December 30, 2013- January 5th, 2014.

Please ensure that you're registered for the Alberta Winter Games if you will be competing!! See the email that I sent out.

Please register for the races this weekend before the deadline: www.zone4.ca

Please read the race notice: http://www.wapitinordic.com

Please read this blog entirely from start to end and don't skip on any details- it's all important!
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Alright- great training this past week, a few more days and maybe we'll have worked out that turkey and other non-athlete foods that you've consumed over the holidays will be out of your systems!!! Me included. :)

Tuesday: Will be cold outside so dress warmly. We will be classic skiing as there's no way that the groomers are going to be able to keep up with all this ridiculous amount of amazing, wonderful snow that we're getting!!! SO- training will begin in the lodge at 1:00 to discuss this week's process and then will move outdoors for some training. Training from 1-3 again.

Wednesday- Happy New Year!!!: To be confirmed- but it's usually our New Year's Day Race… This is an original pursuit race where we race both techniques and have a lot of fun. Race start is for 2:00pm. Check the website for updates on this as the weather is touch and go. After this race, please clean off your classic skis and wax them with rex blue. IF you choose to race this race, I strongly suggest that you race the second shortest distance possible (i.e.- Not Mika's distance) and use it as a training/quick interval session.

Thursday: Training from 1-3 again. Skate skiing. We will not be on snow the entire two hours, but I will be available for the team during this time. Please note, after training you will be prepping your skate skis with Rex Blue. ALL Skis will be taken to Claire's house for waxing for the weekend- poles will be kept in the team pole bag which will be kept in the dungeon (where our area is). Jake, bits of Randy, bits of Jim, Davis, North and I will be waxing up in the equipment shed by biathlon during the weekend. You will be expected to come up and get your skis- please remember to add this time into your race plans when we go over them on Thursday.

Friday: For those of you returning from holidays- skis MUST be dropped off at my house this day. If they cannot be dropped off, you will be in charge of waxing your athlete(s) skis for Saturday's race. It is a classic race and you can call me for the wax Friday evening. I will be at the coaches meeting from 7-8pm. Typically around 8pm the race start list will be posted on www.zone4.ca where you can find your start times for the next days race.

Saturday: I would like the team to show up 2 hours prior to their age group start time. The first person from the team will secure a 'team spot' in the lodge and this will be the gathering spot. All race plans will be written in age groups so that everyone can just fill in the time blanks from when the first person in your category leaves and knows where to meet their team mates. Skis can be found 45 min to your race start at the equipment shed. If you need your skis sooner- you will have to text me. Please stay after your races to cheer on the rest of the team and for awards. You are free to return home after the awards are over, NOT before. It's important that we support the club by staying after the races until awards are over. This will be the ONLY race to qualify for the Alberta Winter Games. This will be the FIRST of two races to qualify for the Arctic Winter Games. Also, please remember that this is the first race for some of our athletes- please help each other out as all parents have a busy job to do and I'm going to be very busy waxing your skis! If you don't know what's going on- first check your race plan, then ask 3 other team mates and still if you don't have an answer, then come and ask me or call me on my cell. While the races are on I will be out on the trails cheering you guys on hopefully as the skis will be perfect. :) Check zone4 for your race start times after 8pm.

Sunday: I would like the team to show up again, 2 hours prior to their age group start time. I know I usually say 1.5 hours but I'm playing it safe. It's easy to forget steps especially when it's on our home turf. So please, stay focused and help each other out. We will all be staying until the cleanup is done. No one gets to leave early please- many hands keep the work quick and light. The races should be done by 2, clean up will be quick and hopefully only take an hour or so- so plan to stay until 4. This will be the SECOND race of two races to qualify for the Arctic Winter Games.

December 16- December 22, 2013.

Where is the time going??? 10 days (or less by the time you guys read this) til Santa comes and 3 weeks until our Alberta Cup Race- which, in case you guys forgot are qualifiers for Alberta Winter Games and the Arctic Winter Games.

We will be having a parent/athlete meeting about Alberta Winter Games and Arctic Winter Games on Thursday, Dec 19. All details that we have currently will be given out that evening and will try to answer as many questions as possible. If you cannot make this meeting but your athlete is still planning on trying out for the games (which ever one), please let me know so that we can set up a different time to meet and the information can be passed on to you.

Tuesday: Skate- it'll be fast and furious out there so bring out the fast skis and we will be working hard! Don't forget that water bottle!!

Thursday: Skate from 5:45-6:15. 6:20-6:45 meet about the Arctics and Alberta Winter Games. 6:45-7:15 Christmas gift exchange. Please note that we will not be done at 7 and expect to stay a bit later than normal- it's Christmas!!

Saturday: I will not be here as I'm away working on part ? of ? part coaching course… the never ending saga… BUT I do recommend that you go for a nice LOOOONNNNGGG Steady ski- classic, dress warmly, bring a snack and water bottle. Midget and younger should ski the Burgess course in entirety without stopping. Juvies and older should ski the North Blue trail. Have fun and don't ski alone- find a buddy.

For the week of Christmas- go out and ski as much as you can!! There will be no practice on the 24th but there will be on the 26th- can we do it earlier? Say from 1-4:30? If you're interested post below before next week. Saturday the 28th will be from 10-12 and on the 31st we can also do an earlier practice time- say from 2-4 or 6:30am-8:30am works for me too!;) Let me know as I will plan to do it if the majority of the team will be there.

December 9- December 15

Well it looks like the temperatures are going to warm up for us this week… a bit anyway. Come dressed warmly still as it's going to be a bit frosty.

NOTE: Thursday, December 19 (next Thursday) will be our team Christmas party! We will be skiing and after our ski we will do a Chinese gift exchange ($10 value) around the lodge tree.

Tuesday: Classic. Dress warmly.

Thursday: Classic. Dress warmly.

Saturday: Skate. Again… dress warmly. Hopefully the groomers will be able to catch up with all the predicted snow that we're supposed to be getting… so be prepared to ski classic incase they can't keep up.

Sunday: 6 Pac #2; try #2… will hopefully be a go and hopefully we can get enough parent volunteers to run this race. It'll be classic. Registration closes at 1:30.

December 2- December 8, 2013.

What an awesome bunch of racing in Canmore this weekend!!! From first races, personal bests, new categories and bling, you guys did phenomenal!! Congratulations and a HUGE thank you to waxers: Randy, Jim & Jake and parent chauffeurs, chefs and cheerleaders! A lot goes into these weekends and it wouldn't happen without every single one of you guys!

Tuesday: meet in the lodge for a team pow-wow for 30 minutes. Then on snow for the rest of practice. We will hopefully be able to classic but be prepared for both. For this practice please be prepared to share 1 key thing that you need to work on for this training block.

Thursday: Classic- dress warmly as it's a high of -20.:)

Saturday: Skate- distance and hills will be our focus for this day. Be prepared to be away from the lodge for the entire 2 hours. Snacks/water/clothing...

Sunday: 2:00pm Classic Race 6 PAC #2! Registration closes at 1:30. Come ready to race hard!!:)

November 25- December 1, 2013.

A huge shout out and a cowbell ring to all the racers today!! Loved seeing all the uniforms out and other coloured bodies for the race today! Congratulations to you racers and a HUGE thank you to your parents for putting it on and being superstar timers with their iPhones verses our dead-battery equipment. :)
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Candy Cane Lane Reminder: Candy canes are to be consumed by the Race Team once a week, after training sessions on Saturday only… Santa can only train so much with his reindeer and there are some little cute kids who require that motivation and some parents (yes, I'm one of them) who require that motivation for their kids to ski… so please do not be alarmed if I (or any of the parents/coaches) start handing out 40 burpies for ANY extra candy canes that are consumed or touched any other time. Also, please DO NOT relocate them/hide them, it makes it very difficult for the little cute kids to find these- unless of course you really enjoy burpies.
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Group 1:

Makena, Lyndon, Hannah, Mathieu, Alex, Grace, Zach, Megan & Nick

Group 2:

Miranda, Katie, Nicole, John, Josh, Emilie, Patrick, Isabelle & Jordan.

*If you will not be joining us in Canmore, please be prepared to be on snow for the entire duration of practice- Tuesday meal is open to you to join, but please understand that we will be discussing Canmore necessities and not interested in idle chat during this time. 

Tuesday: Group 1: Will be out on snow from 5:45-6:10- skate skiing. Group 2 will be in the wax room during this time cleaning up your classic skis and waxing them. Rex blue, then once cooled off completely, putting on LF4 and NOT scraping it off. By 6:15, I'd like Group 2 out on snow with rock skis for their skate lesson and Group 1 will be inside prepping your skate skis. At 7:15pm supper will be served upstairs (Thank you Brough's and Pruden's) and we will meet to discuss Canmore, expectations and plans regarding this awesome and exciting event. :D

I will be leaving GP on Thursday at 4:00pm.

Not going to Canmore?  Thursday- I strongly encourage you to go skiing. Go for a good, 1 hour skate ski with no stopping and enjoy the almost full moon. :) Remember the things I've suggested you work on for technique and have fun. Saturday, try and meet up with others that aren't going (there's 9 of you) to Canmore and go for a 2 hour classic ski. No stopping, but bring water and snacks, and maybe a map so that you don't get lost out on the trails!:)

November 18 - November 24, 2013

We have snow!! Again… Let's hope it stays this time!! Great practice on Saturday, I hope you all learned a thing or two that you can work on for the next while.

Waxing Lessons: Will occur before practice and into the first 30 minutes of practice for those who would like a bit of extra time. I would like everyone to have a refresher please- yes, even the oldest on the team… it's good to just have reminders- I do it every year myself.
         Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday before practice I will be at the lodge from 5 onwards.

*Please register your athlete and read the race notice: http://www.canmorenordic.com/main.php?p=237 Registration is found through the race notice (all the race information that you will need) which takes you directly to zone4. If you have any questions, please just ask. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Nov 27 @ 11:00pm. Please register early.



Tuesday: Classic (hopefully if we don't get too much more snow) DRESS WARMLY. They're calling for -22 during the day… it'll be chilly but we'll still be practicing. Bring water at make sure it's warm before we leave. We will be just skiing as it's going to be too cold to practice technique.

Thursday: Classic- technique + training and drills. Waxing before hand as previously discussed.

Saturday: Classic- Practice will be from 10-12. I will be at the lodge early (8:30) to review waxing for those of you who still need/want more time. Please have your classic skis ready before 10am. The team will be split into 2 groups (see below) Group 1 will be on snow from 10-11 and Group 2 will be on snow from 11-12. During this time that your group is not on snow- you will be waxing your skis or assisting others in the process. Group 2 will wax their skate skis first. Rex Blue, and then once cooled completely, you will wax your skis with LF4- DO NOT SCRAPE OFF THE LF4. Group 1 will then come in and clean off their classic skis and wax them- Rex Blue, and then once cooled off completely, you will wax your skis with LF4- DO NOT SCRAPE OFF THE LF4. After practice, Group 2 will be strongly recommended to clean off their classic skis- this takes a max of 10 minutes and will just alleviate any issues on Tuesday. If you have time to prepare your skate skis after practice you are encouraged to do so.

Sunday: 6 Pac Race #1. Registration closes at 1:30pm; $5 registration fee. Skate technique for this race and it'll be fun! Come everyone, even Mika will be out! See you there. Also, don't forget that it's the open house for the ski club from 1-4pm. If you haven't gotten your membership yet, please do so at the open house, register younger siblings for jackrabbits, purchase equipment/gear from local businesses with open house discounts AND plan to spend some time answering questions on how cool it is to be on the race team and representing Grande Prairie locally, provincially, nationally and internationally! Yup- the media usually shows up and asks questions!!!

Group 1:

Makena, Lyndon, Hannah, Mathieu, Alex, Grace, Zach, Megan & Nick

Group 2:

Miranda, Katie, Nicole, John, Josh, Emilie, Patrick, Isabelle & Jordan.

*If you will not be joining us in Canmore, please be prepared to be on snow for the entire duration of practice

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November 11-Nov 17, 2013.

Build Week 2 and we have snow!!!

Practice times will change- on snow and ready to go for 5:45-7pm. If you're ready before 5:45- ski around candy cane lane until everyone is out and ready.

Tuesday- OUT AT THE LODGE!!! Skate skiing, rock skis still. We will be working on technique for the majority of this practice to get our skiing legs back on.

Thursday- skate skiing, rock skis- unless we get more snow and the groomers are able to get out and groom more, then we will be classic skiing. Best to come prepared for both techniques.

Saturday- We will not be going to Hinton as we have our own snow now!! You will be required to sign up for a time slot with me. I will have a sign up sheet at practice on Tuesday and Thursday and you will sign up for your time slot- 4 max per time slot of 45 minutes. I will be on snow from 8:30-1:30. When your time is done, I will ask that you go for a 45 minute, no-stopping ski on the trails that will be groomed by then (to be determined which ones). We may be able to classic ski and skate ski that day. Please come prepared for both and pending on the snow, we will do whichever technique is best suited for the day. Come with 30-45 minutes before your time, to prepare yourself and your skis appropriately. IF your time slot is later on the sheet and you don't have time to ski afterwards, come with time to go for your 45 minute- no stopping- ski before hand. Any questions- ask me at practice on Tuesday. Please make sure your parents are aware of the changes for this practice only.

Nov 4- Nov 10, 2013.

PLEASE READ: I'd appreciate not having a repeat from Saturday please. Before Tuesday's practice I'd like you to all read page four of your Wapiti Race Team Handbook. I'm serious. I have had a few concerned parents approaching me informing me that their athletes feel like practice isn't difficult enough; I have athletes informing me that they weren't ready for a rest week; I make practice more difficult; and I get the entire team walking back to the parking lot… IF you guys aren't ready to move to the next level and be prepared for our races that are 3 weeks away… that is your choice, I can't make miracles happen. Practice is designed for you to push yourself to your maximum every time (except during rest week), if you're not tired, then you didn't work hard enough. I can't make it any more plain; work hard and the results will show!

Tuesday: Meet at Muskoseepi. Wear gloves, bring water bottles and shoes with a good grip for running on slippery surfaces. Don't forget to bring your race gear that you've grown out of! Parent meeting tonight.

Thursday: Fitness Test at the lodge. Bring water and running gear again- no snow in the forecast yet, so we will be fine using the stadium still- unfortunately. :S

Saturday: Still no snow in the forecast… so we will meet at the same spot out on the correction line across from Aquaterra road in the parking lot. Bring runners, water bottle holders and gloves or mitts. Dress appropriately for the weather- the mornings are colder this week- with sub -10oC which is a start in the right direction.

October 28- November 3, 2013

YAAAAHHHOOOO!!! We have snow!!! Unfortunately not enough yet... SO we're still dryland training- which is cool as we have stuff to work on so no big deal, as long as the snow comes for next week and stays!:D

Great last build week team!! We're now officially into rest week, which means we aren't working out as hard as we normally do, but we're still working out!

So... seeing as the snow has made an appearance, I spent a few hours organizing my house today putting away the summer gear, pulling out the winter gear and PUTTING TOGETHER MY TRAINING BAG. This is something that the whole team should have. Your training bag keeps you organized so that you don't forget anything for practice and cuts WAY down on me having to give you burpies. :) What goes in this bag? Snacks, puffers (if you need them), water bottle holder, empty water bottle- which you fill the night before, dry ski boots (I leave both of mine in the bag so that if the weather changes I'm still prepared), headlamp with new batteries in it (this is a must), dry socks, dry mitts- warm and not so warm ones, two buffs, two toques, gloves, glasses in their case, vest, my wapiti jacket, my ski club pass (not ready yet for 2014 but they will be soon), and whatever else one may need- hot packs for fingers and toes... etc.

Tuesday- bring a frisbee, we need as many as we can get, so bring one!! Bring water.

Thursday- we will be out at the trails- it's supposed to be warm and what snow we will have will be melted unfortunately, so we can still go out on the trails. Bring a waterbottle holder for this- I'm tired of kids dropping bottles etc. PLEASE BRING A HOLDER. Practice will be 45 minutes as I know that some of the team is wanting to go home early for some reason this evening... 5:30-6:15 is practice.

Saturday- We will meet again out at the correction line trails. Weather pending we will be roller skiing etc, so come prepared with poles, water bottle holders, bright shirts etc...

See you out there and hope you enjoyed the snow today!!!:D

Oct 21-Oct 27

Hey guys! Been skiing all weekend in Canmore and it's FABULOUS!!! I can't wait for snow to come to get you guys out too!! I'm completely fired up and exhausted from all the energy required to ski!! SO- guess what this means?! Yup- lots of hard work this week to keep on prepping you guys for ski season. We're in our third build week which means- "bring it on Claire and make us work hard!!" Right?!:)

Tuesday- Muskoseepi for 100's. warm up will be shorter than usual as we need more time to get to 100's. Bring a water bottle!!

Thursday- out at the lodge for a great workout!! Bring runners, poles and water bottle with holder and lots of energy.

Saturday- meet out at the roller ski spot. If the pavement is wet we won't be roller skiing but lots to work on regardless!! Come prepared for a good, hard workout!:) Bring food to snack on during practice.

Yeehaw to ski season coming soon!!!:D

Oct 14- Oct 20, 2013.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I hope that you were able to share it with family and friends and share what you're thankful for this year. I'm thankful for family, friends, an awesome race team, an exciting season to come, health, life in general and all the abundance that we have in our lives. What an exciting season we have coming upon us quickly!! I reviewed the videos from Saturday and they look good! Lots of improvements!

Welcome to Build week 2 of our second cycle!

Tuesday: Muskoseepi Park- for some fun! Workout will be a challenge and LOTS of busy-ness!!

Thursday: Meet at the lodge. Guest Coach who's going to work you over and it's going to be awesome!!!:D

Saturday: AT LODGE. Bring your shorter ski poles for this one. You're going to enjoy this one as... I'm not leading it!!:D 2 hours of awesomeness- bring a snack and lots of water for the workout!!

I will not be at practice or in Grande Prairie from Thursday to Monday inclusive as I am working with the Provincial Team in Canmore. If you need to be in contact with me you can reach me on my cell: 780-933-0853. Thank you guest coaches for helping me out while I'm off working on my certification. :) See you Tuesday!!

Oct 7- Oct 13, 2013.

What a great rest week everyone! Training was super easy and I'm glad a bunch of you were sick this week- as now everyone is going to be ready to start pushing hard again! Right?! :D If you're still sick (and I'm sorry to those of you who were sick...) please ensure that your body is getting enough rest and that you're drinking tons of water! Come to training a few intervals are good for the body- research is saying that pushing your body while it's sick, a bit, is good for it and helps with the healing. Don't forget the "a bit" part though!

A HUGE thank you to Cori for hosting our team party/sleepover this weekend! I concur with Cori though, next time we may make it potluck veggies and fruit instead of dessert. ;D What a racket of fun and hope there weren't too many thorns requiring being pulled out today.

Tuesday: Meet at Muskoseepi for our "bag-o-goodies" workout. No, it's not dessert or candy. :D Bring your water bottle AND a ready-to-work-out attitude!

Thursday: Meet at the Lodge for ski bounding- bring poles if you have them and if you don't I will have some with me. Also bring a water bottle holder and your lungs as we will be running around quite a bit.

Saturday: Same as last week: 10-12. Same place and same idea. For those of you in group 3, please be prepared to NOT roller ski. As explained last practice, I would like your on snow technique to be perfected prior to putting you on wheels and cement! Be prepared to run and have a harder workout as we're in build week 1!

See you on the trails!
Claire

Sept 30- Oct 6, 2013

I hope you guys are ready for a rest week!!! What does it mean? Well... it means we still work out just not quite as hard as last week!;D

For those of you who attended the Northern Alberta Dryland Skiing Camp- WAY TO GO!! I know you guys will definitely need a break after the long training days we put in. Great job to you all for your enthusiasm and 'giving your best' out there. For those of you that weren't able to join us... we have a lot of sharing to do!!! We all learned something this weekend!

This week only- we will be a Muskoseepi Park BOTH days!!!

Tuesday- Meet at the pavilion at Muskoseepi and bring your water bottle and holder.

Thursday- Meet at the pavilion at Muskoseepi and bring your water bottle and holder.

Saturday- Meet at the parking lot out by the Aquaterra Road and the Correction Line for roller skiing. Wear something bright, bring poles for roller skiing, bring a helmet, bring running shoes, bring a water bottle and holder, bring your skate ski boots AND bring a sense of adventure. IF you don't have the ski boots or poles yet- don't worry about it, we won't be roller skiing with your athlete just yet! As we don't have enough pairs of roller skis for everyone on the team we will be doing a lot of training on the grass and area. Roller skiing will be a small section of this training day- so please come prepared for mostly on running shoes training.

Happy Rest Week!!

September 23-September 29

IMPORTANT- Those who have roller skis- please bring them back to me this week. Either Tuesday or Thursday. We need them for the training camp in Camrose that a lot of you will be at this coming weekend!!

Well I'm feeling my abs today! I hope you guys are too!:D We are in our fourth build week... that means the hardest week of this first cycle- YAY!!! Be prepared to sweat and have some fun!!

Tuesday: Meet at Muskoseepi Pavilion- 5:30-6:30. 15 minute warm-up and be prepared for a tough workout! Bring a water bottle.

Thursday: Meet at the ski lodge- 5:30-6:30. We will be running and doing some hills. Please bring your waterbottle in a holder!!

IMPORTANT- Those who have roller skis- please bring them back to me this week. Either Tuesday or Thursday. We need them for the training camp in Camrose that a lot of you will be at this coming weekend!! (yes, I repeated myself... it's important to bring them back!)

Have a great week!!
C :D

Sept 16-22, 2013.

Hope you've all recovered from our fitness test!

*reminder to not get caught up on these results! They are just a baseline gauge for me to see how fit you guys are getting over the season! Now that everyone has seen and know what the chaotic experience is all about we can focus better on technique and counting proper technique sets verses incorrect technique. Something that we will be working on over the next few months!!

Tuesday: Muskoseepi Park- 5:30-6:30. If you have a skipping rope please bring it!! Don't forget water bottles and HOLDERS to go with the water bottles!

Thursday: Wapiti Nordic Lodge- 5:30-6:30. We will be working around the lodge outside.

Saturday/Sunday: If you have roller skis please go for 45-60min on both of these days. If you don't have roller skis... go for a run- 30-45 minutes. 

*IF YOU ARE GOING TO CAMROSE PLEASE REGISTER ASAP!! 

See you out there!!!

September 9-15, 2013.

Week 2!

Tuesday: Meet at Muskoseepi Pavilion. 5:30pm Team will warmup with Cori and then will go off for a run together. The front pack will circle back every 10 minutes to the back of the pack and keep moving forward. I will be meeting with the parents during this time. Please come prepared with questions.

Thursday: Meet at the ski lodge. 5:30pm- we will be doing the fitness test to see how much better you guys will get over the season!! Looking forward to seeing the progress this year!!!

See you on the trails!:)

2013-2014 Ski Season: 1st Post of the Season!!

It's official, the 2013/14 season has started and I want to thank everyone who came on the mountain excursion with me to Grande Cache for your willingness to trust each other and help each other! If I haven't mentioned it before- you guys rock and I'm so proud of you all!!

Tuesday, September 3 training will begin. Meeting at the Muskoseepi Pavilion for a 5:30 start. We will do a group training session. Bring water, running shoes, rain jacket if necessary, your great attitude and start thinking about your goals for this season again.

Thursday, September 5- I will ask the older athletes to help lead training and I would like to meet with the parents to discuss this season. We will meet again at Muskoseepi Pavilion.

Fitness Tests will be completed the following week! :D

Welcome back everyone and I trust that you all have enjoyed your summer!!

Last post for 2012-2013 Season!:(

It's true!!! Where did the time go?! AND what an AWESOME year it was! Great/amazing job everyone!! I am SO proud of each and everyone of you this year! The amount of work and advancing that you all did is hard to express other than to say: you all rock!! And I start to tear up when I think about how awesome you are! :)

Tuesday: We will be skiing and be prepared for both techniques... It depends on what the weather will do. :)

Thursday: NO PRACTICE

Saturday: We will be skiing but again, be ready for either technique! And we may start earlier due to the forecast of +10! Will email on Ftiday for time.

Tuesday: Annual swimsuit edition ski practice!! Come in your suit and shorts and be ready for some great pics!!!

Friday April 5 is the team party. 5pm and bring $2-$5 per athlete for food costs and come ready to be in character for our Mystery Party!!!:) 

March 4-March 19

Oh where, oh where is the time going?! I will be going to Sharkfest this weekend so things are going to be a bit different as most of the team is staying back. Jake has offered to help out with practices as long as he's not taken away for work... Ken may be around but has a lot of marking to do I'm sure :D and Colin and Randy are going to be with me, in Canmore. SOOO- this week, practice may be up to you. Please read the plan carefully as it's important that you all know what's going on and why we're doing it.

In our last month of training/racing we usually have a few fun training sessions BUT, we're also still training for Sharkfest (those of you that are going) or the Sveinensgaard Loppet on March 17th. Fun events include: bring a friend to training; swimsuit edition; random ski adventures; and of course the much awaited ski team year-end-party. Lots to do and lots to focus on!:D

Tuesday (5th): Classic (I trust that no one has yet tried to take off their klister?!:) ) We will be doing an easy ski for those going to Sharkfest and waxing Rex blue on both classic and skate. For the rest of you- a Long Distance ski. Bring your water bottle and a snack. No headlamps necessary as it's so light out now!

Thursday (7th): Skate- this will be led by Jake and will be a long distance as well. Seniors, you're to go on the North Blue trails and ski without stopping. Stay together though too... focus on technique and no dilly-dallying out there. Juniors- you will do South Blue with no stopping and no goofing around. Stick together as well please.

Friday- in Canmore please meet at the lodge for 2:45pm. We will go for a skate ski and then go from there.

Saturday (9th): Seniors- Classic Burgess Trail then come in and skate the lower 5km twice. This should take you 2 hours. Bring a snack and water with you. Juniors- Classic Centre blue and if you have time, classic electric avenue. Bring a snack and water with you.

I will be away March 12-19th and will update the blog on the 20th.

Tuesday (12th): Classic- Ken will tell you where to go! Juniors make sure you do about 10km of skiing this evening please.

Thursday (14th): Classic- Ken will lead this as well. This will be your last long distance training day- be creative in where you go and make sure there's no stopping!!!

Saturday (16th): No practice- rest and eat LOTS of food so that you have enough energy to do the MAXIMUM distance possible for you. Seniors- nothing under 15km please; Juniors- nothing over 15km please. :)

Sunday (17th): Have an AWESOME loppet!!!

Tuesday (19th): Random ski adventure- use the revolutions please but remember that they still need to be taken care of. Have a great fun ski and I'm looking forward to hearing about it when I get back on Thursday!!

Thursday (21st): Bring your friend to training. Plan ahead and make sure that they're dressed appropriately for the weather. Remember when you're inviting them that this will be a fun practice for you to show off and show them how great the team is!!!

Have a great week while I'm away!!! 

February 25-March 3, 2013.

A HUGE thank you to all race team parents and junior race team for the amazing weekend of racing put on by you guys. WHAT AN EVENT!!! The compliments from everyone that I saw was awesome and by head was pretty full of the comments ranging from: Hardest but fun trails; second best canteen in the world (previous NST racers); amazing organization; great venue; great waxing; overall friendly environment for everyone (competitors included- everyone behaved); awesome tasty medals... and on and on. Thank you!!!!

As we recover from this weekend, we still have races to prepare for!! Sharkfest (which isn't being held at Mt. Shark but in Canmore) is our championship event and only 2 weeks away!!! Parents (junior and senior) please let Randy know if you're going to be attending or not. (ps- Randy- I'm coming!;) )

Tuesday: Recovery day for seniors; training day for juniors (judging from the energy levels it's time...) :D. Skate

Thursday: Skate for all.

Saturday: We'll see what the weather does. Come prepared for both please! Have a great week and hope we all recover this week.

Feb 19-Feb 24

It's Western's Week!!

Tuesday: Classic- Seniors- practice from 5:45-6:30; Juniors- practice from 5:45-7 (Colin/Jake either of you available to go with this group please?) Seniors: after practice you will need to clean your classic skis off, wax your skates and classics with Rex blue and pack up the truck as we will be taking most of the gear to my garage to wax in over the weekend.

Thursday: There is no practice for the juniors. Seniors- meet at Muskoseepi pavilion with your running shoes on for a team run. This run will be 30 min. 5:45-6:15. I will then text you all the ins and outs of Friday after the coaches meeting which is at 7:00pm.

Friday: Skate race

Saturday: Classic race

Sunday: Skate Race

Juniors: Please remember if you're volunteering for this exciting event to please wear your race jackets and represent the ski team for us as we race our hearts out!!! Thank you parents and athletes for helping out and putting on this awesome event!!!

February 11- February 17, 2013.

Where is the time going?!!! The end of this week marks the middle of February and leaves us with one week left to Westerns!! AHHHHHH... so much to do and not enough time!! Ok- so, the push is on... hard and fast for the next week, then a few fast days and then it'll be Westerns. Junior team- this doesn't affect you unfortunately. :(  Western's are for anyone born in 2000 or earlier. Parents and athletes please double check which category your child will be racing in when registering as it's different than in our AB Cup races. Please register.

Tuesday: We will try to classic. Bring something gooey to put on your skis!:) I would like to work on technique and intervals- so this will be a bit tricky but I'm sure we will figure it out!:)

Thursday: We will also try to classic... as we've been skating a lot!

Saturday: Skate and working with the jackrabbits... we will split up and see what the leaders need for this day.

MONDAY: It's a holiday, let's use this day as a training day with the team- it'll be our last day of hard training before Westerns... bring both skate and classic. 1-4:30pm. Bring a snack and water. :)

And pray for snow and none of this silly warm temperature stuff!!! :S

Feb 4- Feb 10

What an amazing weekend of racing!!! Parent's, I'm sure you had to fill up on gas more than usual with the loot and egos that we brought back to Grande Prairie!:D The amount of compliments that I received (no, not just because it was such a quiet weekend without my voice) about the team has my head about ready to explode with pride! You guys rocked completely and battled your inner selves to push through and be just awesome! SO PROUD!!!

Tuesday: Meet in lodge for team powwow at 5:45. Don't be late. On snow for skate practice til 7.

Thursday: It looks like we'll be skating again... unless the weather decided to cooperate with us.

Saturday: Skate... maybe classic with klister- depending on the weather. Ask me on Thursday please!

Have a fabulous week!:)

January 28- February 3

Where is the time going?!

Great few weeks of training crew!! I'm hearing a lot of complaints of sore muscles and tired athletes. YES... my mission was accomplished for the past few weeks!:) You guys are ready to race! This week will be different in that the weather isn't cooperating with us... SOOOO.... read below carefully please!

Parents- please organize another meal for the team... there will be a few junior athletes attending but not all (I'm however unsure of whom these people will be). Sorry I can't be more clear.

http://www.xcountryab.net/main.php for the race notice.

Tuesday: It's going to be too cold to do anything. We will be waxing as many sets of skis as possible with race wax- that means classic and skate. While half of the team are downstairs waxing- the other half will be doing some stretching/yoga moves upstairs (bring a mat) and meeting with me as well. Practice will end as close to 7 as possible. Classic skis and skate skis will need to have rex blue on them. All classic skis will be leaving for Edmonton at 4am on Wednesday morning- therefore, if you need classic skis in Edmonton for the race you need to be waxing them on Tuesday. IF this doesn't fit into your schedule... then you're in charge of your own skis being transported down to Edmonton. They WILL NOT be put into the skate bag. Show up early if you can, to get started on this.

Thursday: We will be skiing but on rock skis/ your own skis if you're not going to Edmonton/ Revolutions. We will be doing some work that we should have done on Tuesday... and then waxing our skate skis with race wax/prep. I'm not sure what this wax is yet so unfortunately can't plan in advance for this- (they should have Rex blue on them from Tuesday). However, it will be picked out by Thursday for practice. Supper with the team if you're going to Edmonton- hopefully leaving around 8/8:30.

Friday: Leave for Edmonton. If you can aim to arrive for a pre-ski around 2:30 at gold stick park that would be great. Please let me know if you won't be there for this. I have a coaches meeting at 7pm. We are staying in Sherwood Park and BP's is right next door- supper will be at 5:15. If we can have a parent take the lead on booking this for us I'd appreciate it. Junior athletes/parents/families- I'm thrilled that you're coming to Edmonton- I ask that we try and stick together as much as possible but realize that you're staying with family/friends. Please try and stick with the team as much as possible, for as much of the day- most of the team bonding happens outside of the races and that's the fun stuff that the kids really like! If you have any questions or concerns please just talk to me. 

Saturday: Skate races

Sunday: Classic races