Growing up, my father worked as a student advisor at the local high school. At an early age I was bombarded with advice regarding higher education and it was clear to me that I was expected to attend the university. Today I am very happy I followed my parents' advice and completed a university degree. Most of us are not able to support ourselves as skiers and even if we are, a second career is necessary once we are retired from the sport. With my diploma hanging on my wall, I am more relaxed putting time and effort into skiing.

I firmly believe that it is possible to combine undergraduate studies with elite skiing. College teams across the country offer great environments to improve as an athlete while getting an education. Resources available to varsity athletes include coaches, tutors, vans for transportation, weight rooms and a health center with a qualified staff of trainers, nurses and doctors. Once in this environment it is up to the student/athlete to be successful and it takes commitment, dedication and hard work.

It is necessary to realize that being a student/athlete takes sacrifice. Committing to both school and athletics means that there will be less time for friends and leisure. There are plenty of distractions on a college campus and it is important to know when to say no. When necessary, training and school have to take priority over friends and social events. This is not as hard as it sounds since the ski team often becomes a close-knit group of friends and training is a fun part of the day.

To make sure that camps and race travel do not affect your performance in the class room it is important to plan well. Be aware of quizzes and exam dates and make necessary arrangements, such as make up exams, in good time. It is a good idea to talk to your professors early in the semester. Let them know that you are a member of a varsity team and inform them that you will be missing classes due to team related activities. Once your professors see that you are hard working and serious they are more likely to help you with lecture notes and make up exams.

Training has to be adjusted according to current work load in school. College coaches are very aware of this and decrease training hours around mid-terms and final exams. On the other hand, there is often plenty of time to put in extra training hours during summer and winter break. Take advantage of this and use the time when you are free from school to gain volume in your training.

College also presents a great opportunity to learn from older athletes and from skiers from other countries. Many of the Europeans in the college circuit have experience from junior and senior national teams. Take advantage of this opportunity to observe how an older and more experienced skier trains and prepares for races.

My four years as a college athlete were some of the best years of my life. Training with a team was great after many years of lonely runs and roller ski sessions. I enjoyed meeting people from different parts of the world both in the class room and on ski races. I traveled to many fantastic parts of the US that I would never have seen had a ski race not taken me there. I improved as a skier and grew as a person. With the right attitude and the will to work hard, skiing in college is a great experience!

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Nov. 21, 2006 - Subaru was a big winner with this year’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awards, the 2007 Subaru Legacy, Forester and Tribeca all earned the TOP SAFETY PICK designation. These three Subaru models, with available Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) , were among only 10 other 2007 TOP SAFETY PICKS in the industry, but Subaru had the most IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK designations of any single automotive brand.

“Our research indicates that customers strongly associate the Subaru brand with safety and the recent recommendation from the IIHS validates this positioning in the mind of our customers,” said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president, and CMO, Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru VDC monitors vehicle stability by continually measuring inputs including steering angle, lateral-g, yaw rate, and individual wheel speed. Using this data, VDC can compare the driver’s intended path to the vehicle’s actual path. Working with Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and ABS, VDC can correct under-steer, over-steer, drift conditions and wheel slip.

To find dealers and year-end clearance deals on Subaru vehiclesclick here.

The Methow Valley Cross Country Ski Camp
December 14-17, 2006 at
Sun Mountain Lodge
Winthrop, WA
Registration opens Sept 1st MVN members
Sept 15th for non-members

Visit Methow Valley Ski Club's web site for more information
http://www.mvnordic.com/mvnordic/cccamp.html
____________________________________________________

The Steamboat Nordic Camp and Festival
December 15th-17th, 2006
Held at the Lake Catamount Touring Center and
the Steamboat Ski Touring Center
Steamboat, CO

This weekend is filled with clinics and coaching for all abilities, free demo equipment
and fun for all! Learn from top coaches, meet new ski friends and learn in an incredible
setting! Coaching available for everyone, from beginner through advanced skiers.
Whether your focus is to race or gain fitness, have fun and meet new people, we have
what you are looking for! All abilities, both skate and classic techniques will be taught.

All major ski companies will be represented and offer free demo equipment. Try new
equipment, test the latest waxes and get basic and technical information to get you skiing in a whole new way!

Register at Ski Haus, the Steamboat Springs Touring Center or
download a registration form and send it in.
____________________________________________________
Christmas-New Year XC Ski Camp
Waubun, MN
December 26-28, 2006

The Festival will include on-snow cross country ski clinics for both classic and skate techniques, seminars, video, food, drinks, time trials, and more!

For more information Click Here to be directed to Rainbow Resort's web page.
Or contact Amy Xu at info@rainbowresort.com phone: (612) 991-4912
____________________________________________________
"HIGH SIERRA"
NORDIC TRAINING CAMP
For MASTER Skiers
December 6th through December 9th
Royal Gorge, California

Price: $389
(Single day rates available)

The High Sierra Nordic Training Camp is the alternative to the long travel and its high
gas prices for the early-season, shake-out-the-summer-cobwebs ski camp. It is ideally
timed, December 6-9, in-between holidays, yet still early in the season to provide that
all-important jump start to your ski season.

The camp will take place at Royal Gorge, atop Donner Summit with annual snowfall
exceeding 600”, touting North America’s largest track system – over 9,000
breathtaking
acres with 330 kilometers. Royal Gorge will also offer camp participants reduced
room rates at their Ice Lakes Lodge, just steps away from the trail system. Nationally-
renowned coaches Jeff Schloss and Glenn Jobe head a talented team of coaches.

Tahoe Forest Hospital’s Center for Health and Sports Performance will perform
Lactate Threshold and Functional Movement testing, as well as offer a full-menu of additional physiological tests.

Full details and sign ups are available at www.farwestnordic.org
____________________________________________________
*SPECIAL* The first person to register for this camp will receive a free case of Gleukos Performance Drink
Tamarack Resort’s
Subaru Factory Team
Women’s Camp
Feb 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
___________________________________________________
Rocky Mountain Nordic Tour Series
Breckenridge to Frisco, CO
Sunday January 7,2007
Short course: 10k • Long course: 25k
Start at 9:00am - Gold Run Nordic Center,Breckenridge
Finish at Frisco Nordic Center
Cost:Individual -$35 • Family --$50
Food at the finish, snack along the way.
Children under 17 Free. Bring friends &Family!
Promote nordic skiing in Colorado, support Rocky Mt Nordic Jr.ski team and, raise
awareness of global warming & its impact on winter recreation.

Participants earn credits per kilometer to be donated to Native Energy nativeenergy.com
to offset the RMN junior Ski Team ’ s travels to the Junior National event in
Soldier Hollow Utah.
___________________________________________________
Lone Mountain Ranch
Big Sky, Montana
December 12-16, 2006
Women's Camp

This is a learn-to-ski/improve your technique clinic at wonderful Lone Mountain Ranch. Located 45 miles south of Bozeman, MT this area is at the foot of Lone Mountain. The terrain is forgiving for beginning skiers, but provides one of the most extensive trail networks in the country. Come join Subaru Factory Team athlete Justin Easter and Lone Mountain Ranch staff for a week of learning and fun!

NOTE: If you have an event you would like to have in SkiPost please send emails to weanswer@skipost.com

For more information on Subaru's technically advanced all-wheel drive vehicles check out www.subaru.com

"It's What Makes A Subaru, A Subaru."

SkiPost is a cross-country skiing informational, educational and motivational service, brought to you through a partnership with the Subaru Factory Team and the Salomon Athlete & Event Force.

The goal of SkiPost is to make the sport of cross-country skiing easier and more enjoyable for all who choose to participate. If you have questions on Cross-country Skiing see www.SkiPost.com or email us at mailto:weanswer@skipost.com

If you wish to be removed email nordic-unsubscribe@mailman.montana.com
If you wish to receive SkiPost email Nordic-subscribe@mailman.montana.com

Enjoy Winter,
Justin Easter

If your email is not set up to view html images, please click here to visit this page on the web. Thank you.