fast big dog – FasterSkier

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 5

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 13, 2017

Day 1 | Day 3 | Great Dane/neighbor pizza incident, thanks to the Tactipup collar “restraint handle,” I was able to apprehend my monster as he was making a run for the delicious smelling pizza before any real damage was done. Sure adequate training and even a slightly above average canine I.Q. would also be effective abatement, but sadly, those both seem to be in short supply with this particular beast. These collars are also incredibly...

Continental Cup News Racing

‘After Much Deliberation’, West Yellowstone to Host SuperTour Opener This Weekend

FasterSkierNovember 29, 2017

The show will go on in West Yellowstone, Montana. After organizers of the Yellowstone Ski Festival (YSF) announced in an e-blast on Monday that the West Yellowstone SuperTour, set for this coming weekend, was canceled due to “damage done to the snowpack from the significant rainfall over the past few days,” it’s back on — according to a trail conditions.” As of Wednesday morning, there was no rain in West Yellowstone’s forecast, but rather 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...

Gear Reviews Resources Reviews

Living the Dream: Summer-Skiing Jacket Review

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferJune 26, 2017

This is another installment of the “where you should be right now and hopefully you were able to heed this very sage advice and have since logged copious k’s. Since unlike the rest of you losers, I work for a living, so I couldn’t just sit around Bend skiing, excruciating detail, but if you somehow manage to goof this up, have no fear, as the “snow window” is still open. If you really want to go...

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...

Interviews News Nordic Combined US Ski Team

USA Nordic Transitions as Jarrett and Schafer Step Down

Jason AlbertMay 4, 2017

Listed at the bottom of a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) press release Until 2014, USSA managed the U.S. Nordic Combined Team. The team is now run by USA Nordic, yet Jarrett’s position has remained under USSA’s umbrella — they continued to pay his salary. With the 2014 split, Jarrett’s responsibilities grew as he took on both coaching duties as well as some of the logistics of running a team. “Honestly, it’s amazing he lasted as long...

Multimedia Nordic Nation Podcasts

Nordic Nation: 17 Questions with Fast Big Dog

Jason AlbertApril 1, 2017

Evel Knievel devotee — note Schafer’s race suit. (To subscribe to the Nordic Nation podcast channel, download the iTunes app. If you have iTunes, subscribe to Nordic Nation here.) Have a podcast idea? Please email Is this for real?)

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Resources Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 9

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 16, 2016

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Resources Reviews

FasterSkier’s 12 Days of FBD Christmas: Day 7

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferDecember 14, 2016

Multimedia Nordic Nation Podcasts

Nordic Nation: Sometimes It Is a Fantasy – Hoffman’s Fantasy XC League

Jason AlbertNovember 23, 2016

Get out your earbuds and a pen and paper. Good info is coming your way if you're playing the Noah Hoffman Cross Country Fantasy League. Even if you're not invested in choosing a team, you'll smile a bit when you listen to this episode. You'll hear some of the sport's greatest minds pontificate on who's in and who's out.

Gear Reviews Resources Reviews Training

Living the Dream: 2016 Classic Rollerski Review

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferOctober 27, 2016

You've been waiting, and here it is: FasterSkier's comprehensive rollerski review of some of the best "whap sticks" out there for offseason classic training. Don't do much classic rollerskiing? You should change that.

Gear Reviews Resources Reviews Training

Living the Dream: 2016 Skate Rollerski Review

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferSeptember 8, 2016

At long last, a top-to-bottom review of some of the best-known rollerski brands on the market, with a no-BS approach and review team of seasoned skiers, including an Olympic gold medalist, world champion and veterans of World Cup ski-testing protocols.

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Reviews

Best in Show: Off We Go

Jon "Fast Big Dog" SchaferJune 23, 2016

Testing outfits and performance wear in the crappiest conditions, all in the name of research. Fast Big Dog presents the latest in his gear-review series: Best in Show, for a 35-45 degree run or rollerski.

General Interviews Lifestyle Training US Ski Team

Weeks Away from Due Date, Randall Talks About Her Return to Racing

BrainspiralMarch 7, 2016

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."

Continental Cup Interviews Racing

Sudden Slip and the Rise Thereafter: Packer on Adversity and Success

BrainspiralFebruary 17, 2016

With World Cup starts ahead of him, U.S. classic sprint champion Eric Packer talks about his successes this season and how he overcame a scary setback last June. "Everyone has to deal with adversity, what matters is how you respond," he explained.

Gear Reviews Lifestyle Reviews

Living the Dream: Ultimate Puffies Gear Review

BrainspiralJanuary 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.

General Interviews

Elliott on Injury, Illness and the Long Road Back

BrainspiralJanuary 14, 2016

Tad Elliott has been through a lot the last couple years. Every day, he said he questioned whether he'd make it back to the top. One of his supporters, Fast Big Dog interviewed Elliott about his recovery from illness and path back to a national title.

Gear Reviews

Living the Dream: The Gear Review You’ll Actually Enjoy Reading (First, Lifestyle Puffies)

BrainspiralDecember 23, 2015

Welcome to FasterSkier's newest series, “Living The Dream”, in which the brutally honest Fast Big Dog will be offering up advice, recommendations, observations, and reviews on gear, training, travel, and “other stuff TBD”. First up: puffy jackets -- who doesn't like a good puffy coat?

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.

General News Nordic Combined Racing

Taylor Fletcher Goes ‘Ugly Early’ for Sapporo Podium; Bryan Fletcher 8th (with Post-Race Video)

Alex KochonJanuary 24, 2015

Twenty-eighth in the jump was good enough for Taylor Fletcher, as the 24-year-old U.S. Nordic Combined skier rocketed to an individual podium for the second time in his World Cup career. His older brother Bryan Fletcher placed eighth for his third-straight top 10.

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