Why do you ski cross-country?

by Mia Allen

I don't ever remember not skiing. I guess it's in my blood. My father grew up in a small village in the Laurentians north of Montreal. A man in his town made skis so everyone skiied. He skied to school, raced as a boy in the Laurentians and in college (Nordic, jumping, downhill, slalom, GS.); we have a picture of his father and sisters all skiing in long skirts- probably around 1915.
I feel very connected to my father when I ski especially in the woods on ungroomed trails. He used to tell me when I was racing that when it got really tough to look around and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. My family skied together every weekend. My dad cut the trails on our land. On a Friday night my mom and dad would load us all up in the car and we'd drive about an hour to our log cabin in the town where he grew up - alpine ski on Saturday and Nordic ski on Sunday. My father would enter us in Nordic races at the local ski club of which he was president. I love to tell my kids about the equipment we had: old wooden skis that were cut down to fit us, leather work boots, metal bindings with a leather strap and of course bamboo poles. Yes, I 'm that old! I did go on to race in college in the Pacific Northwest and met my husband when I came to Ripton to live while working as a ski instructor at Blueberry Hill in Goshen. I am still in Ripton and we ski out our front door. Our kids ski and race. It's in their blood too. Skiing has been very good to me.

This winter Mia Allen is helping coach the Middlebury Union High School JV team and the North Branch School Nordic Team. She also enjoys skiing with her family and competing in Masters races.

How have you seen the sport of cross country skiing change over the past two decades? Is it growing in popularity? Organization?

Bill McKibben, a local masters racer, writes:
Nordic skiing appears to be booming in Vermont. Look at MUHS, with more than 40 kids on the ski team--it's a considerably bigger deal than alpine at the high school at the moment. There's a strong Bill Koch League, and we have lots of masters skiers all around New England. In fact, it's strong all across the country--our racers are doing better on the international circuit than anytime since the days of Bill Koch. The only thing holding it back is the sporadic weather. Unlike alpine, Nordic skiing depends pretty strongly on nature (though that's starting to change with more Nordic areas installing snowmaking). But when we get a good snow year like this one, the scene up at Breadloaf or Blueberry Hill is incredible--the parking lot just fills up. (And at Breadloaf the skiers just pile out of the ACTR bus).

Bruce Ingersoll, co-coach of the Frost Mountain Nordic Bill Koch League, writes:
I do think Nordic skiing has changed, or at least benefited from trends in the fitness world. I ski, and always have because it is an outstanding workout. Nothing beats an hour of classic skiing for an all body workout that is easy on my aging joints. Those are two of the big reasons it beats Alpine skiing - plus it is less expensive. The fitness piece is also why I think it has grown and will continue to grow if we have solid winters and folks who can work with very little snow as they are grooming. Obviously the other big change I have witnessed in my career is the growth of skate skiing which is immensely appealing to folks because of the speed and the dynamic movements - it really is fun.

Andrew Gardner, head coach of the Middlebury College Nordic Team, writes:
On the racing scene it's faster. More spectator driven. It has suffered the same ills as other high profile sports: doping, odd formats to increase interest, etc. But the largest scene change is the variety of folks that are winning and the incredibly tight level of competition. Racing is ratcheted up to a super high level. The most tragic change is likely the decrease in snow reliability. It is changing the look and feel of racing. Skiers are more resilient than ever. Is it growing in popularity? You see a huge bump in racing. There are more folks racing now than ever. US Nationals, which is open, draws well over four hundred skiers and all but a few of those are really good skiers. On the slower side, you see a decrease in skiing: There aren't as many folks just recreating as in the past- this has to change. Hopefully, Frost Mountain will draw folks in.

Tim Reynolds, captain of the Middlebury College Nordic Team, writes:
To be honest the biggest change I've noticed has been more in the past five years, and that has been the reliability of winter. Snow is becoming less and less reliable. This has resounding implications for winter lovers. Is it Growing in Popularity? Seems high school skiing is booming. Locally, there are more kids skiing in Addison County than there ever have been. From junior high and high school racing down to the fleets of school buses that seem to roll daily up to Breadloaf, cross country skiing certainly has some culture here. Nationally as well, I think skiing enjoys almost hysteric popularity in its little niches across the snow belt. Some communities are nuts about it, some haven't heard about it.

Chas Lyons, head coach of the MUHS Nordic Team, writes:
The sport of Nordic skiing has grown over my lifetime. On the National racing level America is progressing very well putting athletes on international podiums. The interest by the general public is growing also. People like to follow healthy shining examples. The Baby Boomer generation is getting to the point of more recreation than work. They were part of the first real XC boom revolving around the Bill Koch era. They in turn have raised their children with a love of XC skiing and those children are passing love and enthusiasm onto the next generations. The passion of the skiers, especially those skiers who are parents, are joining together to ensure every possible opportunity is available to children and people alike to pursue Nordic skiing. These clubs, teams, and mentorships are blossoming all over the country and especially in our backyard. They will continue to foster new passions for those who join in.

Understanding and Using Training Levels

by Justin Freeman

Justin Freeman is a US Olympian in cross-country skiing and he races for the Saab Salomon Factory Team. Below is an excerpt from an article in www.fasterskier.com.

Skiers talk a lot about training levels, usually numbering them one through five, but, if my experience over the past decade and a half is any indication, truly understanding when and how to use the various levels is rare. This is the first in a three-part article about proper use of the various training levels. It is based on my background both as a skier and as a runner, and includes some of my thoughts based on the writings of the running coach Jack Daniels, whose books make interesting reading, particularly for skiers looking for a fresh point of view about training. more ...

New Cross Country Ski Website

Folks:

I came across your ski club and, as a lifelong cross-country skier myself – and someone who’s been promoting the sport for decades – it’s great to see you getting people to participate in cross-country skiing! I’m the author of a book called Cross-Country Ski Getaways, which gives information about nearly 100 ski areas, resorts, ranches, inns, B&Bs, lodges, and regional trails throughout the U.S. and Canada. I’ve had the good fortune of visiting more than 300 areas; this is a selective list of my favorites in North America. And I’ve created a new, cross-country ski web site: www.crosscountryskifun.com. There’s a question-and-answer feature, podcasts about cross-country skiing and ski destinations, ski area photos, and a blog. As you’ll see in my blog, I know cross-country ski clubs are great -- I'm a member of the Boulder Nordic Ski Club in Colorado.

I’m passionate about spreading the word about Nordic skiing and making it easier for people to enjoy it.

Please let me know if you have any questions… and happy skiing!

Best wishes,
Jonathan Wiesel
contact@crosscountryskifun.com

Slowing Down and Focusing On Technique

This advice about technique is not from a nordic skier, but from one of the best American male swimmers. Swimming like skiing is a very technical sport and better technique equates with greater efficiency and faster times.

As a contender for a medal in the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, Ryan Lochte said “I spend more time on stroke mechanics now than I ever have,” and he does this by mindfully slowing way down a part of his practice every day.

“The only way to really work on technique is to swim very slowly and really think about every little thing that you’re doing,” he said. “How your body is positioned, what your hips are doing, the positioning of your shoulders and hands and feet.”

The next time you head out skiing, whether you are a recreational skier or racer, take a little time to slow down and think about how you are gliding, are you relaxed through the knees, hips and shoulders, how are you using your arms and what is your body position. What will you discover if you do this a little bit every day? The quotes above of Ryan Lochte's are from an article entitled, "A Swimmer’s Different Strokes for Success", which appeared in the March 20th edition of the New York Times. To read more...

Gretchen at the Eastern H.S. Championships

March 14-16

Two hundred and forty kids and five teams from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont descended upon Trapps in Stowe, Vermont to race three days for the Eastern H.S. Championships. Gretchen Powers, a junior at Middlebury Union High School, writes of her experiences as a member of the Vermont Team. The squad consisted of twenty four racers and Gretchen was the only representative from this area.

"The weekend went reasonably well for the state of Vermont despite not winning the championship. Friday afternoon showed warm and wet snow, and a difficult course for the 5k freestyle race. Thanks to great connections through our head coach Noah Noyes, we ate at a very respectable restaurant for dinner (whose name i now forget) For much of the team, sleep was hard to come by and many of us lay awake staring at the ceiling, or tossing and turning on the small, hard beds we slept on.

Saturday morning was the classic sprint, a very short 1k. The afternoon led way to a very exciting classic/freestyle mixed relay with a guy and girl to each disipline on each team (4x2.5k). The banquet Saturday night was at Stowe high school and Vermont skiers gobbled up some great raffle prizes (I am not included in this as I have the worst raffle luck on the planet). Everyone fell into bed and slept soundly Saturday night from sheer exhaustion. Sunday morning, early rising for tough wax conditions for the 7.5k mass start classic race.

Maine pulled through in first place, with Vermont in second and New Hampshire in third. It was a rough weekend for Vermont, and for myself, with many racers lost to JO's, Canadian Nationals, and sickness, I was bumped from 20th seed to 13th, and had a rather rough weekend of racing."

Results

Trina at the Masters World Championships

Many of us from Frost Mountain Nordic participated in a clinic with Trina Hosmer in February at Breadloaf. Recently, Trina competed in the World's Masters Cross Country Ski Championships in McCall, Idaho. Below are some excerpts from an email she wrote:

"I just returned from World Master's, exhausted but a good week. I once again was very fortunate to have my body perform when necessary (I never take this for granted) and won all 3 of my individual races (15K skate, 10K classic and 30K skate) plus our US relay team won gold. So it was a very successful and rewarding week for me.... My overall impression from watching the younger women ski (this year there were several ex-Olympians in younger age classes) versus the older women is the use of the arms. I know I already harp about this all the time ... and now I can assure you, you will hear even more." 

Congratulations, Trina!  Also, some of our Frost Mountain Nordic members were spectators at the event.  They reported that the races were inspirational and the racers--from all over the world-- to be very fit and interesting people.   There was even a 91 year old man racing.  This, also, was the largest group of US master racers ever competing in the same races.

Lots of Snow and Fun For FMN Skiers Competing at the Bill Koch Festival

The 30th Annual Bill Koch League Ski Festival took place during the weekend of March 1-2 in Gunstock, NH. BKL skiers from all over New England gathered to participate in the races. Snow was plentiful to say the least with 6' snowbanks and steady snowfall during the races on Saturday. The Gunstock trails are hilly and curvy and had so much snow that it was impossible to keep up with the grooming. On Saturday, racers aged 8 - 13 competed in the freestyle races. Most age divisions had well over 60 racers competing. Frost Mountain Nordic skiers: Britta Clark, Oliver Clark, Lydia Allen, Sophie Hodges, Sam Hodges, Malia Hodges and Thomas Hussey all competed and did very well. Results and photos can be found by going to the NENSA website. Sophie McKibben came along to cheer everyone on. Sophie competed in High school varsity races this year so we couldn't pass her off as a BKLer!

Saturday afternoon, racers and families participated in a 4 km. or 7 km. mini marathon with food stops along the way. Saturday night all racers gathered at the Margate Hotel for a banquet, awards, bonfire, s'mores and fireworks. Sunday morning got off to a chilly start with clear skies and wind. The first event was the Lollipop race in which Malia Hodges competed. Our other F.M racers met their assigned teammates (other racers from our N.W Vt. division) and competed in the 2-person sprint relays. The course was perfectly set for spectators - a .6 km loop that started in the stadium area and snaked through the woods back to the stadium where racers tagged their teammate. It was a very exciting event. The weekend was lots of fun with great skiing and friendly competition.

Congratulations to all of our Frost Mountain Nordic skiers!

To view results and photos go to the NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Association) website by clicking here and then scrolling down to the Bill Koch Festival, March 1-2.

John Caldwell's Thoughts on the US Cross Country Team and the Importance of Strong Regional Programs

In the March 2008 issue of Skiing Heritage magazine, John Caldwell wrote an article entitled "U.S. Cross-Country Should Return to its Roots:  America's nordic program saw its greatest success when racers trained regionally.  It's time to return to history--and a system that worked."  This article reminds us of the importance of local clubs, such as Frost Mountain Nordic. Below is an excerpt:

"There are many hurdles for aspiring cross-country skiers.  It takes at least 10 years of training to have any chance of reaching the top levels in international competition.  The U.S. is a big country and skiers go at it from Alaska to the tip of northern Maine.  For all these competitors, travel to important qualifying meets or making the U.S. Team is not only exhausting, but expensive.  And skiers from cross-country families are not among the wealthiest in the U.S.  So the deck is already stacked.  

Pressure to live and train in Park City has been exerted on the better skiers, but there is the controversial aspect of altitude.  No countries house and train their athletes at altitude year-round. Our milieu is wrong.  And how can an aspiring athlete lead a normal life while living and training for years in Park City? Home contacts and family are missing in Park City, as well as most future job possibilities.  Absent all these, most skiers living for long periods in Park City lose inspiration.

 This country needs a program that works better for U.S. skiers, not necessarily one that apes another country, like Russia.  The U.S. Ski Team should set up regional locations around the country and support them financially with coaching, thus allowing skiers to stay in their own communities and pursue a more normal life. This would also help to promote the localities' own skiers since their contact with U.S. Team members would act as inspiration for them.  It would get regions more involved, and--in the best of all worlds--the system would have regions competing with each other for funding based on their results.  All these aspects would promote more motivation for the athletes.  It would also mean several programs standing by to take responsibility-and any heat--for the Team's record instead of only one program in Park City.

John Caldwell was a member of the '52 U.S. Olympic Nordic Combined Team and former U.S. Olympic and FIS cross-country coach (1966-1989)."

Another Successful Middlebury Carnival

Middlebury College placed second overall in this weekend's winter carnival, capping a consistently strong season. Congratulations to coach Andrew Gardner and his merry band of nordies, and to John, Tim, Jim, Peggy and everyone else at Rikert who made Friday and Saturday so successful. Some of the great highlights of Carnival: Patrick Johnson breaking 3 (!) poles and still cracking the top 20; Yeoman efforts from Anders Meyer, Dane Johnson, and Graham Eagan; best race this year from Matt Johnson (big brother of Patrick); power skating from Tim Reynolds; amazing skate race for Robin Anderson (#3); top ten in the classic for Cassidy Edwards; Kate Barton and Claire Luby's speedy feet; Joy Erdman's outstanding drive; and Sophie McClelland's raw strength and beautiful technique. (She also wins the prize for the greatest number of relatives in a single race.)

Kudos, too, to local skiers Mary Stewart, racing for UVM and Sophie Allen, in her first year at SLU. The hometown crowd went crazy when these two zipped by.

To see lots of pictures, check out the photo page at Frost Mountain Nordic.

Local skiers compete at the Middlebury Carnival

Sophie Allen of Ripton (and St. Lawrence), Mary Stewart of Ripton (and UVM), and Tim Reynolds of Bristol (and Middlebury), will be among the scores of college racers competing in the Middlebury Carnival at the Rikert Ski Touring Center on Friday (2/22) and Saturday (2/23). Come and cheer on them and the entire Middlebury College Carnival Team. Good luck to our favorite Frost Mountain Nordic college coach, Andrew Gardner! Up, up, up.

Valentine Ski To Romance Mountain

Sometimes the best part about skiing is when you are done. As Mia Allen said “You appreciate the woodstove, a cup of tea and your book even more upon your return.” It is not as if we didn’t thoroughly enjoy our 2.5 hour ski to the top of Romance Mountain and back down the other side. The views of the Taconic Range and Frost Mountain were not to be missed. It is just that it felt grand returning to Blueberry Hill with a glow of having spent the morning skiing in the woods, feeling mellow after our physical exertion and with a hearty appetite. We consumed Tony Clark’s special heart shaped pastries and tomato and cabbage soup and thought we had done it all. But there were more surprises. Tony invited us to his house to share a bottle of Bordeaux and other delicacies. Barbara presented the first annual Frost Mountain Nordic Romance Mountain t-shirt. We are already planning our ski for next year. Many thanks to Tony for a great day of skiing and good cheer.

Canadian Ski Marathon Report

This just in from FMN member Kim Callahan, from the 2008 Canadian Ski Marathon:

We skied a total of about 75k over the two days- about 51 the first day and the rest on Sunday. It was so much fun- I had three
friends from Colorado fly east to ski with my sister and me. The first day was a blue wax day and by the end we were using special violet.
Sunday as a VR50 purple day all day although a couple of my friends put a Toko red underneath their purple for all the climbing we had to do.
Both worked well and we are all nursing blisters and purple toenails now.

Forget the wintry mix...

In an effort to think happy thoughts, take a look at this picture, taken by Caroline Damon, of our Frost Mountain Nordic champs at the Citizen's Race last Sunday. Note the spiffy FMN jackets.

Frost Mountain Nordic at the Citizens' Race '08

Congratulations to all our FMN members who skied the 2008 Citizens' Race at Bread Loaf, and to those who won loaves of Otter Creek bread: Dia Jenks, Bruce Ingersoll and Bill McKibben. There are some photos posted on the the website, but here is one of FMN organizer, Dia Jenks dashing to the finish. Thanks to John, Tim, Jim, Peggy and all the crew for making it a great event!

Former Olympian's Nordic Clinic Was A Great Success!

Trina Hosmer, who represented the United States at the 1972 Olympics, taught a classic clinic at Breadloaf on February 7.  With ages ranging from 13 to 70 something, over seventeen intrepid skiers took part in the clinic to learn more about classic technique.   We participated in a number of drills including skiing without poles and counting to five on each glide and then skiing without using our legs and just poling.  Bill McKibben said he learned a tip about staying in your tuck as long as you can on the downhills.  Sally Carver felt she understood more about basic body position and looks forward to applying what she learned.  We all found it was a treat to watch Trina fly effortlessly down the track and our two hours passed all too quickly.  Trina generously donated all proceeds from the clinic to our new club.

Sorry, John

Dear John,

I have now spelled out the word "Rikert" one hundred times with my ski pole in the snow and will never misspell it again. (I hope.)

Your friend,
The Frost Mountain Nordic blogger

Middlebury Skiing Wins It All!

Not only did Tim Reynolds score big at the UVM Carnival, the entire Middlebury College ski team, nordic and alpine smoked the field. Congratulations to Andrew Gardner for his very first (of many) carnival win!

Congratulations to Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds--Middlebury College junior, Addison County native, and Frost Mountain Nordic founding member won his first nordic ski carnival today at UVM, winning the sprints with his blazing speed. Way to go, Tim!

Decent Skiing on the Wagon Wheel

Though Reikert was looking pretty forlorn this afternoon, the skiing along Wagon Wheel Road in Ripton was surprisingly good. There was about a half inch of snow over a hard icy base so it was fast, with almost 100% coverage. We went out at mid-day and no one had skied it, but at 4, when We went out again, there were lots of tracks and clearly a lot of activity in the direction of the Frost cabin. Wagon Wheel Rd is off Peddlar's Bridge Rd, right before you go up the hill, and right after the town recyling shed.

This is a test

Hi all,

I'm testing this. To leave a new post, go to the upper right hand corner of the page and click on "new post." I think that's the way to get it to work.