U.S. Ski Team Girls’s Coach Matt Whitcomb (r) testimonials video with Sadie Bjornsen on some climbing approach Wednesday at a instruction camp in Bend, Ore. (Click right here for video)
BEND, Ore. — On Wednesday, the U.S. Ski Team (USST) headed out to ski with some Bend springtime essentials: klister (they have been classic skiing), shorts or tights, tank prime, sunglasses and SPF 30.
In Bend for an on-snow camp — the very first of the 2016/2017 season — the USST is targeted on higher-volume education loads and an opportunity to fine-tune method.
As the crew gathered in Mt. Bachelor’s nordic lodge, USST women’s coach Matt Whitcomb cued up a video for the staff to see. For three minutes it was silence as the they observed Globe Cup footage of master cross-nation technicians — no shock that 1 skier highlighted was Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby. On see and dissected by Whitcomb’s keen eye was the unsightly-duckling of moving up steeps although traditional skiing: the herringbone.
Soon after Whitcomb summarized what he noticed as the key herringbone consider-aways, the staff hit the sun and snow.
The men’s team was up first, cycling up and down a steep and sustained area of track. Whitcomb explained the portion of trail they had selected for the approach session was reflective of some tricky trail sections in Falun, Sweden, exactly where skiers have to transition speedily from striding to herringboning and back to striding.
Erik Bjornsen, fresh off a Globe Cup campaign exactly where he showed enhanced final results in the later on half of the season, worked with head coach Chris Grover on the finer factors of uphill efficiency. Equipped with iPads, the coaches were capable to video every skier and provide real-time suggestions.
For the duration of the technique drill, Ian Torchia, the newly minted USST growth staff member and Northern Michigan University pupil-athlete, benefited from mirroring USST veteran Andy Newell’s refined traditional skiing. After skiing behind Newell, Torchia spoke with USST Advancement Coach Bryan Fish, who offered concrete ideas to tweak his skiing.
As the men’s group skied off, the women trickled in and started their approach drills. USST A-team member Sadie Bjornsen worked closely with Whitcomb, focusing on driving her knee forward and to “bound” as she high-tempoed up the track.
Bend Camp is historically a time for skiers and coaches to review logistics for the coming year and start the approach of waking the body up. It is also at camps like this where the coaching staff can observe skiers early in the training season and give advice as they head back to their house clubs to perform with non-USST coaches.
Right after wrapping up the session, FasterSkier caught up with Jessie Diggins and Newell. Diggins has turned a corner in terms of her sprint and distance skiing she ranked eighth general this season on the Planet Cup. Loving the day with the sun and snow, Diggins noted it is excellent to be back in Bend.
Newell, who only months in the past mulled retirement or a diminished Globe Cup schedule, stated he was rejuvenated and glad to be skiing in May possibly and motivated for the grind ahead.
The USST will remain in Bend for another week of on-snow instruction.