Sit Ski – FasterSkier

Former Swimmer Kendall Gretsch on Unexpected Paralympic Golds, Hunger for More

Gabby NaranjaSeptember 11, 2018

As a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Kendall Gretsch stumbled across an article that would change her life. It was the spring of 2012, just a few months before the Summer Paralympics in London. Gretsch had been reading the local news when she came across a story about a St. Louis college student who hoped to attend the London Games as part of the U.S. Paralympics Swimming team. Born with spina...

News Para Nordic Product News

Norwegian Start-up Rethinks Dryland Sit-Ski

Jason AlbertSeptember 26, 2017

There are ah-ha moments when an idea comes — poof — out of thin air. Then there are blunt-force type ideas, when reworking, redirecting and reconfiguring brings about the desired outcome. For five students from Norway who recently formed a start-up called

General News Para Nordic

FasterSkier’s Para-Nordic Skiers of 2015: Andy Soule and Oksana Masters

BrainspiralMay 12, 2015

Two Americans made history this past season, topping the overall IPC World Cup sit-ski podiums and bringing home a hefty load of medals over the course of the winter, making them our picks for Para-Nordic Skiers of the Year.

General Interviews News Para Nordic

Fourth No More, Soule Up to Third Overall in IPC World Cup with Five Medals at World Champs

Alex KochonFebruary 12, 2015

With five medals already in his possession before the last day of IPC World Championships in Cable, Wis., American Andy Soule didn't have to ski the standing, skate course in the mixed relay -- but he wanted to. Not only did it show him what he was capable of, but it allowed "a lot of people to see exactly what is possible for a sit skier, too,” Soule, IPC Athlete of the Month, said last week.

General Interviews Para Nordic

Canada’s 10-Time Paralympian, Bourgonje Bows Out, Keeps Spreading Paralympic Message

Alex KochonMay 22, 2014

Twenty-two years ago, Colette Bourgonje was a grade-school teacher with a ticket to the Albertville Paralympics. But the school wasn’t about to let her take off for her first Paralympics. She went anyway and began an unprecedented streak of competing at seven Winter Paralympics -- 10 Paralympics in all.

Training Workouts

Wednesday Workout: Mountain Boarding Anaerobic Workout with Colette Bourgonje

Alex KochonMay 21, 2014

This week's workout comes from Colette Bourgonje, a 10-time Paralympian who recently retired from the Canadian Para-Nordic Team with 10 Paralympic medals to her name. "I like this workout because of the change in pace, which makes you focus on technique with speed and adds variety with the distance you end up putting in," she says.

General Interviews IPC Para Nordic

In Third Season, Cnossen Aims to Lead U.S. Paralympics Nordic, Starting in Canmore

Mark VosburghDecember 12, 2013

One of the most successful men on the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Team last season, Lt. Dan Cnossen cut right to the chase when asked about his training this summer and fall. “We’re going to find out real quick when I go up against the Russians,” Cnossen says. So far, he's placed ninth and 11th at the IPC World Cup in Canmore.

Interviews IPC Lifestyle Para Nordic

World-Class Wheelchair Racer, McFadden Sets Sights on Sochi

Mark VosburghDecember 5, 2013

With less than a year of nordic experience, Tatyana McFadden -- a three-time Summer Paralympian with 10 Paralympic medals and a marathon Grand Slam to her name -- has her heart set on Sochi. "I have to just be relaxed and go with the transitions," she says. "When it comes time for me to put my skis on the snow, I have to remember everything I've learned ... and ski as fast as I can and hopefully make people proud.”

General Interviews Lifestyle News Other Racing Training US Nationals

After London Paralympics, Dana Could Aim for Sochi

Alex KochonAugust 14, 2012

Like most athletic children of a certain era in Putney, Vt., Alicia Dana grew up cross-country skiing. She learned the ropes from the legendary John Caldwell, a Putney School coach who went on to lead the U.S. Ski Team, and took up racing at an early age. It wasn’t long until Dana, formerly Brelsford, developed an affinity for other sports as well. By the time she was 16, she had competed at two cycling nationals...

Interviews Training US Ski Team

How Paralympians Train: Interview with Sean Halsted

Chelsea LittleJuly 31, 2012

With the 2012 Paralympics starting in London in roughly a month, adaptive athletes who compete in summer sports are putting the finishing touches on their trainings. And winter athletes, too, are hard at work, training just as intensely as their able-bodied counterparts, if a little bit differently. This spring in Bend, Oregon, FasterSkier chatted with Sean Halsted, a veteran member of the U.S. national team who finished seventh, ninth, and tenth in the sit-ski races...

Continental Cup General Interviews News Racing US Nationals

U.S. Adaptive Nationals: Video Recap

Alex KochonJanuary 8, 2012

RUMFORD, Maine — After the final sit-ski and stand-up distance events of the 2012 U.S. Adaptive Cross Country Championships on Saturday, athletes and coach John Farra reflect on their week (with three total races, including the 0.8 k sprint and 5/10 k) at Black Mountain in Rumford, Maine.

Racing US Nationals

Cnossen, Edwards, Leach Capture Victories at Adaptive Nationals

Steve BedardJanuary 5, 2012

RUMFORD, Maine — Following the completion of Thursday morning’s 10/15 k freestyle distance events, the adaptive skiers had their chance to take to the course at the 2012 U.S. Adaptive Cross Country Nationals at Black Mountain. A change in schedule resulted with the adaptive race being shortened. The male sit-skiers completed four laps of the 2.5 k loop for 10 k while the women did two laps for 5 k. With 18 athletes out on...

General Product News

Not Sitting This One Out

Maddy WendtAugust 13, 2010

The athletes are far fewer in number and the competitions receive even less press than most Nordic ski races, but the adaptive ski community is steadily growing and gaining momentum. And now the Central Cross-Country Ski Association (CXC) is getting involved. Over the past year, CXC has distributed over 120 sit skis to disabled athletes across the country. The first ten sit ski prototypes were produced by engineering graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,...