Space for the upcoming USSA Cross Country Coaches’ Symposium is filling up quickly. The conference registration is now open to all coaches, but space is limited. If you have yet to reserve your spot, please contact Toni Adams. TAdams@ussa.org
When: October 21-23, 2011, from noon Friday until noon Sunday
Where: USSA Center of Excellence, Park City, UT
Lodging: Park City Marriott (special discount using rate code “USNL”)
An Evening with Roman Toferer
Roman Toferer, the Atomic Nordic Race Director and Director of Research and Development, will provide an entertaining and behind-the-scenes look into the life of a World Cup Nordic Skier at Nordic Ski source in Bozeman, MT on September 23rd.
Roman has a wealth of World Cup experience that he loves to share. He provides critical race support for the world’s top athletes at their most important races, including the Olympics. These hectic and stressful events can produce some entertaining, interesting, and sometimes humorous stories, as coaches and support teams work tirelessly to give their athletes the best possible advantage.
Olympic, World Cup and World Loppet medalists including Claudia Kuenzel, Anna Haag, Oskar Svaard, Billy Demong, and the U.S. Nordic Combined Team have all benefitted from his ski selection, fitting and ski tuning expertise.
“We feel very fortunate to have Mr. Toferer in Bozeman,” stated Doug McSpadden, the owner of Nordic Ski Source. “He is headquartered in Austria, and this talk will be his only appearance in the Rocky Mountain Region.” He also mentioned that a similar presentation given last year in the Midwest was extremely well received.
The doors open for this free event at 5:00pm on Friday, September 23rd, and the talk will run from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Food and drink will be served. Please RSVP to Nordic Ski Source at 406-922-1290 so chair, food and drink quantities can be determined.
Directions:
Map to Nordic Ski Source
Nordic Ski Source is located at 10180 Cottonwood Road, Bozeman, Montana. The store is 5.2 miles south on Cottonwood Road from Huffine Lane. It is located on the east side of the road, next to the firehouse, in the big white building with a red roof.
RSVP: Call 406-922-1290, it really helps us plan, thanks!
Come join us at Nordic Ski Source on September 23rd for a lively evening with Atomic’s International Race Director, Roman Toferer, as he shares Olympic, World Cup and World Championship stories and experiences with Bozeman skiers. He will also discuss ski flex and fit aimed at racing enthusiasts. Roman has selected, fitted and tuned skis for dozens of Olympic, Worldcup and World Loppet medalists including Claudia Kuenzel, Anna Haag, Oskar Svaard and Billy Demong.
This will be Roman’s only Rocky Mountain appearance and it is free, so save the time and date. An evening with Roman Toferer: Friday, September 23rd, @ 5pm at Nordic Ski Source, 10180 Cottonwood Road, Bozeman. Refeshments will be served. For more information call: 406-922-1290.
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| WANTED: Unwanted waxable XC skis (with no metal edge) to give or sell. Will pay up to $10 per pair. Unclutter your garage or basement to help the Kids’ Tracksetter Sled project. More on that later. Please email if you have some skis to part with. No delams please. Thanks! |
| <=$10/pair USD |
 Scott McGee |
| Jackson Hole Nordic WY |
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| scottmcgee@wyom.net |
| 307-413-6552 |
From:www.xcski.org
Seasonal X-C Director Waterville Valley
Candidate must possess knowledge of X-C events, high energy, outgoing personality, and supervisory experience. Contact by mail or email. HR, PO Box 540 Waterville Valley, NH 03215
spacerS Smith
spacerNordic Center at Waterville Valley NH
spacerwww.waterville.com
spacerssmith@waterville.com
Light Touring Skis are narrower (up to 60mm wide) cross country skis that can be used with SNS or NNN bindings and boots. Touring Skis (60mm+) require BC or 3-pin bindings and boots to handle the torque of these wider and heavier skis.
Today, I was doing a side by side ski demo to get a feel for a new 2012 skate ski. When the new ski arrived, I was a bit disappointed to see the flex was going to be too soft for me. But since it was a new, stiffer design with an expensive stone grind, I thought it would be worth a shot. I skied it along with a 2010/11 skate ski that flexed well for my weight, but was designed for softer snow conditions.
I was able to get a sense of the new 2011/12 ski, but it was clear that I was bottoming out on the ski and couldn’t get a true sense of its speed and design characteristics. The 2011 ski felt great, and I wound up choosing that pair for the rest of the ski session, which I was not anticipating.
The take-way lesson for me, was that ski flex trumps everything. If you do not get the flex right, then everything else is moot. It was a nice, real-world reminder of what we say everyday in the shop.
Making the case to stop often during your ski workouts.
This article is for skiers, not in training, who may be a little bored with what they are currently doing, a little frustrated with the lack of improvement with their skiing, or maybe they are struggling with their technique, their fitness, or both.
Recreational and performance skiers tend to go out and ski for an allotted time or distance, and they usually will not stop, or stop very minimally. Sometimes there is a stigma, or a sheepish feeling of failure associated with stopping. Cross-over runners and road cyclists tend to just go and go because they aren’t used to stopping. Unfortunately this can have detrimental effects on both your technique and fitness.
First, let’s separate good skiing from being fit. Sometimes these can be confused. How many times have we seen fit skiers skiing around endlessly with suspect technique. Or what about the out-of-shape skiers struggling not necessarily because of technique, but because they have exceeded their fitness capabilities.
Usually both of these scenarios are due to skiing without stopping. In the case of the fit skier, they are reinforcing bad technique. In the case of the out-of-shape skier, they have exceeded their fitness levels, and they just need to stop, rest and adjust.
I am currently maybe in the worst shape ever, BUT I may be skiing better now than I have ever skied. And what is even more important, is that I am enjoying skiing more than ever.
It is the middle of March and I should be burned out, right? Sometimes after a long race season, I’d feel that way. This season I have been skiing a lot (almost everyday). What has made the difference for me is interval skiing. It has kept my skiing fresh and interesting. I have focused on skiing well, rather than on duration.
Break up up your next ski session into 30 to 90 second “intervals”. These are not hard intervals. They are relaxed, efficient and focused-on-technique intervals.
After a warm-up, pick out a few hills and a few technique things you’d like to work on or fine tune. I tend to switch things around regularly. Sometimes I work on hills; actually I usually always work on hills, but I try to throw other things in there like turns, transitions, and downhill sprints.
Ski the intervals with relaxed, good technique followed by plenty of rest. Don’t worry about how much rest, listen to your body and be patient and easy on yourself. This isn’t about training for a race, this is about enjoying what you are doing. Smile, breath deeply and take in your surroundings. Over time you will see improvements, and your confidence will grow. You can pick up the pace in later sessions when you feel you’ve nailed down technique, or you feel you need to spice things up.
If you do not know what to work on, take a lesson (from an actual instructor). Take 2 or 3 of the pointers or suggestions into your next “interval” session.
After a few weeks of this type of skiing, you will notice a few things. You will be a better skier, you will be a more confident skier, you will enjoy skiing more, and who knows you may even shed a few pounds!
Happy skiing.
A Word About Purchasing Skis and Ski Fit
More than anything else the long term enjoyment of your cross country skis is directly related to proper ski flex.
Why sizing/weight charts are not enough:
We have seen wide variations in ski flexes, and flexes that may be consistent but they are consistently too soft or too stiff for the designated weight range. This doesn’t mean the ski isn’t any good. It only means that the ski may not be a good fit for you.
A case in point: Last week we had a 215 pound skier in the shop looking for ski gear to start skate skiing. We had a good fit with boots so we moved on to skis. We had 3 pairs of Delta skate skis in a 193cm length that are rated for 175 lb. plus skiers. After flexing them it was very apparent that none of these skis were going to fit (we have them rated for 143-170 lb. skiers). Rather than selling him the ski because the chart said it would fit, we explained some options to him that will benefit him in the long-term. Here is the strategy.
Strategy:
Let’s use the same skier as an example. Our recommendation is to buy inexpensive used skis now using the size/weight charts as a guideline. These are only meant to get him out on skis to continue his ski classes and to further his excitement for the sport. THESE WILL BECOME HIS ROCK SKIS.
Wait until next season to buy a complete ski package. By buying a package he will save 20-30% over buying the gear separately. He will have a much greater selection of boots and skis, and he will get a pair of skis that fit.
Benefit:
He will have a ski package that fits, which will perform over the long-term as his technique improves, and he will have a pair of rock skis that will protect the condition of his new skis lengthening his time with his new gear.
Why Buying Skis at Nordic Ski Source is Different:
1. Conor and Calisa have already prepped every pair of skate skis with a micro-hair plane, hot-scrape cleaning, and CH8 wax layer. If the skis are not sold this spring, the bases are sealed up for summer storage as if they were our own. All of these skis, whether they are sold this spring or next fall will be that much faster when they hit the snow.
2. All our skis are individually flex tested so you have the critical information to make an informed decision.
3. We have the expertise and experience to guide you towards a ski that matches your skiing expectations.