| January 25,
2006 Vol. 7/ No. 22 |
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Note: This is a very informative piece written, as the reader mentions, for the expressed legal purpose of insuring a ski race. If you are in a similar situation I encourage you to contact us at weanswer@skipost.com, and I will put you in touch with the author of this.
Hello,
The answer to the skipost question in your January 18th e-mail was somewhat timely. Our club puts on a citizen ski race and our insurance carrier mandated a liability waiver which includes citations from an Oregon State Law (Revised Statues) relative to skiing, including Nordic Skiing. with this "duty": "Skiers shall not overtake any other skier except in such a manner as to avoid contact and shall grant the right of way to the other skier".
My reading of the insurance liability waiver and Oregon law is that the faster skier
(the overtaking skier) gives the slower skier (the one being overtaken) the right of
way. This would be contrary to USSA and FIS rules on Nordic ski races. See 2006-07 USSA Nordic Competition Guide Chapter 4 Rule 340.1.3 and FIS Rule 340.1.3. Both the USAA and FIS rules are essentially identical.
Rule 340.1.3 states: "Competitor who is overtaken must give way on first demand.."
While their may be "no written law of race etiquette", USSA and FIS race rule
340.1.3 seem to clearly state that the faster (overtaking) skier has the right to the track. The rule also states: "...and in free technique courses when the skier being overtaken may have to restrict his skating action." The exception are marked
zones (i.e. finish lanes) and sprint races.
Best regards.
Dear SkiPost;
My wife and I have been cross country skiing for 5 years now. We tend to stay on flatter trails but will do intermediate trails when the snow is fresh and usually
well groomed. However, we recently had problems in northern NH on trails that were more like buffed, hard-packed snow. Our traditional xc skis had no edge to help us on small slopes and the lack of control caused us to determine, we need some xc skis with some edge to them.
My concern is do I need a wider ski with a metal edge or one of those composite
edges [seems like a plastic of some sort]? I am 6'3" and 310# and this old football
lineman body of mine needs to be fitted with a fairly stiff ski as maybe, my kick
zone never leaves the snow. Please advise as your input will be needed. Thanks.
Hello,
Glad to hear there is some snow to ski on, but I am sure your experience wasn't want you were looking for. If you are skiing on groomed Touring Center trails I would caution against a ski with any rigid edge. The width of a back country ski (pretty much the only ski with a metal edge) will not allow the ski to fit in a classic track. If you are only on snowmobile trails and traipsing around in the woods you probably would enjoy the metal edge.
Things to think about:
- A back country ski is going to require a BC boot and BC binding system. This is wider and more stable. You'll need that extra control if you are going to use these skis due to their weight, but it will require a few extra dollars for the complete setup.
- It doesn't sound like you are doing most of your skiing in tracks, but if you are having a Touring Ski is something to take into consideration. By the sound or your question, you have something that will function well in the track as is, so maybe you'll have your bases covered best if you just go with the BC ski.
If you go to http://www.salomonnordic.com/ you will find a list of skis that Salomon has to offer. The XADV 88 is a great back country ski, and when you click on it you will see Salomon's suggestions for boots/bindings. Hope this helps, and you find your next time on snow more enjoyable!
Justin Easter
Subaru Factory Team
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| Preparation For Major Competitions |
By Lars Flora
Subaru Factory Team
Starting every year I decide on what my major competitions will be and prepare my training around performing my best at these events. My body can handle performing at the peak level twice a year with the second major competition being a little higher performance.
In my schedule this year there are two major competitions: National Championships in January and World Championships in late February. This schedule allows me to prepare for great results at both competitions and not having to pick one or the other for peaking form. It is also important to keep in mind that a good result at the first is the only way to be sure I would race in the second - something to always keep in mind.
In the past many people ask how a skier can peak for Nationals and still build their base for another peak a month and half later. The first peak is not a full peak, but it is a mini peak that will allow great results at the first major competition and allow the body to come back for the ultimate peak a month and half later. Each of these peaks come when the body is recovered properly, and anxious to return to high intensity.
Below is a short summary of my training leading up to the major competitions
Dec 20-26 Intensity Period. Most workouts are intervals and time trials
Dec 27-Jan 3 Recovery period with mainly easy distance and rest days
Jan 3-8 Major Competitions #1 (US Nationals)
Jan 8-12 Recovery period
Jan 12-16 moderate training and one race
Jan 17-Feb 5 Normal Training – Heavy Training. Lots of racing, distance between races, and some interval work
Feb 6-18 Normal Training with Peaking intervals for World championships
Feb 18-22 Recovery and Rest Period
Feb 23 World Championships Japan
As you notice there is a mixture of different periods. Most important is that there is a high period of intensity before major competitions, but I make sure to be rested for the big races.
Different altitudes can play a big role in training, and when different training periods are implemented. For athletes who are working on being at peak shape on the world stage having adequate adaptation to a specific elevation is important to having optimal race results. For example, in 2006 the majority of my races before the Olympic Trials and the Olympics were at 5000-6000 ft, because the Olympics were at Soldier Hollow, UT (over 5000 ft). This year my major competitions are at or near sea level, so the majority of preparation has been at low elevations.
I am currently in the Midwest using the Super Tours as a great preparation race period and gaining great confidence for the 2007 Nordic World Championships.
See you in Japan! |
| Kikkan Randall Third - Salomon News |
By now I sincerely hope this news is old for all of you. The word that Kikkan Randall (APU, USST, Salomon Athlete Force) had skied her way into the history books was quick to come to the race world. Kikkan was kind enough to share some of her words with us, and I have cut down her full race account. In closing, Kikkan, along with the rest of the USST, are proving that they truly belong on the world's stage. Let her success be a lesson to dream big!
Racing action resumes. I spent last week in Davos, Switzerland, training with the US team. On Wednesday Andy Newell, Torin Koos, Pete Vordenberg, Roar Lillefjell (wax tech) and I headed off to Russia for a skate sprint. Roar got left in Stockholm (no visa), while the four of us continued on to Moscow. Arrival in Russia was interesting and we finally made it to the race site after wild eight hour bus ride with the Italian team.
There was no natural snow at the Demino resort (near the city of Rybinsk), just a trail made of ice and snow. Conditions were nasty leading up to the race day, with lots of rain and wind. Race day however, was cold and the course firmed up. I started bib #1 and ended up as the 9th fastest qualifier.
On to the heats!
In my quarterfinal I finished second behind Virpi Kuitunen (current World Cup leader). In the semi-final I used a sweet sling-shot move on the final downhill to move into the lead and advance to the A-final.
First ever A-final in a World Cup race! Competition was tough, but I didn’t back down. Skied aggressively all around the course to put myself in good position for the final sprint. Had to go wide in the finishing lanes but put on a big surge and lunged at the line.
Third place! About an inch out of second.
My first World Cup podium! The crowd of 20,000 was amazingly loud and spirited which made the flower ceremony really fun!
We are now on to Estonia for next World Cup races this weekend.
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On Saturday, January 20th, Emmanuel Jonnier's success with Salomon equipment at the World Cup in Rybinsk:
"This result reinforces my equipment choice as well in my physical shape. This performance will allow all the team to relax."
This weekend, he had his best performance of his career thus far taking Silver behind Alexander Legkov! Amazing results for Emmanuel Jonnier and Jean-Marc Gaillard, both fully equipped by Salomon this season!
You can find the entire report HERE.
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| Events/Clinics/Announcements |
Tamarack Resort’s
Subaru Factory Team
Women’s Camp
February 8-11
The Subaru Factory Team’s
Kate Underwood will be leading this Women’s Camp!
Kate is one of America’s Top Racers
3rd place US National Championship 30km-2006, 5th place
American Birkebeiner-2005
For more information call 208-325-1312 or email
LClausen@TamarackIdaho.com
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ESSAY CONTEST DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING!
The essay contest run through SkiPost and the Subaru Factory Team will be due
on February 14th, 2007.
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Salt Lake City Area Classic Ski Clinic
Mt. Dell, UT
10:30AM January 28th
There will be a free Classic skiing clinic with 2006 Olympian Abigail Larson at
Mt. Dell. Bring your skis and your own wax for an on-snow clinic.
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5430 Sports Winter Triathlon
Winter Park, Colorado
Devil's Thumb Resort
February 4, 2007
$2,000.00 Prize Purse
USA Triathlon's Winter Triathlon National Championship
International Triathlon Union Pan American Championship
http://www.5430sports.com/winter/index.htm
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2007 TD Banknorth Craftsbury Marathon
26th Annual Race and Tour
Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Saturday January 27, 2007
A point to point cross-country ski adventure traversing Vermont's
Northeast Kingdom presented by the
A classical technique event with 25 and 50 kilometer racing divisions
starting at 9:00 a.m. and a 25 kilometer touring division featuring delicious
home-style food stops provided by local inns starting at 9:35 a.m. This event
is part of the prestigious American Ski Marathon Series and the New England
Marathon Series. It has been proclaimed by the State Chamber of Commerce
as one of the "Top Ten 2007 Winter Events in Vermont." After the finish all
participants are treated to a hearty post race meal. The top three racers in each
class are awarded locally handcrafted pitchers. Special pins will be awarded to
racers within 25% of age class winner's time. All tourers are awarded a
commemorative pin.
http://www.craftsbury.com/skiing/marathon/home.htm
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Canadian Ski Marathon 2007
February 10 & 11, 2007
Lachute to Gatineau, Quebec
Join us on one of the best cross-country ski trails for two days of skiing between
the cities of Lachute and Gatineau. Complete the number of sections of your choice
on our double-tracked trail to win yourself a prize. Everyone’s a winner!
Choose your challenge at the 41st edition of the Canadian Ski Marathon on
February 10 & 11, 2007. Take part in the new One Day Challenge and ski
anywhere between 15 km and 75 km. It is from Montebello that skiers registered
in this category will start their day and win pins depending on the number of sections
they complete.
Also back for 2007, the Mini-CSM, free for skiers 17 and under enabling young
skiers to experience the CSM spirit. Skiers registered in the Mini-CSM can ski
section 5 on Saturday, February 10 or section 10 on Sunday February 11. It is a
unique opportunity to spend a day with the family and share the trails with skiers
of all levels.
Visit our website at www.csm-mcs.com or call our office at 819-700-6556 to learn
more about the Canadian Ski Marathon.
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February 17th, 2007
The Steamboat Ski Marathon at Catamount, CO
10k, 22.5k & 45k skate and classic events.
The terrain is gentle, rolling and open. The course is located on the grounds of the beautiful Lake Catamount Ranch and Club and offers continuous 3600 views of the Yampa Valley. There is plenty of challenge for the lead pack with numerous short fast climbs and a nearly 2k gradual downhill finish for the ultimate sprint.
Early registration though January 31st, 2007
Entry form: entry at www.steamnboatxcski.org, click on “ALL RACES/RESULTS”
Contact: Dave at (970) 819-1014 or email to dave@steamboatxcski.org
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The Stowe Derby
February 25, 2007
Stowe, Vermont
One of the oldest and most unique ski races in the country! Competitors take a chairlift to the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. Groups of 5 push off every 30 seconds and speed their way down the mountain's famous Toll Road (a beginner alpine trail in winter and scenic summer drive in the summer). After navigating approximately 6 km of twisting turning downhill, racers fight their way to the center of Stowe Village on approximately 10 km of mostly flat terrain.
Two divisions for the Long Course: Freestyle and Classical.
Experts can race both Freestyle and Classical back to back, called The Derby Meister. There is also a short course for kids and those who wish to avoid the rigors of a long and sustained descent. After the race there will be an awards ceremony and dinner at the Rusty Nail where great prizes will be given out and racers can watch a video of themselves on a 20 FOOT SCREEN! Register at www.stowederby.com.
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NOTE: If you have an event you would like to have in SkiPost please send emails to weanswer@skipost.com
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