NATURE VS. NURTURE

One of my fellow ITA teammates has asked for some answers on developing athletic expertise in order to prepare for a lecture. I do not necessarily consider myself an expert on skiing, but am always willing to help out a fellow athlete.

1. What is the athletic background of your parents and family?
My mom (seen with little-me, left) has always been recreation only. My dad grew up racing motocross and got into skiing when he met my mom (the things boys do for girls). He now competes in local running and ski races.
My friends have always been split - some are athletic and some are not. Of course I have friends from sport but I find it refreshing to hang out with non athletes as much as possible. I can only handle just so many type A folks in one room!

2. When did you begin participating in your sport?
3 maybe? Fun competition started around age 5

1. What was your early experience with sport like?
Family activity and fun with friends; I didn't even realize I was training until I was 13.

2. How instrumental were parents and coaches in the early part of your development as an athlete?
SUPER important. My folks made it all possible and my coach (a friend's dad) gave us all the motivation, direction and discipline we needed. There would be a group of kids on a 3-hour run with intervals through the back-country every week but if you asked what we did that day, we would probably have said "played in the woods with some friends." We had no idea, only that we were having the time of our lives!

3. How were you introduced to your sport and how many other sports did you seriously participate in?
Introduced through my hometown - It was the thing to do for my generation of kid back then and there. Growing up in the same place now would be different since the snow has changed and the ski area is out of business. That planted the seed and I ran with it (got me into college, post grad career, etc.). I played soccer, kayaked, swam, road bikes (mtn and road), climbing, surfing, triathlon, running... I was serious about each one during their time but never longer than a year. Skiing is the one that has stuck with me (maybe because it brings in the rent.... sort of). I do many of them still to cross-train but all in order to improve my skiing.

4. Is your success a product of nature or nurture?
Both, but I think more nurture. My brothers (one older, one younger) are also skiers. My folks encouraged us and we had the same opportunities as far as coaching and equipment. We all even went to the same college... so we were all nurtured. Because of my nature however (a product of being nurtured) I am doing it now as a profession. My older brother coaches for the US Ski Team so he is still doing it as a career too. My little brother still participates but does not compete. Competition is definitely in my nature but who knows what I would have competed in if I were nurtured in a city with sisters...

5. Are you an expert in your field? (by your own definition)
I am sought out for lessons, advice and tips on ski training and racing - I think that I am an expert to those people. I do not have the knowledge to be a US Ski Team coach right now though so I am far from that caliber of expert.

HOME

cruising around Billy's Bridge, north of Ketchum, ID

I am home, recovering and training. Things are progressing and the weather is perfect. Blah, blah, blah. The real news is up north, Whistler Olympic Park where the rest of my team is competing in the World Cups.

Yesterday was a classic individual sprint and COLIN WAS 27th!!! and scored his first WC points. Way to go Col!!! FULL RESULTS HERE Other US guys: Newell 7th (after a fall), Chris Cook 21st, Torin Koos 23rd, Kuzzy - although I was told DQed results show 29th.

Today is the 15/30k pursuit. WATCH IT LIVE on CBSsports.ca.
Tomorrow is the freestyle team sprint.

Good luck to all.

28 DEGREES

...that is the temperature for tomorrow in Sun Valley - and I am going to be there!

I would be lying if I said it was easy to watch everyone race (or at least try to) all week. To watch warm-ups and finishes, team selections and victories - from the bench.

I am happy for them, but it does not mean I can't feel sad for me (just for a second).

I am not World Cup bound this year, but I get to head home and continue my training. There will be a time, and it will be this year, when I ski to my potential.

the stadium under lamp-light: classic sprint heats

the BC World Cup team (click on image for full size)

men's heat, heading under the bridge

another men's heat, lead by Mikey Sinnott, after the bridge

Sun Valley junior, Miles Havlick, skiing with the USST in his heat

Nicole DeYong, finishing up her qualification round

Colin Rodgers, taking his prelim out strong

Chris Freeman, qualification round (just out of the start)

That is all from Alaska folks. Hopefully when we are in Fairbanks this spring, the temperatures will be slightly warmer. Okay, who am I kidding - I am hoping for at least 30 degrees warmer!

Congratulations to all who made their goals and a HUGE THANKS to the volunteers and race organizers!

SAME 'OL SITUATION

It was too cold to race today, again. Burrr, is all I have to say about that. It sounds like they are again, going to try to hold the classic sprint tomorrow (Wednesday). It is needed for qualifying athletes for the coming trips and competition teams so it takes priority at this point.

If you are in the area, try the Snow City Cafe on west 4th Ave. Their jam (present at every table) tastes like raspberries from the bush, no joke. The whole menu pretty much rocks, but the jam is the best I have ever tasted (except my Uncle Norm's, obvi).

I gave some classic intervals a go today and found that I am not quite there yet. I will stick to skating, swimming and the gym for a while longer. No reason to rush things at this point.

Be well and stay warm if you can.

5/10k FREESTYLE

We woke, we took the temperature and WE RACED! It was a 5/10k freestyle - top 12 results are below.

My back held strong today (although I am out of shape after my time off). That is all I could really have hoped for so I am content. I was 19th, 1:15.3 out.

Tomorrow is now a race day with a 10/15k classic scheduled. I will not be doing the classic events this week, but have intervals (classic) scheduled for tomorrow. It will be my third hard workout since West Yellowstone, over a month ago and my first classic interval test.

Sometimes you just have to swallow today and start getting fired up about tomorrow.


Congratulations to Caitlyn on the win, Alexa for returning from surgery and rocking a 7th!!! and to Nicole De Yong, who looks as if she found that sweet-spot she talked about.

men racing in the foreground - start pin is just visible to the left

INFRINGEMENT

My little cheerleaders

The you tube keeps telling me that I can't use certain songs... So this time I am uploading with Blogger. No discrimination from them - yet.

Above, is playground footage from this fall. Parents, if you are queezy about your children riding in ski team vans up crazy, curvy, icy access roads, maybe skip this one (Plateau access road, West Yellowstone, MT). After injuring my back in the race shown, this week is my fresh start... if it ever warms above -4F.

The deal with tomorrow: If we race - women start at 1pm (men at 1:54:ish) at 15-second intervals. The jury will meet at 12:30 to take Kincaid's temperature. Keep your fingers crossed!

The races have been changed to 5/10k (being held on the classic courses) but they are holding the right to change it back to 10/15s if the weather warms up well into legal limits. If that is the case, women will do two 5k loops.

They are still talking about having the 10 and 15ks later in the week but first - lets see what happens tomorrow.

I have a great start position, just 15 seconds ahead of Kikkan - Alaska's own sweetheart and one of our nation's fastest skiers! I will be running scared and then holding on for dear life... if, that is, she catches me!

Into it? I am. Game on!

Today's race, originally yesterday's race, was canceled. Too cold. Tomorrow is not supposed to be any warmer, but we go through the motions of testing and waxing skis, eating and training accordingly as if there is going to be a race tomorrow. Everyone is hopeful.

I have heard that the 10/15k freestyle scheduled for tomorrow will be held later and on a shorter course. Rumors of doing the 5/10k classic courses were floating around. I also heard the potential of having the 5/10k classic tomorrow, leaving the longer distance race for later in the week.

Things will be decided in a coaches meeting later on today. I will post the news as soon as I hear it. Until then, stay warm!

Morgan, hanging in the wax cabin

DOWN IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS

UPDATED UPDATE: 1:30, stadium temperatures still too cold. The race is moved to tomorrow (11:30 scheduled start time)...
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UPDATE: Qualifying will take place at 1:30. Heats will be run on Sunday.
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11am, stadium temperature was -23.7 C (-10.6 F) this morning. The legal race limit is -20 (-4 F) and so the race has been postponed 2 hours.

The original qualifier was to go off at 11:30 but they will reconvien at 1pm to take another temperature reading to decide the fate of the 1:30 start.

If the temperatures do not move within legal limits today, Sunday (tomorrow) is the potential rain date.

The course is in great shape and skiing is good (says my brother, over the phone). I will do another update just after 1 with the latest news from the venue.

The stadium, yesterday morning

My face, yesterday around 11:30 after 40 minutes of easy skiing

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

One of the locals at Kincaid Park was out to greet the skiers yesterday.

Some of our athletes are batting 100 (seeing a moose each time they have skied so far) and we are told races are sometimes obstructed by the large animals.

Regardless of how they do or don't end up affecting the competitions - they are really cool to see!


I classic skied yesterday, for the first time since hurting my back (over a month ago). I woke this morning able to get out of bed, so things are looking good for me.

Today, I will register for 3 of the 4 races in this year's National Championships. I am sitting out of the classic sprint (the first competition) on Saturday. The classic sprint is one of the formats that will be at the coming World Cup races (as well as in the 2010 Olympics) so it is one I regret to miss. My coaches have pointed out, however, that it is probably the best way to re-injure myself.

My goals for '09 now include recovery and kicking some serious tail in the second half of the season. I am not counting myself out of these races, but the season is long. Here is the deal:

Sat, Jan 3 - Classic Sprint
Mon, Jan 5 - 10/15k Free
Wed, Jan 7 - 5/10k Classic
Thurs, Jan 8 - Freestyle Team Sprint

Happy 2009 all