It’s 9 a.m. on a hot summer day, and if you listen closely, something is coming up the freshly paved country road. Click, snap, spit, click. This is the sound of a herd of rollerskiers. Helmets on, heart rate monitors beeping, this group is getting their workout in, revising their technique and being gently reminded by their coaches to stay single file so they can be videotaped.
Through the generous financial support of the Pacific Northwest Ski Association, Nordic athletes and coaches from Washington and Oregon gathered for two dryland training camps in the summer of 2005. PNSA Nordic leaders are striving for three dryland training camps each year. With a camp scheduled for the fall of 2005 in Leavenworth, Washington, the division will meet the established goal.
Thirty-three athletes and five coaches attended the July camp in Trout Lake, Washington, including five athletes and one coach from New York’s Mid Atlantic Division. Trout Lake attracted MBSEF, Spokane, Blue Mountain, Corvallis High School and Methow Valley club members. Thirteen athletes and two coaches representing MBSEF and Methow Valley explored Anthony Lakes, Oregon during the August camp. The groups trained by classic and skate rollerskiing, hiking, running, and bounding. Athletes were able to participate in video review, general and core strength sessions, agility training and games galore. They also heard lectures on training theory, visualization, agility and strength training.
Highlights of the Trout Lake camp included a trip to the summit of Mt. Adams, for the older athletes, on a glorious clear day. Athletes who attended the Anthony Lakes camp said they enjoyed the uphill time trial where the finish clock stopped as soon as they jumped into the lake.
Currently, PNSA Nordic leaders are focused on gathering a growing number of athletes from the division multiple times during the year. PNSA camp coaches want their athletes to receive consistent advice regarding technique and training theory. Coaches are also interested in providing a consistent focus from camp to camp that will allow for athletes to continually develop throughout the dryland months.
To keep costs low, athletes had the option of camping out and meals were cooked on site. The average cost to each athlete per day for each camp including meals, lodging, coaching and transportation was a mere $32 thanks to financial support from PNSA.
Thanks again to PNSA for funding these productive development camps.
