Archive | Junior Blog

Great skate picture – full leg extension

CHeck out the picture below from a recent WOrld Cup sprint race. You’ve got 3 of the best sprinters in the world from 3 different countries all frozen in nearly the exact same pose. Far left (black/yellow) is Denise Herrmann off Germany, in the center (#23 in redwhite/blue) is Marit Bjorgen of Norway, and far right in the black is Kikkan Randall of the good ‘ole USofA.

Note just how far they’ve extended the leg they are pushing off of (their right leg [to our left in the picture]). Their foot is waaaaayyy outside of their hips. You gotta push off and extend to fully employ your gluteus maximus.

Norway's Marit Bjørgen powers to the finish while trying to hold off Germany's Denise Herrmann (l) and two Norwegian teammates, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (1) and Maiken Caspersen Falla (14). Bjørgen ended up winning by 0.43 seconds, Herrmann was second, Østberg third, and Falla fourth. American Kikkan Randall (r) placed fifth and Slovenia's Katja Visnar (2) took sixth. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus) Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus

Excellent Core Strength exercise

By Adam Terko on 5 February, 2014 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

I’ve been talking about “knees to elbow” or “toes to bar” at training some lately. Here is a video that shows how it should be done, and some variations (including a progression).

PLEASE NOTE: do not attempt the “kipping” variation.

http://youtu.be/kqOgtFcqWbE

Vermont EHSC / J2 Qualifier Info

By Adam Terko on 3 February, 2014 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog

I am planning to attend the EHSC/J2 qualifier races this Sunday and I can help any MNC athletes with wax support.

BELOW IS INFORMATION FROM ERIN MALLORY:

We have a link for parent volunteers to sign up for the race if they can help. I have created a morning and afternoon sign-up so someone doesn’t have to commit their whole day.
online registration officially closes on Friday February 7th, but we would appreciate people signing up as soon as possible to get a more accurate head count.
Information about the races: vteliteteam.weebly.com
SkiReg Registration link: https://www.skireg.com/Net/vermontehscj2qualifier
(I realize we have two different start times posted. We are going to try to shoot for the 10:45 and 1:45 start times for the girls)
Volunteer Sign up link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmNGapoKCg-WdHVUelF6VVJhMUtuWlZJVVllLVQtdmc&usp=sharing
Please fill you name, school and contact information.

Junior Training 2/3 – 2/16

By Adam Terko on 3 February, 2014 in Junior Blog

Tuesday = Skate with no-pole and long speeds at the Range, 4-5:30.
Wednesday = Steady-state skate ski at Sleepy, 4:00-5:30pm.
Thursday = Classic with long speeds and DP at the Range, 4:00-5:30pm.
Sunday = J2 / EHS Qualifier races at Breadloaf. Info on here. Register here.

Tentative plan for 2/10 – 2/16:

Tuesday = classic with DP and high intensity, 4:00-5:45pm.
Wednesday = Steady state skate ski @ Sleepy, 4-5:30pm.
Thursday = Recovery ski with technique at the Range, 4:00-5:30pm.
Saturday = Eastern Cup @ Waterville Valley, NH. 5-5-10-10km Freestyle, Individual.
Sunday = Eastern Cup @ Plymouth, NH. 5-5-10-15km classic, individual.

Junior Photos: Rumford Eastern Cups

By Adam Terko on 28 January, 2014 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

Wow what an amazing weekend January 18-19 up in good ‘ole Rumford Maine!! I say amazing for many reasons: we skied on a full 5km race course both days, on very good conditions. We had an incredible turnout of MNC athletes and families. We had a great team dinner with something like 30 athletes and parents. And, to boot, the many of the athletes had really strong race results!

Thanks to many people for the weekend: Sharon Henry for organizing the team dinner, Ed Hamilton and Don Harmeyer for waxing assistance – especially Sunday which were challenging / changing conditions, Gary Solow for photos, and all the parents for making such a commitment to trek to the boondocks for a weekend!

All the of the good photos below are from Gary. The few grainy and low-res pictures are from me. I apologize as there are a few athletes whose pictures I didn’t get.

Tatum, Marika and Eliza working hard in the mass-start

Forrest Hamilton off to a quick start – wearing the yellow “leader’s jersey”

Will Solow trying to find the draft

Autumn Eastman looking fast in the skate race

Callie Braun in the women’s 10km

Team dinner and sweet-16 for Tatum!

Charlie Maitland has been kicking butt in HS races and also had great performances in two long races at Rumford

Henry Harmeyer in the men’s mass-start 15km. Off to the right – in black – is MNC coach Jake Hollenbach!

Bill Harmeyer coming through the lap in the skate race.

201 is national champ and now 4-time Olympian Kris Freeman en route to victory. Amazing that our juniors in New England have such high-caliber competition. #203 is Sylvan Ellefson who recently won a National Championship in the 30km skate race out in Utah. And #202 is Matt Liebsch who narrowly missed the 2014 Olympics.