I'm laying on the couch right now with my legs elevated after just finishing the Teck Skate Sprint in Rossland. The first day of the mini tour is over, only two more days of racing in this period before headed back to Alaska to my own bed, my cat...
I'm laying on the couch right now with my legs elevated after just finishing the Teck Skate Sprint in Rossland. The first day of the mini tour is over, only two more days of racing in this period before headed back to Alaska to my own bed, my cat...
Holly Brooks of Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Club won the 10K skate race with almost a minute to spare to Caitlin Compton (CXC) in second place in extremely soft conditions. That was just the first race of the day.
While Sunday’s Haywood NorAm 10 and 15 k freestyle races were held in Canada, it was the Americans who took the top step of both podiums – and convincingly. The men’s race started in sloppy conditions – approximately 20 centimeters of snow fell overnight, and continued right up until the start of the men’s race, resulting in ankle deep snow in some places. The men skied three loops of 5 k, and each one contained...
This is going to be a pretty short post because I have a race tomorrow and I am TIRED. It's easy to forget how much a full sprint, complete with heats can be fatiguing. Thanks to my husband Rob Whitney for coming down to the races to cheer me on ...
After struggling to crack the top-30 on the World Cup last season, Canadian Perianne Jones knew she needed some time on the domestic circuit this year to get her feet back under her. “I’ve raced on the World Cup the last two seasons before Christmas—especially last season, I didn’t feel like I belonged,” she said. “I want to feel like I’m ready to race the World Cup when I’m on the World Cup.” If Jones...
While the SuperTour kicked off two weeks ago, the Canadian domestic series, the Haywood NorAm/Teck Sprints begin this weekend at Sovereign Lake Nordic Center, in Vernon, British Columbia. This year the series opens with a classic sprint, and a 10/15 k freestyle race. Home to some of the best and most consistent early season skiing in the country, Sovereign Lake is a regular on the Haywood NorAm series. According to National Development Center (NDC) Thunder...
… And the job is right…. It’s a match made in heaven. That’s pretty much how Robin Brooks feels about being the head coach of the Glacier Nordic Team in Whitefish, Montana. Sometimes coincidences just seem to happen at the right time. Brooks was looking for a new home, Whitefish was looking for her.
As a cross country skier, it’s tough to turn down a free trip to World Cups in Estonia, Russia, and the Czech Republic. Unless, of course, you’ve got a shot at racing at World Championships in Norway later on in the winter. That’s the case for Alaska Pacific University’s (APU’s) Holly Brooks, the current women’s SuperTour leader. Along with her teammate Lars Flora, Brooks’s finishes at the November races in West Yellowstone earned her start...
Yesterday we had a team photo session. Seeing that I was in the full team and girls team shots, I didn't get those on my camera. But, I did get my own copy of the boys team - or at least those who are here in Silver Star right now..... Left...
I know that everyone's been saying it but this place is SWEET! Silver Star has been called heaven, paradise, the best place to ski in North America, etc, etc. It's probably all of those things that therein lies the problem. When you have ra...
The women’s 5 k classic SuperTour may have been held in West Yellowstone on Saturday, but the top of the results sheet read like an event from Scandinavia, with international skiers claiming three of the top four spots. Kristina Strandberg (XC Oregon) edged out Holly Brooks (APU) for the victory, while fellow Swede Maria Graefnings (U of U) rounded out the podium, ahead of Czech Eliska Hajkova (CU). Strandberg capped an excellent stretch of racing...
You had to look hard, but the signs were there. Over the past two years, Kate Fitzgerald’s results had been steadily progressing, topping out with a 14th place at last year’s U.S. Nationals. A few weeks ago, she was nearly as fast as 2010 Olympian Holly Brooks in a time trial with her club, Alaska Pacific University (APU). And in Thursday’s double sprint qualifier, she finished third and fifth. Still, no one expected Fitzgerald’s victory...
The snow has finally subsided, the race timer and jury has finally made it to town and tomorrow, we're off! Since arriving in West Yellowstone five days ago this is the first time it's stopped snowing. APU girls "deck diving" into the wais...
And….. we’re off!!!! As I write this I’m currently sitting on the airplane enroute to early season racing in West Yellowstone. It’s a gorgeous, clear day and 30,000 feet reveals much of Alaskan’s grandeur. It’s fun to look out...
This is what the APU team did....Hatcher's this morning was our first time on snow since our week of skiing on Eagle Glacier in August. I felt awkward for approximately two minutes before the roller ski/snow ski adjustment set in. I suppose...
Twenty eight days until what? Until my first race! Not that I'm counting or anything....! But really, I am ready. Mentally at the very least. There are skiers who mostly love training. There are skiers who mostly love racing. I ...
After making the U.S. Ski Team for the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, the 28-year-old from Anchorage officially cut her work hours to part-time this summer. Brooks still coaches at Alaska Pacific University, but with hopes to make the US team for the 2011 World Championships in Oslo, her own training is no longer an afterthought.
I am sure that anyone that strives for success in anything suffers with the issue of balance..... there are always questions of how much, when, why... Or, if you're me, the habit of taking on many different projects. I think that many Nordi...
So.... I booked tickets to Hawaii during Alaska's 35 day-long summer rain spell. While "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger" has some truth to it, the weather was a bit brutal. When I saw sale tickets to Hawaii plus a chance to use my co...