| December 15,
2005 Vol. 6/ No.18 |
|
If
your e-mail is not set up to view html images, please
click
here to visit this page on the web. Thank you.
And also visit SkiPost.com
for
a list of recent archived articles.
|
Dear SkiPost,
I coach a small junior Nordic team and have
many beginning waxers with
medium to low quality skis. Hence, their scraping does not
always do a good
job of removing wax and our brushes get clogged. Do you
have a suggestion on how to clean brushes?
Thanks,
Coaching on a budget
Dear Coach,
Use a high powered shop-vac to clean your wax brushes. This
should take the wax out of the brush, and will not hurt
the bristles. Another suggestion will be to make sure you
have sharp scrapers. The quality of the skis should not
have too much of an effect on how well the wax comes off.
Andy at SkiPost
|
| Babikov Off And
Flying On Salomon Skis |
|
Ivan Babikov on his
way to a 4th place finish in today's World Cup 15k Freestyle!
Subaru Factory Team member Ivan Babikov finished an astonishing
4th place in today's World Cup 15k freestyle event in Canmore,
AB! Below is a copy of live updates that were taken from EuroSport.com
as the race unfolded.
Men's 15k free-12/15/05
20:40 Germany's Tobias Angerer, last runner to start
20:43 Italy's Fabio Santus ahead at the 6.6 km mark
clocking 16:12.6
20:46 Italy's Giorgio Di Centa passes Santus for 0.3secfonds
at the 6.6km mark
20:49 Italy's Pietro Piller Cottrer confirms his explosive
start clocking 15:55.6 at the 6.6km mark
20:53 Russia's Ivan Babikov passes the finish line
clockinh 35:36.7
20:55 Babikov is certainly taking some scalps here
21:02 Babikov still the leader at the finish line
21:03 Norway's Jan Egil Andressen is second behind
Babikov at the finish line
21:04 Italy's Pietro Piller Cottrer faster than Babikov
at the 12.6km mark
21:05 Giorgio DI centa about to finish
21:06 DI centa finishes in the 6th position
21:06 Babikov was unknown until today and should finish
on the podium
21:08 Italy's Pietro Piller Cottrer tops Babikov at
the finish line clocking 35:06.8
21:09 France's Vincent Vittoz about to finish
21:11 Vittoz finishes second, put Babikov in the third
place
21:11 Tobias Angerer about to finish
21:11 Germany's Tobias Angerer passes Babikov at the
third place and prevents the Russian from finishing in the
podium
21:12 ITALY'S PIETRO PILLER COTTRER WINS 15KM FREESTYLE
RACE, AHEAD OF VINCENT VITTOZ AND TOBIAS ANGERER
21:13 1) PIETRO COTTRER 35:6.8, 2) VITTOZ +14.9, 3)
ANGERER +24.5, 4) BABIKOV + 29.9
21:22 Thanks for joining Eurosport's live coverage
of the Men's 15km freestyle race. Be sure to join us again
for Mass Start Races on Saturday at 18:30 cet
Abby Larson also skied strong today, placing
30th and earned her first ever World Cup points!
Make sure to check the latest
news section of the Subaru Factory Team's website
for more updates.
Babikov (#43) on the
lead in Saturday's pursuit, battling eventual 1st, 2nd, and
3rd place finishers, Axel Teichmann, Jens Filbrich, and World
Cup leader, Tobias Angerer. Photo Credit: Sharbel Dussault
Vernon, British Columbia (Saturday December 10, 2005)
- FIS World Cup cross-country competition, Men's Pursuit 15
Classic + 15 Freestyle.
Ivan Babikov, by taking the race lead and ultimately finishing
a mere 8.6 seconds out proved two things:
1. Babikov is world class
2. Salomon Equipe 10 production skis are world class. (www.salomonsports.com)
Babikov, who is a member of the Subaru Factory Team, competed
in his first world cup race as a Russian citizen, in a Canadian
uniform. He started the mass start 30 Km Pursuit (15km classic+15km
freestyle) in the 43rd position. From the gun Babikov immediately
started to pick off skiers. His Salomon skis provided mule
like kick on every uphill, which allowed him to surge past
numerous World Cup and Olympic victors. By the end of the
15km classic leg he was in 18th place, a mere 4 seconds out
of 1st.
In the skate leg Babikov continued his forward march until
he, on Salomon Equipe 10 skate skis, took the race lead at
around the 21km point. Babikov remained in the top 5 until
he got tangled up with another racer and spun out. The crash
dropped Babikov from the lead pack of 25 with 3.5 km remaining.
Still, Babikov kept his composure and battled back to catch
the pack, eventually passing 10 skiers to place 14th, only
8.6 seconds out of 1st.
Equally as stunning as Babikov's performance is the history
of his fast Salomon Equipe 10 skis. He raced the classic leg
on a pair of 38 kg (FA), 0.8 (HR), 201cm cold, Salomon Equipe
10 skis that were borrowed by him from the Salomon Event Force
demo fleet at the West Yellowstone Fall Camp. These skis,
complete with demo scars, were stone-ground by FinnSiSu in
St Paul, MN and shipped back to Babikov.
Babikov (67kg) skated on a pair of 107 kg Equipe 10 cold
skis that were selected in October for their 107 kg flex from
the ski wall at Gear West in Minneapolis, MN. (I requested
skis from a couple of retailers this fall because I had not
requested certain flexes for the Subaru Factory Team from
the Salomon France worldwide warehouse this summer) These
skis were ground with a Zack Caldwell Z40 grind for Rocky
Mountain's cold humid snow, and given to Babikov three weeks
ago at the West Yellowstone Ski Festival.
The skis used by Babikov, the Subaru Factory Team and all
Salomon sponsored racers are identical to the skis that are
available to you at your local Salomon retailer. We selected
our Subaru Factory Team fleet of skis from the exact same
boxes at the warehouse in Lyon, France as those that were
ultimately delivered to Salomon retailers worldwide.
|
| Editor's Christmas
Gift Ideas |
|
Each of these Subaru Factory Team sponsor
products are what I have in mind as being good Holiday gift
ideas. Check out the following products for the skier on your
list.
Keeping your family safe, having an exhilarating driving experience,
and riding in style are all pretty important. It's time to
testdrive a new Subaru Outback
"Think.
Feel. Drive." Check out the full line
of Subaru
Gear available.
Above you read about Ivan Babikov racing to an amazing World
Cup debut. Your local Salomon retailer has the same skis he
raced on right in their shop. Now it's just a matter of buying
someone on your list their first pair of Salomon
Equipe Classic or Skate skis.
This is the Kalyos
by Rudy Project. I have been using these glasses since the
West Yellowstone Ski Festival, and enjoy the way they fit.
www.rudyprojectusa.com
If you are going to have a big block of one
race-caliber glide wax in your ski box LF
7 is the one I suggest. But, we should be realistic,
there are so many sweet gift ideas from SWIX
that you are just going to have to decide for yourself!
If you don't have Craft tops
and bottoms you are missing out. I wear jeans
almost every day, but I think I wear Craft clothes more
often than my jeans (wearing the top right now). www.craftusa.com
Know any outdoor nuts? Every month Outside magazine brings
you:
• The latest fitness and nutrition news to get you
in the best shape of your life.
• Award-winning writing and photography. Outside is
the only magazine to win the National Magazine Award for
General Excellence three years in a row. Not surprising
when you consider that we feature writers like Ian Frazier,
Tim Cahill, and Jon Krakauer.
• Opinionated reviews on outdoor and sports gear that
you actually need.
• Entertaining and practical destination guides to
help you find hidden escapes and classic trips whenever
you need to get away. Subscribe
Now!
Keep that skier in your life updated with a subscription
to Ski Racing Magazine. Ski Racing is truly the journal
of snowsport competition with coverage of Nordic, Downhill,
Snowboarding and more! subscribe
now!
Suunto's
t6 is smarter than I am, and I'm okay
with that. It tells you everything about training, comes
with software to let you chart training, and even lets you
know what the barometric pressure is - awesome!
 
Nathan has put together a line of products specific to winter
athletes. The aim is to provide products that will not freeze,
and are comfortable. The product that is very similar to
our prototype is the X
Trainer. This is versatile, and comfortable!
www.nathansports.com
Have you ever put on freshly washed performance clothing
only to find that it didn't smell so fresh? Residues left
by regular detergents trap moisture which cause odor, and
block the performance-enhancing features of your gear. Penguin
Sport-Wash is no regular detergent. Its residue-free, non-allergenic
formula is deigned to keep high-tech fabric at peak performance
and odor-free by washing away residues left by regular detergents,
removing dirt, neutralizing bacteria, and restoring breathability,
moisture-wicking, and factory applied waterproofing (DWR).
Check it out at, www.penguinsportwash.com
The Gary Fisher Cake. This bike is optimized to be light,
strong and efficient. The single-pivot design uses the absolute
minimum amount of material necessary to achieve desired
strength. Combined with new SPV shock technology, you get
a very sophisticated suspension system in a proven, low-maintenance,
trouble-free design. Great fun in the off-season! www.fisherbikes.com
 
Gleukos
can be found at 7Eleven stores across the country. It is
an innovative formula that has been working very well for
the Subaru Factory Team, and has availability written all
over it. I really like Punch flavor, but there are MANY
to choose from. Gleukos™ Performance Energy drink.
Perfect, natural stocking stuffer to give your loved one
quick energy when they need it most during the holidays....www.gleukos.com
Eat Salmon! Are you entertaining this Holiday Season? Having
some Wild
Alaskan Salmon as an appetizer or entrée
will impress anyone at your party. Wild Pacific Salmon is
a pure and natural source of essential omega-3 fatty acids
and powerful biological antioxidants. For example, each
3.5 ounce serving of our Alaskan sockeye contains a minimum
of 1.2 grams of EPA & DHA, vital nutrients proven in
clinical studies to promote optimal health and to prevent
or ameliorate numerous adverse health conditions. www.conservationsalmon.com
Remind that workaholic on your list that their most productive
work will be accomplished following periods of rest. Find
the Time is reminding parents that their children will take
their first steps only once. It is enticing adults to continue
pursuing the dreams of their youth while encouraging children
to dream big. The find the time movement is reminding everyone
that time off is not a luxury but a necessity. These three
simple words are evolving into a rallying point, a ubiquitous
phrase, and the philosophical foundation for a way of life.
Check out their full line of apparel at www.findthetime.com
Below, you will see snow reports for The Subaru Factory
Team's Signature Resorts. Visit the pages below, and book
a vacation or get a season pass today.
|
| Events/Clinics/Announcements |
|
Swix Wax Clinic
Omar & Bob's
Hanover, NH
603-643-3525
Dec.15th 6:30 pm
Presented by: Subaru Factory Team member Kate
Underwood
___________________________________________________________
Christmas-New Year West Itasca Winter
XC
Ski Festival
Monday, December 26, 2005 -through- Wednesday, December 28, 2005
This cross country ski festival will be held at Rainbow Resort,
west of Itasca State Park and east of Waubun, MN. The festival
will include on-snow cross country ski camp for both skating and
classic, techniques, seminars, video, food, drinks, time trials
and more. For more information contact Amy at 612-991-4912 or
info@rainbowresort.com.
___________________________________________________________
Steamboat Springs Early Winter Nordic Camp
December 17, 18, 2005
Sponsored by:
Ski Haus, The Nordic Link, Steamboat Touring Center, and LakeCatamount.
Participants can sign up for one or two days of skate or classic
instruction. All abilities welcome. Never-evers to advanced.
$125 for Saturday and Sunday (sign up before December1)
$135 for two days after December 1.
$75 for one day (either Saturday or Sunday)
Price includes:
Two clinics per day.
Trail Passes (Saturday will be at Lake Catamount, Sunday will
be at the
Steamboat Touring Center.
Complimentary Demo of Salomon's new skis and boots.
Professional instruction
Lunch
Saturday Happy Hour
Industry reps on hand
On Snow video analysis (Sunday only)
Free Swag and Prizes
For more information or to register go to www.thenordiclink.com
_______________________________________________________
Lone Mountain
Ranch
Women's Camps Winter 2005 - 2006
Do you want to improve your downhill control on
all trails? Do you want to progress to the next level in your
skiing? Are you interested in participating in a positive and
supportive learning environment that will boost your confidence?
Are you interested in camaraderie with women who share similar
interests? If so, then join us for our Women's Camp, in the spectacular
setting of Lone Mountain Ranch and Yellowstone National Park.
http://www.lmranch.com/lmr_content/winter/xc/womenscamp.htm
_______________________________________________________
24 Hours of Telemark!
The 24 Hours of Telemark is a cross-country ski
relay race with teams of one to six members competing against
each other in different age divisions and categories. The team,
or individual, in each category that completes the most laps in
24 hours is the winner.
Held each winter since 2002, this x-c race is fun for cross-country
skiers of all abilities. The race course is a short but challenging
loop immediately adjacent to Telemark Lodge. With the course right
out the door of the lodge, it's just a few short steps from skiing
to warm rooms and changes of clothes, as well as Telemark's outstanding
hospitality.
The 24 Hours of Telemark has grown in size and class each year.
The prize list for 2006 (donated by our generous sponsors) looks
to be huge... and much of it will be given away as door prizes.
Maybe you should join us this year?
Please visit www.24hoursoftelemark.com
for more info.
_______________________________________________________
COLORADO CUP CROSS-COUNTRY SKI RACE SERIES
A series of cumulatively scored nordic races set to go
for 2005-2006 season
Natron Nordic Enterprises, Skifire Inc., and a group of Colorado
Nordic ski areas have combined efforts to create a nine-race
series of cumulatively scored cross-country skiing competitions.
The series will be scored similar to World Cup races, allowing
skiers to accumulate points and compete for overall placing
during an entire season of events.
The series includes nine well-established races that have
a history of being the best events in Colorado. The Colorado
Cup will join these successful events together using their
established venues, distances, and techniques while providing
a cumulative scoring system. Racers will be given points based
on their finishing position and ranked overall by gender as
well as in 10-year age group categories. At the end of the
season the Colorado Cup will be awarded to overall senior
and junior champions as well as age group winners. Natron
Nordic Enterprises has donated four 1-year training plans
to be awarded as prizes for the overall and junior champions.
The intent of the Colorado Cup is to provide a system that
will support and develop junior skiers all the way through
to master and elite skiers while also standardizing Nordic
events so that competitors and ski areas can get the most
out of every race, all season long.
More information, including the complete schedule, scoring
system, event and series details as well as results can be
found at www.natronnordic.com in the "Colorado Cup"
section. The results will be compiled and updated approximately
one week after each event. For additional information,contact
Matt Muir at Skifire Inc., email Matt at matt@skifire.com,
be sure to include "Colorado Cup" in the subject
line.
2005-06 Colorado Cup Scored Races
Dec 10, 2005 Gold Run Classic 10km Classic Gold Run
Jan 7, 2006 Steamboat Stampede 40km Classic Steamboat Nordic
Center
Jan 14, 2006 Snow Mountain Classic 15km Classic Snow Mountain
Ranch
Jan 21, 2006 Devil's Thumb Ranch Pursuit 7.5/7.5 Pursuit Devil's
Thumb Ranch
Jan 28, 2006 Gold Run Loppet 30km Freestyle Gold Run
Feb 11, 2006 Owl Creek Chase 30km Freestyle Aspen
Feb 18, 2006 Steamboat Pursuit 10/10 Pursuit Steamboat Nordic
Center
Mar 4, 2006 Alpina Madshus Stampede 42km Freestyle Snow Mountain
Ranch
Mar 12, 2006 Wilson Cup 20km Freestyle Vail
|
|
Make sure to get rewarded!
Why not let your passion for fun get you free Subaru Factory
Team merchandise? The Subaru Factory Team's enjoy winter-rewards
program is designed to thank you for purchasing our Subaru Factory
Team partner's products.
|
 |
For more information on
Subaru's technically advanced all-wheel drive vehicles check
out www.subaru.com
"Think.
Feel. Drive."
|
|
|
|
Copyright 2005 SkiPost.com
All rights reserved.
|
|
