SkiTrax Winter 2015

Winter 2015

LOPPETS 2016 Best in Canada-USA

TOUR DE SKI 10 Years After

DOGS OF THE BACKCOUNTRY COACHES’ COACH Cami Thompson-Graves Official publication of

$4.95 w w w. s k i t r a x . c o m

Registration Number 9875 Agreement Number 1372521 Printed in Canada

Plus

Racing Recap Heli-ski Touring Snowshoe Racing Black Jack Ski Club Rikert Nordic Center

®

“My REDLINE skis were running really well so I knew if I just laid it all out there, I had a shot at a good result.”

CAITLIN GREGG

World Championship Bronze Medalist (Falun 2015)

Photo: Nordic Focus

MADSHUS.COM

CONTENTS Winter 2015/16 Volume 26, Issue 2

FEATURES

SKI

28

18

30 36 40 42

Gatineau to Kick Off Ski Tour Canada

by John Symon

20

Tour de Ski: 10 Years After

by Lex Treinen

Clubs: Black Jack Ski Club

by John Symon

Day Ski: Rikert Nordic Center

by John Symon

Dogs of the Backcountry

by Jean Arthur

Tahoe Donner’s New Ski Centre

by Jack Cracker

Cami Thompson-Graves: Dartmouth Women’s Ski Coach

by Sue Wemyss

48 52 58 59 66

Get Back: Heli-ski Touring

by Steven Threndyle

40

Loppets 2016

COMPETITION

by John Symon

Winter Trails

60

by Chris Redden

Snowshoe Racing

62

by Chris Redden

Mind, Body and Soul

by Lori Meyers, Dr. Andy Reed and Beth Mansfield

PRO TALK

16

48

High Voltage by Emily Nishikawa

Experience the joy of winter to its fullest with more kick and glide.

Fischer

64

64

Haywood NorAm Series Update

by Julie Melanson

USSA SuperTour Underway

by Lex Treinen

World Cup Kick Off

by Julie Melanson

SKI TIPS

COLUMNS

68 69 70

6 22 24 71 72

Technique by Keith Nicol Tele Technique by J. Scott McGee Waxworx

by Jack Cook and Patrick Moore

Out In Front Backcountry by Steven Threndyle Masters by J.D. Downing Graves on Nordic by Peter Graves Sasseville Report by Jack Sasseville

SkiTrax, a division of 1198189 Ontario Inc., is published 4 times each season: Annual, December/Holiday, February/March and Spring, at 260 Spadina Ave., #200, Toronto, ON M5T 2E4. Advertising rates/data are available on request: Phone (416) 977-2100; Fax (416) 977-9200, or write to the address above.The entire contents are the property of SkiTrax Magazine and may not be reprinted or reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. Unsolicited material or contributions are welcome, but must be accompanied by return postage. SkiTrax Magazine will handle all such material with reasonable care; however, it assumes no responsibility for the safety, loss of, or damage to such photographs or manuscripts. 2nd Class Publications Mail Registration #9875, paid at 969 Eastern Ave., Toronto, ON M4L 1A5. If undeliverable or address changed, please notify: 260 Spadina Ave., #200, Toronto, ON M5T 2E4. U.S. Office of Publication: 240 Portage Road, PO Box 670-25, Lewiston, NY, 14092. Periodicals postage paid at Niagara Falls, NY. 2nd Class U.S. Publications, USPS Registration #012177. Return all undeliverable mail to: SkiTrax Magazine, PO Box 553, Niagara Falls, NY 14304.

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 1

publisher/editor Benjamin Sadavoy international correspondent Peter Graves contributors Jean Arthur, Jack Cook, Jack Cracker, J.D. Downing, Peter Graves, Beth Mansfield, J. Scott McGee, Julie Melanson, Lori Meyers, Patrick Moore, Keith Nicol, Emily Nishikawa, Paul Newitt, Dr. Andy Reed, Chris Redden, Jack Sasseville, John Symon, Steven Threndyle, Lex Treinen, Sue Wemyss photographers Jean Arthur, Bella Coola Heli Sports, Zack Caldwell, Canadian Birkebeiner/Jan Studios, Canadian Mountain Holidays, Bethany Cox, Pam Doyle, Bryan Fish, Fischer, Ian Harvey/Toko, HHS, Kingfisher Heli Skiing, Lake Placid Loppet, Julie Melanson, MWC2015, National Capital Commission, National Nordic Foundation, Heather Nicol, Nordic Focus, Pentathlon des Neiges, Christian Pondella, Rikert Nordic Center, Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing, Selko Photos, Bill Stevenson, Cami Thompson-Graves, Tourism Rossland/Shelley Peachell, WADA graphic design Wendy Pease copy editing Claudia Brown, John Southerst administration & circulation Crystal Burs production CrackerJack Enterprises webmaster David Irving advertising sales Benjamin Sadavoy editorial office 260 Spadina Ave., #200, Toronto, ON M5T 2E4 Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 subscriptions (2015/16) Newsstand (plus 13% HST).......................................... $4.95 Annual (plus 13% HST)................................................ $5.95 1 yr. (4 issues) Canada........................................$14.95 CDN 1 yr. (4 issues) USA...............................................$17.95 US 2 yr. (8 issues) Canada........................................$25.95 CDN 2 yr. (8 issues) USA...............................................$32.95 US International Subscribers: US$34.95 (1-yr); US$62.95 (2-yr) customer service Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 info@skitrax.com subscriptions@skitrax.com official magazine of Cross  Country Canada

United States Ski Association

member of

ďŹ nnsisu.com 2 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program and the Canada Magazine Fund toward our mailing and editorial costs.

Printed in Canada, Issued Winter 2015 www.skitrax.com

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Nordic Focus

KICK

The 2013 Tour de Ski Stage Six men’s 15km Classic final sprint at Val di Fiemme (l-r): Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ), Alex Harvey (CAN), Tobias Angerer (GER), Alexander Legkov (RUS), Giorgio Di Centa (ITA), Len Valjas (CAN) - Poltoranin won as Valjas was second bettering his earlier sprint finish, while his teammate Harvey finished third.

4 SKITRAX Winter 2015

www.skitrax.com

Time Machine

As a new year dawns, we’re all drawn into periods of reflection and anticipation that are part of the process – like a time machine. The past is an important continuum in the formula of change and success as we strive to improve on the road ahead.

This issue’s special feature on the 10th anniversary of the Tour de Ski (pgs. 30-34) is a walk down memory lane that saw many milestones achieved for North American and European skiers alike. Soon after its launch, the “mini tour” became a common element on the elite cross-country-ski circuit, and this season, SkiTour Canada 2016 will herald yet another amazing bold adventure for the sport. Our feature on Dartmouth College’s Cami Thompson-Graves (pgs. 42-46) traces another fabulous journey of one of the most valued coaches in the sport. From a look at the Black Jack Ski Club, which began back in 1983, to our annual Loppets 2016, to “Dogs in the Backcountry,” we hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we loved putting it together. All the best in 2016. – BAS

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 5

out in front

Rossignol Negotiates to Buy Time

WADA Slams Russia’s Anti-Doping Measures Out of Rio 2016? anada’s Dick Pound is chairing the Council of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that in November suspended the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) as an IAAF member. Following a teleconference meeting, 24 member countries voted 22-1 to expel Russia. The Russian delegate, being unable to vote on the motion, abstained.

These are further reverberations following allegations of systemic doping in Russia as first revealed by the German TV broadcaster ARD in late 2014. It was then suggested that perhaps 99% of Russian athletes are doping at international competitions.

According to the Associated Press, WADA further claims that the doping has been so heavily endorsed by the Russian government that “even the country’s intelligence service, the FSB, was involved, spying on Moscow’s anti-doping lab, including during [the 2014] Winter Games in Sochi.”

Following these allegations, Pound of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and fellow Canadian Richard McLaren, a law professor at the University of Western Ontario, co-wrote a damning 325-page report that forced the IAAF to act.

Pound has long been an international heavyweight in combating performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sport. McLaren is less well-known, but notably sat on a three-man USADA panel that convicted cyclist Floyd Landis following his positive doping test after he finished first in the 2006 Tour de France.

“This report is going to be a real game-changer for sport,” said McLaren. “Unlike FIFA, where you have a bunch of old men who put a whole lot of extra money in their pockets, here you potentially have a bunch of old men who put a whole lot of extra money in their pockets – through extortion and bribes – but also caused significant changes to actual results and final standings of international athletics competitions.”

WADA also declared Russian anti-doping

agency RUSADA to be non-compliant with proper testing procedures. In early December, RUSADA Director-General Ramil Khabriev stepped down. The UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) will work closely with the Russians to reform RUSADA. In mid-December, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged his country’s support for and cooperation with international officials working to eradicate “the poison” of PEDs in sport. But he also objected to banning all Russian athletes from international sporting competitions, claiming it was wrong to punish those who are innocent.

Given allegations of systemic doping within the Russian system, there are growing questions about whether all Russian athletes will be banned from the Aug. 5-21 Rio 2016 Olympics. Apart from track and field, other sports such as cycling, swimming, weightlifting and winter sports are also mentioned in the ARD documentary.

WADA does not have the power to ban nations from international competitions, noted Sir Craig Reedie, WADA president, in August. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) apparently does have that power and can ban countries for non-compliance with the Olympic charter or the WADA code.

Two upcoming IAAF events scheduled in Russia are to be relocated or cancelled, but so far, there have been no similar decisions for other sports.

Domestic sporting competitions in Russia are not directly affected by these events.

While most of the focus of the ARD documentary involves track and field in Russia, suspicious blood values were also mentioned for many Kenyan, German, Spanish, Moroccan and British athletes, among others. However, the names of the individuals involved remain confidential. – JS

WADA

C

New Name for 2016 FIS Worldloppet Cup

S

ince the 1999/2000 season, the Worldloppet Ski Federation, in co-operation with the International Ski Federation (FIS), has chosen approximately 10 races out of the 20 Worldloppet stages every season to form the FIS Marathon Cup, an official World Cup of long-distance skiing.

At the association’s Annual General Meeting in June, a new name for the series was adopted, and with the FIS Council’s approval, it will now be known as the FIS Worldloppet Cup 2016, exemplifying the

6 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

close cooperation and outstanding collaboration between Worldloppet and FIS. The Worldloppet Ski Federation organizes the races, provides prize money and accommodation, as well as performing numerous other duties.

“Now, Worldloppet is clearly visible in the name of the Cup. We are thankful that the FIS honoured our request to change the name,” commented Angelo Corradini, Worldloppet general secretary.

Rossignol Group, a leading ski manufacturer based in France, is currently in “exclusive negotiations” to buy Time Sport International, a bicycle and accessories manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount as part of a larger move to broaden Rossignol’s product offerings.

Time Sport International, also based in France, will celebrate its 30th year in 2016. The company, which counts 120 employees, is mostly known for its carbon-fibre frame bikes. Greg LeMond rode a Time bike to his 1989 Tour de France victory. Another Tour de France winner riding Time bikes was Miguel Indurain. WorldTour teams on Time bikes have included Quick-Step/ Innergetic (now Etixx/Quick-Step), Cofidis and Bouygues Telecom (now Direct Energie). Teams and Professionals using Time shoes and/ or pedals include Saunier-Duval, Ag2r and 2008 Beijing Olympic MTB gold-medalist Julien Absalon.

In a related move, the company recently launched its Rossignol Apparel lines, and appointed Alessandro Locatelli as Chief Executive Officer of its ambitious plans to expand into the high-end sportswear and fashion-lifestyle segment. There are also plans for six concept stores in Chamonix and Megève in France, Courmayeur and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy and Crans Montana and Saint-Moritz in Switzerland.

NBC Offers More Nordic Ski Coverage In November, NBCUniversal announced it had acquired Universal Sports Network assets from World Championship Sports Network as part of its strategy to be the No. 1 station for all Olympic sports.

U.S. fans will now be provided with more hours of sports coverage including alpine, cross-country, Nordic-combined and ski jumping from around the world via live broadcast and streaming through NBC Sports Live Extra on computer, tablet or mobile devices.

The wide array of exclusive media rights that were formerly held by Universal Sports, including agreements with international and national governing bodies for Olympic-sport events in swimming, track and field, gymnastics, figure skating, skiing, cycling, triathlon, volleyball and more, have now joined the NBC Continued on page 8 www.skitrax.com

out in front

The Sandau Affair Canada’s Selection Process Under Fire

8 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Heidi Widmer

Pam Doyle

Pam Doyle

n spring 2015, Cross Country Canada (CCC) cut three members from its senior development team (SDT): Kevin Sandau, age 28; Michael Somppi, 27; and Heidi Widmer, 24. Soon after, Widmer made plans to ski for the Swiss national Kevin Sandau team as she has dual citizenship. Meanwhile, Sandau produced a video called the “The Sandau Affair” where he expresses his concerns and disappointment with the current selection process.

The video has sparked discussion about a sensitive topic that is not unique to Canada, while Widmer’s move also raised eyebrows amidst a floundering women’s program. Widmer had connections with the Swiss team and being disillusioned with the situation at home she made the move. She’s already seen progress by making the heats for the first time at the FIS World Cup in Davos to finish 30th. “Yes, it’s possible I could be racing at Ski Tour Canada in Swiss colours, but one step at a time,” she told SkiTrax.

“Heidi took ownership for her 2015-16 season, she admitted to understanding why she wasn’t selected [for Canada] and was excited for the opportunity to ski for Switzerland,” commented Tom Holland, CCC’s high performance director. “I think this was a good choice – she was searching for a change at that point in her career; she had previous training experiences and good coaching connections in Switzerland.” Holland added that the door is still open should Widmer choose to return to Canada.

Meanwhile, Sandau was “not surprised” to be cut from the team but is perturbed that his CCC coaches did not inform him of the decision; he heard from somebody else. In the “The Sandau Affair” video, he receives an automated phone call with a robotic voice saying: “This is a message from CCC. You have been cut from the national team. Goodbye.”

Holland cites the difficult tradeoffs in making selection decisions. “Firstly, in terms of high-performance athlete development and performance, CCC has to find a balance between supporting our podium-potential athletes for the 2018 Pyeonchang Olympic Winter Games while still concentrating sufficient resources to facilitate support for athletes that have met podium pathway metrics defining podium potential for 2018 and 2022.

“These are often difficult decisions that are taken on the advisement and deliberation within our high performance committee. These decisions are taken

Gord Kerr

I

Tom Holland

looking back on a multiple-year window of performance and data analysis based on international results and our international performance benchmarks.

“Kevin Sandau is a very disciplined athlete who had some notable results as a junior and U23 athlete. We are pleased that Kevin has continued to ski this year and be a part of the Alberta World Cup Academy (AWCA), which is part of Canada’s National Training Centre system. As for failing to be named to the SDT this season, the objectives for athletes over age 25 for being named to this team are a top 30 in World Cup, World Championship or Olympic Winter Games results.”

Sandau disputes that the selection process is as objective as Holland maintains, and speaks of “a huge coach’s bias,” pointing to a weekend in Duntroon, Ont. in January 2015. “Graeme Killick won the 30km by a fair margin but then I won the 15km by a good chunk. After both races, we were tied; it came down to coach’s selection.”

“CCC should stop pushing out older athletes,” continues Sandau. “We need more women skiers like Andrea [Dupont], who is a role model.

For a lot of younger skiers, if someone older bests them, it ignites their drive. She’s not taking away opportunities.”

Athlete selection for national teams and major events is an age-old debate and can involve the legal system. The rights of both sides are meant to be equally protected with resolution processes in place should disputes arise. Sandau will be among 26 Canadians competing at Ski Tour Canada 2016 racing on the AWCA team under the Team Canada umbrella and is “...working [hard] to do well there… a top 30 would be nice.”

Meanwhile, Somppi has been over in Europe racing on the World Cup tour with Team Canada. He was the aggregate NorAm leader from last season, earning himself a berth on the team during period one where he’s had modest results but gained valuable experience. – JS

Continued from page 6 Sports Group portfolio. Financial terms were not disclosed.

NBC Sports Group will use NBCUniversal’s family of networks, including NBCSN and Universal HD, to televise events. NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports’ live-streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs – will live-stream events, including some digital-only programming.

The biggest change is more content on streaming and broadcast than ever before, with virtually the entire World Cup calendar in all sports now being streamed or broadcast. Universal HD and NBCSN – both major cable channels – will be the primary home for broadcast.

Events in the U.S. will continue to air primarily on NBC Sports (regular broadcast channel) and NBCSN. “Acquiring these valuable media rights builds on our long-term investment in the Olympic Games through 2032, and reaffirms our commitment to Olympic sports and the stories of the great athletes who compete in them,” said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics, a division of NBC Sports Group. “We now have a great opportunity to engage with the Olympic-sport audience year-round and inspire the next generation of Olympic fans, which is a critical part of our ongoing Olympic strategy.”

Seventh Annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival With more than 200 kilometers of superbly groomed trails, Idaho’s Sun Valley, affectionately known as NordicTown U.S.A., held its official opening on Dec. 18 for Classic cross-country and skate skiing, along with fatbiking and snowshoeing. A new activity this year is daytime sleigh rides.

The 7th annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival runs from Jan. 29-Feb. 7 and features nine days of activities, races, clinics and fun events. There are discounts on demos and rentals, lodging and dining, special free events as well as a $49, nine-day, valley-wide ski-trail pass. The festival culminates with the renowned Zion Bank Boulder Mountain Tour on Feb. 7, claimed to be the longest-running marathon Nordic race in North America and a prize purse of $8,000 along with preems.

Sun Valley will also host the Snowball Special Fat Bike Race Continued on page 14 www.skitrax.com

courtesy of NNF

NNF is proud to support athletic excellence in developing U.S. Nordic athletes.

NNF Allocates $154K to Pillar Projects

T

he National Nordic Foundation’s (NNF) 2015 “Drive for 25” fundraiser amassed some $154,280 to support both cross-country and Nordic-combined “Pillar Project” initiatives. Of this amount, $118,280 went to four cross-country initiatives, while $36,000 went to five Nordic-combined initiatives.

“Bridging the funding gap between strong club programs and the World Cup circuit is such a valuable and necessary component for every nation; the NNF is there for us in the U.S.A,” explained Craig Ward, NNF board member.

A goal of the Drive for 25 is acquiring at least a $25 donation from every state. The Salt Lake City-based NNF exists to support athletic excellence in developing U.S. Nordic athletes.

“We’ve had another strong Drive for 25,” notes Dave Knoop, NNF board chair. “Each fundraising drive is different, but in the end, with the help of community events and long-time donors, we raised a large amount of money to support our mission.”

While the 2015 Drive for 25 campaign is now over, donations can still be made online and are tax-deductible. – JS

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 9

out in front

Former IBU VP Faces Criminal Charges Alleged to Have Helped Son Buy EPO

B

ased on wiretap evidence gathered by Italian police, former International Biathlon Union (IBU) vice-president Gottlieb Taschler has been charged with helping his son, Daniel, to buy EPO (erythropoietin), a banned red-

blood-cell booster, in 2010. Taschler was also president of the organizing committee of the IBU World Cup stage in Antholz, Italy.

In December 2015, the Italian National Olympic Committee, CONI, asked for a two-

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year suspension from involvement in sports for Taschler and a similar two-year sporting suspension for his biathlete son, Daniel, 28.

The son has been inactive in biathlon for the past year, however.

In Italy, where doping offences are a criminal matter, Taschler has now also been charged with Article 2.8 of the Anti-Doping Rules Sports: “To provide assistance, encouragement and aid, abet, conceal or provide any other type of complicity in deliberate reference to any violation or attempted violation of the NSA.” There was a hearing in September 2015, but no trial date has yet been set.

His son, Daniel, is also charged under a similar statute.

“In order to protect the sport of biathlon and the good governance of the IBU, I will temporarily suspend all my current roles within the IBU,” said Taschler in December 2014.

“This is my personal decision; effective immediately and to remain in effect until these serious accusations are proven invalid.”

The IBU issued its own statement then that “the fight against doping and the protection of clean athletes is a top priority for the IBU. IBU is aware of the latest media reports regarding IBU Vice-president Gottlieb Taschler and his son. In the light of these reports, we will gather further facts to fully clarify the situation. At this stage, we are not able to comment further, but will come back to you as soon as we have additional information.”

The two allegedly tried to buy EPO from Dr. Michele Ferrari, formerly disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong’s physician. Ferrari, who was banned from sports for life by the Italian Cycling Federation in 2002, once famously said, “EPO is not dangerous,” comparing it to orange juice. He recently appealed to a regional court to have the 2002 ban lifted, with a decision expected in the coming months.

Ferrari was also banned from sports for life by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) in the 2012 case that led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

Taschler, 54, is a former biathlete who won gold in the relay at the 1991 IBU Worlds in Lahti, Finland and bronze in the relay at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games. His son, Daniel, competed at World Cup stages f rom 2011-2014, but without any notable results. – JS www.skitrax.com

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out in front

A

s the largest cross country ski marathon in North America, the legendary American Birkebeiner which draws over 10,000 skiers from 48 states and 21 countries hardly needs an introduction. But one of the best kept secrets of this race might just be the fun and hubbub that surrounds the legendary event. For the full slate of events and action, be sure to visit birkie.com. But in the meantime, allow us to give you a sneak peek into five favourites worth checking out in 2016.

Barkie Birkie Skijor Your canine companion can catch a case of Birkie fever just as easily as you, so why not team up in the Barkie Birkie Skijor that kicks off the Birkie week’s slate of events on Thursday, Feb. 18? Derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring, which means ski driving, skijoring has been around for hundreds of years and first began with reindeer and wooden skis.

“The Barkie Birkie is always well attended,” says Ben Popp, executive director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. “Skijoring is growing like mad in popularity, so to get to ski up and down Main Street with your favourite canine buddy is a huge hit.” Participants will begin the fun – either an Expert 5K or a Sport 3K – near Sophie’s Dog Bakery on Hayward’s Main Street, and the $30 entry fee benefits the Northwoods Humane Society.

Giant Ski As Thursday continues, the outrageous fifth annual Giant Ski will put six people on one enormous pair of 25ft (4.5m) skis, providing big time entertainment for spectators as participants race up Main Street.

“The Giant Ski is sort of this epic 100m dash on huge skis,” Popp says.

“It’s really about working in tandem and teamwork, and people get all dressed up in costumes. The Chamber of Commerce is a partner and they do a great job of getting the whole community involved. We always have rivalries, like a group from the DNR will take on a group from the DOT or one bar will take on another bar . . . It’s all about talking a little smack, and it’s really fun to watch.”

Barnebirkie & Junior Birkie Kids ages 3 to 13 can ski their way toward the one-, three- or five-kilometer event finish lines on Friday, Feb. 19 in the untimed Barnebirkie.

All participants receive a victory medal and ski bib, and Swiss Miss and the Sons of Norway join forces to offer hot chocolate and cookies.

Following refreshments, kids have the chance to play games, including a Chariot Pull, Scooter Ski Relays, Simon Says and an obstacle course.

For those who’ve outgrown the Barnebirkie, the Junior Birkie awaits. Held on the same day and same course for ages 6 through 12 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

18, this mass start individual race is divided into categories by age and gender. Racers also have the option of participating in the High School Team Sprint Relay. “We really want to give them an amazing experience of what the Birkie is like to inspire them to want to ski and have that become a part of their lifestyle,” says Popp. “Giving them a really good event and experiencing what it is like to ski up and down Main Street with people cheering is a way to engage them.” photos: ABSF©Netz

Birkie Race Week Highlights

Nikkerbeiner & Family Fun Ski Break out the bamboo poles, wooden skis, and woolen trousers for the Nikkerbeiner and Family Fun Ski combined event held on Friday, Feb. 19. Named after the Norwegian word for knickers, the Nikkerbeiner allows the nostalgia and fashion of 1973 – the first year the Birkie was held – to take you back to another era in this untimed 5K throwback event. Share the details of the clothing and equipment you’ll be sporting to give the announcer ample ammunition for commenting on the gear while you ski. Following this blast from the past, the Family Fun Ski 5K/10K rounds out the action.

Warriors and Inga Contest The Birkie Warriors and Inga contest involves a search for three skiers to dress up as the original Birkebeiner warriors and Queen Inga in order to re-enact the famed real-life rescue on traditional wooden skis while wearing period costume. Inga will ski the 55km Classic Birkie or 24km Kortelopet before joining the Birkie warriors and baby Prince Haakon at the finish line.

The Warriors and Inga serve as ambassadors on the trail, encouraging skiers and volunteers along the way.

“They oftentimes serve as a real inspiration for people skiing the race,” Popp says. “They normally arrive downtown in the afternoon, and there’s a big parade showing them coming down Main Street and finishing off the Birkie. It really is a big part of the history of why the Birkie is so meaningful to so many people.”

This year’s action may even include screenings of the new Norwegian film “Birkebeinerne,” which is based on this story. The film is directed by Oscar-nominee Nils Gaup, and stars Jakob Oftebro and Kristofer Hivju (known for playing Tormund Giantsbane on the HBO series Game of Thrones).

When the Birkie first began in the early 1970s and even when the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation was formed in 1983, it was really all about putting on a race. But that has changed and evolved over time.

“The Birkebeiner experience is just that – it’s a lifestyle and it’s an experience that happens year-round, and that means we’re trying to engage people of all different abilities, ages, whatever it might be,” Popp says. “By having a variety of events, you can introduce Birkie Fever to a wide variety of people and not just the same 10,000 Birkie racers.”

“Typically, the people that you meet at the Birkie support each other,” he adds. “You get this amazing sense of camaraderie and friendship.” For more information visit www.birkie.com – PN www.skitrax.com

GREAT CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND SO MUCH MORE ! Â

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mont-tremblant.ca

out in front

Ski The Length of Finland (HHS) 2017

F

or cross-country ski aficionados who enjoy a new challenge and have some time on their hands, a 34day, 1,800km trip from the south to the north of Finland might be just the ticket. A private company, Hiihtäen Halki Suomen (HHS), which in Finnish means “ski across Finland,” has been organizing such trips every second year since 2002, guiding up to 40 skiers at a time. The next guided trip is planned for early 2017.

The trips begin at Virolahti, near the Finnish capital of Helsinki. From there, the skiers move north, averaging 52km per day, much of it close to the Russian border. Partial trips are also offered with some skiers joining the group either on day 9 in Ilomantsi or on day 21 in Kuusamo. The skiers head towards the town of Nurogam on the Finnish/ Norwegian border, and from there down the Tanna River to a fjord on the Barents Sea. Those who want to can bring a towel for a dip in the 1C (34F) water.

“We always have a snowmobile in front of us dragging the grooming sled and generally also have a following snowmobile,” explains Jeff Loss, an American participant. “On most days, our transportation vehicle can meet us along the way at a lunch/rest stop to pick up or drop off skiers. The skiers also can call the guides by cell phone if there are any problems. For the most part, skiers determine before the ski day begins which part they want to complete.

“There are reindeer all over Lapland. They roam freely except during roundups and can be seen along the road, in the forests and in corrals in town.

We also eat reindeer jerky and reindeer soup! And

courtesy of HHS

A Finnish ski adventure of a lifetime that you won’t soon forget.

14 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

yes, since we are in Lapland for the last part of the trip, we will see and meet Laplanders or, more precisely, the Sami people,” Loss continued.

Accommodation along the way consists of hotels, schools, church camps, abandoned Finnish border guard stations which have been converted to guest houses, and holiday cabins.

“Après-ski means sauna, probably a beer if you plan ahead, eat, wax, rest, chat, etc. Our typical day is determined at the nightly orientation given by organizers. They will announce the next day’s weather, distance, wax recommendations, meeting points, wind direction at various times of the day and starting time for the slowest skiers. And, most importantly, the sauna hours and locations for the males and females. In Finland, the sauna is really a focal point of the daily ski routine.”

This trip is the ultimate trek for a cross-country enthusiast, says Loss. He compares it to the perhaps better-known Rajalta Rajalle (RR) trek in Finland that is only 25% of the HHS distance. “Although the majority of skiers are Finnish, I’ve skied with Swedes, Norwegians, Spanish, French, Germans and Slovenians. The group spends 33 days together skiing, eating and becoming immersed in the varying Finnish landscapes. It can be an easy day (50km or less) or a tough day (65km or more), but there is only one way to get to the next sleeping accommodation and that is skiing to it.”

The HHS organization provides a cost for the entire trip and for separate sections, which includes all meals, transportation, etc. once the skier arrives at the Helsinki airport or the two other starting points. Once the trip ends, transportation is provided back to a point where the skier can travel to the Helsinki airport.

While the 2017 prices have not been established yet, in 2015 the full trip (34 days) cost €4,900 (US$5,335/C$7,550) while the 14-day trip cost €2,300 (US$2,500/C$3,525). For more information visit www.hhs-ski.net or email info@hhs-ski.net.– JS

Continued from page 8 for the second year in a row. The inaugural event was held last year and attracted more than 60 participants, with more anticipated this year. The 2016 event will be held on Jan. 30.

“We are very excited to be offering a wide range of activities for our guests – excellent skiing, expanded fatbiking, family-friendly daytime sleigh rides and snowshoeing on our unique and beautiful trails. We have something for everyone,” stated Tony Parkhill, Sun Valley’s director of snowsports and guest services.

For a complete listing and description of all of the great events, visit nordictownusa.com.

Fischer Skis U.S. Names Ryan Leach Fischer Skis U.S., LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of privately-held Fischer Sports GmbH of Austria, announced that Ryan Leach will be the CEO/president of its U.S. organization. Fischer is a global leader and supplier of ski and hockey products, and will look to Leach’s strong sales background in the alpine marketplace to further strengthen its position. Ryan most recently worked as the alpine sales representative for Atomic, but previously held the same position with Fischer.

Fluorinated Ski Waxes to be Banned in Europe? Major ski wax companies, along with the International Ski Federation (FIS), are taking notice of recent regulatory actions by the European Union to ban fluorinated (F) gases to combat climate change; such gases have a global-warming potential more than 150 times greater than carbon dioxide.

HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) are by far the most relevant F-gases from a climate perspective, and are used in various sectors and applications such as refrigerants in air-conditioning, in refrigeration and in the manufacture of high-end cross-countryski waxes such as Swix’s Cera F. According to the document “EU legislation to Control F-gases,” the overall goal is to reduce F-gas sales in 2030 to 20% of 2014 levels, but also to ban products containing F-gases “in many new types of equipment where less harmful alternatives are widely available.” New cars must be compliant with this legislation by 2017, but it is unclear when new rules apply to ski waxes; www.skitrax.com

both 2017 and 2019 have been suggested.

All of this raises questions as to how the FIS will address competitions between countries inside and outside of Europe (i.e., North America), which are not subject to potential bans. The application of common standards to maintain a level playing field could be a challenge, especially at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

McKeever, Bouchard, Ahrens Honoured at Petro-Canada Gala In November, Canada’s coaches and sport administrators were honoured at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala, hosted by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel in Winnipeg, Man. The gala recognized Canada’s most dedicated, inspiring, successful coaches. Annually, award recipients are honoured for exemplifying the values and competencies of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and for their influence in positively shaping the Canadian-sport community. The event was emcee’d by multi-Paralympic Games medalists Elisabeth Walker-Young and Stephanie Dixon, respectively chef de mission and assistant chef de mission at the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games.

“The CAC is proud to recognize these coaches for their passion and dedication to sport and for making a positive impact on athletes and communities across Canada,” stated Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO of the CAC. Among many dozens of Chartered Professional Coaches (ChCP) honoured were Matthias Ahrens, ChPC: Biathlon, who coaches Nathan Smith; Louis Bouchard, ChPC: Cross-Country Skiing, who coaches Alex Harvey; and Robin McKeever, ChPC: Para-Nordic, who coaches Brian McKeever. These three coaches were all winners of the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award.

First-ever Paralympian Search Held in Calgary Thirty-eight participants were #PARATOUGH at the first-ever Paralympian Search held by the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSI Calgary) in November. Individuals with a physical disability or visual impairment were given an opportunity to test their athletic potential in a high-performance environment, with the hope of becoming a future Paralympian.

Representatives from Wheelchair Basketball, Alpine Canada, Cross Country Canada, Cycling Canada and Hockey Canada were inspired by the athletes’ determination. Tests provided by CSI Calgary included anthropometric measurements, wheelchair or running sprints, vertical jumps, medicine-ball tosses, grip-strength indicator, and endurance using an arm ergometer or velotron bike.

Continued on page 25

Discover Experience Explore Discover Experience

Explore

MT.VAN HOEVENBERG MT.VAN HOEVENBERG New for 2015-2016

Destination ski to cabin on our beautiful trail system Expanded Nordic Terrain Park Reconfigured Beginner Trail System Unique Cross Country and Biathlon Experiences

FIS Introduces NC Awards for 2015/16 In cooperation with Nordic-combined sponsors Viessmann and Audi and representatives of international ski media, the International Ski Federation is introducing the Nordic Combined (NC) Awards.

At the end of the winter season, athletes will be recognized for outstanding performances in four categories: Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, NC Moment of the Year and a Civic Service Award to honour special social commitment and initiatives by Nordic-combined athletes.

A panel of international journalists from eight countries will vote on the winners. Johannes Markus Stettner of Nordicjumpworld.com, spokesperson for the jury, is excited about the upcoming tasks: “As representatives of different international media outlets reporting about the discipline on a regular basis, we are happy to give something back to the NC community and honour the athletes for their outstanding achievements. We will follow the competition activity very closely and look forward to picking the first winners of the NC Awards in early 2016.” www.skitrax.com

DISCOVER, EXPERIENCE AND EXPLORE THE 1980 OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS OF MT. VAN HOEVENBERG IN LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK December 12 January 30-31 February 18-23 February 20 February 21 February 27-28

Grand Opening of Josie’s Cabin USSA Super Tour / NENSA Eastern Cup LAKE PLACID NORDIC FEST 6.25 and 12.5 km Ski Challenge Lake Placid Loppet NOR-AM Biathlon

mtvanhoevenberg.com

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 15

high voltage

by Emily Nishikawa

Growing Up in the Yukon

Nordic Focus

I

was born and raised Whitehorse, Yukon, and, from a young age, learned to ski at the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club. The ski club, located right in the city and a 10-minute drive from my house, has more than 100 kilometres of ski trails. Over the years, the Yukon Ski Team has produced an exceptional number of high-level skiers, and I am often asked, “What is it about the Yukon?” The Yukon has a population of 36,000 and its capital, Whitehorse, has a population of 27,000, and this year, three of the 12 Canadian National Senior Team athletes are from Whitehorse. I often joke that the Yukon produces so many good skiers because we have long winters with lots of snow.

While that is very true, there is so much more to the story than that.

I joined the Yukon Ski Team at 13 years old, and it was during my early teen years that my love for cross-country skiing developed.

I believe it had to do with its supportive community. I had great teammates, coaches and family – an entire community behind me! I had many role models from Whitehorse to look up to, including Lucy Steele-Masson and many of my older teammates. Seeing them perform was motiving and inspiring.

Our summer-training camps went something like this: Pack your tent, sleeping bag and mattress. Pack a Coleman stove, cooking utensils and enough food for a week in a cooler. Bring running shoes and rollerskis as well. Set up a base camp in incredible nearby wilderness areas such as Atlin, B.C. or Haines, Alaska. Each day, embark on our training workouts. As a young teen, some of the most epic and memorable hikes I have ever done occurred in these very training camps. With the guidance of Coach Alain Masson, we tackled Atlin Mountain every year, which could sometimes take up to 12 hours, including two hours of paddling a voyageur canoe to and from the mountain. Although I would be incredibly tired after such adventures, I also finished each day with an incredible sense of accomplishment,

Nishikawa credits the amazing support of the Yukon community and the spectacular environment for producing top level athletes.

which fuelled my passion for the sport.

I had an amazing group of teammates and friends with me on the Yukon Ski Team, whom I’m still great friends with today. We worked hard, especially at these training camps, but, most of all, we had fun!

The coaches fostered an amazing environment for all of us and instilled a lifelong love of the sport and the outdoors. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of the program, and I have so many great memories of the amazing places we trained at around the Yukon.

So when I’m asked why the Yukon produces such talent, my answer is that there is an entire community to support every young up-and-coming athlete. Each athlete gets the chance to train in one of the most spectacular environments in the world, in a way that makes you want to come back and do it again tomorrow!

Happy trails!

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PHOTO: NORDIC FOCUS

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PERFECTLY GROOMED AND SIMPLY

BREATHTAKING

Photos: Royce Sihlis, Kelly Funk, Bob Hall

glenn bond CAMPS XC ski camps: december 5 & 6, january 2 & 3 2016 Sun Peaks Nordic Loppets

JANUARY 10 MARCH 05

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A visit to Sun Peaks, British Columbia will leave you awestruck by our enormous and immaculately groomed and track-set trail network. Start right from your lodging’s doorstep or at 5,500’ via the Morrisey Express chairlift. An abundance of backcountry trails offer endless opportunities for adventure, and your four legged friend will sleep well after exploring our dog-friendly routes. See you on the trails!

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clubs

T

he Black Jack Ski Club (BJSC) was founded in 1983. The club has 40 kilometres of trails on approximately 1,855 acres (750 hectares) owned by the municipality, Selkirk Forest Products and the B.C. Ministry of Forests. The nearby town of Rossland, B.C. has an altitude (3,410 feet/1,039 metres) that almost exceeds its population (3,556).

“We have a great working relationship with all the landowners that aligns well with a long-term vision that sustains the club,” explains Matt Tonner, BJSC’s president. “Recently, some logging by the Ministry of Forests was completed in a few areas. Prior to the work kicking off, the ministry got us involved so that the roads built to access the logged areas could be useful for ski trails. It’s been a really great experience for the club, the ministry and contractors doing the work.

“We have consistently had over 700 members for the past three seasons. The typical member is a resident of Rossland (one in six Rossland dwellers are Black Jack members!). Ages vary from three to 90, and the type of skier is also varied. The club is very adamant on making the facility accessible and comfortable for all types of skiers and demographics. As a result, we have a member base with a huge range of skill and athletic ability, but all keen to ski and get involved.

“Probably the largest demographic is families with kids in the skier-development program, where the parents/adults use the trails primarily in the evenings for a weekly exercise activity. As we are only a five-minute drive from town, when people go ‘out for a ski,’ they actually get to spend most of the time skiing, as opposed to driving to the facility. Lots of people in Rossland use Nordic as a workout to keep fit for another activity, be it downhill skiing, biking, running, hockey, etc.”

Those families might also take advantage of the ski school, with some 100 participants through its Bunnies, Jack Rabbits, Track Attack, Junior and Senior races. This program drives membership sales, as the parents often become members once their children enter these programs that provide a great range of development opportunities.

Jack Rabbits meet twice a week, and the program becomes more varied as the participants age. Some famous skiers can be found around the club, including former Olympian George Grey, an alumnus of the ski school who remains active at BJSC. Dave Wood, Canada’s

18 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Julien Locke

The Black Jack Club’s Senior Team at a two-week altitude training camp in Nickel Plate Nordic.

Rich Thorpe Cabin at the BJSC trailhead – the lights of the night loop have just timed on for the evening.

Black Jack’s member base has a huge range of skill and athletic ability, with the largest demographic being families with children in the skier-development program.

Tourism Rossland/Shelley Peachell

Black Jack Ski Club

Tourism Rossland/Iain Reid

by John Symon

winningest cross-country ski national team head coach, who’s tenure included Team Canada’s most successful years, lives in Rossland and coaches at Black Jack. Downhiller Nancy Greene, who won Canada’s first Olympic gold in skiing (1968), can be seen around town.

For those who can’t find enough daylight hours for skiing, there is a 2.5-kilometre lit loop, and BJSC is also open in the evenings for headlamp skiing. The Dog Loop is a 2.2-kilometre circuit that offers pet owners the opportunity to exercise their pooch and also keeps the canines off the main trails. “We have little to no issues with dogs on the trails because of this facility. We also offer Dog-Loop-only ski passes at a reduced price.”

The biathlon area is connected to the main trails through an eight-kilometre trail. It also has a separate parking lot approximately 10 minutes up the road. Biathlon participants meet every Sunday when the range is open. This area also serves as the club’s early- and late-season ski location, as it sits approximately 400 metres higher than the main trailhead and has snow from November to May. Asked if the nearby Red Rock alpine-ski area hinders BJSC, Tonner said it doesn’t: “Both of these facilities are engrained in the community and use each other as marketing tools. The relationship is solid and we don’t see ourselves as competitors, but rather as complements to each other.”

The club’s loppet participation varies, but generally draws 100 skiers of all ages and abilities. Distances vary from one to 30 kilometres in a mass-start freestyle event. There is also a team entry, so that friends can enter and ski a 10-kilometre recreational distance and finish together. BJSC often also hosts Nor-Am races as well as one of the five Kootenay Cup races that attract racers from Nelson, Revelstoke, Fernie, Kimberly and sometimes teams from the U.S. “The high elevation of the trails makes us a prime location for early-season races. The event draws from a very keen and enthusiastic volunteer base in town that helps organize things,” says Black Jack Ski Club Tonner. “And skiing at BJSC PO 1754, Rossland, BC V0G 1Y0 is not just for members; viswww.skiblackjack.ca itors are encouraged and 250-362-7164 welcomed.”

Just the Facts

www.skitrax.com

Gatineau

MARCH 1

st

Come see the Canadian athletes in action, including Alex Harvey and enjoy the festivities on site!

Watch for it on Sunday, February 28!

Arrival of the Canadian team and the Opening Ceremony.

FIVE DAYS OF CELEBRATION OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING IN THE OUTAOUAIS Don’t miss the 38th edition of the Gatineau Loppet, the biggest gathering of cross-country skiers in Canada!

skitourcanada.com MARCH 1

TO

12, 2016

OFFICIAL FIS WORLD CUP SPONSORS

PUBLIC & TOURISM PARTNERS

FEDERATIONS

MAJOR PARTNER

AN EVENT ORGANIZED BY

day ski

by John Symon

Rikert Nordic Center

V

ermont’s Carroll and Jane Rikert Nordic Center (as known as Rikert’s or RNC) was founded 40 years ago as a for-profit business. RNC is on the grounds of the Bread Loaf Campus of Middlebury College in Ripton, Vt., which sits on the western side of Green Mountain and consists of 2,000 acres of land that have been conserved in perpetuity. RNC has more than 55 kilometres (35 miles) of rolling trails on college lands and U.S. Forest Service land. Also included on the property is Robert Frost’s summer home, the Frost Cabin. (above) The Rickert Nordic Center features more than 55km of rolling trails. (left) Fatbiking is becoming very popular and is expected to increase two-fold this season. (below) Each year, RNC hosts at least one national or large regional event, as well as the Middlebury College Carnival.

photos: Rikert Nordic Center

“One of the ways that Rikert differentiates itself is with the Tormondsen Trail,” says Michael Hussey, RNC’s director. “Built in 2011, it is a 5km FIS Homologated (D and E) Race Course covered entirely with snowmaking. RNC has averaged a 140-day season for the past three years.” That often means opening mid-November until early April.

RNC’s snowmaking system, at 250 gallons per minute, is capable of covering the five kilometres in approximately 300 hours. Natural snowfall typically amounts to 150” (380 centimetres) annually.

20 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Last season, RNC had 15,000 skier visits. The “average skier” is aged mid-thirties to mid-forties and lives within a 50-mile (80-kilometre) radius. The gender mix is approximately 50/50, but leaning toward female, and are generally intermediate to advanced skiers.

“Rikert’s rolling trails are ideal for intermediate skiers,” says Hussey. “Aging baby boomers are attracted to the area for the terrain.

Competitive skiers also appreciate the consistent snow and challenge of the Tormondsen Trail.”

Each year, RNC hosts at least one national or large regional event, such as the 2015 Eastern Cup Opener this past December and the 2016 Eastern High School Championships, as well as the Middlebury College Carnival (Division 1 Carnival races).

As with many ski centres, fatbiking is making inroads. Last season, fatbiking was responsible for 7% of the rental revenue. RNC anticipates a two-fold increase in fatbike use this season.

RNC’s ski school is 100% staffed with PSIA-certified instructors capable of teaching any level lesson. Young children can enjoy the “Snowflakes” program or the “Snow Trackers” program (ages six to 13).

For the 2015-2016 season, an adult day pass costs $22. An onsite boutique sells ski equipment and accessories. Rentals available include skis, snowshoes, pulk sleds and sit-skis.

RNC is close to the Middlebury College Snow Bowl (downhill) center and 12 miles (19 kilometres) from historic Middlebury, full of excellent B&B’s, inns and hotels, great food, breweries, distilleries and an excellent vineyard.

Just the Facts

Rikert Nordic Center 106 College Cross Rd., Ripton, Vt. 05766 www.rikertnordic.com 802-443-2477 www.skitrax.com

Life Begins at 0Ëš

BC’s Nordic skiing vacations begin at

BCNordic.com

backcountry

by Steven Threndyle

Jumbo Resort Pits Developers vs Environmentalists

W

Christian Pondella

hether it’s logging in the Great Bear Rainforest or building pipelines through salmon habitat, the land-use battle between wilderness advocates and the resource-extraction industry has defined the narrative of modern British Columbia. Forestry and mining have most often been the biggest culprits, but damming rivers (the Site C on the Peace) and burning garbage (Vancouver’s incinerator project) arouse intense emotions, too.

For the past two decades, so has the fate over the Jumbo Resort.

Though comparatively small when compared to Whistler (6,500 beds versus more than 20,000), the boutique resort has been mired in a long series of legal battles. It’s in the Purcell Mountains northeast of Nelson, west of Radium Hot Springs, north of the U.S. border and south of the Trans-Canada Highway. And, unlike many B.C. ski resorts built close to cities and small towns throughout the province, Jumbo is truly remote. The roughly built logging road will need many millions of dollars of upgrades in order to make it passable in the winter months.

Right now, the closest town – Invermere – is already more than adequately served by nearby Panorama Resort.

B.C.’s Kootenay region is polarized when it comes to embracing wilderness protection. Logging and millwork in the East Kootenays have provided a number of good paying jobs over the years and so has seasonal work in the tourism sector, especially in the construction of second homes sold to affluent, oil-rich Albertans. But the Columbia Valley is surrounded by significant national and provincial parks, too.

An eclectic mix of artists, farmers, ranchers and First Nations bands offsets the economically conservative boosters of the region.

Patagonia, the privately held outdoor-clothing company owned by environmental activist Yvon Chouinard, underwrote the cost of producing Jumbo Wild, a new documentary about the decades-long battle to stop construction of the massive Jumbo Resort from taking place. The company enlisted was Sweetgrass Productions, an

22 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

award-winning documentary-maker (films such as Valhalla, Signatures, and Hand Cut) based in both Colorado and in Nelson. Brooklyn-born director Nick Waggoner is a natural-born storyteller, and in a movie that could very well have dwelled on the usual pro-environment propaganda, he is able to accurately humanize Jumbo’s two developers, Austrian-born Oberto Oberti and B.C. native Grant Costello. To be sure, there’s much to criticize about the Jumbo Resort – the greatest, perhaps, being the proponent’s failure to successfully gain approval from one of the local First Nations bands (the other band that quietly approved the project is not mentioned in the movie). But the movie dwells more on how people with passionate visions of what the mountain landscape should look like can fundamentally disagree.

Oberti’s frame of reference for building Jumbo is the massive four-season resorts near where he learned to ski in the Alps in the 1970s. Recognizing that he could never realize such a resort in Europe, he has relentlessly scoured the mountain ranges of Western Canada, and knew that Jumbo was the ideal location to host yearround glacier skiing, a first for North America if it happens.

Whether you fly in by helicopter – which most backcountry skiers need to do – or take the road into the heart of the wilderness, both sides agree that the skiing is spectacular, the snow is of the highest quality and the scenery is worthy of national-park status.

As Jumbo Wild was being released, the B.C. government dealt the proponents a significant blow. Some of the buildings slated for construction were found to potentially exist in the path of an avalanche, and a new environmental assessment was ordered for the entire project, stating that not enough construction had taken place on the project to warrant its approval. Late in 2015, Jumbo Resort’s proponents fought back and wanted a judicial review of the entire permitting process.

The movie is beautifully filmed and the reporting is generally balanced and fair. The economic and environmental viability of the resort might be questionable, but the filmmakers admire Oberti’s tenacity in the face of 20 years’ worth of bureaucratic obstacles. Opposition from environmentalists remains steadfast, however.

Sounds just like the mining and forestry days. The only people really getting rich from Jumbo Resort will be the lawyers.

Jumbo Wild is about how people with passionate visions disagree on a proposed large-scale ski resort deep in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia. www.skitrax.com

Canmore

MARCH 8, 9, 11, 12

Come cheer with us as Canmore hosts the final legs of the Ski Tour Canada 2016 and the final races of the FIS World Cup season!

skitourcanada.com MARCH 1 TO 12, 2016

masters

Real Cross-CountryWorld Resiliency

T

wo notable decisions were made official at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the World Masters Association (WMA) held in Klosters, Switzerland (site of the 2017 Masters World Cup), and both decisions reflected elements of that “real cross-country-world resiliency” myself and others have been calling for of late.

By far the more notable decision was unanimous approval of the Minneapolis, Minn. bid for the 2018 Masters World Cup. Over three years in development, the 2018 Masters World Cup will be one of the most unique and exciting events for Master cross-country skiers ever held. I wrote a little bit about this event in the last issue, and you can find much more coming soon on xcskiworld.com. But most intriguing to me are the many ways this event takes on the new realities that our sport is facing.

Skiers from the interior states and provinces of North America know that adequate natural snowfall is no longer a year-to-year guarantee.

With universally low elevations, there are no high-altitude venues for an emergency situation. But one thing this region can still cling to is reasonably good chances for periods of cold weather.

Accepting rather than running from these realities, the 2018 Masters World Cup bid committee has created two working plans for event courses.

The clearly preferred option is a wonderful 15km Masters World Cup system that uses a big chunk of the Theodore Wirth Park golf course plus still-developing trail connections to not one, but two small lakes located within Park boundaries. Given the golf course obviously has a grass surface, the lakes have flat ice, and connecting trails can be manicured to road-grade flat, a remarkably small amount of natural snow is needed for world-class ski conditions.

But if Mother Nature isn’t feeling so generous, there is already a fully designed “Plan B” ready to go. The 2018 Masters World Cup lowor-no-snow course options use an existing 4km snowmaking loop, a new 3.5km snowmaking loop, a very creative solution to remote snowmaking for lake connections and then expanded routes on the lakes themselves. Whereas originally American XC Skiers (AXCS) worked with the Loppet Foundation local organizers on a plan to hold the 2018 Masters World Cup on as little as 7.5km of emergency trails, that plan has evolved into a fully viable way to host cross-country skiing’s largest Championship event on a full 15 kilometres of trails, regardless of natural snow!

Make no mistake, everyone would prefer the natural-snow option, if only because it’ll be more esthetically pleasing. But it’s important to note how much thought has already gone into dealing with modern-snow realities.

The second decision emerging from the WMA Annual Meeting (and, yes, it’s embarrassing to be the one announcing it) was my election as the new president of the WMA. Whereas individually I don’t have much to offer for cross-country-world resiliency, there are some unique elements to this leadership shift.

First of all, many Masters may not realize that the WMA is led entirely by volunteers. Of course, volunteer leadership is nothing new in our sport at local and even regional levels, but I find it reassuring in many ways that a truly international organization can conduct itself for more

24 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

MWC2015 Syktyvkar, RUS

by J.D. Downing

Many Masters may not realize that the World Masters Association (WMA) is led entirely by volunteers.

than three decades with 100% volunteer leadership.

There are also efficiencies in my election that tighten what was already the very tight economic ships of both the WMA and AXCS. As president of AXCS and the U.S. national director of the WMA (a role I’ll continue), these international and domestic organizations can now share annual travel expenses, and both organizations benefit from the efficiency of one individual operating in a home office taking care of mutually-shared annual organizational tasks.

Yes, there are some potential downsides to this dual-role situation.

Mostly it is essential that other individuals within the WMA structure help share the annual workload and decision-making. Canadian National Director Bruce Legrow demonstrates a perfect example of this shared workload in action, as he has already jumped into chairing a committee that is tidying up the WMA Constitution (a perfect role for a retired judge!).

The bottom line is that global resiliency depends on figuring out how to do more with less, being as efficient as possible and smart collaboration whenever practical. This applies to a wide swath of life and certainly isn’t limited to cross-country skiing. But within our little sport, we absolutely have no choice but to figure out the absolute best ways to achieve these goals. There are clearly entities both in our sport and in the world in general who “get this” fact – and there are entities who clearly don’t.

Finally, a quick mention to North American Masters that it truly isn’t too early to start preparing yourself for the 2018 Masters World Cup on “home” snow.

For starters, seeding at the 2018 Masters World Cup races will be determined primarily by Masters International Ski Federation (FIS) points obtained at the 2016 Masters World Cup and 2017 Masters World Cup events. Attending either of the next two Worlds then has a big upside when it comes to Minneapolis because of enhanced start position.

American skiers can also use their national Masters results over the next two years to determine the awarding of discretionary FIS points – but that will be on a very limited basis, with AXCS membership required each year.

Speaking of national Masters association membership, having current membership is literally the only requirement for participating in any Masters World Cup (as well as being at least 30 years of age, of course).

Right now, American Masters can take advantage of an AXCS three-year membership package that (if you join this year) conveniently stretches all the way to the fall months following the 2018 Masters World Cup. The three-year package saves you $20 [US] in fees, while featuring up to 36 months of the world-famous AXCS membership benefits. Visit xcskiworld.com to sign up today!

The Canadian Masters Association offers annual membership via www.canadian-masters-xc-ski.ca, also featuring a number of benefits and including support for Masters skiing throughout Canada.

Canadian skiers can also add an international AXCS membership for just $15 [US] that includes all of the AXCS’s digital-media benefits, with Masters-specific content from around the world. See xcskiworld. com to sign up. www.skitrax.com

out in front

Continued from page 15 Jason Poole, director of performance services at the CSI Calgary, said, “The Paralympian Search is a great initiative with many different partners, including the CPC, the National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and the COPSI Network.”

Catherine Gosselin-Després, executive director of sport for the CPC, was also impressed with the number of attendees and their desire to participate in sport. “The next step is to provide the test results to the NSOs,” she said.

The Paralympian Search plans to continue on to Toronto, Ont., Montreal, Que. and Vancouver, B.C. Visit paralympic.ca/paralympian-search to register for future events and to find out when the CPC is in a city near you.

“WADA will lead intelligence-gathering funded by the IOC to make testing in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as efficient and independent as possible . . .

“The IOC has asked the National Olympic Committees of Russia and Kenya, as well as WADA, to ensure an efficient out-of-competition testing program for all athletes in all sports of their countries, . . .

“The governments of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Israel, Russia and Ukraine, whose National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) have been declared non-compliant by WADA, to undertake with the highest priority all the necessary measures to regain compliance. Belgium, Brazil, France, Greece, Mexico and Spain have been declared provisionally non-compliant and must ensure compliance before the WADA deadline of 18 March 2016.”

New Crystal Nordic Ski-pass Program Supports US Ski Team The Crystal Nordic Pass program is a new partnership between the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA). Similar to the USSA’s alpine Gold Pass program, the newly created USSA/CSSAA Crystal Pass is for cross-country-ski enthusiasts and supporters, and debuts in time for the 2015-2016 season.

The Crystal Pass will be offered to crosscountry-ski enthusiasts, providing free access to participating resorts and areas. Crystal Pass owners can use their pass up to 50 days at each participating area; proceeds go directly to athletes of the USSA. The Crystal Pass is sold by USSA for $2,500 each, at a maximum of 400 each season. The purchaser can share the Crystal Pass any time, but only one individual can use it at one ski area per day. The Crystal Pass will be the only transferable ski pass valid at participating cross-country-ski areas nationwide.

To order your Crystal Pass, contact Amy Schoew at aschoew@ussa.org.

BMW IBU WORLD CUP BIATHLON CANMORE, ALBERTA FEBRUARY 1-7, 2016 canmorebiathlon.ca

IOC Adopts Declaration to Protect Clean Athletes The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a declaration on Dec. 10 aimed at restructuring the current anti-doping system by the 2018 Winter Games, with WADA at the helm of an independent global structure. Sanctions would be pronounced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The IOC Executive Board (EB) unanimously adopted a declaration, excerpts of which follow: “Given the continuing evolution of good governance practice, the IOC, . . . has asked the . . . International Institute for Management Development (IMD) . . . . to undertake research into good governance at the IOC itself. A first assessment by IMD was presented to the EB. “An independent testing and results-management entity should be set up under the leadership of WADA. Sports organizations should transfer their doping-control operations to this new organization and make the funding available initially at the level of the present investment in the fight against doping. www.skitrax.com

OUR EER ON Y ES H C E M O C ATHLET CANADIANMPETE WITH O AS THEY CP SUPERSTARS U C D L R WO SNOW! ON HOME

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 25 2015-12-09 8:46 PM

Kick-off to Ski Tour Canada 2016

by John Symon

The City of Gatineau, Que. – just across the river from Ottawa, Ont. – will host the first stage of activities for Ski Tour Canada 2016. Other venues include Montreal, Quebec City and Canmore, Alta. for the competitions scheduled for March 1-12, 2016. As reported, this will be the first time that the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-country World Cup grand finale has been held outside of Europe, including the awarding of the legendary crystal-globe trophies.

S

National Capital Commission

ome 150 of the world’s top cross-country-ski racers representing 25 countries will compete in eight stages with the kick-off first stage in Gatineau.

This is a chance to catch sight of and perhaps rub shoulders with top Nordic skiers worldwide. Top male skiers such as Petter Northug (NOR), Alex Harvey (CAN), Johan Olsson (SWE), Alexander Legkov (RUS) and Lukas Bauer (CZE) should be there. Top women skiers such as Therese Johaug (NOR), Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Heidi Weng (NOR), Krista Parmakoski (FIN) and Jessie Diggins (USA) should all be there, too.

A sidebar drama is seeing how Marit Bjoergen (NOR) can return to Professional skiing only 10 weeks or so after the birth of her first child.

The skiers are battling for prize winnings of almost $1 million, and up to 120,000 spectators are expected. There will also be live broadcasts and webcasts to more than 125 countries. Ski Tour Canada 2016 will be ushered in at a Sunday-evening ceremony at the stunning Canadian Museum of History on Feb. 28.

28 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Competitions will start in Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park on March 1, with 11:15 a.m. qualifications and 1:45 p.m. heats for the FIS World Cup Freestyle Sprints. Parliament Hill, the Museum of History and the frozen Ottawa River will provide scenic backdrops to the competitions. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Skiers with children will also appreciate the family activities in Jacques-Cartier Park.

Ski aficionados are urged to arrive early, in part to take in the Gatineau Loppet, Canada’s leg of the Worldloppet on the weekend of Feb. 27-28. Saturday sees the running of the 51km Classic race, while Sunday sees the 51km freestyle race; shorter distances are also available. Feb. 20-21 also sees the 50th running of the legendary 160km Canadian Ski Marathon, with its start line in Gatineau. These two events are the two largest crosscountry-ski gatherings in Canada.

Arriving early also allows aficionados to acclimatize and to train in world-renowned Gatineau Park with its 200 kilometres of skate and Classic trails or at Nakkertok Nordic, one of the largest ski clubs in Canada.

These sites are only a 20-minute drive from the official race hotels. Gatineau Park is also accessible by public transit.

Jacques-Cartier Park is also one of the venues for Winterlude, a winter festival in the Ottawa-Gatineau region that runs from Jan. 29-Feb. 15.

This festival includes ice carvings, toboggan rides and ice skating on the Rideau Canal, billed as “the world’s longest skating rink.” The Haywood NorAm Canadian Eastern Championships will also be held in Gatineau this year on the weekend of Feb. 5-7.

In addition, the Gatineau-Ottawa region features great nightlife, fine restaurants and terrific museums for all your après-ski activities. Another attraction is the Nordik Spa-Nature, the largest spa in North America.

Official SkiTour hotels in Gatineau include the Best Western Plus at 131 Laurier Street and the Crowne Plaza at 2 Montcalm Street.

Amazingly, all of this is only within a nine-hour drive from New York City. With the Canadian dollar at only 73¢ [US] at press time, many U.S. visitors are expected to be on the sidelines cheering for their team and favourite skiers. For more information, visit www.skitourcanada.com. www.skitrax.com

National Capital Commission

(top) The Canadian Museum of History provides a stunning backdrop. (above) The Gatineau Loppet is Canada’s largest international ski loppet. (right) World-renowned Gatineau Park features 200 kilometres of skate and Classic trails. www.skitrax.com

National Capital Commission

Bernard Pigeon

(opposite) Skating on the Rideau Canal, billed as “the world’s longest skating rink.”

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 29

TOUR DE SKI 10 YEARS AFTER

by Lex Treinen

30 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Introducing to the ski world such events and terms as intermediate sprints, bonus seconds, hill climbs and ski tours, the legendary Tour de Ski has been nothing if not inuential.

www.skitrax.com

W

photos: Nordic Focus

hile it has seen its fair share of hardship (mostly weather-related) and controversy (doping, race formats and point distribution), the Tour has inspired several three-day “Mini-Tours” and 2016’s SkiTour Canada. International Ski Federation (FIS) Director Jürg Capol first proposed the idea to FIS Cross Country Committee Chairman Vegard Ulvang in the fall of 2004. “I visited Vegard at his home, and we started talking about the idea during a sauna evening,” said Capol.

The first Tours were run such that racers had to finish the entire Tour or not be awarded any of the World Cup points or cash prize money they accrued throughout.

While that rule was changed in the 2009-10 Tour to allow the pure sprinters to drop out after the sprint stages, the Tour has also pushed racers who normally do the best in one discipline, or the other, to achieve success in others.

Take Canadian Len Valjas for example. At the 2013 Tour, Valjas, traditionally known for his sprint skills, scored his first Tour podium in the Stage Three sprint in Val Mustair.

Three days later in the Stage Six 15km Classic race, Valjas finished an astonishing second place!

According to American Kikkan Randall, the first North American to wear the red leader’s bib at the Tour, the format changes up some of the dynamics that specialists face in their weaker races. “As the Tour wears down certain muscle groups with multiple days of racing, this brings about different physiology in the distance races, which may give sprinters a better chance to compete in distance,” she said.

“I find that when I’m fully rested, sometimes my power and fast twitch take over and I have trouble pacing. When those muscles get worn out, I am forced to be more efficient and sometimes find better performance in distance.”

The Tour has also changed the way athletes may approach the season. According to US Ski Team Head Coach Chris Grover, this year, for example, USST athletes took part in both the four-race Tour Toppidrettsveka near Trondheim, Norway, as well as three days of rollerski time trials at the Olympic trails of Soldier Hollow this summer and fall in order to prepare for the stresses of multi-stage racing. Alex Harvey, a top-10 overall finisher at the Tour, said that he has focused more on hill work to prepare for the final ascent of Alpe Cermis by attending a training camp earlier this year in Italy where all of the intervals were uphill. Still, Harvey says, waking up on the last day feeling fit and healthy is more important than any training you can do during the summer.

Ulvang is quoted as saying that up to a third of athletes who finish the Tour fall to illness or injury within a week of finishing. What changes are in store for future Tours?

Though Harvey and Randall both remarked on how heavily the hill climb factors into the overall, the climb is also

(right) In 2013, Kikkan Randall became the first North American ever to wear the red TdS leader’s bib. (facing) Canada’s Alex Harvey lands three podiums in 2014, becoming the first North American man to wear the TdS leader’s bib. www.skitrax.com

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 31

photos: Nordic Focus

the most-watched event of the Tour, and is unlikely to be changed further, according to Capol. “People get to see how well-trained the athletes are,” he said, adding that the future of growing the Tour may be in getting the public more involved. To that end, FIS has begun the Tour de Ski Challenge, an international competition open to the public in which athletes accumulate kilometres for their countries and vie for prizes.

The Tour has been the stage for many landmark results by the North American teams, with podium performances across distances and disciplines. Approaching the 10th edition of the popular FIS Tour de Ski, here is a short recap of the highlights from the last nine.

2006-2007 (top) The best Canadian finisher at the Tour, 4th overall in 2012, Devon Kershaw (r) is pipped at the line by Sweden’s Emil Joensson with Dario Cologna third. (above) Simi Hamilton takes the biggest win of his career in the men’s 1.5km FR sprint in Switzerland, becoming the first U.S. man to win a stage World Cup since Bill Koch won the U.S.A.’s very first World Cup back in 1983. (right) Ivan Babikov wins final climb up Cermis in 2009, joining Pierre Harvey as the only other Canadian to have won a World Cup race at that time.

32 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

The first-ever Tour de Ski gets off to a shaky start with a Prologue and distance race scheduled for Nove Mesto canceled due to low snow. The opening race of the series is moved to the Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany, which proves a lucky choice for Canadian sprinters Chandra Crawford and Devon Kershaw, who finish third and second, respectively. Kershaw is the beneficiary of a tangle in the final that saw three racers crash, and earns the then-24-year-old his second-ever World Cup podium. His teammate Crawford finishwww.skitrax.com

es the first day in third, her first World Cup podium. Germany’s Tobias Angerer wins the overall competition (including the 100,000 Swiss francs) of six races despite having no individual stage victories. On the women’s side, pre-race favourite Virpi Kuitinen takes women’s overall victory by more than a minute with two stage victories.

2007-2008 The 2007-08 Tour de Ski quickly becomes a showdown between Finnish defending champion Kuitinen and Swedish upstart Charlotte Kalla. Kuitinen gets a win in the Prologue, but is unable to shake Kalla coming into the final climb with a 39-second lead over the Swede. Kalla overtakes Kuitinen on the final climb to win by 36 seconds. On the men’s side, Czech Republic’s Lukas Bauer jumps ahead from the first stage and, despite not winning any sprint time, comes into the finish at Alpe Cermis with an astonishing 2:47 lead, which remains a Tour de Ski record.

2008-2009 Kershaw again gives North America reason to watch the Tour de Ski by finishing third in the 3.75km Prologue, while 22-year-old Swiss upstart Dario Cologna shows his promise by winning the first stage. While Cologna holds on for the win, Kershaw fades, but a new Canadian rises to the fore as Ivan Babikov wins final climb stage. “A World Cup win is something you dream of,” said Babikov, after joining Pierre Harvey as the only other Canadian to have won a World Cup race. He finishes seventh overall. Cologna wins overall by one minute, while Kuitinen again rises to the top with a narrow seven-second win over teammate Aino-Kaisa Saarinen. Sara Renner is the top North American woman overall in 15th.

2009-2010 Despite six podiums and three stage victories, Petter Northug falls to Bauer in final climb by more than one minute, 20 seconds ahead of Cologna.

Babikov gives Canadians something to cheer about and finishes ninth with the fifth-fastest final climb. Bauer becomes the first to win the final stage time as well as the overall, while Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk takes the overall title ahead of sprinter Petra Majdi. Andy Newell becomes the first American to compete in the Tour de Ski after a rule change allows for sprinters to keep cash winnings and World Cup points that they score, even if they don’t complete the entire competition. Newell travels with US Ski Team Head Coach Grover as well as serviceman Petter Johannson.

2010-2011 Canadians again shine with Kershaw finishing the second stage in second place overall, behind Cologna. He continues his streak with a second place in the sprint the next day and crowns an incredible Tour run with a win on the fifth-stage sprint. “I had been dreaming of winning on the highest stage for so long, and to that point, I had had plenty of podiums, but none on that top step,” he said in a recent interview, calling the stage win the highlight of his Tour career. American Randall puts the U.S.A. on the map with a fifth-place finish on the same day. Kershaw goes on to finish in seventh, while Harvey ends up in 10th. Kowalczyk takes four stage victories en route to the overall title, while Cologna drops Northug on the final climb to take a 25-second win.

2011-2012 Cologna dominates the 2012 Tour with podiums in seven of the nine stages for the win, while Norway’s Marit Bjoergen wins four stages and eight podiums, but falls to Kowalczyk by 28 seconds in the overall. Randall puts the Americans on the map in a big way by finishing second in the Toblach, Italy free sprint and fifth in the 15km Pursuit freestyle the next day.

Harvey finishes with a second place in a 20km Classic race. Kershaw again shows his Tour stripes and moves into fourth overall in the sixth stage, a 32km freestyle Pursuit, and holds onto this position to the end of the Tour.

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 33 9/23/15 11:10 AM

“It’s hard because I’ve been fourth and fifth at the Olympics, and I’m now fourth here at the Tour de Ski,” said Kershaw. “I’m better this year, but I do believe I can be on the podium here and win this thing one day if everything comes together.” Randall, meanwhile, sets a benchmark for the Americans by finishing in 10th. Both Cologna and Kowalczyk win their third titles. Harvey finishes 12th despite double-poling sections due to a blood-flow issue in his leg, while his teammate Babikov finishes 11th with an injured wrist from a fall earlier in the Tour.

photos: Nordic Focus

2012-2013 Year 2013 is remembered as a landmark year for the North Americans starting from the first stage. American Randall wins Prologue, and becomes the first North American to wear the leader’s bib. Although Randall struggles and loses her bib in the Stage Two Classic Pursuit, she comes back to win the Stage Three free sprint by an astonishing 8.7 seconds. Valjas becomes the fifth Canadian to podium with a third-place finish on the same day as Randall’s win at Val Mustair, Switzerland. In Stage Six, Valjas betters his sprint finish with a second-place finish in the Classic 15km race while his teammate Harvey finishes third. Alexander Legkov, meanwhile, starts the final stage only six seconds behind defending champion Cologna, and would have led but was penalized 15 seconds for obstructing a racer in the penultimate race. Nevertheless, Legkov manages to pass Cologna for the Tour victory, the first for a Russian. In the women’s race, Poland’s Kowalcyzk dominates with six podiums and four wins for a 27-second victory over Norwegian Therese Johaug, who has fastest final stage time. American Liz Stephen finishes with a bang with a second-place time for the last stage, 40 seconds behind Johaug, but a full 30 seconds ahead of the next fastest competitor.

2013-2014 The 2014 race starts with a controversy over the balance of skate versus Classic after FIS changes to the format to include seven freestyle races and just two Classic, ostensibly due to the lack of snow at some of the venues. Poland’s Kowalczyk, traditionally stronger in Classic, withdraws from the Tour in protest, claiming that the format was changed to the advantage of her Norwegian competitors, namely Bjoergen. North Americans continue their Tour hot streak: Harvey wins the Stage One Prologue ahead of his teammate Kershaw, a historic 1-2 finish for the Canadians as Harvey becomes the first North American male to lead the Tour. A few days later, the U.S.A.’s Simeon Hamilton wins his first World Cup in the freestyle sprint in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, becoming the first American to do so since Bill Koch in 1983. Behind him in second is Canadian Harvey, who notches another podium with a third-place finish in the Stage Five freestyle Pursuit. The U.S.A.’s Stephen uses a strong last stage to finish seventh overall. Johaug claims her first title as the first Norwegian to win the Tour along with her compatriot Martin Johnsrud Sundby on the men’s side as Norway sweeps both podiums.

2014-2015 (top) Historic Canadian 2014 men’s TdS Prologue FR podium in Oberhof, Germany sees (l-r) Kershaw 2nd and Harvey 1st. (middle left) In 2013, rookie Canadian Len Valjas turned heads with FR sprint and CL distance podiums. (middle right) Liz Stephen was second fastest up Cermis in 2013 and finished 5th overall in 2015, the best-ever U.S. result at the Tour. (above left) Winning for the third time in 2012, Dario Colonga (SUI) has the most overall men’s Tour de Ski wins. (above right) Justyna Kowalczyk scored her 4th consecutive Tour victory in 2013, giving her more wins than any other skier.

34 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Harvey impresses at the Tour again with a second place in 15km Classic Pursuit on Stage Two. Stephen delivers a superb result with a fifth in the Classic Mass-Start 10km on Stage Six, followed by a fourth-place stage time the next day at the Stage Seven final climb to finish fifth overall, the best-ever U.S. result at the Tour. Norway wins every stage in the women’s competition with Bjoergen taking five victories and gets her long-awaited Tour de Ski overall victory.

Johaug wins the remaining two, including the final climb, passing Heidi Weng, who settles for third as Norway sweeps the podium again. Sundby is unstoppable and defends his title, winning the overall again as Norway’s dynasty at the Tour takes hold. www.skitrax.com

See You at the Birkie ! ÂŽ

2015-2016 U.S. Super Tour Schedule

The Premier Elite Level Cross-Country Ski Race Series in the United States.

November 24-28, 2015

Yellowstone Ski Festival

West Yellowstone, MT

January 3-9, 2016

U.S. National Championships

Houghton, MI

Trapp Family Lodge

Stowe, VT

December 5-6, 2015

Lake Creek Nordic

January 30-31, 2016

Mt. Van Hovenberg

February 18-20, 2016

43rd American Birkebeiner

February 6-7, 2016 March 21-26, 2016

SuperTour Finals

Sun Valley, ID

Lake Placid, NY Cable-Hayward, WI

Craftsbury, VT

Ski with the Best of the Best!

Dogs of the Backcountry 36 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

www.skitrax.com

At Jackson Hole Resort, veteran ski patroller Rick “Frosty” Frost trains black Labrador retrievers, including his current girl, Cricket, to find buried avalanche victims both in-bounds and in the side country, outside the ski area boundary.

Jean Arthur

O

by Jean Arthur

li, the Welsh corgi, survived a January 2012 avalanche that sadly took the life of his owner, David Gaillard, 44, who skitoured with his wife, who survived. They had skied near Cooke City, Mont., notorious for big snow and bigger slides.

Even though the couple toured off slopes and near trees, a massive slide buried Gaillard and Oli. Search and Rescue found Gaillard’s body, but no sign of the dog. Four days later, Oli showed up at the Alpine Motel where the couple had stayed – at their motel-room door – hungry, ragged but unhurt. A curious skier later followed Oli’s tracks, four miles into the backcountry, where Oli had dug out from under several feet of snow.

Oli’s story is uncommon, but not unique. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, in 1966 a dog was buried in an avalanche at a Colorado ski area. Searchers organized a probe line, yet found nothing.

Three days later, the dog crawled out from beneath a small tree that had apparently created an air pocket and walked back to the lodge.

And in 2004, a dog was found six days after its owner was killed in a Colorado avalanche.

While dog-lovers take their canines just about everywhere, there is risk involved in both the health of athletic dogs and the safety of pets and owners. With the help of experts and manufacturers, Fido and Fifi will be perhaps a bit safer in the mountains when owners take a few precautions.

While doglovers take their canines just about everywhere, it’s best to take a few precautions, as there is risk involved in both the health of athletic dogs and the safety of pets and owners.

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 37

Jean Arthur

Handlers simply have to understand the limitations of the dogs. The colder it gets, the less effective the dog will be.

“When we go out for a ski at -12°C (+10°F), no jackets and no booties on the dogs,” says Nancy Persons, schoolteacher and cross-country-ski coach in Unalakleet, Alaska, where winter temperatures average from -40° to -12°C. “Plus windchill!” adds Persons. “At zero, booties and jackets go on.”

Persons and her husband, Christian, take their dogs, Labrador mixes Sadie and Tally, out with them to ski and to prepare the Unalakleet crosscountry-ski trails that Christian grooms for the community of fewer than 700 residents.

“The dogs wear Ruffwear Performance dog gear to keep them warm,” says Persons. “We use the Cloud Chaser softshell when we are out skiing, as the dogs get better leg movement, and they like the Ruffwear coats better than the other options.”

Ruffwear, a leading American pet-gear company, has just launched its Canadian marketing of winter dog jackets, boots and dog-powered mountain-joring gear. Five Ruffwear styles vary in thickness, with its newest Powder Hound Hybrid Insulation coat a high-loft, weather-resistant and trail-tested pullover offered in six different sizes for approximately $90 [US].

But just how cold is too cold for dog paws? Researchers in Japan’s Yamazaki Gakuen University in Tokyo found that dogs such as Arctic fox and wolves have pads that stay warm, thanks to a boost in blood flow. Hiroyoshi Ninomiya, an expert in animal anatomy, used a scanning electron microscope to study dog paws’ blood vessels. He found that the temperature in the paws stay balanced because warm blood circulates through the pads’ surfaces to keep frostbite away without the animal losing much body heat. However, Ninomiya’s “Functional Anatomy of the Footpad Vasculature of Dogs” study, published in Veterinary Dermatology in 2011, ran tests in temperatures above Unalakleet’s coldest winter temperatures, but didn’t explore active dogs over time in the frigid temperatures.

Arctic mammals “maintain their foot temperature just above the tissue freezing point (about -1°C) when the foot is immersed in a -35°C bath in a laboratory setting,” the researchers found. Some veterinarians suggest frostbite can occur just below freezing. ”Frostbite or congelatio is the damage that is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold,” notes the VCA Animal Hospital’s website.

“When the environmental temperature drops below 32°F (0°C), blood vessels close to the skin start to narrow or constrict. This constriction of the blood vessels helps to preserve core body temperature by diverting blood toward the core and away from the cooler parts of the body. In extreme 38 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Man’s best friend provides excellent help to find buried avalanche victims, but, similar to humans, dogs are susceptible to frostbite on ears, noses and tails.

cold or when the body is exposed to cold for long periods, this protective mechanism can reduce blood flow in some areas of the body, especially the extremities.”

The Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA), based in Fernie, B.C., notes, “Just like humans, when a dog’s feet freeze, then they are that more susceptible to freezing in the future. Handlers simply have to understand the limitations of the dogs. The colder it gets, the less effective the dog will be.”

“At -20° or more, Sadie does the dog paw dance and wants inside,” says Persons.

“The 5:00 a.m. dog walk is always bootie-free,” says Persons. “This is just the out the door go to the bathroom and get back in for breakfast if it is bitter cold. Both have the amazing shrinking dogs’ tails tucked in, and they compress themselves, from huge Sadie to small Sadie.”

She adds that booties vary in reliability and dog likability! “The tall Ruffwear booties they hate, but we do use them, but booties only stay on with tightened straps. Ruffwear makes a low bootie, and if our dogs didn’t have dew claws, these would work great, but they sometimes fall off.

Really our favourite booties are the plain, old dog-mushing booties – no frills, no insulation, nothing. However, we use the tall booties at -20°F.” Mountain Ridge Racing Alaskan Husky Sled Dogs and Equipment sells simple booties for $2.50 to $3.50 [US] each in varied colours, including camo.

“The mushing booties are cheap,” says Persons. “We use them until they wear out.”

At Jackson Hole Resort, veteran ski patroller Rick “Frosty” Frost trains black Labrador retrievers, including his current bitch, Cricket, to find buried avalanche victims both in-bounds and in the side country, outside the ski-area boundary.

“We don’t use booties on the dogs because of the nature of the work they do,” says Frost, who notes there are five dogs belonging to ski-patrol staff. “Booties impede their ability to grip the snow and dig. Labradors are bred for cold weather with a double coat and a good fat layer.”

That said, dogs and humans are susceptible to frostbite on ears, noses and tails. Frosty notes that he avoids intensive dog work when temwww.skitrax.com

peratures dip below -12°C (10°F), saying that “My cutoff is zero Fahrenheit [-17°C] unless we are on a search, of course. The dogs wear vests that identify them as part of the patrol as well, so we can evacuate with a dog out of a chairlift.”

Currently, Jackson patrollers own various breeds of dogs for rescue, including a shepherd, flat-coat retriever, golden retriever and, soon, a border collie.

Frost notes that some people can unintentionally harm their dogs when skiing with them in the backcountry.

“The No. 1 thing I tell people is to not run their dogs downhill – it’s not good for their shoulders,” he says. “We’ll carry our dogs on our shoulders if we have to ski downhill fast – Cricket is 45 pounds. We can put a dog on a sled or we snowplow slowly with the dog between our legs to prevent injury.”

He adds that running dogs downhill “can take healthy years of a dog.

Serious issues occur in deep snow or punchy snow. As dogs move forward, they lunge; their hind legs get hung up. The most common injury is hyper-extended joints, although you can damage the sheath on the dog’s spinal cord and temporarily paralyze him. It can happen uphill running, downhill, in deep, punchy snow.”

And surgery to repair a dog’s torn ACL costs $2,500 [US] or more – and several weeks in a cast.

Frost tells skiers to use caution when skiing with dogs. “Be extremely aware of your ski edges. Dogs have very close-to-the-surface nerves, ligaments and blood vessels that would be easily severed by ski edges.”

“It kills me watching people fly down a pass on their bikes or skis, running their dogs and having no idea they are doing potentially serious injury to their dogs,” he says.

At work, however, the potential hazard for rescuers – human and canine – during avalanche rescue missions comes mainly from self-triggered avalanches. “We don’t put dogs in danger. We address the hanging snow

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hazard and don’t put our dogs on slope where there is a hang hazard.”

Some dog owners look for pet Pieps such as Black Diamond’s Pieps T 600 dog collar ($19.95 [US]), a mini transmitter on a dog collar equipped with the integrated carrying system for the PIEPS TX600 mini-transmitter.

The mini-transmitter has motion sensor for dogs and equipment that is transmitting out of the standard EN300718 of the human’s transceiver.

Ultimately, dog mushers, ski-jorers and Nordic skiers will say that athletes, whether human or canid, need proper nutrition, access to fresh water and plenty of training in safe areas.

Just the Facts

• New Canadian distributor of Ruffwear (www.ruffwear.com), Kolder Canada is the sales agency for Canada. This marks the first time that Ruffwear will have an onthe-ground sales force in Canada. Kolder covers all of Canada, from independent retailers to specialty chains to specialty wholesale distributors.

• Black Diamond is the U.S. distributor of Pieps and other equipment, available at www.blackdiamondequipment.com.

The Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) is the civilian organization entrusted with the responsibility of using dog teams for avalanche search and rescue. http://www.carda.ca/ • Interestingly enough, in a National Institutes of Health published study of 12 years of Austrian Mountain Rescue Service in the Tyrol, researchers found that of “109 totally buried persons (56 off-piste, 53 backcountry) rescued or recovered, 18.3 survived to hospital discharge. Median depth of burial was 1.25 metres; median duration of burial was 85 minutes.”

• The study (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800960) found that the probability of survival “was highest when located visually and lowest for those located by avalanche transceiver; survival did not significantly differ between those found by rescue dogs and those located with avalanche probes. Searching the avalanche debris with probe lines seems to be equally effective as compared to searching with rescue dogs.”

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 39

Tahoe Donner Tahoe Donner Invests Nearly $9 Million in New Ski Centre and Amenities at Cross-country Ski Area

40 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

www.skitrax.com

Bill Stevenson

I

interiors courtesy Tahoe Doneer

(above) The new Alder Creek Adventure Center features many of improvements with more spacious facilities, lots of indoor and outdoor seating and a pub with televisions, a fireplace, and much more.

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(below l-r) Large Nordic retail store; the Alder Creek Café offers fresh grab-and-go meals and baked goods, with beer and wine selections also available; other features include streamlined rental services, larger wax rooms and lockers

n early December, Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area in California announced some exciting improvements and expanded services for the 2015/2016 winter season, with an investment of nearly $9 million to enhance guest experiences.

Improvements include a new facility known as the Alder Creek Adventure Center, which offers streamlined rental services, larger wax rooms and locker rooms, expanded indoor and outdoor seating, a large Nordic retail store and a pub with televisions and a fireplace. Additional improvements include new rental equipment, such as a new fleet of Fischer SCS skate skis, Classic skis and Salomon Pilot combo boots, and new grooming equipment, which includes a Ginsu grooming implement that allows for higher-quality, low-snow grooming.

Tahoe Donner is open daily to the public, offering cross-country skiing, lessons, rentals, snowshoeing, fatbiking, shopping, dining and a variety of events throughout the season. When fully open, the ski area offers more than 100 kilometres of groomed trails.

Its event calendar is fairly full this season and includes “National Learn to Ski Month,” where Tahoe Donner Cross Country celebrates by offering twofor-one private lessons and private-lesson packages any midweek day from Jan. 4-15. It then hosts the Sierra Skogsloppet on Jan. 18, with distances up to 15 kilometres.

This is followed by the biggest event on its calendar this year: Tahoe Donner’s first-ever Winter Festival on Jan. 24. Discounted trail passes will sell for $10 each, instead of the regular $30. Discounted $15 rentals will be also available, along with free lessons, tours and free ski-equipment demonstrations.

There will also be live music and barbequed food.

“We’re excited about our new center, and know many folks have never tried cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and want to change that,” said Sally Jones, Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area manager. “Our Winter Festival is a chance for people to give snowsports a try at discounted rates while receiving helpful tips and free lessons to ensure a good, positive introduction to the sport.”

Next up is the Tahoe Donner Challenge on Feb. 21. Starting at 10:00 a.m., participants can choose the adventurous 40km course or the less strenuous, shorter 20km course.

In the summer, the Alder Creek Adventure Center will house Tahoe Donner’s Equestrian Center and Bikeworks operation, allowing access to the venue’s extensive trail system and the remote beauty of Euer Valley. The building is open year-round for shopping, dining, various events and entertainment.

“It’s our goal to host Winter Festival every year, as we continue to reach out to new and returning skiers,” added Jones. “Winter Festival is more than just a day to learn to ski – it’s the complete festival experience with vendors, hearty food and live music, and we hope everyone comes out to enjoy it with us.”

To learn more about the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area, visit www.tahoedonner.com. – JC WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 41

Cami ThompsonGraves Dartmouth’s Calm, Compassionate and Inspiring Women’s Ski Coach

We hear the athlete before she comes into view, her panting breath revealing the intensity of effort that Cami Thompson-Graves has urged her to reach. “Thatta-way . . . stretch it out . . . .” Thompson-Graves cheers as the Dartmouth collegiate crests the hill and tackles the final section to the finish. As each athlete passes, she calls to them, giving both an enthusiastic cheer and an encouraging pointer.

42 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

courtesy of Cami Thompson-Graves

by Sue Wemyss

Cami Thompson-Graves has been coaching the women’s Nordic team at Dartmouth College, a perennial power in U.S. collegiate racing, for 26 years and this has included such stars as Nina Kempel, Sophie Caldwell, Susan Dunklee and Ida Sargent. www.skitrax.com

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WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 43

courtesy of Cami Thompson-Graves

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Coach Thompson-Graves knows what it is to race hard ... she made the U.S. Ski Team, traveled to Europe and competed in World Cup races and in the 1985 World Championships in Seefeld, Austria.

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his is the start of Thompson-Graves’s 27th year coaching the skiers at Dartmouth College, 26 of those heading up the women’s Nordic team. This September afternoon, she is cheering trailside as the skiers perform full-out efforts on a running time trial up a section of the Appalachian Trail, the famed hiking trail that goes from Georgia to Maine.

“Flirt with that feeling of pushing to your maximum, with being at that uncomfortable level of effort, but seeing how you can stay at that level, maybe even how you can take it up a notch,” Thompson-Graves preps the team prior to the workout. She calls up the image of Jessie Diggins finishing the 2015 World Championship 10km in Falun, Sweden, where Diggins put her all into racing the course, finishing in a heap and earning the silver medal. “That’s the way to race – leaving it all on the course, and that’s what today’s session gives you a chance to work on,” Thompson-Graves instructs as the skiers prepare to go out on their warm-up.

Coach Thompson-Graves knows what it is to race hard. She was a top collegiate skier for St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., graduating in 1984. The following year, she made the U.S. Ski Team, traveled to Europe and competed in World Cup races and in the 1985 World Championships in Seefeld, Austria. In her second winter of international racing, she earned a 25th placing at the World Cup held at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minn. and a 30th at the World Cup in Lahti, Finland – outstanding results for U.S. women at the time. A big jump in training hours at altitude and a lack of knowledge regarding adequate recovery led Thompson-Graves to an overtrained state and her results fell off. “If I only knew half of what I know now!” Thompson-Graves lightheartedly laments. But she quickly moved forward into the career she’d planned for, having majored in physical education at St. Lawrence.

By ones and in pairs, the Dartmouth women walk back by Thompson-Graves on the trail, having finished the annual Appalachian Trail time trial. A few stop by to talk; one proudly tells the coach she improved her personal record by 50 seconds. Another pauses longer while her teammates continue on. She tells Thompson-Graves about experiencing difficulty with her breathing, which took her by surprise during the effort. There is a quiver in her voice as she relates her thought process during the difficulty. Thompson-Graves listens intently. She questions the athlete, puts forth a couple of possible explanations and a recommendation for action, all with a calm, supportive and reassuring tone. This tone seemed to mark all of Thompson-Graves’ interchanges with the women: very enthusias(left) Thompson-Graves was a top collegiate skier, shown tic and encouraging, yet calm. here at the World Cup in Dartmouth men’s Nordic coach, Ruff PatGiants Ridge in December terson, has worked with Thompson-Graves 1985 where she finished 25th. through all of her 26 years at the college. Topping the list of all her coaching strengths, Patterson emphasizes her genuine compassion for her athletes. With a team that can range from top national-level performers to less-experienced, developing skiers, Thompson-Graves cares deeply about each and every one of her skiers and their inclusion on the Dartmouth women’s team. He sees in her the deep desire to help improve women’s racing and to move the sport forward for women, without seeing it as a competition with men’s skiing. She develops in her athletes a strong sense of pride in being a female cross-country skier.

The Dartmouth College Ski Team is a perennial power in U.S. collegiate racing. Year after year, Dartmouth Nordic skiers earn All-American honours by placing in the top 10 at the National College Athletic Association’s (NCAA) National Championships.

They don’t necessarily stop there, however. Many Dartmouth skiers chose to pursue their ski-racing careers after college, seeking spots on the US Ski Team and international racing opportunities. During Thompson-Graves’ tenure, eight female cross-country skiers have made it to the Olympics. They include Nina Kempel, class of ’92; Carolyn Treacy, ’06; Sara Studebaker, ’07; Susan Dunklee, ’08; Hannah Dreissigacker, ’09; Laura Spector, ’10; Ida Sargent, ’11 and Sophie Caldwell, ’12. “Sochi was the best, as there were five of them; Sophie did so well and Susan Dunklee was www.skitrax.com

having such a great year,” said Thompson-Graves, smiling broadly.

It’s not by chance. Dunklee, a top American female biathlete who has landed on the podium in World Cup racing, remembered her years being coached by Thompson-Graves: “Cami has a quiet strength and evenkeeled personality. She respected the individuality and personalities of the women on our team and allowed us latitude to develop our own leadership skills. However, she was also ready to listen and advise any time we needed it. She was never possessive about our talents – if an athlete earned an opportunity to compete in Europe, she would encourage them to go, even if it meant missing an important collegiate race. Being on that team under Cami was an empowering experience. My teammates from college are a strong group of women, and they have gone on to do inspiring things, both in the realm of skiing and beyond.”

Caldwell, a USST cross-country member and holder of the best U.S. women’s result at an Olympics with her sixth-place finish in the sprint at Sochi, wrote: “My experience on the Dartmouth Ski Team is one I will always remember, and much of that is due to Cami. Cami created a comfortable atmosphere and provided the structure we needed, while also teaching us to lead the team ourselves. She wasn’t the kind of coach who mapped out every little thing you needed to do to become a successful skier. Instead, she let us learn from our mistakes and, more importantly, learn from other older, more experienced leaders on the team. Cami cared about the success of the Dartmouth women’s team, but she was also a huge supporter of individual goals. If we qualified for a U.S. Ski Team trip and wanted to go, she encouraged us to chase our dreams.

Cami is a big advocate of U.S. skiing in general and always wanted being a member of the Dartmouth team to help us achieve our skiing goals, and never let it take away from them. The Dartmouth Ski Team was different each year because of the incoming personalities of the freshman class and the loss of the recent graduates. Cami approached each season with that in mind and guided the team to be the strongest it could possibly be

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for that group of people in particular. I took comfort in knowing that Cami was always sitting upstairs in her office, open to talk to us whenever we needed it. I’m very grateful for my time at Dartmouth with Cami, and I look forward to watching her contributions to both Dartmouth skiing and U.S. skiing in the future!”

Thompson-Graves’ involvement with cross-country skiing extends beyond the college scene. She is a member of the New England Nordic Ski Association Board of Directors and serves as its vice-president. She sits on the US Ski Association Board and was recently appointed chair of the cross-country committee. Her newest appointment will take her overseas at times as a member of the International Ski Federation’s Ladies Cross-country Committee.

At the heart of all these cross-country-world commitments is a deep passion for the sport. According to Thompson-Graves: “I see myself more as a facilitator than as a leader. I want to keep the ball moving in the right direction. I love the idea of trying to promote people being involved in something that I love. I love it when we go out skiing on a Tuesday afternoon here, and the parking lot is filled and the trails are crawling with little kids out skiing.”

Days spent coaching cross-country can be long and tiring: up before dawn to gather skiers and gear, prep equipment and test wax; attend to all the details of getting a dozen skiers ready to race; stand out on the course giving splits, searching results, encouraging warm-downs, then pack up; and, finally, make the long drive home in what can be several hours in a snowstorm! There’s also the frustration of having to deal with the many logistics that can cut into coaching prep time and energy. Also, as an NCAA sport, cross-country is governed by the same rules created for other sports such as football and baseball. These rules don’t always make sense for skiing, but must be followed anyway.

Nevertheless, after more than two decades in the same position, the passion for coaching continues to burn brightly. Thompson-Graves

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 45

courtesy of Cami Thompson-Graves

With a team that can range from top national-level performers to less-experienced, developing skiers, ThompsonGraves cares deeply about each and every one of her skiers and their inclusion on the Dartmouth women’s team. lights up when talking about the rewards of her profession: “I love working with smart, motivated athletes. Helping them to find the balance between being a good athlete and managing everything else that is going on in their lives is challenging. There are times when one sees an athlete struggling – it may be with an illness, injury or with a tough class load – and you want to help them find a way through this and help them continue believing in themselves and their abilities. The pace is challenging here at Dartmouth – it’s not always a pretty process – and many of them struggle a bit with the load. But it is the greatest thing when someone makes or surpasses their goal! The greatest rewards of the job are the people. I have been lucky to work with so many great athletes and great people.”

The dryland workout concludes with a barbeque at the far end of the Dartmouth athletic fields. Skiers – Alpine and Nordic, men and women, freshmen through seniors – sit on the grass, eating and socializing 46 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

(above) Thompson-Graves’ trademark is her genuine compassion for her athletes and knowing how to listen before giving calm, supportive and reassuring advice.

in big interlocking circles. The coaches give a short welcome and ask team members to introduce themselves. The collegians are friendly, light-hearted and comfortable with each other. It looks like a really fun team to be on.

The preparations for the winter season have started. Another day done, Thompson-Graves leaves the campus known as the Big Green, named for the Green Mountains of her native state. Thompson-Graves, her husband, Peter, and her 16-year-old daughter, Sophie, live across the river in East Thetford, Vt. Pets Coco the dog and Dobby the cat await her arrival. Some time spent sitting on the porch of their log cabin, taking in the gardens that she and her husband tend throughout the summer, rejuvenates this high-energy woman. Top coaches, after all, also need recovery time to perform at their best! www.skitrax.com

America’s Nordic community supporting America’s developing Nordic athletes

Get involved at nationalnordicfoundation.org

get back Five Heli-ski Operators Who Promote Heli-ski Touring

When it comes to backcountry skiing, Canmore, Alta. lawyer Jamie McVicar has pretty much done it all: skied multi-day hut-tohut tours on the Wapta Traverse; partied on New Year’s Eve in Rogers Pass, then skied hard on New Year’s Day; spent a vacation at the historically rustic Mount Assiniboine Lodge; he’s even gone heli-skiing and catskiing to feed his powder addiction.

by Steven Threndyle

48 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

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(opposite) So much powder! Heli-assisted touring groups are flown to their own private zones each day. (left) Bella Coola Heli Sports features a vast Coast Range tenure.

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ast March, Jamie McVicar took his backcountry chops to an entirely new level, tagging along with a group of eight backcountry skiers who were sharing CMH Adamants Lodge with a group of heli-skiers. Instead of going heli-skiing, however, McVicar’s group would be heli-ski touring.

To some degree, heli-assisted backcountry skiing can be filed under the term “high-performance guided skiing.” The advantage that it offers over traditional backcountry touring is simple: at the beginning of the day, a helicopter whisks you away from your lodge and up to an alpine summit – no skinning or climbing required. Your guide leads you down a remote alpine bowl, and hundreds of turns later, you’re at the bottom and ready to whip out the skins for a day of guided touring.

At day’s end, the helicopter picks you up and takes you back to your lodge – in some cases, dropping you off above the lodge so that you get yet another descent. It’s not quite true “heli-skiing,” but it’s certainly more productive than touring from a single-lodge base every morning and affords getting first tracks if that’s what you go for in the backcountry.

“Some of the cat-skiing trips [at Chatter Creek Lodge] were organized

by Glen Roane, a friend from Canmore. Glen had done a few assisted

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ski trips with CMH and convinced me to give it a try. I was looking for a change from the annual cat-skiing trip and wasn’t a fan of the cost or the frantic pace of heli-skiing. So last year I joined his Glen’s trip to CMH Adamants,” said McVicar.

During a winter in which unseasonably warm rains lashed the Rockies and Selkirks, especially at lower elevations, the Adamants delivered surprisingly good skiing after a slow start to the week.

McVicar said, “After a couple of days of marginal skiing, something magical happened on Day Three. Just before four in the afternoon, the clouds broke and the guides sounded the bell for heli-skiing. In two hours, we ripped off a half-dozen short runs for over 3,000 metres. Finally in the alpine, we were able to experience a pretty stellar snowpack and good powder. I was mightily impressed with how fast the heli-machine was cranked up.”

He continued: “The next three days got progressively better, with the last day being particularly outstanding. It was one of those experiences that made the entire trip worthwhile – a bluebird day, flying in the helicopter past Mount Sir Sandford to our first impeccable, long run. We were completely alone in a huge alpine bowl, circumnavigating a small peak in the middle. It was a key factor in me signing up for this year. I can say that we were probably the only people ski-touring at that point in the year in Western Canada; at least the only ones touring in stellar conditions!”

With the world’s most highly developed helicopter-skiing industry, it’s not surprising that British Columbia is the primary location for heli-assisted touring. Canadian Mountain Holidays offers heli-assisted tours at the Bugaboo Lodge, Cariboo, Bobbie Burns and Adamants Lodge.

Perhaps the most creative helicopter-skiing operation in B.C. is Bella Coola Heli Sports, where the massive ice sheets of the Coast Range overlap with the drier air masses of the central Interior. The result is an outrageous variety of terrain, with some of the longest, steepest heli-skiing on the planet. Tim Wilkinson, sales manager for Bella Coola Heli Sports, does a great job of selling the features of heli-touring to his clientele, which, unlike traditional heli-skiing, hails mostly from Canada.

As of late December, Bella Coola Heli Sports had sold five weeks of heli-touring packages. Last year, Wilkinson said, “We had some super-experienced Austrians come heli-touring with us. They were blown away.

They are from the Tyrol, and they said, “We have big mountains too, also with lots of snow. But what amazed us was the absolute lack of people. In Europe, you always see people, no matter where you go in the Alps. But in Bella Coola, we didn’t see anyone else all week!”

Several years ago, I spoke to Andy Freeland when he was guiding with Eagle Pass Heliskiing, a small “boutique-sized” outfit located east of Revelstoke, B.C. where the Selkirk Mountains rise out of the Shuswap Highlands near Three Valley Gap. Freeland said his nascent company – it was its first season of operation – was offering a program called “heli-ski backcountry touring,” which sounded like a contradiction in terms.

Sure enough, later that evening, I met a group of skiers from Calgary, Alta. who were paying big bucks to be helicoptered from their low-elevation perch near the Trans-Canada Highway all the way up to an entirely different touring zone in the alpine literally every day. “We’re only a five-minute heli-ride from the alpine,” he said. Eagle Pass Heliskiing offers heli-ski touring during the months of April and May, which offers the best weather window for reliably skiing in the alpine.

Located “out in the sticks on Highway 6,” Kingfisher Heliskiing’s tenure is located deep in the Monashee Mountains near Cherryville, B.C. It offers WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 49

Canadian Mountain Holidays

Kingfisher Hili Skiing/Daniel Ronnback

Bella Coola Heli Sports /Eric Berger Photography

(below) Trees, please! Glade skiing at Kingfisher Heliskiing

Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing/Alain Sleigher Photo

REPOUR

(above) Selkirk Tangiers offers backcountry day tours right from Revelstoke Mountain Resort. (opposite top) Putting the “mountain” in mountain climbing – ski touring near Revelstoke Mountain Resort. (opposite below) “Just the Four of Us” – heli-ski touring near Bella Coola

two options for daily heli-ski touring; you can meet a group at the staging area (the perfect alternative for a day of touring if you are staying at nearby Silver Star Mountain Resort) or you can bunk in at the rustic luxury at the Gold Panner Inn and do a multi-day tour, skiing in a different part of the Monashees every day.

Group size is capped at five skiers, so there’s plenty of opportunity to spread out and get first tracks. All safety gear is provided in the cost, including transceivers and ABS avalanche-safety packs. Groups start the day with a heli-bump and can normally get in another two or three runs 50 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

before heading back to the staging area off Highway 6. Kingfisher advises that “your ski skill level should allow you to descend black-diamond and double-black-diamond runs at your local ski hill with confidence, making parallel turns.”

Perhaps the most convenient heli-ski-touring option is available at Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing based right at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

These are day trips (three skiers are required to successfully run a trip) and your day “includes a helicopter lift into the Selkirk Mountains and then out at the end of the day, and a whole day of ski-touring with your certified guide.”

Ski-touring gear is available for rent in the Revelstoke Mountain Resort Rental Shop. Split-boarders are welcome, too, but you have to bring your own gear. Beacon-rescue practice and training are included as well, and you’re being shown the terrain by a certified mountain guide. The cost is a relatively reasonable $654 per person.

At the end of the day, you might indeed wonder if heli-ski touring is www.skitrax.com

Kingfisher Heli Skiing/Bruno Long Bella Coola Heli Sports /Todd Lawson

worth the extra expense. McVicar’s observations are worth considering before slapping down your plastic. “I find all mechanized skiing obscenely expensive. It’s hard to square all of that money with paying $25 a night for an ACC Hut and dragging in your own chow. Of course, then you’re having to eat your own chow, stink like a hibernating grizzly and have to crap outside while sitting on a block of ice. It’s certainly worth having a hot tub and access to a massage therapist, as offered by CMH. It comes down to having top-notch food, drink and amenities at night with access to some pretty varied and remote terrain that I would likely never experience on my own.”

But the real advantage is the helicopter itself. McVicar summarizes, “There’s a vast amount of terrain to choose from each day and the first lift. That precious lift saves starting the day with an hour or two of trudging uphill, nervously contemplating a stomach distended by an obscenely rich breakfast floating atop a gallon of coffee. That first run leaves you invigorated and ready for a full day of effort.” www.skitrax.com

Just the Facts

Canadian Mountain Holidays 800-661-0252, www.canadianmountainholidays.com Trips are offered at one of four different lodges: CMH Adamants, CMH Bugaboos, CMH Gothics and CMH Monashees.

Kingfisher Heliskiing 855-475-3399, www.kingfisherheliskiing.com Offers a low one-ACMG-certified-guide-per-five-clients ratio.

Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing 800-663-7080, www.selkirk-tangiers.com Based out of the Revelstoke Mountain Resort Adventure Centre, Selkirk Tangiers offers only day tours.

Bella Coola Heli Skiing 604-932-3000, www.bellacoolaheliskiing.com Offers a huge canvas for possible day trips, including big mountain glacier skiing.

Eagle Pass Heli Skiing www.eaglepassheliskiing.com, 1-877-929-3337 Super easy access to backcountry zones right above the Trans-Canada Highway.

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LOPPETS 2016

Welcome to our annual round-up of loppets and marathons across North America with an emphasis on participation and fun.

by John Symon

CANADA 1. Reino Keski-Salmi Loppet Jan. 16, Salmon Arm, B.C. This Classic-only loppet in eastern B.C. marks its 32nd anniversary in 2016. Beginning in 1985 as the Larch Hills Marathon, it was re-named in 1987 to honour Reino Keski-Salmi, a Canadian of Finnish descent who excelled in cross-country races but died tragically in a 1985 helicopter crash. Both competitive and recreational skiers are welcome to this event, which has been affiliated with the Heart & Stroke Foundation since its inception. Distances vary from 1km for participants under age of four to 34km for seniors, while Para-Nordic entrants can choose their distance. 250832-8676; info@skilarchhills.ca; skilarchhills.ca/loppet

2. Nipika/Toby Creek Nordic Loppet Weekend Jan. 30-31, Nipika Day Lodge, Invermere, B.C. Renamed the Nordic Loppet Weekend, these two back-to-back loppets, co-hosted by Nipika Mountain Resort and Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club, are now part of the Kootenay Cup. It features a 30km Classic loppet on the Saturday, followed by a 20km freestyle loppet on Sunday. These family-friendly events also feature recreational distances of 15km on Saturday and 10km on Sunday, as well as youth and children’s distances. Trails follow the Kootenay and Cross rivers; expect some challenging climbs and technical descents interspersed with nice flats and beautiful views. Awards and a post-race barbecue are featured on both days. 877-6474525/250-342-6516; info@nipika.com; nipika.com/nipika-loppet

3. Canadian Birkebeiner Feb. 12-13, Blackfoot Recreation Area, near Edmonton, Alta.

Billed as the greatest adventure on snow, the Canadian Birkie honours the spirit of the Norwegian Birkebeiner legend. The Birkie www.skitrax.com

features superb events and ski distances for all ages and abilities: 55km Birkie with pack, 55km Birkie Lite, 31km Tour, 13km Mini Birkie and un-timed 2.5km or 4km Ole’s Tour. New this year is a 40km skate event. Also enjoy the ever-popular Nordic Fair, Festival Tent and Vikings’ Feast. Canadian Birkebeiner Society: 780-4307153; info@canadianbirkie.com; canadianbirkie.com

4. Boreal Loppet Feb. 18-20, Forestville, Que. (325km NE of Quebec City) Forestville welcomes the 2016 Canadian Masters National Championships this season with races running conjointly with the Boreal Loppet that caters to “family and sporting” clientele. Featuring distances of 4km, 7km, 11km, 13km, 27km and 60km for both Classic and freestyle events, the Boreal’s signature 103km event – billed as “the longest one-day Nordic race worldwide” – will not be held in 2016. New this year is a 27km fatbike race. 418-587-4160; info@borealloppet.ca; borealloppet.ca

5. Canadian Ski Marathon Feb. 19-21, Gatineau, Que. (near Ottawa) to Lachute, Que. Founded in 1967, the Canadian Ski Marathon (CSM) will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016. North America’s longest and oldest Nordic ski festival, the CSM hosts approximately 2,000 skiers each year for a two-day, 160km Classic-only event through the Laurentian Mountains of western Quebec. It is not a race, and skiers can choose to ski from 12km to 160km over the weekend. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome, with events ranging from the CSM Taster, designed for loppet beginners, right up to the Coureur des Bois Gold category that requires participants to ski the entire 160km while carrying a 5kg pack and sleep outdoors on the Saturday night. CSM: 1-877-770-6556; ski@csm-mcs.com; csm-mcs.com ANNUAL 2015 SKITRAX 53

nually, while community groups dress up in outlandish costumes or offer original snacks. The tour and/or race categories range from 5km, 8km, 13km, 20km, 35km and 55km up to 84km for the Kupesewin Marathon and Sasquatch (completed over two days with overnight camping). Saskaloppet Committee: 306-425-2807; register at zone4.ca; larongeskiclub.ca

Canadian Birkebeiner/JaN Studios

9. Sleeping Giant Loppet March 5, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park (Thunder Bay, Ont.) The Sleeping Giant Loppet at Kamview Nordic Centre offers recreational and competitive skiers a variety of distances, including the family-friendly 8km mini-loppet, a 20km scenic ski route circling Marie Louise Lake, a 35km course that is both scenic and challenging, as well as the 50km Classic or freestyle events. New in 2016 is the 50km skiathlon combining 22km of Classic and 28km of skate skiing. All this is followed by a pancake breakfast awards ceremony on Sunday. The park is named after a large rock formation that resembles a sleeping giant. 807-629-0649; info@sleepinggiantloppet.ca; sleepinggiantloppet.ca

10. Wabos Loppet March 5, Wabos, Ont. (near Sault Ste. Marie) The Wabos Loppet begins in the lumber town of Wabos. There, skiers begin an uninterrupted 27km course that leads through the woods over two

(above) The Canadian Birkie features ski events and distances for all ages and abilities including a Nordic Fair, Festival Tent and Vikings’ Feast. (right) The Nipika/Toby Creek Nordic Loppet Weekend offers both a 30km Classic and a 20km freestyle loppet along with other family-friendly events.

Feb. 26-28, Gatineau, Que. (near Ottawa) Founded in 1977, the Gatineau Loppet is billed as “Canada’s biggest international cross-country skiing event”; it is also Canada’s most prestigious loppet. Held in Gatineau Park, approximately 3,000 skiers will participate over three days of racing that feature Classic (5km, 15km, 27km and 51km) and freestyle (10km, 27km and 51km) courses, as well as a Mini 2km race for children. Sunday sees snowshoe races (2.5km, 5km and 10km). Both of the Gatineau Loppet’s Classic and freestyle 51km courses are part of the Worldloppet Series and are sanctioned by Cross Country Canada for the Canadian Points List. The Gatineau Loppet also serves as the Canadian Long Distance Loppet Championship. Register online or onsite that weekend: 819-778-5014, ext. 232; info@gatineauloppet.com; gatineauloppet.com

7. Sigge’s P’ayakentsut Feb. 27-28, Callaghan Valley (near Squamish), B.C. Organized by the Callaghan Valley Cross Country Ski Club, the Sigge’s “Payak” events feature the Classic or freestyle (15km, 30km and 50km), the Classic sit-ski 10km and the Classic or freestyle youth 15km. There are also activities for children 4-14. P’ayakentsut means “a place to train oneself physically” in the local Squamish language, and is the inspiration behind this event, now in its fifth annual edition. Main loppet events remain on the Saturday, with the children’s events on the Sunday. The race courses begin in the same stadium used for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and follow trails used for the Olympic biathlon competition. Sigge’s Payak is proud to be a qualifier for the prestigious American Birkebeiner. 604-962-1290 or 604-962-1290; info@payak.ca; payak.ca

8. Don Allen Saskaloppet March 4-5, La Ronge, Sask.

This year marks the 33nd annual Don Allen Saskaloppet, Saskatchewan’s premier loppet. In 1970, Don Allen and his friends had a dream, so they formed the La Ronge Ski Club, started a racing team and founded the Saskaloppet. Allen’s ski spirit lives on with loppet participants returning an54 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Nipika/Toby Creek Nordic Loppet Weekend

6. Gatineau Loppet

lakes and several beaver ponds to Sheppard Lake, where tea and oranges are served. The rest of the course is on groomed cross-country trails leading to Norm’s Cabin at the edge of Bone Lake, where skiers enjoy refreshments of tea and cookies. The last part of the trip takes participants to Stokely Creek Lodge for a festive celebratory barbecue and live entertainment. Please note that participants will no longer be picked up by bus from Sault Ste. Marie and must continue to Stokely where ample parking is available. 866-786-5359 or 705-649-3421; info@stokelycreek.com; www. stokelycreek.com

11. Fischer Loppet Festival March 5, Barrie, Ont. The annual Hardwood Fischer Loppet features courses for the 15km and 30km freestyle and Classic events rolled into one amazing day of racing, with children’s races in the afternoon. This loppet is a favourite of racers of all ages to work toward all winter. The new course features a mix of gentle rolling and challenging terrain through the forests of Oro Medonte and is suited to skiers of all levels and abilities. There will also be Fischer ski-tuning, waxing and equipment demos. After the races, participants are treated to a huge spread of food during the prize ceremony. Hardwood receives more than 300 cm of snow each season and features trails with great grooming. 800-387-3775; info@hardwoodskiandbike.ca; hardwoodskiandbike.ca www.skitrax.com

12. PAL Great Labrador Loppet April 2, Labrador City, Nfld.

A prestigious and popular community event, the PAL Great Labrador Loppet is hosted by the Menihek Nordic Ski Club in the beautiful Labrador wilderness. This year will be the 41st edition. Skiers and snowshoers, young and old, can participate in one of three events – 10km, 28km or 50 km, whatever your pleasure. The Loppet kicks off in Fermont, Que. and finishes in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador. The trail is groomed for both Classic and free techniques with refreshment stations positioned along the way. A post-race banquet features award presentations, a delicious steak supper and the opportunity to dance the night away. 709-944-5842 or 709-944-1802; menihek@nf.aibn

13. Vancouver Island Loppet April 2, Mount Washington (near Courtenay), B.C. This event features fabulous scenery on the trails at Mount Washington Nordic Centre, with 300-600cm of snow in most years and 900+cm in big years. In 2016, more than 150 participants are expected to attend the 34th annual loppet.

Featured distances include 2km, 15km or 30km in both freestyle and Classic technique, plus a Cookie Loppet that appeals to skiers from three to 70 years old. A ski destination with other attractions including ocean views and old-growth forest in picturesque Strathcona Park. info@ strathconanordics.com; strathconanordics.com

several seasons to upgrade the entire course so that it can be groomed by a PistenBully. There are feed stations every four to seven kilometres, and after the finish all participants are treated to a hearty post-race meal and awards.

This event is part of the prestigious American Ski Marathon Series and the New England Marathon Series. For many years, it has been proclaimed by the State Chamber of Commerce as one of the top-10 winter events in Vermont.

802-586-7677; stay@craftsbury.com; craftsbury. com/skiing/marathon/home.htm

16. City of Lakes Loppet Feb. 5-7, Minneapolis, Minn.

An urban cross-country ski festival, the City of Lakes Loppet is a winter event for the entire family that features the beautiful trails and lakes of the Twin Cities. This celebration of winter includes the 42km freestyle and Hoigaard’s Classic 42km marathon, the 21km Puoli Classic, 10km Classic Loppet Tour and the Penn Ice-Cycle Loppet on Saturday. Sunday sees the Co-

lumbia Sportswear 42km skate, skijoring and dog sled races, etc. Other events feature snow sculptures, ski games for children 12 and under, the Finn Sisu Sprints, Junior Loppet, Minne-Loppet, Luminary Loppet, Snowshoe Loppet, speed skating loppet, Fat Tire Loppet, an expo, awards, a beer garden and much more. 800-830-9441; info@loppet.org; cityoflakesloppet.com

17. Boulder Mountain Tour Feb. 6, Sun Valley (near Ketchum), Idaho Starting at Idaho’s rustic Galena Lodge, the popular 34.3km Zion’s Bank Boulder Mountain Tour (BMT), one of the shortest American Ski Marathon Series events, parallels Highway 75 as it flows steadily down to the finish. The course is gently rolling and has an elevation drop of 1,100ft over its 21-mile length; spectacular views of the surrounding mountains unfold continuously with each and every turn.

It is the jewel of the annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival that runs from Jan. 29-Feb. 7. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers in the men’s

Nipika Mountain Resort 9200 Settler’s Rd., 14 kms off Hwy 93 (90 minutes from Banff)

USA Jan. 23-24, Marquette, Mich.

The UP Health System Noquemanon Ski Marathon is a 50km Classic, freestyle and relay ski race, taking skiers from Ishpeming to Marquette on Jan. 23. The same day, there are 25km and 12km Classic, freestyle and snowshoe races using part of the Noquemanon course. The course is spectacular, with granite outcroppings, Lake Superior vistas, plentiful snow, a waterfall, a 1,000-ft descent over the last 25 kilometres and friendly volunteers. There are children’s races on Friday, while Sunday (Jan. 24) sees fat bike, skijor (one or two dogs) and snowshoe races.

866-370-RACE; info@noquemanon.com; noquemanon.com

Simply Spectacular Skiing

50 kms trails – classic & skate skiing luxury log cabins day lodge, wax room, rentals ski school, snowshoeing, ice skating tobogganing, Fat bike trails & rentals Instructional Ski Programs

15. Craftsbury Marathon Jan. 30, Craftsbury Common, Vt. Now in its 35th year, the Craftsbury Marathon is the premier ski event of the East, featuring 25km and 50km Classic-only races and a 25km touring division. For 2016, the marathon course is a 12.5km loop starting and finishing at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center Ski Stadium. Extensive trail work has been done over the past www.skitrax.com

PHOTO: JOE LUCUS

14. UP Health System Noquemanon Ski Marathon

RR#3, 4968 Timbervale Place Invermere, BC V0A 1K3

info@nipika.com local 250-342-6516 toll-free 1-877-647-4525 www.nipika.com

NIPIKA LOCATION 9200 Settler’s Rd. 14 kms off Hwy 93 (90 minutes South of Banff)

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 55

(left) The Lake Placid Loppet runs on a slightly modified version of the 50km course constructed for the 1980 Winter Olympics. (below) The Mora Vasaloppet, the largest event in Minnesota, has added fat bike races to this year’s lineup.

20. American Birkebeiner

18. North American Vasa Feb. 12-14, Traverse City, Mich.

The 40th Annual Short’s North American VASA takes place on Saturday (Feb. 13). Michigan’s premier cross-country ski event offers athletes of all abilities the opportunity to experience a wonderful day of skiing on ultimate groomed

freestyle, 13km TeamLoppet and the 13km freestyle races. The first North American male and female finishers in the 58km race can win a free trip to Sweden’s Vasaloppet or $1,000. The race finishes in downtown Mora where snow is dumped onto the town’s main street. The event is the largest in Minnesota and features gently rolling wooded countryside without steep hills. New this year are 38km and 10km fat tire bike races on Sunday (Feb. 14). Returning is the skijoring race as well as the children’s Minnloppet. There’s also a Friendship Tour and Mini-loppet which all part of one of the biggest winter athletic events in the USA. 800-368-6672; information@vasaloppet.org; vasaloppet.us

Mora Vasaloppet/ Jacob Gibb

Lake Placid Loppet/ Evan Spinosa

and women’s races. The 15km “Half-Boulder” event begins at Baker Creek and finishes with the rest of the field. New this year, Half-BMT participants will have the option to be timed.

Also, in celebration of its 40th year, there will be an untimed category called the “40th Wave” for those who want to tour rather than race the BMT. Sunday sees a demo day from the BMT sponsors. bouldermountaintour@gmail.com; bouldermountaintour.com

trails among towering white pines through the pristine serenity of the Pere Marquette State Forest. The main events feature 12km, 27km and 50km freestyle and Classic races, along with 12km and 35km fat bike races. Sunday sees the Gran Travers and 6km and 16km Classic Junior Vasa. 231-633-1054; vasainfo@vasa. org; vasa.org

19. Mora Vasaloppet Feb. 13-14, Mora, Minn.

The signature race day is Saturday (Feb. 13), featuring thex58km freestyle, 42km Classic, 35km Colour 4.75” 4.875”

Feb. 18-21, Cable/Hayward, Wis. The Slumberland American Birkebeiner is the longest, most prestigious cross-country ski race in North America and a member of the 13-nation Worldloppet League. The two premier events are the Feb. 20 Swix Birkie 51km skate and 55km Classic races from Telemark Resort in Cable to downtown Hayward, Wis. Other events include the 23km Kortelopet for skiers aged 13 and older, the 12km Prince Haakon, 5km family ski, snowshoe and adaptive (Para-Nordic) races, etc. Some 13,000 participants are expected over the weekend. 800-872-2753; birkie@birkie.com; birkie.com

55 / 31 / 13 / 4 / 2.5 km Classic & 40 km Skate

56 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

www.skitrax.com

21. Lake Placid Loppet Feb. 21, Lake Placid, NY Since 1982, the Lake Placid Loppet (LPL) has established itself as one of the premier events of its kind in the country, featuring the challenging Mount Van Hoevenberg trails at the Olympic Sports Complex. There are 25km and 50km races for both Classic and freestyle skiers, which are run on a slightly modified version of the 50km course constructed for the 1980 Winter Olympics. The three-day festival includes waxing and ski clinics, orienteering, a cocktail party and Saturday dinner.

LPL is a qualifier for the American Birkebeiner and a member of the NENSA Marathon Series. info@orda.com; whiteface.com/events/lakeplacid-loppet

22. Minnesota Finlandia Feb. 27, Bemidji, Minn.

Starting near the headwaters of the Mississippi River, the 34th annual Finlandia Ski Marathon offers the beautiful old-growth woods of northern Minnesota, passing several frozen lakes along the way. Events include the Minnesota Finlandia 50km, Classic 25km, Bemidjithon 25km, 25km Pursuit and the First National Bank Northwoods 10km Tour. 218-751-0041; minfin@paulbunyan.net; minnesotafinlandia.com

23. Pepsi Challenge Feb. 27, Biwabik, Minn.

The 32nd annual Pepsi Challenge Cup Race at Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort has a reputation for world-class race trails and snow-grooming.

The Ridge has held the World Cup, Olympic Trials, National Collegiate Finals and USA National Championships. The Pepsi Challenge Cup is a 48km freestyle race with companion events to accommodate skiers at every level including a 48km Classic, 24km Classic, 24km freestyle and Giants Ridge 10km. Part of the American Ski Marathon Series, the event serves as a Birkie qualifier. 800-688-7669 # 8072; pepsichallenge@giantsridge.com; pepsichallengeskirace.com/pepsi.php

24. Yellowstone Rendezvous Race March 5, West Yellowstone, Mont.

Montana’s Yellowstone Rendezvous Race is held on the beautifully groomed, rolling terrain of the Rendezvous Ski Trails offering fantastic scenery and snow conditions. There are six different races to choose from depending on your age and ability: 2km, 5km, 10km, 25km Classic, 25km and 50km, all of which run concurrently – skiers of all ages and abilities participate every year. The course features a 25km loop starting at the Povah Community Center (500 yards from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park) and running through the Galatin National Forest on the Continental Divide; with an average visibility of 160 kilometres, the terrain is not considered difficult. An awards ceremony will be held at the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone. 406-646-7265; info@skirunbikemt.com; skirunbikemt.com

25. Tour of Anchorage March 6, Anchorage, Alaska Billed as a premier ski marathon, the Tour of Anchorage (Alaska) is part of the American Ski Marathon Series, North America’s longest-running and largest Citizens’ racing and touring series. The Tour is a point-topoint cross-country ski marathon that is at sea level. There are four events: a 25km Classic race and 25km, 40km and 50km freestyle races – you are also able to Classic ski the 40km or 50km races. In each event, abilities range from top National ski racers to recreational skiers challenging themselves with just going the distance. The 40km and 50km start on the east side of Anchorage and go through the middle of town along its bike trails. The 25km race starts in the middle of town and uses the same course. All the races finish at Kincaid Park. Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage, 907-276-7609; director@anchoragenordicski. com; tourofanchorage.com www.skitrax.com

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 57

Winter Trails

by Chris Redden

Winter Trails has undergone a major change for 2016. It has now become a month-long series of events.

Winter Trails month provides a chance to learn about winter sports

shoes and skis with knowledgeable reps and staff who can help you to make sound buying decisions at your local retailer.

The 2016 Anchor Sites are at the following locations: • ADK Winterfest, Lake Placid, N.Y. - Jan. 10, 2016 • Estes Park, Colo. - Jan. 16, 2016 • Tahoe Donner, Calif. - Jan. 24, 2016 • Winter 4Play, Fort Snelling, Mont. - Jan. 9, 2016 • Weston, Mass. - Jan. 9, 2016 • Soldier Hollow, Utah - Jan. 23, 2016 Winter Trails programs and activities vary in size and scope, as each venue chooses a program that will introduce these sports to its community.

Affiliate sites have smaller events entirely run by the local resort or event host. These are generally more intimate events. There are approximately 100 of these events across the country.

Just the Facts www.wintertrails.org

Many suppliers bring demo equipment for you to try out.

The events are a great opportunity to test different models of snowshoes and skis 58 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

photos: Bethany Cox

Instead of being just a one-day event for children and adults new to snowsports to try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for free, Winter Trails has now become a month-long series of events. January 2016 is now Winter Trail’s month, which provides a chance to discover the great fitness and social benefits of these easy-to-learn winter sports. There are no trail or equipment fees for participants of Winter Trails Days.

Winter Trails is a collection of events at more than 100 locations around the country that promotes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It draws more than 11,000 children and adults to try these activities every year. The events are broken down into two categories: Anchor Sites and Affiliate Sites.

The Anchor Sites are generally larger events that take place at select locations around the country. They are supported by many of the equipment suppliers who bring demo equipment for attendees to try during the course of the day. The event staff will help you put on the gear and give you a few tips to help you on your way to discovering the fitness and social benefits of this easy-to-learn winter sport.

If you already know how to snowshoe or cross-country ski, Winter Trails events are great opportunities to test the different models of snow-

www.skitrax.com

Snowshoe Racing

by Chris Redden

Snowshoe racing remains a hot winter activity, and the upcoming season will be a great year for competition in North America.

Quebec Winter Triathlon is now an International Triathlon Union (ITU) Winter Triathlon World Cup.

For snowshoers in Eastern Canada, the Atlas Mad Trapper Snowshoe Series is back to satisfy racers for an eighth season with the region’s oldest, biggest and best snowshoe events. Taking place at the Ark Conference and Outdoor Education Center located near Wakefield, Que., all events feature a 5km or 10km option, as racers accumulate points in the competitions for the overall Series title. This year, there will be four races that could be a trail run or a snowshoe, depending on the weather, which commenced on Dec. 12. Racing continues on Jan. 2 on a hilly course and Jan. 23 in a night race. The Series finale takes place on Feb. 20.

Dion Snowshoes is sponsoring a seven-race series in Eastern Ontario, which began on Dec. 20 with a new event at the Millpond Conservation area before heading to Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg for a night race on Jan. 9. Next is Frontenac on Jan. 16 and then Brighton on Jan. 30. The Summertown Forest hosts the race on Feb. 13, and the Gananaska Forest is a new location this year with a race on Feb. 20. The racing goes to Cornwall on Feb. 14, with the series wrapping up on Feb. 28 in Napanee, Ont. The Pentathlon des neiges events run from Feb. 20-28 this year, and the big news for 2016 is its Quebec Winter Triathlon, now an International Triathlon Union (ITU) Winter Triathlon World Cup. Starting off with an ITU 10km sprint on Feb. 20, the main 25km event includes a 5km snowshoe race, an 11km speed-skating race and a 9km cross-country ski on Feb. 21.

Group Pentathlon is also offering a Snowshoe Challenge on Jan. 30 with 4km and 10km races at last year’s Snowshoe World Championship course on the Plains of Abraham overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

The Gatineau Loppet, one of the largest cross-country-ski races in Canada, has added snowshoe racing to its events in Gatineau, Que. on Feb. 28. There will be 2km, 5km and 10km races as part of the weekend of cross-country skiing.

March 12 sees the Mammouth race bringing the Abominable Marathon and Half Marathon snowshoe races to Quebec City. There are also 5km, 10km and 15km races, along with fatbike races and trail-running events as well.

Western Canada sees the addition of racing in Jasper, Alta. on both Jan. 23 and March 5. There will be both 5km and 10km races taking place at Jasper Park Lodge located in beautiful Jasper National Park. www.skitrax.com

photos: Pentathlon des neiges

The popularity of snowshoe racing is reflected in the growing number of events.

The U.S. will play host to the Dion National Championships that will be return to Ogden, Utah from Feb. 26-28. For the first time in United States Snowshoe Association (USSSA) history, the National Snowshoe Championships will return to a previous site. The 16th edition of the United States National Snowshoe Championship program will culminate in the National Snowshoe Championships in Ogden at the Powder Mountain and Snowbasin Ski Resorts. New for 2016 is the National Marathon Championship. Athletes of all ages may qualify for the event by becoming a USSSA member.

The World Championships will be part of the Caspolada al Chiarodi Luna event in Vezza d’Olgio on Feb. 6. This global event started in 2001 and now attracts more than 4,000 participants. The village of Vezza d’Olgio is perfectly located in a mountainous region of Italy and promises to provide a challenging terrain for the athletes.

Just the Facts

www.themadtrapper.ca www.synergyark.com www.gatineauloppet.com www.pentathlondesneiges.com

www.snowshoeracing.com www.snowshoewc.com www.snowshoecanada.com www.coursesmammouth.com WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 59

COMP CANADA

by Julie Melanson

Pam Doyle

2015/16 Haywood NorAm/Buff Sprint Strong Start for Beatty and Sandau

T

he 2015/16 Haywood NorAm/Buff Sprint series kicked off in Canmore, Alta. and Sovereign Lake, B.C., with Dahria Beatty (AWCA-NST) and Kevin Sandau (AWCA) showing early-season strength by earning podium positions and the overall series lead. These early-season NorAms count toward European B Tour qualifications for up to four women and two men born in 1991 and after. The Haywood NorAm overall-leader status can potentially gain skiers entry into the FIS World Cups in Period Two in January 2016.

Canmore, Alta. - Dec. 5-6 With temperatures just a bit above zero and partly cloudy skies, the opening round in Canmore on Dec. 5-6 featured Classic interval-start races, and on the men’s side, the top three skiers double-poled the course, with most others using grip wax.

Sandau came through with the win for Foothills Nordic just less than three seconds ahead of Knute Johnsgaard (AWCA), who was also celebrating his birthday. They were closely matched throughout the race, with third going to Ian Murray (North Highlands Nordic-CRTG), who has been on the podium at Nationals.

The women’s event saw four first-year seniors in the top six, as they challenged for NorAm medals. Sophie Carrier-Laforte (Skinouk-CNEPH) won by a 10-second margin over Katherine Stewart-Jones (Nakkertok-NDC Thunder

60 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Bay), with Alannah Maclean (Walden-NDC Thunder Bay) in third.

On Day Two, the courses were hard and fast in the men’s 16.5km MassStart skate race. With large groups of skiers negotiating some sharp turns and tricky downhills, the advantage was in favour of the technical skiers on the four-lap course.

Sandau and Johnsgaard, both of AWCA, were keeping an eye on each other within a large group of 22 skiers who were bunched together at the front of the race.

On the third lap, the two attacked and established a 30-second gap on a chase group of 10 that included top junior Philippe Boucher (Skibec-CNEPH/ NST). As the final lap progressed, Sandau dropped Johnsgaard to gain a 10-second advantage, which he extended to 37 seconds at the finish.

Another 26 seconds back saw a battle for third place, as Brian McKeever (Lifesport-NPNST) won the sprint finish over Patrick Stewart-Jones (AWCA) by a half-second.

In the women’s distance race, a large pack of 20+ skiers raced together with Beatty, setting the pace along with Jenn Jackson (Team Hardwood-NDC TBay) and Cendrine Browne (CNEPH-NST). Beatty (AWCA-NST) and Browne were then joined by Frédérique Vézina (Mont-Ste-Anne-CNEPH), as Jackson could not keep pace.

The race progressed, and on the final lap, Beatty attacked and powered www.skitrax.com

gaard in third. Thompson was fourth at 0.2 seconds back. Shields said he “saved his juice” for the final to take his first NorAm victory. “I thought I had a win in me this year, so it’s good to get one before Christmas,” he commented.

On the women’s side, it was Maya MacIssac-Jones (Rocky Mountain Racers) setting the standard at two seconds ahead of Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt (Fondeurs-Laurentides-AWCA).

In the final, MacIssac-Jones stuck to her race strategy, going into the final descent in second place to pass Marie Corriveau (Mont-Ste-Anne-JRNST) for the win. Andrea Dupont (Rocky Mountain Racers) also edged out Corriveau by two seconds to take second place.

In the final day of racing, heavy snow midway through the race didn’t deter one of the later starters, Sandau, who led from start to finish in the 15km skate event to claim his third consecutive NorAm distance victory. Sandau was 37 seconds ahead of his main distance rival on the circuit, Johnsgaard. In third was Kennedy at four seconds farther back.

Beatty (AWCA-NST) picked up her third NorAm win of the season, pow-

Pam Doyle

Julie Melanson

her way to a nine-second victory. Vézina, who was a dominant junior not long ago, claimed second over Browne, who took the bronze at five seconds farther back.

Day Three of the series got underway Dec. 8 with Classic sprints in damp weather, only a few degrees above zero.

Browne and Jackson were the top qualifiers in senior women’s field and won their semis, but it was Beatty who came through as champion by almost three seconds in the final. Browne edged Jackson for second by a mere 0.2-second margin.

“I am typically not a sprinter, but I’m really happy with this result, and hoping to improve on the sprint side this season. Excited to be off to a good start for selections for the SkiTour Canada 2016 team,” said Beatty.

There was very tight racing throughout the heats in the senior men’s race as Bob Thompson (NDC Thunder Bay) prevailed at the finish, by a little more than a second on a group of four led by Stewart-Jones. Less than a second separated positions second through to fifth, as Andy Shields (NDC Thun-

(opposite) AWCA teammates Kevin Sandau (l) and Knute Johnsgaard have emerged as the frontrunners in the senior men’s division. (above) Dahria Beatty (AWCA-NST) picked up her third NorAm win of the season to lead the senior women. (above right) Andy Shields (NDC Thunder Bay) set the pace in the qualifier to win the senior men’s FR sprint at Round Two in Sovereign Lake, B.C.

ering her way through the course for a dominant 32-second victory in the women’s 10km skate. Second place went to Brazil’s three-time Winter and two-time Summer Olympian Jaqueline Mourão (CBDN-CNEPH). In a close battle for second, Dupont ended up third.

The Haywood NorAm and Buff Sprint series will pick up again Jan. 14-17 at Lappe Ski Club near Thunder Bay, Ont. doubling as the Junior/U23 Nordic Worlds Trials.

der Bay) came third, Sandau was fourth and Julien Locke (Team Blackjack) placed fifth, with Johnsgaard in sixth.

Sovereign Lake, B.C. - Dec. 12-13 At the next round on Dec.12-13 in Sovereign Lake, B.C. before the Christmas break, conditions were cool as temperatures hovered around -4°C with firm hardpacked tracks for the Haywood NorAm skate sprints. With overcast skies, most athletes found the conditions very fast in the qualification, as a large contingent of U.S. skiers added depth to the competition.

In the men’s race, Shields (NDC Thunder Bay) set the pace in a tight qualifier, with a 0.4-second margin over Johnsgaard. Canmore Nordic Club’s Russell Kennedy was less than a 0.5 seconds back in third.

In the final, Shields surged to front at the finish for the win, just a second ahead of Sebastien Boehmler-Dandurand (Canmore Nordic Club) and Johnswww.skitrax.com

2015/16 Haywood NorAm/Buff Sprint Overall Standings Distance Men 1. Kevin Sandau (AWCA) 300; 2. Knute Johnsgaard (AWCA) 240; 3.

Andy Shields (NDC Thunder Bay) 210; 4. Bob Thompson (NDC Thunder Bay) 179; 5. Patrick Stewart-Jones (AWCA) 175; Women 1. Dahria Beatty (AWCA-NST) 300; 2. Andrea Dupont (Rocky Mountain Racers) 190; 3. Cendrine Browne (CNEPH-NST) 190; 4. Maya MacIsaac-Jones (Rocky Mountain Racers) 176; 5. Frédérique Vézina (CNEPH) 161.

Sprint: Men 1. Andy Shields (NDC Thunder Bay) 160; 2. Bob Thompson (NDC Thunder Bay) 150; 3. Sebastien Boehmler-Dandurand (Canmore Nordic) 104; 4. Knute Johnsgaard (AWCA) 100; 5. Patrick Stewart-Jones (AWCA) 80; Women 1. Dahria Beatty (AWCA-NST) 136; 2. Cendrine Browne (CNEPH-NST) 130; 3. Andrea Dupont (Rocky Mountain Racers) 130; 4. Maya MacIsaac-Jones (Rocky Mountain Racers) 129; 5. Marie Corriveau (Mont-Ste-Anne/JRNST) 100.

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 61

COMP USA

by Lex Treinen

Ian Harvey / Toko

USSA SuperTour Underway Patterson, Holmes Lead

W

Nov. 27 - West Yellowstone - 1.3km Sprint Freestyle APU’s Logan Hanneman surged in the finish to beat out his brother Reese Hanneman to claim the top spot in the season-opener West Yellowstone men’s 1.3km freestyle sprint, while Jennie Bender of Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) sprinted ahead of 17-year-old Hannah Halvorson of the Sugar Bowl Academy (SBA) to claim the women’s victory. “No brotherly tensions tonight – we are both equally happy,” said 22-year-old Logan, who shared a room with older brother Reese. “I don’t think I’ll wake up with a pillow over my head.” It was his first win and his first time racing at West Yellowstone.

Pre-race favourite Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess of the Bend Endurance Academy (BEA) settled for third despite finishing the qualification ahead of both Hannemans.

Bender (BSF) won both the qualification and all of her heats. She credits her win to her consistency during the summer training, as well as her focus on healing from a herniated disc in her back. “I’m taking time to work on the little details,” she said.

Halvorson (SBA) finished a surprising second after qualifying third, the third time she has qualified for senior heats. Dahria Beatty (Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club/Alberta World Cup Academy) finished third after a 25thplace qualification result.

Nov. 28 - West Yellowstone - 10/15km Freestyle Junior Katherine Ogden of Stratton Mountain School (SMS) T2 (SMST2) overcame a first-lap deficit to win the West Yellowstone 10km freestyle race, while Brian Gregg of Team Gregg overcame a history of close upsets to finally take the top spot in the men’s 15km.

“It was sweet to be even within 10 seconds of her [Holmes]” said US Ski Team rookie Ogden. “She has really good technique.” She credited skiing with Holmes and the other APU and USST women with helping her at a recent USST training camp in Park City, Utah. Holmes, who finished fourth in the previous day’s 1.2km sprint, said that the hard efforts of the day before didn’t phase her. “Honestly, I would have been tired whether or not I had raced yesterday,” she said. “If you’re not tired during the race, you’re not going hard enough – or you’re lying.” In the end, Ogden finished only two seconds ahead of Holmes. Emilie Cedervaern of University of New Mexico finished third, 35 seconds behind Ogden. Bender, the previous day’s winner, finished a surprising fourth. “I’m finally as fit as I was in 2011,” she said, partially crediting skiing behind Holmes during the last few kilometres.

Gregg said he knew his race was going well when he was even with his training partner Matt Liebsch, who ended up in second in the first kilometre. “I like to work into the race more. Matt likes to go out hard,” he said. Gregg, who has three times been on the podium but has never won, credited his result 62 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Bryan Fish

ith the FIS World Cup Period Two starting berths up for grabs, the first two weekends of the USSA SuperTour Series 2015/16 in West Yellowstone, Mont. and Sun Valley, Idaho attracted top American skiers. Chelsea Holmes and Scott Patterson, both of the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Club (APUNSC), ended up with the World Cup berths.

(top) Men’s distance leader and top American skier overall, Scott Patterson, secured a World Cup berth. (above) Chelsea Holmes, who leads the women’s series, also landed a World Cup spot.

on bumping up his training volume by 100 hours. “I was inspired by Caitlin’s performance,” he said, referring to his wife’s World Championships bronze medal last season. Patterson (APUNSC) finished third after leading the splits through the first two laps. It was his first West Yellowstone podium as well.

Dec. 5 - Sun Valley - Classic Sprint Von Jess (BEA) exacted revenge for the previous weekend’s sprint upset by the Hanneman brothers by winning the Classic sprint SuperTour in Sun Valley on that Saturday over Reese Hanneman (APU), while APUNSC’s Becca Rorabaugh skied away from top-qualifier Kaitlynn Miller of Craftsbury Green Racing Project (CGRP) to take the women’s title.

Von Jess finished the qualification a full five seconds ahead of runner-up Reese Hanneman (APUNSC) and third-place qualifier Eric Packer (APUNSC). “I knew Dakota would be hard to beat with the big downhill finish,” said Hanneman. “I just gave it full gas on the second climb. I knew it would be close because I could hear him from behind.” It was Hanneman’s second-straight second-place finish after being outsprinted by his brother in the opening West Yellowstone SuperTour. Third place went to eighth-place qualifier Tyler Kornfield, also of APUNSC. In the women’s qualification, the surprise winner was Miller (CGRP). It was her first qualification win ever and proved it was no fluke as she won her quarter- and semifinals. In the final, it was Rorabaugh (APUNSC) who showed her fitness in opening a slight gap on the final climb and working the downhills better than her competitors. “Honestly I think I got lucky in the final,” said Rorabaugh after the race. Miller ended up in second. “I was pretty psyched just to make the final,” she said of her first qualification win.

Dec. 6 - Sun Valley - 10/15km Classic Mass Start Holmes (APUNSC) skied away with a long-awaited SuperTour win in the womwww.skitrax.com

en’s 10km Classic in Sun Valley on that Sunday, while Patterson (APUNSC) broke away with five kilometres to go to take a convincing 31-second victory over Colorado University’s Mads Stroem.

Holmes, who was out-finished the previous weekend in the first SuperTour distance race in West Yellowstone, pulled away from the main pack on the first full lap with Craftsbury Green Racing Project’s Caitlin Patterson in tow.

On several of the downhills, Patterson glided by Holmes, but Holmes’ determined skiing finally broke Patterson on the last lap. Holmes’ teammate and Saturday’s Classic sprint winner Rorabaugh (APUNSC), meanwhile, hunted the two leaders from 10 or 15 seconds back, and made a big move on the final climb. “I could tell her skis were a little slick,” said Rorabaugh, “I gave it a little bit extra over the last hill.” Rorabaugh strode by Patterson with less than a kilometre to go to finish second, seven seconds ahead of Patterson.

In the men’s race, it was Caitlin’s younger brother Scott Patterson who dictated the race from the third of six laps. CU’s Stroem and Patterson’s team-

mate Packer (APUNSC) stuck with the pace for a few kilometres, but could not keep up with Patterson’s grinding tempo. Packer pulled away from Stroem briefly before being caught in final kilometres. “I was a little worried,” said Patterson, about skiing from the front.

2015 USSA SuperTour Standings as of Dec. 6/15 Overall Men 1. Mads Stroem (Colorado Univ) 64; 2. Scott Patterson (APU) 57; 3. Reese Hanneman (APU) 57; Women 1. Chelsea Holmes (APU) 89; 2. Becca Rorabaugh (APU) 72; 3. Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) 65.

Distance Leader Men 1. Scott Patterson (APU) 51; 2. Mads Stroem (Colorado Univ) 43; 3. Brian Gregg (Team Gregg) 30; Women 1. Chelsea Holmes (APU) 55; 2.

Katherine Ogden (SMST2) 44; 3. Becca Rorabaugh (APU) 37.

Sprint Leader Men 1. Dakota Blackhorse-vonJess (Bend Endurance Academy) 51; 2. Reese Hanneman (APU) 50; 3. Logan Hanneman (APU) 41; Women 1. Jennie Bender (Bridger Ski Foundation) 40; 2. Hannah Halvorsen (Sugar Bowl Academy) 40; 3. Becca Rorabaugh (APU) 36.

CXC News

CXC MARATHON CUP

The Worldloppet, Euroloppet and Russialoppet are among the most prominent marathon-race series throughout Europe and the world.

These events have become a popular tradition for many cross-country skiers to participate in throughout the season. Not only do these events bring skiers together weekend after weekend to celebrate cross-country skiing through participation in long-distance events, they also share a common goal of promoting the sport as well.

The CXC Marathon Cup was born with a similar goal in mind last spring in assembling the six-largest marathons in the central

CXC MARATHON CUP SCHEDULE January 16, 2016 Seeley Hills Classic / 42km Classic January 23, 2016 Noquemanon Ski Marathon / 50km Classic February 7, 2016 City of Lakes Loppet / Minne Tour or Loppet Challenge February 13, 2016 Vasaloppet USA / 58km Freestyle February 20, 2016 American Birkebeiner / 51km Skate March 5, 2016 Great Bear Chase / 50km Skiathlon

region of the U.S. into one exciting race series.

Sanctioned and scored by the Central Cross Country Ski Association, the Cup includes races in each of three states in the region – two races in Michigan, two in Wisconsin and two in Minnesota.

The series is split between Classic and skate racing, with two Classic weekends, two skate weekends, one Skiathlon weekend and one weekend with back-to-back Classic and skate races.

The Seeley Hills 42km Classic in Seeley, Wis. will kick off the first Marathon Cup event of the season on Jan. 16, 2016.

THERE ARE FOUR COMPETITION CATEGORIES: • Individual Overall • Individual Age - Indexed Overall • Individual Age Class • Team

TEAM SCORING RULES Register as a CXC club/team to compete in the CXC Marathon Cup. 1. Teams can have an unlimited number of racers.

2. Racers will be eligible to score points for their teams by listing their team affiliation INDIVIDUAL SCORING RULES when they register for the individual races.

Register as a 2015-16 CXC/USSA Masters mem3. Eligible racers to score for the team are ber to compete in the CXC Marathon Cup. those registered as CXC/USSA Masters members.

CXC/USSA Masters membership is not re4. Total points for the series will be the sum of quired to score points, however your memberthe points from all races. ship helps to support CXC Marathon Cup and 5. The team with the most points total will be grassroots Nordic programs throughout the the winner.

Midwest. Anyone participating in a Cup race is 6. Ties will be broken using the team’s total automatically considered for the overall chamnumber of points in a single race. pion, age-indexed champion and age-group champion awards.

www.cxcskiing.org/pages/events/cxc-marathon-cup www.skitrax.com

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 63

COMP INTERNATIONAL

photos: Nordic Focus

by Julie Melanson

T

he World Cup is underway and North American skiers have come out of the gate with strong early podiums that could foretell their fortunes at the Tour de Ski and Ski Tour Canada, the biggest events this season.

Nov. 27-29 – Ruka, Finland The 2015-16 FIS World Cup season kicked off with the Ruka Triple near Kuusamo, Finland. In stage one, Ida Sargent was the top American finishing a strong seventh in the women’s 1.4km CL. Sadie Bjornsen looked strong at the start of her semi-final but took a stumble when her wax stuck and she eventually finished 12th. Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway took the win, Stina Nilsson of Sweden was second, with Ragnhild Haga of Norway rounding out the podium in third.

Three other Americans qualified for the heats and in the final standings Sophie Caldwell placed 23rd and Jessie Diggins was 25th. Emily Nishikawa was the sole Canadian in the mix placing 58th.

In the men’s race, the USA’s Andy Newell charged out of the gates on a mission, finishing just off the podium in fourth place - his best result in two years. The opening race saw a Norwegian podium sweep, with Sondre Turvoll Fossli grabbing the victory, Erik Brandsdal in second and Petter Northug claiming third.

“One of my goals was to make the final,” said Newell. “In one of the most competitive sprints, you really need to be ready to rock when you start the heats here.” Canadian Len Valjas, who was fifth in his quarterfinal heat, did not advance.

Bjornsen delivered a solid result in the second stage of the Ruka Triple finishing 14th in the women’s 5km FR race, a personal best, with teammate Diggins just behind in 16th.

Norway’s Therese Johaug dominated with a 17.6-second lead over Charlotte Kalla of Sweden in second followed by fellow Swede, Ida Ingemarsdotter, in third. Nishikawa, the lone Canadian, finished 63rd.

64 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

(top) Canada’s Alex Harvey (l) landed his first podium of the season at Ruka, Finland claiming second in the men’s 10km FR with Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) winning and Dario Cologna (SUI) third. (above left) The USA’s Andy Newell was just off the podium with a fourth in the 1.4km CL sprint season opener – his best result in two years. (above right) Overall leader Therese Johaug (NOR) has dominated the women’s field in the distance races. (opposite) The US Women’s relay team took home the bronze: (l-r) Sadie Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan, Jessica Diggins, Elizabeth Stephen.

Canada’s Alex Harvey, 27, landed his first World Cup podium of the season, claiming second in the men’s 10km FR race. Harvey enjoyed a stint in the hot seat for some time before Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby, the overall men’s series defending champ, posted the best time for the gold. Switzerland’s Dario Cologna was third. www.skitrax.com

American Noah Hoffman also put in a fine skate leg to grab 25th. Canadian Michael Somppi was 60th.

In the 4x5km women’s relay Diggins anchored Team USA with a stunning display of prowess and never-give-up strategy for a well-deserved bronze medal, as Norway I took the gold and Finland captured the silver. The American women’s squad, and their now-famous knee-high socks, were on the relay podium here back in 2014 with Kikkan Randall. This marked the third time that the USA has been on a relay podium.

Diggins was fifth when tagged by Stephen, who put in a tremendous leg herself moving up from seventh, and went to work first chasing down Kalla

in third. Rosie Brennan was the next-best American in 34th and Canada’s Nishikawa was in 60th.

US Women’s head coach Matt Whitcomb was pleased with the three-day mini-tour. “We’re on track. Kuusamo presented us with the toughest waxing conditions combined with some of the toughest courses, so it is always an intense introduction to the World Cup season.”

The final tough 15km CL stage of the men’s Ruka Triple mini-tour saw Canada’s Harvey finish seventh overall with the 12th-fastest time of the day.

Norway’s Sundby proved unstoppable as he took his sixth consecutive Tour victory and kept his winning streak alive.

A late surge by Northug of Norway saw him fight his way past Italy’s Francesco de Fabiani to move into second place. A final lunge by Finn Haagen Krogh made it an all-Norwegian podium. Canada’s Kershaw climbed six spots in the standings to finish 23rd overall while the top American was Erik Bjornsen in 48th.

of Sweden and then catching and overtaking Norway’s Haga for a brilliant bronze. Diggins’ anchor time of 13:07.1 was the fastest of the leg and the second fastest of the day – only Johaug had a better time of 12:49.3. “It was a great day for Team USA,” said Diggins.

Norway I dominated the 4×7.5km Men’s Relay, winning gold as expected with a podium sweep. Team USA, sparked by Erik Bjornsen’s bullet-proof Classic race, catapulted from 15th place to fifth in the second heat.

The first leg saw Newell tag Bjornsen in 15th, two spots behind Canada’s Kershaw who handed off to Harvey. Bjornsen was on fire and dropped Harvey as the Canadians had missed the wax and soon the young American was gaining more ground, putting in the fastest time of his leg. Bjornsen tagged Hoffman who found himself in no-man’s land in between the lead and chase pack but still held onto fifth.

Hoffman handed off to anchor Simi Hamilton as Norway’s Northug danced away for Norway I with a commanding lead. Hamilton was unable to bridge to the leaders and was eventually swallowed up by the chasers.

In the end, silver and bronze went to Norway III and II as Russia, the previous winners in Lillehammer back in 2013, settled for fourth. Hamilton crossed the line in 12th with Canada’s Killick 13th.

Nordic Focus/Salomon

Harvey’s skate skiing was improved on the tough hilly course as a result of surgery to his leg last spring to address compressed arteries that restricted blood flow in both legs. Also having a strong day on the comeback trail, was teammate Devon Kershaw as he finished 24th in the points. Simi Hamilton was top American in 49th.

Bjornsen delivered a career-best finish, skiing to 14th place on the final 10km CL pursuit stage, only 0.4 seconds behind Nicole Fessel of Germany in 13th. Norway’s Johaug skied away from her rivals to win the overall by a comfortable margin. Sweden’s Nilsson broke away from the chase group to claim second at 22.6 seconds behind, with Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg of Norway

Dec. 5-6 – Lillehammer, Norway For the second weekend in a row, the USA’s Sadie Bjornsen set the pace leading four Americans into the points as she placed 20th in the women’s 15km Skiathlon won decisively by Norway’s Johaug. In the battle for second, Norway’s Heidi Weng pipped Sweden’s Kalla in a sprint to the line.

USA’s Liz Stephen placed 25th, scoring her first points of the season. Diggins was 26th and Caitlin Gregg grabbed 30th while Nishikawa was 52nd.

Canada’s Harvey battled it out moving up 17 spots during the skate to claim 10th in the men’s 30km Skiathlon as four North Americans landed in the top 25. Sundby led a Norwegian podium sweep again winning gold with Niklas Dyrhaug in second while his teammate Hans Christer Holund was third.

Graeme Killick finished 21st for Canada earning his first World Cup points.

Three seconds behind was Kershaw in 23rd with Ivan Babikov in 24th as www.skitrax.com

2015/16 FIS XC Ski World Cup Overall standings after Round Two in Lillehammer, Norway Women 1. Therese Johaug (NOR) 443; 2. Stina Nilsson (SWE) 280; 3. Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg (NOR) 263; 4. Heidi Weng (NOR) 256; 5. Charlotte Kalla (SWE) 254 CAN/ US 14. Sadie Bjornsen (USA) 101; 29. Ida Sargent (USA) 32; 31. Jessie Diggins (USA) 26; 46. Sophie Caldwell (USA) 8; 50. Elizabeth Stephen (USA) 6; 54. Caitlin Greg (USA) 1; Men 1. Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NOR) 466; 2. Petter Northug Jr. (NOR) 299; 3. Niklas Dyrhaug (NOR) 279; 4. Hans Christer Holund (NOR) 207; 5. Finn Haagen Krogh (NOR) 204 CAN/US 7. Alex Harvey (CAN) 166; 27. Devon Kershaw (CAN) 45; 29. Andy Newell (USA) 40; 54. Graeme Killick (CAN) 10; 55. Len Valjas (CAN) 9; Ivan Babikov (CAN) 7; 60. Noah Hoffman (USA) 6 WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 65

Mind, Body & Soul Warriors, Come Out to Play - Part Two of Two

by Lori Meyers Just in case you are coming late to the game this month, here is a review of Part 1.

Skiers are warriors, out there in all sorts of conditions and using all the skills that skiing requires. Of course, respect your own limitations and apply alignment adjustments that work best for you. Be a wise warrior and choose what will make you strong, balanced, flexible, focused and injury-free. All aspects of a good skier.

There are no short cuts – practise with your heart, not your ego.

Within each of these NEW WARRIORS, there are modifications to choose from or you may add your own to make the pose work for you.

Playing with the warriors will lead you to where you need to be and to benefit most. This can change over time so do not stop playing. Like skiing, yoga is for life. All variations change the relationship between the various parts of the body. It is good for the body to open at different angles as muscle fibres have different angles, too. Everybody has a different genetic composition so muscle fibre and soft tissue length will vary as will the skeletal structure. This affects joint mobility.

Here are some variations you might want to consider or go with the “classic” style of pose.

All these new warriors can be transitioned to from Warrior I, II or III

Strength Training for Endurance Athletes

by Dr. Andy Reed In the last issue of Skitrax magazine, I discussed the role of strength training in endurance sports. Not only can resistance exercise make us faster at our chosen sport, it can also significantly reduce the likelihood of injury. By progressively increasing the loads our muscles and tendons are able to tolerate, we can not only improve our absolute strength – the maximum force our tissues will tolerate before they fail – but we can also make our bodies more ‘fatigue-proof’, and less injury-prone, by changing our fibre type, increasing the size of our muscle fibres, and training our brains to recruit more muscle fibres to work in a given exercise.

In the past, conflicting advice has been given to endurance athletes with regards to the value of strength training. There is often concern that ‘bulking up’ will worsen our performance, but in the real world this simply doesn’t hold true. There is now a wealth of evidence that not only can concurrent strength and endurance training lead to greater performance gains than endurance training alone, but that favourable changes in body composition occur which optimize, rather than hinder, our endurance.

What does a strength program for endurance exercise look like?

A well-designed run or ski program ebbs and flows in terms of volume and intensity, with the aim of building a good base, then progressively adding in more challenging and specific workouts, building in defined rest periods, and ultimately peaking just prior to a predetermined event.

This is what is known as periodization, and a strength program takes a similar approach. A strength program for endurance exercise typically 66 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

except Fallen Warrior. It is best transitioned to from Downward Dog. (Adho Mukha Svanasana) Exalted warrior (Peaceful or Reverse warrior) Viparita (inverted, reversed) – Done with a partner holding the top hands if flexibility allows. If not, you can be joined to your partner by using a strap. Twist things up on your own, and revolve it from a high or low lunge position.

Dancing warrior – Both hands reach overhead or hands to hips, then the torso is tilted toward the back leg. The torso is the same as in Exalted, just the arm position changes.

Humble warrior Baddha (bound) asana (pose) – If you cannot clasp your hands together behind your back, use a strap to help open chest and shoulders. Try the arms in eagle variation as you bow forward.

Fallen warrior (Phoenix or Dying warrior) – There is an option to bring the hip to the floor and then possibly continue into a torso twist reaching through in a lying position.

Retreating warrior Skandasana – The heel is either on or off the floor. You can bend partially through the knee of the weighted leg or fully flex it. The extended leg and the toes can be on or off the floor.

Namaste Lori Meyers, BPE, is a life coach and yoga/Pilates instructor.

should consist of several phases: strength endurance, basic strength, strength and power.

In the first phase, a general strength program is undertaken to prepare the athlete for the more vigorous training to follow. Higher volume training is undertaken – typically, three times per week, with a higher number of up to 10-15 repetitions per set. Usually, a workout consists of three or four sets of four or five exercises with similar movement patterns to our chosen sport. This phase may last two or three months, and as we progress, higher loads with fewer repetitions are introduced. Typically, every fourth week will be used to recover and to enhance adaptations.

As the athlete moves towards more specific race preparation, the volume of strength training is typically reduced, whereas the intensity is upped. Strength workout frequency is typically twice per week, with three sets of three to five repetitions of each exercise. Heavier loads and more explosive lifts are utilized in this phase, which may be two to three months in duration. Finally as the athlete approaches race season, loading is typically reduced but volume is maintained at twice a week. The aim is to facilitate recovery but maintain the strength gains achieved earlier.

For those looking to delve into the specifics further, an excellent free article is available online, with examples of specific exercises in the April 2015 edition of Strength and Conditioning Journal, “Strength Training for Endurance Athletes: Theory to Practice”.

Dr. Andy Reed, sport-medicine physician, Team physician, Canadian cross-country, biathlon and para-Nordic ski teams www.skitrax.com

Optimize your Immune System for Sport Performance

by Beth Mansfield, Ph.D, RD

Bring this ad in to receive 20% off 1 full price trail pass Not Valid February 17, 2016. Expires March 31,2016

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Tour New England’s classic nordic ski venues this winter & experience marathon racing, and touring, at its very best.

January 23, 2016 Jackson, New Hampshire White Mountain Classic - 30K Classic January 30, 2016 Craftsbury Vermont Craftsbury Marathon - 50K Classic February 6, 2016 Black Mountain of Maine John Roderick Marathon - 50K Classic or 50K Freestyle February 21, 2016 Lake Placid, New York Lake Placid Loppet - 50K Freestyle March 5, 2016 Rangeley, Maine Rangeley Lakes Loppet - 50K Freestyle March 5, 2016 Bretton Woods OMNI Mt. Washington Resort Marathon - 42K Classic March 12, 2016 Trapp Family Lodge - Stowe, Vermont 50K Classic March 19, 2016 Carrabasset Valley, Maine Sugarloaf Marathon- 50K Freestyle - NEMS Finale gl a n d N di c

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More information

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Gleeson, M, Nieman, D and Pedersen, BK 2004, “Exercise, nutrition and immune function.”

Journal of Sports Sciences, 22, pp. 115-25.

www.hardwoodskiandbike.ca 705 487 3775 Oro-Medonte

Elizabeth (Beth) Mansfield is a sport dietitian and exercise physiologist with Peak Performance in Ottawa, Ont. www.skitrax.com

or

Those of us undertaking prolonged bouts of exercise coupled with intensive training regimens are skiing the fine line between peak physical health and impaired immune function. Despite the plethora of nutritional supplements that claim to boost immune function, evidence currently supports a daily eating pattern that meets energy needs with nutrient-rich foods and beverages to counter the suppression in immune function that occurs following exercise (Gleeson et al., 2004).

Sport-nutrition strategies that can protect immune function following prolonged strenuous exercise are shown in the figure above: Here are some sport-nutrition strategies that you might consider to optimize your health and performance “in the tracks” this season.

1. Time the intake of carbohydrate-containing foods around training sessions to avoid carbohydrate depletion during exercise and to facilitate recovery following exercise. a. Pre-workout: Eat a snack of fruits/vegetables, animal/plant protein or starchy food (i.e., fruit smoothie, beet hummus with veggies, lentil-vegetable soup). b. During workout: Eat a carbohydrate-based snack shortly after training to start the recovery process. Sport bars, granola bars, fruit yogurt and low-fat milk smoothies are nutrient-packed carbohydrate-containing choices. c. Post-workout: Add protein-rich foods to your post-workout carbohydrate-rich snacks/meals (i.e., yogurt with fruit/granola, fruit-flavoured kefir on cereal, poached eggs on toast, vegetable fritatta) to optimize refueling.

2. Eat a wide range of nutrient-dense foods pre-, during and post-workout. a. Eat small servings of protein-rich food (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, milk/soy milk, yogurt, legumes, nuts/seeds) at each snack and meal (larger athletes and male athletes will need more) to make sure that you get all your essential amino acids, B vitamins, iron and zinc. b. Put more dark-green, orange/red and purple/blue vegetables and fruits on your plate at snacks or meals to maximize your intakes of Vitamin C, folic acid and antioxidants. c. Include whole grains and cereals daily for iron, magnesium and selenium – three nutrients known to maintain a strong immune system. d. Choose fatty fish (i.e., salmon, lake trout, sardines, herring, mackerel) after your two toughest training sessions a week for an immune-enhancing source of Omega-3 fats.

3. Focus on functional foods. a. Maintain the good bacteria in your gut by regularly consuming probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt and kefir with active cultures and fermented foods (e.g. pickled vegetables and sauerkraut). b. Feed the good bacteria living in your digestive system with prebiotic fibres found in carbohydrate-rich whole-grain wheat-based breads and cereals, oatmeal and legumes and fructans found in bananas, honey and maple syrup. c. Choose two to three cups of Vitamin-D-fortified yogurts and fluid milk/soymilk daily to get Vitamin D, and top up your intake with a Vitamin D supplement of 400 IU/day if you are older than 50 years of age.

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nensa.net/marathon WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 67

technique

by Keith Nicol

Tips for Improving Your One-step Double-pole Technique

T

photos: Heather Nicol

he one-step double-pole (also known as the kick double-pole) is a difficult Classic technique for many skiers to master. As well, given that you don’t see many people using this technique, the typical cross-country skier may not even know what it is. I typically describe it as a combination of diagonal stride and double-poling that is used on sections of trail where the skier might have too much speed for striding, but not enough for double-poling. Hence, usually recreational skiers will apply it on the flats, but racers will typically use it on slight uphills. This is because the fitness 1 level of racers is such that they are traveling faster than recreational skiers on the same terrain. Although it is tough to learn, it has a smooth flow and rhythm that many skiers appreciate.

Let’s begin by examining the basic one-step double-pole technique and then look at ways you can refine it to improve your power and speed. Before I teach this technique, I have my students perform some striding and double-poling so that I can gauge how useful this technique will be to them. For novice skiers with poor weight shift and weak double-poling, I will not teach this at all, since I know from experience that they will only 2 become frustrated trying to learn it. For skiers who have good weight shift in diagonal stride and can perform a solid double-pole, I break this technique into three steps. In fact, should you need a refresher, in the SkiTrax February-March 2015 issue, I wrote a column on improving your striding and double-poling, so refer to that for tips on those techniques.

The first step in one-step double-pole involves striding forward with one leg while at the same time bringing both poles up to double-pole (see photo 1).

In the second step, complete the double-poling action while bringing the striding leg under the body (see photo 3 2). Next, recover your arms and return your body to an upright position, getting ready to repeat the first step (see photo 3). One key to this technique is to relax and not rush it.

68 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Often, skiers tend to hurry through this technique, never allowing themselves to stand tall, as shown in photo 3. Other skiers don’t allow themselves to get a full weight shift and they begin double-poling too soon (see photo 4). Coordinating all these components in sequence is not easy and it takes practice to perfect it.

In the beginning, skiers often statically go through the actions. I then suggest simply saying to themselves as they ski down the track “Stride, double pole” (step 1), “complete double-pole” (step 2) and “stand up” (step 3), being careful 4 to complete each step. Often skiers will alternate their striding leg so that both the left and right leg aid in propulsion.

Once you have developed good timing, then begin to add more power and fluidity to the technique. I often find that skiers don’t get much power from the legs in this technique and rely too much on their poles. To develop good leg power, I sometimes have skiers execute this technique without poles (see photo 5). Once skiers have developed a solid one-step double-pole, I then have them try to get more leg power by advancing one foot slightly ahead of the other foot before kicking off of it (see photo 6). Here my 5 right foot is ahead of my left foot and I will quickly add my body weight to that foot before kicking off to maximize my power.

Here is a link to a YouTube video that describes the one-step double-pole: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNlC6rwWpNk. For help with any aspect of your Nordic skiing, seek out the assistance of a certified CANSI or PSIA instructor.

Contributor Keith Nicol has been on four Canadian INTERSKI demonstration teams for Nordic skiing. He holds CANSI’s highest instructor ranking in both track and telemark skiing. He has a popular Nordic skiing website at http://www2.

6 swgc.mun.ca/~knicol/nordic%20main. htm and many popular YouTube videos for improving your Nordic skiing (search k2nicol). He can be reached at k2nicol@gmail.com. www.skitrax.com

tele technique

by J. Scott McGee

Rollin’ over the Bump Facilitate your Mogul Turns by Moving a Stable Core over the Change in Pitch

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aking your turn happen in the bumps requires a quiet upper body as your skis change angles. In the image below, the skis clearly change both direction and angle in relation to the slope. In the first image, my navel (approximate center of mass) is over my front foot. In the second, it’s moved ahead to keep my skis on the snow as the pitch changes on the steeper face of the mogul. By the third image, I’m back over my feet, managing speed. This is much like the “diving-down-the-hill” concept written about in the last issue.

Also, note that as the skis turn, the upper body does not. My inside (left) hand has moved ahead by third frame. Master the skill of moving ahead to keep the skis flat to the snow and easy to turn.

J. Scott McGee coaches the PSIA Nordic Team (USA) and works as Snow King Mountain Sports School’s director. A former telemark competitor, he now dreams of perfect corn on spring backcountry skateski tours. McGee spends his summers guiding climbs in the Tetons for Exum Mountain Guides.

Selko Photos/Montage: J. Scott McGee

Try this! Find a bump above a good runout, such as the last bump above a groomed run. Now, with confidence, you stand atop the bump and project your body forward. A useful visualization is imag-

ining gravity as a bungee cord attached to your navel, pulling you earthward. As you move forward, your skis will tip down the bump and the edges will flatten, enabling easier turning. Turn your legs (but not your upper body) through the fall-line to finish the turn. To complement this, punch your inside hand ahead. You can visualize driving your inside hand ahead after the pole plant, like moving the gear shifter ahead in a car with a manual transmission. Master moving your core down the hill to release your edges, flatten your skis and facilitate turning.

www.skitrax.com

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 69

waxworx

by Jack Cook and Patrick Moore

Finding Your Grip Zone

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he opportunity to put new skis on the 1. Paper test - This is the most common snow means that this is an exciting method used in shops all over the world. The time of year for skiers and waxers. skis are placed on a perfectly flat surface However, dialing in new Classic skis can with the athlete standing on the skis with his sometimes be a frustrating experience. Sucor her weight evenly distributed. The technicessful Classic waxing means understandcian slides a thin material (paper or someing not only where to put the grip wax, but thing similar) under the skis and marks the also how much to apply. front and the back of the grip zone.

(This column assumes your skis are The athlete then transfers all of his or her well-fi you haveTemplate selected 11/30/15 the correct to one HPeaks 8th STtting Ann and 2013_Pedal 11:55weight AM Page 1 ski through the heel. The front and grip wax for the conditions!) the back of the kick zone are marked again.

The grip zone is the area in the middle of 2. Hand test - Extremely skilled waxers with the Classic ski where the grip wax is applied. significant experience are able to assess the The location of the grip zone is influenced location of the kick zone by hand. Through an by the overall shape of the ski, the stiffness assessment of the shape of the ski, as well of the camber and the height of the camber. as by flexing the skis by hand, the technician The combination of these factors will partially will be able to determine the front and the determine if a Classic ski is more suited for back of the kick zone. hard wax or klister. When working with Clas3. Real world test - In this test, the location sic skis, the first step is to understand the loof the grip zone is determined based on accation of the grip zone. tual wear of the grip wax. Using a wax slightThere are a number of methods for deterly too soft for the conditions, the grip wax is mining the location of the grip zone. Options applied to an area a little longer than the aninclude: ticipated grip zone. The athlete would then

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ski several kilometres, stopping regularly to assess the wear of the grip wax. Eventually, the front and back of the grip zone will become evident, based on where the grip wax has been worn away.

Once the location of the grip zone has been determined, the next step is to gain an understanding about the shape of the camber. Knowing where to put the grip wax is only part of the equation. Knowing how much grip wax to apply is also critical. The tests noted above will provide some of this information.

1. Paper test - If the two marks at the ends of the grip zone are grouped very close together, this indicates that the grip zone ends quickly and the wax can be applied in even layers along the length.

If the two marks at the ends of the grip zone are far apart, this indicates that the grip zone tapers to an end. In this case, the first layers would be applied along the entire length, with subsequent layers being shorter.

2. Hand test - As the technician squeezes the skis, he will be able to observe the shape of the grip zone and how it changes as pressure is applied. Ask the technician to mark the skis to indicate where the various layers should be applied.

3. Real world test - If the grip-wax wear begins and ends abruptly, this indicates that grip zone ends abruptly. If the grip-wax wear is gradual, this indicates that the grip zone is tapered. The same layering advice as in the paper test would apply.

Lastly, it is important to determine the appropriate number of layers of grip wax for your skis. The best way to make this determination is trial and error! Once you know the location of the grip zone, experiment with the number of layers. When preparing your skis, apply two to three layers (make sure to bring the grip wax with you) and head out on the trails. If the skis are slippery, continue applying layers until the grip improves. Make note of how many layers were required. Continue applying grip wax until the skis become slow and draggy.

Again, make note of how many layers were required. This will provide a working range for applying kick wax in the future.

Slight revisions may be required, depending on the wax being applied. For example, warmer grip wax may require fewer layers and a slightly shorter grip zone. Colder grip wax may require additional layers and a slightly longer grip zone.

The guidelines noted above also apply to klister. Remember that the thickness of the klister can be altered at various points on the ski, similar to altering the thickness of hard wax.

Different brands of skis have different characteristics. And different skis of the same brand also have different characteristics. This means that the grip-wax requirements may vary significantly within your fleet of skis. www.skitrax.com

graves on nordic

by Peter Graves

In Praise of Craftsbury Outdoor Center

www.skitrax.com

photos: Zack Caldwell

I

t’s no secret that thus far we’ve had a warmer-than-normal December across the East. There has been precious little snowfall and the warm temperatures have made it difficult to make much snow for many.

In mid-December, I drove to see a NENSA Eastern Cup two-day race that was held on just slightly longer than one kilometre of manmade snow. Craftsbury is located in the heart of Vermont’s famed Northeast Kingdom – a picturesque rural setting that seems to jump out of a Robert Frost poem or a Norman Rockwell canvas. Most everything about Craftsbury Common, Vt. seems a picture postcard.

That day, as the races got underway, there were heavy snow showers, adding precious white stuff to the course, but also creating a more fitting winter landscape.

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center began in 1976 when Russell Spring and his family purchased the Cutler Academy campus and began to revamp the facilities into lodging for both guests and athletes. A Nordic trail system was laid out. In addition to skiing, sculling and running, the place started to boom in service to the outdoor-fitness crowd. They served delicious homemade food and had a variety of lodging options.

More recently, things have changed greatly under current owners Judy Geer and her husband, Dick Dreissigacker. Both were Olympic rowers: Dreissigacker competed in the Munich Games, while Geer rowed at the Montreal and Los Angeles Olympic Games and was also named to the 1980 squad for the Moscow Games, in which the U.S did not take part.

Following more than 30 years of continuous growth, a new chapter began here when, in November 2008, Dreissigacker and Geer purchased the Center, reformed the company as a non-profit and set goals to transform it by protecting the nearby surrounding lakes, trails and land and promoting lifelong, healthy sports using sustainable practices.

I asked Geer about the origin of her and her husband’s cross-country-ski motivations. “Although rowing was our original sport, once we moved to Northern Vermont, our winter passion became Nordic skiing. Our kids became very involved, thanks to the Outdoor Center and Coach Pepa Miloucheva. Skiing and, soon, biathlon became a huge part of our family life – and still is. For the kids, it brought them lifelong friends, college skiing and international competitions, including the Sochi Olympics for Hannah; and we wanted more kids and families to have this wonderful opportunity.”

Along the way, world-class trails – 85 kilometres in all – have been developed, along with a sizable arsenal of snowmaking equipment, a small lit loop and a gorgeous new sustainable ski-touring centre that includes gym facilities and wax rooms. Also part and parcel of the new building are delicious snacks from its main dining hall.

It also hosts a variety of events, from a large Bill Koch youth-ski league program, to SuperTours and its popular distance marathon, along with a solid youth- and junior-racing program.

Nordic racers and ski tourers alike sing the praises of what’s been accomplished.

One person said, “It’s such a great opportunity to enjoy the out-

(top) Craftsbury’s Judy Geer (l) and Peter Graves chat about the Center’s passion for Nordic skiing. (left) NENSA Eastern Cup race (above right) Craftsbury Touring Center is a boon to the outdoor fitness crowd.

doors here, you don’t have to be a racer to love it. One of the strengths of this place is that one can enjoy the solitude of the outdoors or challenge yourself by watching some of the best racers in the country.” A top collegiate coach said, “Dick and Judy have been a very big part of the resurgence of cross-country skiing in New England; their “cando” attitude and willingness to take on a big challenge have provided unique opportunities for skiers to ski early in the season or late in the season on some really challenging terrain. The opportunities given to young athletes to help reach their goals is phenomenal.”

Craftsbury also supports an Elite racing team known as the Craftsbury Green Racing Project, or, more informally, the Green Team. The Green Team has been comprised of some of the nation’s top skiing talent, such as Olympic athletes Ida Sargent, Susan Dunklee and Hannah Dreissigacker, along with other athletes aspiring to reach the podium. The entire team supports sustainable systems and tries to influence others to make more environmentally-conscious decisions.

Nordic skiing is grateful for the efforts of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center – and places like them – that help grow the sport in a racing sense, but also further introduce all who are interested in discovering the joy of skiing.

WINTER 2015 SKITRAX 71

sasseville report

by Jack Sasseville

Norwegian Domination Can They be Beaten?

Norcic Focus

Pregnancy Update – In addition to Randall, Katja Visnar and Marit Bjoergen, now Aino-Kaisa Saarinen has announced that she is pregnant.

This could mean that there will be a great crop of top skiers in 2035.

The Lillehammer men’s relay podium featured a Norwegian sweep – the men are now even stronger than their women’s squad.

Early-season Results – The first races of the season are sometimes the most stressful races of the year. All of the skiers have been training for seven months without a ski race, and they don’t really know for sure if what they have been doing has worked or not.

As well, because there are no personal bests or world records or standardized times in cross-country skiing, the skiers must wait to see how they do against other skiers to know if they have improved.

In every race, you have skiers who have excellent results, some have terrible results and most do alright. For the most part, this changes every race.

So far, it has been a good season for the Canadian men. Alex Harvey has been on the podium and is contending for the overall World Cup. Four other men have scored World Cup points, including an improving Graeme Killick. Devon Kershaw is slowly working his way back from illness and looks much better.

There is not much to say about the Canadian women’s program.

Emily Nishikawa has been the only one competing in Europe, and she is a long way behind. There are some stronger, younger skiers at home, but they are not any better than she is or they would be there. It looks as if it is going to be a while before we see any Canadian woman near the top of the World Cup results lists.

This is where the U.S. women reside now. They are consistently in the top-20, often in the top-10, and even without Kikkan Randall, they are one of the strongest and deepest teams on the circuit, as shown by their third place in the World Cup relay in Lillehammer, Norway.

Andy Newell has done well in the first sprint races of the year. Noah Hoffman is still working his way back from an ankle injury last year and is in the middle of the pack in most races. The other U.S. men have not yet skied that well this year.

Domestic Races – The early-season races in North America have had huge fields. There were more than 500 racers in Canmore, Alta. in early December, and the early-season SuperTour races have also had big fields. This is fantastic. The skiers in these races are the World Cup skiers of the future, and the more skiers there are, the more chances there are to produce strong skiers.

72 SKITRAX WINTER 2015

Norwegian Domination Continues – At one time, it was the Norwegian women who dominated the top of the leader board and only Petter Northug was consistently there for the men. Now the Norwegian men are even stronger than the women – 10 of the top 13 in a race in Lillehammer in December.

While this may be great for TV ratings in Norway, it is not good for the sport anywhere else. TV ratings in Germany for cross-country skiing have dropped drastically. Everyone is aware of this and worried about it, but the only real answer is for other nations to produce more and better skiers – easier said than done.

Double-poling in Classic Races – I am one who embraces change, but in this case, I do not like what is happening to the sport. The more that the top skiers double-pole in races, the further they get from the origins of the sport and from the average person who is skiing. What do you say to the young skier who sees this on TV when he says, “How come they’re not using their legs?”

I applaud the International Ski Federation in its commitment to trying to enforce the “no rules for skating” [I think there is a better way to say this, but since I’m not familiar with FIS policy, I don’t know how to correctly re-state.] in Classic races. There is much cheating in races at every level. If the rules are enforced correctly, this will slow down the double-polers and make it harder for them to compete.

There should be zero tolerance for this. The problem is that, even in World Cup races, it is very hard to see what every skier is doing on 100% of the trail. So this means that it will be up to the skiers to follow the rules, even if no one is looking. We all know how well that works with doping and other aspects.

Kevin Sandau and Cross Country Canada – I think that it is a disgrace how Kevin Sandau was treated by Cross Country Canada (CCC) and the National Ski Team (NST). He had to find out from someone outside the NST that he was not chosen to be a member of the team in the Spring 2015. Sandau has given his life to the sport, and regardless of whether or not he should be on the team, he deserves respect of being told directly by someone from the NST. Saying you’re sorry later is not good enough. This is another example of the poor communication skills of the staff at CCC and it shows a lack of professionalism.

Good for Sandau that he has used this as motivation to train harder and be better. He won the first two races of the season in Canmore, and I hope that he can keep it up. Age 27 is not too old to get better – look at Martin Johnsrud Sundby. He is 31 and has won the past two overall World Cups after experiencing mixed results when he was younger.

North American skiers do not have nearly the opportunities to succeed internationally that European skiers have, and there is no substitute for European experience. www.skitrax.com

Nordic Focus

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