koan that skiers are made in the summer has been around for longer than this website. The related truism, that summer snow time is necessary to effectively compete as a high-level skier come winter, also has a venerable history. For example, here’s Luke Bodensteiner, writing in Endless Winter about why he had journeyed to a place where “the weather sucks all year long” to ski on the Sognefjellet snowfields in August 1993: “We all...

General Interviews News

Torchia on the Ups, Downs and All He’s Learned Since His First USST Nomination

Gabby NaranjaOctober 11, 2018

Two summers ago, with just five miles left of the Marquette Trails Fest 30-mile mountain bike race, all Ian Torchia could hear in his head was the voice of Krystof Kopal, his Northern Michigan University (NMU) teammate, snidely saying, “You drop out again?” Fifteen minutes earlier, Torchia had careened into a tree. After dusting himself off, he remounted his bike, but not before noticing his left wrist was badly injured. For a moment, Torchia considered...

General Interviews News US Ski Team World Cup

Kikkan Randall: The Exit Interview (Part II): Looking Forward

Gavin KentchMay 18, 2018

As discussed last week in 30-kilometer classic mass start at 2018 Spring Series this past March in Craftsbury, Vermont. She crossed the finish line in third, leading out a four-racer chase pack to claim the final podium spot in the final race of her career. She followed U.S. Ski Team (USST) teammate Jessie Diggins and USST and APU teammate Sadie Bjornsen, who took first and second in a tight finish. Randall was the oldest skier...

General Interviews News Regional / Local

Don’t Overfill Your Cup: APU Coach Erik Flora and the Complete Athlete

Gavin KentchSeptember 13, 2017

This week’s featured articles are made possible thanks to the generous support of Masters World Cup 2018. noted following the 2014 Man Camp at Eagle Glacier, “Flora has nailed the grooming. (It helps that he never sleeps.)”) Within a year, Erik’s parents, Sam and Berit Flora, had followed him to Bend. A period of athletic wanderlust and nomadism followed, as Flora fils “kind of bounced around to different places around the West.” There was a...

Camps Lifestyle Masters Racing Training

Masters Minds: From Texas to Eagle Glacier

Gavin KentchJuly 21, 2017

By Jason Somers Introduction: Welcome to the jungle My quads were burning from too much snowplowing. My coach’s words were echoing in my head: “You are most stable when tucking.” I willed, begged, and pleaded with my legs to assume the position, but being in this aerodynamic position also meant I would go fast, too fast, because at the moment I had one small problem – I couldn’t see where I was going. This small...

Dryland General News Racing

U.S. News Roundup: From Alaska to the High Sierra

Gavin KentchJune 13, 2017

Kikkan Randall leading the 2017 Alaska Run for Women with a smile on June 10. (Photo: Scott Broadwell)A little U.S.-based news to get your Tuesday going: — Watch out, World Cup, Kikkan Randall is feeling good. The longtime U.S. Ski Team (USST) and Alaska Pacific University (APU) skier took first place in the 25th annual Alaska Run for Women road race, held over Anchorage streets and bike trails this past Saturday. Randall led the field of several thousand...

Other News

APU Masters’ Glacier Camp July 6-9

FasterSkierMay 18, 2017

johnstonnordic@gmail.com to reserve your spot and receive a registration link.

Canadian National Ski Team General News Racing US Ski Team World Cup

After Five Weeks Away, Bjørgen Back on Top in Ulricehamn; Four Americans in Top 25

Gabby NaranjaJanuary 22, 2017

There are a lot of things Marit Bjørgen is not. She is not the only woman on Norway’s national team who knows how to win. She is not in the early stages of her cross-country career — her first World Cup debut came in December 1999. In comparison to many of her Norwegian teammates, she is not young. The average age of Norway’s women competing in Saturday’s 10-kilometer freestyle individual start in Ulricehamn, Sweden, (Bjørgen not included)...

Continental Cup General Interviews News

Eric Packer: From Incremental Gains to World Cup Starts

Gavin KentchNovember 30, 2016

Alaska Pacific University skier Eric Packer, the 2015/2016 SuperTour leader currently spending World Cup Period 1 in Europe, opens up about the training that got him there, as well as his career highlight to date. Plus the Birkie, breakfast, and beards.

General Interviews US Ski Team

The U.S. Team’s Quest to be Mentally Toughest: An Interview with Coach Whitcomb

Gavin KentchJuly 26, 2016

During the U.S. Ski Team's Alaska camp this month, FasterSkier caught the team during a rollerski in Anchorage and chatted with U.S. women's coach Matt Whitcomb. He addressed everything from the upcoming World Championships to Kikkan Randall's return, the assimilation of new team members, and what gives the U.S team its competitive edge.

Other News

APU Masters On-Snow Ski Camp July 27-30

BrainspiralJune 3, 2016

This summer APU is hosting a masters on-snow ski camp at the Thomas Training Center on Eagle Glacier. Come experience glacier training, just as APU’s Elite team and Olympians Kikkan Randall, Holly Brooks, Erik and Sadie Bjornsen make their seasons. “Skiers are made in the Summer” The camp is coached by Erik Flora, Dylan Watts, and Galen Johnston. Coaching staff has experience at nearly all ages and levels, from recreational to Olympic and World Championship...

General Interviews

The Allure of Eagle Glacier: What Happens 5,700 Feet Up in Alaska (with Video)

BrainspiralJuly 24, 2015

What's so great about Eagle Glacier anyway? U.S. nordic-racing fan and masters skier Fast Big Dog explains after his first trip to Alaska's coveted training site. He interviewed several top U.S. Ski Team members to find out more.

Dryland General Training Workouts

Wednesday Workout: ‘Last One, Long One,’ APU’s Three-Hour Ski on Eagle Glacier

BrainspiralJuly 15, 2015

The APU Elite Team members capped its recent training camp on Eagle Glacier with an especially long ski: 50 kilometers, or six loops, on the high alpine ridge above Girdwood, Alaska. "If you’ve ever finished a long race and found that you lacked the snappy finishing kick that you were looking for, this is for you," Becca Rorabaugh writes.

Summer Skiing on Eagle Glacier Report

TokoJune 10, 2015

Press release) Many US elite athletes are currently training on Eagle Glacier in Alaska. I thought you all might be interested to have some insight on what it is like waxing and training up there. Here are some thoughts from Brian Gregg on last year’s camp: Summer Skiing on Eagle Glacier Report By Brian Gregg I love roller skiing but it is no match for skiing fresh corduroy on a bluebird day, especially...

Other News

APU Masters Glacier Camp June 28-July 1

BrainspiralMay 14, 2015

This summer APU is hosting a masters on-snow ski camp at the Thomas Training Center on Eagle Glacier. Come experience glacier training, just as APU’s Elite team and Olympians Kikkan Randall, Holly Brooks, Erik and Sadie Bjornsen make their seasons. “Skiers are made in the Summer” The camp is coached by APU Elite coach Erik Flora, Greta Anderson and Galen Johnson. Erik has coached at Olympic and World Championship levels, including three time Overall World...

Camps News Training

U.S. Ski Team ‘Man Camp’ a Success on Eagle Glacier (Video and Photo Gallery)

Lander KarathJuly 30, 2014

The U.S. Men's Ski Team and APU recently wrapped up their summer training camp in Alaska. They spent their final week on Eagle Glacier where they trained hard, cemented technique, and had a few laughs.

Camps Lifestyle Training

Masters Minds: Motivating, ‘Part-Hardcore, Part-Fantasy’ APU Glacier Camp

BrainspiralJuly 28, 2014

From June 28 to July 1, the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center held its third-annual Masters Glacier Camp, hosting nine skiers ranging in age from their 30s to their early 70s. While Pyeongchang may be decidedly out of reach for these nine older athletes, it could be argued that no group of Eagle Glacier skiers — this month or ever — will have more fun.

Camps General Interviews News Training US Ski Team

Norway’s Brun-Lie Impressed with U.S. Women’s Team: ‘I Think We Have A Lot to Learn’

Alex KochonJuly 22, 2014

Norway's Celine Brun-Lie chatted with FasterSkier while wrapping up her camp with the U.S. Ski Team and APU on Eagle Glacier. She flew home Tuesday, but not before flying around Alaska, visiting cabins, eating salmon, seeing moose, lots of moose -- and training 20-plus hours for each of the last two weeks.

General News US Ski Team

U.S. Ski Team Women and Men Among the Masses at Alaska Training Camp

Alex KochonJuly 14, 2014

Anchorage and Eagle Glacier are happening places these days, with the North American Women's Training Alliance (including Norway's Celine Brun-Lie and 13 top U.S. skiers), a couple of French biathletes and the U.S. men's team, which recently arrived for its first unified training camp in Alaska.

Dryland Racing

Brooks Earns Second Mount Marathon Title in Close Race

Lander KarathJuly 8, 2014

Holly Brooks understands the hazards of the acclaimed Mount Marathon. Having previously run the race six times the Olympian knew winning her second title wouldn’t be easy. Despite a brutal course, high temperatures, and challenging field of women Brooks was able to claim the 2014 Mount Marathon victory with a time of 52:49.

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