April News Updates
April 29
Gear West Job Opening
One Week Left For XC Oregon Summer Job Program Applications
April 27
Swedes Top Arctic Circle Race 2005
Oregon Spring Camp A Snowy Success
April 14
Swedes Top Arctic Circle Race 2005
Skifire Adds Camp To Argentina August Ski Trip
April 1 (note the date people!)
Scott To Get A Set Of Pole Vault Medals As Well
San Diego, California To Get $100 Million Nordic Complex
Southern Hemisphere Super-Duper XC Tour Announced
April 29 Update
Store release -- Fall/winter employment at Gear West in Long Lake MN. We are looking for a part or full-time person knowledgable in xc skis to work in our mail order department.
Interested? Email Jan: gearwest@gearwest.com
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One Week Left For XC Oregon Summer Job Program Applications
The May 6 deadline is now just one week away for applications towards the XC Oregon summer job program designed specifically for college skiers. This is a unique opportunity to get independent contract side work to supplement income while training in Bend during Summer 2005.
Complete information can be found on www.xcoregon.org
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April 27 Update
Coach Says Bjørgen Can Improve
The following is a translated/summarized article by Eirik Koren and Stian Arnesen originally appearing on NRK.no. Translation by Inge Scheve.
Although Marit Bjørgen was the queen of the 2005 World Championships in Oberstdorf (GER), coach Svein Tore Samdal argues that she has potential for improvement leadin up to the 2006 Olympics in Italy.
"She can improve her high-speed double-pole technique, as well as her sprint starts both in classic and her high-speed skate technique," says Samdal.
Just how much better can she get?
She can improve a lot. Marit just turned 25, and is entering the season we originally plotted would be her debut as a world-class racer. Traditionally, female skiers enter the best years of their careers at 25-26-27, Samdal says to the Norwegian TV station NRK.
Marit Bjørgen and coach Svein Tore Samdal are already starting to think about the next season and the 2006 Olympics. The foundation that is going to carry the skiers through the season -- and could determine the outcome of the 2006 Olympics -- is initiated and to a large extent laid in the early season. Samdal is planning about 70 days at altitude for Bjørgen, and believes the program leading up to next season will be as solid and golden as the last was.
"She will get at least as good of a framework as last eyar, and our program will be just as solid. Roughly, she will follow her training plan from last year, but we’ll have to be a little more consistent with some of the details," says Samdal.
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Oregon Spring Camp A Snowy Success
Featuring several inches of fresh snow on day three, the 2005 edition of the annual Oregon Spring Camp was a big success according to camp organizers. Two dozen skiers from throughout the U.S. made the trek to Bend, Oregon for what is now the lone remaining spring camp program in what used to be a non-stop parade of April-May-June Bend-based camps.
Camp Director J.D. Downing was very pleased with the final result. "We had outstanding ski conditions throughout the long weekend (the full camp runs Thurs-Sun) which always makes things fun. The Pacific Northwest has been running about 25% of normal snowpack this year so when we can still go out and ski on 70+ inches in late April you know you've got a reliable place for this type of event."
Featuring physiology testing at the reknown Central Oregon Community College physiology lab, morning on-snow sessions, afternoon dryland clinics, and evening training plan lectures...the Oregon Spring Camp offers one of the most unique formats in the XC ski world. Designed specifically for citizen skiers from advanced beginner to expert, the Oregon Camps have earned praise from coast-to-coast.
The same production team will be hosting the Oregon Fall Camp this December (December 7-11) again at Bend/Mt Bachelor, Oregon. Growing each of the last several years, Downing anticipates another sold out Fall event in 2005. Registration will open in July with more information found on www.xcoregon.org.
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April 14 Update
Swedes Top Arctic Circle Race 2005
official race release -- Anders Södergren wins the Arctic Circle Race 2005 in front of his fellow countryman Oskar Svärd and Martin Møller from Greenland. ACR again this year lived up to its reputation as being the hardest ski race in the world with snow storm on the first day and the hilliest route ever in the history of the race. Arctic Circle Race was held for the ninth time between the 8th and 10th of April. The world’s toughest cross-country ski race is 160.3km long and takes place 60km north of the Arctic circle in Greenland’s wild arctic nature. The monumental Greenlandic nature with snow, ice covered fjords and mountains as far as the eyes can see is the back drop of this fantastic sports event with 96 participants from 10 countries.
Anders Södergren was in front from start to end and could not be caught up with after having established an eight minutes lead already on the first day. The Swedish Champion on 50km and 15km this year and silver medallist from the World Championship in cross-country skiing in 2003 in Val di Fiemme won in a total time of 8h 47min and 44sec. His fellow countryman Oskar Svärd who a month before ACR won Vasaloppet in Sweden came second in the total time of 9 hours and 6 seconds. Marin Møller from Greenland came third in the total time of 9h 15min 51sec
On the last day the first four racers were split up in two groups with Anders Södergren and Oskar Svärd in the front and Martin Møller and Øystein Slettemark 3-4 minutes behind. Most of the route on the third race day was characterized by many down-hill sections. After having been out in 3 hours 13 minutes and 12 seconds the two Swedes crossed the finish line together holding hands and cheered by the crowd.
As a result the winner of last years ACR Øystein Slettemark from Greenland did not finish within medal ranks but had to be satisfied with being fourth. “The two Swedes were absolutely first class. Anders Södergren was a fantastic climber and Oskar Svärd was in tremendous shape so it has been very hard” said Øystein Slettemark after the race.
Anders Södergren was a very happy winner. “It has so exciting to be here for the first time. I have been racing since I was 15 years old but this has been a totally unique experience.” Before the race Oscar Svärd said that it would be very hard to beat Anders Södergren. “He is strong when it goes up hill. The mountainous route that ACR laid out this year is clearly more to Anders’ advantage. I like the plain routes like in Vasaloppet.” This prediction proved to be true.
Uiloq Slettemark from Greenland won her seventh victory among the women in a sovereign stile with a total time of 11h 34min and 7sec. With that she beat number two Johanne Mikkelsen also from Greenland with all of 1h 12min and 11sec. Number three was Sara Nielsen from Canada who came in third with a total time of 30h and 43 hours. Even if the Slettemark couple has two children now, a daughter of 3 years and a little son of seven months, Uiloq is going to join the ACR next year. “We both have plans to participate next year. Then ACR has its 10 years anniversary and so do I because I have been participating every year. So naturally I am going to be there.” The two of them have dedicated themselves to biathlon on a high international level.
After last year’s storm and cancellation of one race day the ACR 2005 was a total success. However, the weather showed its teeth on the first race day throwing storm and snow at the participants and all got a good taste of how hard and unforgiving the Greenlandic nature can be. But the weather changed and both on the second and third race day the sun shined and many racers took their time to take pictures and enjoy the views.
The camp, called the rainbow camp, was beautifully situated on a frozen lake beneath a mountain side and functioned as a home housing both the racers and a part of the volunteers that worked on the race. Equipped with sleeping tents, drying tent for clothes, massage department, waxing tent, kitchen and eating room the camp seemed like a genuine little village and the lovely weather drew a big crowd Saturday afternoon.
After a great job done by the many volunteers and sponsors the race closed on Sunday with a prize winning ceremony for the winners. Arctic Circle Race 2006 is scheduled between from the 31st of March to the second of April.
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Skifire Adds Camp To Argentina August Ski Trip
In a deal with Subaru Factory Team’s academy director, Nathan Schultz, Skifire has secured Subaru Factory Team coaching and instruction during Skifire’s 2005 ski trip to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina from August 12th-22nd.
If there is sufficient Skifire client interest in coaching, a Subaru Factory Team member will accompany the trip and provide coaching and instruction for clients. The offer is optional, uninterested clients may simply forego the opportunity.
In keeping with the more relaxed pace of Tierra del Fuego, clients can expect a coaching schedule that allows time for sight-seeing and sitting at the café. Skifire owner/operator Matt Muir says, “Argentina is more laid back in nature. Coaching/instruction sessions may last a half day, every-other day with a few evening film sessions. This is typically a better fit with the desires of Skifire clients rather than a really hard-core schedule”. Details are available at www.skifire.com or through Muir himself at matt@skifire.com.
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April 1 Update
Scott To Get A Set Of Pole Vault Medals As Well
Canadian Beckie Scott, the first Olympian in history to be awarded all three gold-silver-bronze medals from the same Olympic event, will be getting another set of medals soon. The International Olympic Committee announced earlier today that they would also be automatically awarding Scott all three medals from the women's pole vault at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.
"We realize that some of the women competing in Athens will be somewhat upset by this decision, but we felt so bad about the whole doping thing with Beckie that we pretty much had to do this," said IOC spokesperson Ira N. Intoapole. "Besides, track and field athletes are overexposed as it is, they can deal with not getting medals. It's the Nordic skiers that need the attention."
Scott could not be reached for comment but a Canadian teammate who asked not to be identified was quoted as saying, "It would have been better for Beckie to get the synchronized swimming medals since she really is quite graceful in the pool. Actually, she's quite nimble on a tennis court as well so that would have also been a good choice. And if you ever saw her do a tumbling run, I swear she could really win a gymnastics medal...they should have given her a whole pile of those things!"
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San Diego, California To Get $100 Million Nordic Complex
The B.F. Depocket Foundation announced today the donation of $100 million US to the City of San Diego, California to build an indoor Nordic Sports Complex outside of historic Balboa Park, just a mile or so from the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
The Complex, reportedly to be named after legendary U.S. Nordic sports reporter Paul Robblns, will feature a complete set of ski jumps ranging in size from 1 meter to a world-record 250 meter jump...87km of XC trails...and a world-class biathlon range. The entire complex will be housed in plexiglass tubes with massive arena domes over stadium areas, jump outruns, and the biathlon range. Two years of construction time will be required to open the first phase of the project with the entire development set for completion by mid-2007.
"We anticipate this Complex being a model for similar Nordic Sports facilities around the United States and eventually the world," says Depocket Foundation representative Joe "Dude" Slikboard. "Believe it or not, there are millions of people around the world that have not experienced the thrill of Nordic sports. Here in San Diego alone, there are thousands of children that wake up every morning without a chance of spreading klister on a kick zone. We are determined that doesn't happen anymore."
The Depocket Foundation is looking at similar donations for U.S. facilities in Miami, Honolulu, New Orleans, and Memphis.
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Southern Hemisphere Super-Duper XC Tour Announced
Representatives from the Australian, New Zealand, Argentinian, Chilean, and South African Ski Federations announced today a new Southern Hemisphere Super-Duper XC Tour to begin in late June.
The new Tour will involve 37 events spread across three continents as well as select points in Oceania from June to September 2004. Total prize purse will be just over $4 million U.S..
"The Super-Duper XC Tour is precisely what we need to get worldwide attention focused on Southern Hemisphere skiing," says Hugo "the fin" Shark, Australian promotional specialist. "All the nations involved feel that the resources put towards this series will put XC at the top of the list in winter sports for the Southern Hemisphere. We currently have 47 nations making a commitment to send athletes which should give us more than adequate international representation."
Chilean Ski Federation representative Maria Cervesa adds, "We are really going to pull out all the stops with this Tour, our expectation is to blow away the so-called World Cup and show the northern nations how it should be done. I'm particularly excited about the Andes hillclimb on July 16-18 which will involve just over 12,000ft of ungroomed XC hill climbs on three consecutive days. Of course, the South African events will be pretty interesting also with a combination sand and snow pursuit event. The one race everyone is talking about is the trans-New Zealand roll, run with poles, and ski event from Queestown to Aukland. Rumor has it that stars from 'The Lord Of The Rings' movies will be on hand to award swords from the films to the top three as they ski home on manmade snow in downtown Aukland. Like I said...we are pulling out all the stops!"
Major television contracts are expected to be announced in the coming weeks with prime time coverage expected on a U.S. broadcast network along with highlight shows on at least one cable sports channel.
