By: Kristina Strandberg

Everybody who is trying to combine work with high level athletics knows how hard it is. Work usually makes it impossible to rest and recover properly. At the same time training and racing takes important time from work. Many times this double work load takes away from the performance in both fields. Tired of always being spread too thin, last spring I decided to try the life as a full time skier. This new situation came with many benefits, but also new challenges and most of all, higher expectations.

Not having to work between training sessions makes it a lot easier to relax and gives your body a better chance to recover. While still working, I was so used to running from training to work, from work to training and never getting the necessary recovery time. This summer I found that training hard is indeed easy when you have time to rest. Every day was more enjoyable once the stress and time limitations caused by work where gone. I trained more and better this summer then I ever did before, but I also had time for more rest. It is fantastic to be able to put all my energy into training!

An obvious draw back from working is that there is no pay check at the end of the month. Even my Graduate Assistant salary seemed big once it was gone. During the ski season I am well taken care of by my team, club and sponsors. However, a lot of this support has to be saved to last through the summer until next season. Hopefully prize money can add to the grand total, but that has to be considered a bonus rather than part of the budget. The bottom line is; a national level skiers’ income is to some degree uncertain while rent and bills are a sure thing!

Being a full time athlete is a full time commitment. Training, racing and staying healthy is the main focus starting in May and lasting through the ski season. Your social agenda has to be synced with your training plan rather than the other way around. A late night with friends down town or a fishing trip with your family fits better in a low training period than during a high intensity block.

To me, one of the biggest differences is my increased expectations on my performance. I have put a lot of energy into training and I want results! I have just started my first season as a full time skier and I have already noticed that I am more critical then ever when evaluating my results. I also know that bad races will be harder to deal with now when skiing is my main occupation. It is important to remember that a normal ski season will have its ups and downs and one race (good or bad!) does not define you as a skier. 

At the end of the day, I feel fortunate that I am able to ski full time. For me it means that I’m finally able to do what I love the most, training and racing and I hope that I will be able to do it for a few more years to come!

By Chad Giese,

Cross-country skiing recipe for success:

Ingredients: 
Rollerskiing – equal parts classic and skate
Dryland training – equal parts running and bounding
Cross-training – biking, paddling, hiking, swimming, etc
Strength – equal parts specific and core/general
Intensity – 2-3 sessions per week
Speed – often
Distance – as much as time allows
Recovery – don’t forget about this

Directions:
With the help of a full-time coach and periodic physiologic testing, combine above ingredients into an 800 hour training year.  Get plenty of sleep, drink lots of fluids, eat a well thought out diet, go like hell.

Ok, while this would be nice, for the majority of those who toe up to the line on Saturdays and Sundays, this recipe just isn’t an option.  We have families, work, and other obligations to schedule around that means we can accomplish only a third of the above recipe.  As long as it’s the right third, success can still be had.

The first thing that is required is to set a goal.  This will give your training some focus and help guide your workouts.  If your goal is to do well in the Swedish Vasaloppet or the Mora Vasaloppet, your training will be different.  Know what you want to do in order to frame what you need to do.

The next thing to think about is how to achieve your goal.  This planning phase can’t be overlooked.  With your goal in mind, put a training plan together.  If you need to, and this is recommended, use your local resources to help you out.  There a lot of valuable sources of information (i.e. ski racers) all over the country that could help you put at training plan together.  In the course of an hour, you can add some direction to your training and be confident that what you are doing will move you closer to your goal.  It is important to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and know what works for you.  For example, I know I get the most out of my training time by doing upper body strength, mainly in the form of double poling.  So, I load my weeks accordingly and will do speed, strength, and intensity workouts double poling.  This may not work for everyone, so find out what works best for you.

Be prepared, be organized, be diligent, yet be flexible.  Know what is on the schedule for the day or week, but understand that things change, work meetings come up, colds are common, and snow is not always reliable.  Do your best to follow the plan, but don’t try to make up workouts that you missed due to travel or sickness. And, remember that cross-training is still valuable if 3 inches of rain wipes out the skiing you had.

Lastly, just get out there and train.  The best laid plans don’t mean anything if you don’t actually get out the door.  Find ways to fit a workout into your day and make it fun. 

Cut the recipe in half or even a third and you can still be successful.  Only a small percentage of skiers are training for Olympic medals, but we can all enjoy the process.

Ski on!

Cross-Country Technique Fundamentals - CDROM
This CD lays the foundation for both Classic and Freestyle techniques on
which we can build a consistent technique program that will continue to
develop great cross-country skiers for years to come.

WAKE UP! IT'S TIME TO TRAIN - DVD
70 minutes of exclusive interviews with US National Team coaches, drills and
technique, fitness testing, sports physiology, core strength, training
volume, intensity levels, race footage, and much more.

X-COUNTRY - DVD
The inside story on one of the toughest sports around by top World Cup
racers.

Visit the CXC Store
http://cxcskiing.org/CXC%20Store/education.htm
_______________________________________________
Cayuga Nordic ESG - Classic
Saturday Jan 5, 2008
Sponsored by Salmon Hills Outdoor Adventure Center, Redfield, NY

ESGQ/NYSSRA Series Qualifier. Classic, Wave Start, 10:30 am.
5 km Scholastic, 10 km all others, BKYSL to follow.
Registration closes 10 am, $20 by 1/2 - $25 after,
Payable to Cayuga Nordic Ski Club, Race Entry Form
http://www.nyssranordic.com/raceorg/entryfor.pdf with NYSSRA Nordic
Contact: Dan Karig, 71 German Cross Rd., Ithca, NY 14850
607-277-3380 or dek9@cornell.edu
_______________________________________________
Salmon Hills ESG - Freestyle
Sunday Jan 6, 2008
Sponsored by Salmon Hills Outdoor Adventure Center, Redfield, NY

ESGQ/NYSSRA Series Qualifier/NYSSRA Club Series. Freestyle, Start 10:30
am.
5 km Scholastic, 10 km all others, BKYSL to follow.
Registration closes 10 am, $20 by 1/2 - $25 after,
Payable to Salmon Hills, Race Entry Form
http://www.nyssranordic.com/raceorg/entryfor.pdf with NYSSRA Nordic
Contact: Thomas Griffith, 100 Noble Shores Dr., Redfield, NY 13437
315-599-7008 or info@salmonhills.com or dek9@cornell.edu
www.salmonhills.com
_______________________________________________
Factory Team Olympian and UVM Coach
Patrick Weaver will offer a Swix waxing
clinic at Burlington VT's SkiRack.
Monday Dec 17th 6:30-8:00
_______________________________________________
Boulder Lake Ski Race
Sunday January 13, 2008
Duluth, MN
Renowned for it fast and fun rolling course through the north woods, this 5th annual celebration is also known for having snow and being the premier early season race. 2008 will mark the first year this race is part of the Minnesota Skinny Ski Series, and is excited to be kicking it off for this winter!

Register at www.active.com
_______________________________________________
Steamboat Springs Nordic Challenge – Race #1
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
December 9, 2007
www.steamboatxcski.org

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

Do you love the sport of cross-country skiing?
Do you look forward to each edition of SkiPost?
Do you wish to support some of America's best Nordic athletes?
Do you wish to associate your company with health, fitness and winter performance?
Would you like your brand to receive over 150 million media impressions
annually?

Become a sponsor of the Factory Team www.EnjoyWinter.com North America's
Premier Cross-Country Ski Team.
For more information on Factory Team sponsorship opportunities contact
endure@endurance-enterprises.com