The USSA Supertour Returns to Auburn Ski Club This January

Home , Super Tour

The USSA SuperTour Returns to Auburn Ski Club this January

w w w . farwestnordic . o r g RP-Nordic News.10.2016.pdf 1 10/20/16 2:14 PM

CMY

K RP-Nordic News.10.2016.pdf 1 10/20/16 2:14 PM

CMY

K 2016/2017 FAR WEST MEMBERSHIP FORM

PRIMARY or INDIVIDUAL MEMBER: BIRTHDATE

FIRST NAME______LAST NAME______BIRTH DATE MONTH DATE YEAR MAILING ADDRESS______

CITY______STATE______ZIP______PHONE ( )______

E-MAIL ADDRESS:______

ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS (For Family Memberships Only): BIRTHDATE

FIRST NAME______LAST NAME______EMAIL______

FIRST NAME______LAST NAME______EMAIL ______MONTH DATE YEAR MEMBERSHIP TYPE (Check One): SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP ...... $100...... HARD COPY/MAIL PREFERENCE: Once or twice a year, Far West may elect to mail a hard copy of its regular SUPPORTING FAMILY...... $150...... newsletter. If you would prefer to have this mailed to you FAMILY MEMBERSHIP...... $65...... instead of receiving an electronic version, CHECK HERE. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP (ADULT OR JUNIOR)...... $35...... FIRST-TIME YOUTH MEMBER (NON-RACE SCORING)...... $15...... MEMBERSHIP DESCRIPTIONS ADDITIONAL DONATION...... For more specific information, please check our Benefits Page on our website at www.farwestnordic.org. TOTAL ENCLOSED...... Far West Nordic Membership includes eligibility to compete and be scored in Far West race series: Fischer Cup, Sierra Ski Chase, Masters Challenge plus eligibility for Far West Clinics and Programs. Far West Membership: May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017 Junior Member Benefits include eligibility to be scored in Far West Nor- dic Junior National Qualifier Events and the U-14 Cup Races. PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: Far West Nordic dues may be tax deductible given the nature of ben - FWNSEA, P.O. BOX 10046, TRUCKEE, CA 96162 efits associated with membership and as we are a 501(c)(3) California Voicemail & Fax: (530) 852-0879 Non-Profit Corporation. Please check IRS Publication 526 for more [email protected] information or with your accountant regarding your tax deductibility. Please make checks payable to FWNSEA. If you would like to pay Check our Website for Sponsorship by credit card, please pay online at www.farwestnordic.org & Volunteer Opportunities

FAR WEST NORDIC SKI AREA DISCOUNTS Auburn Ski Club All Day Tickets at Half Day Rate Valid Anytime: one pass per FW Card Bear Valley XC $5 off Full Day Trail Pass Valid Daily, Non-Holiday Only Kirkwood XC All Day Tickets at Half Day Rate Valid Anytime Resort @ Squaw Creek $5 Off Full Day Pass Valid Anytime Royal Gorge XC Full Day Pass for Afternoon Rate Valid Anytime Full Day Pass for Afternoon Rate Valid Non-Holiday Only Tahoe XC 2 for 1 Pass for NEW Far West Nordic Members Valid Non-Holiday Only Tahoe Donner XC All Day Tickets at Half Day Rate Sunday-Friday, Non-Holiday Tamarack Lodge 20% Off Day Trail Pass Valid Anytime Other Far West Nordic Benefits Include… Silver Sage Sports Performance Services: 10% Discount Cottonwood Restaurant: Buy One Entree, get 2nd Half Off 20% Off Discount at Kuzyk Acupuncture $5 Discount on Registration for the Tahoe Rim Tour and the Billy Dutton Uphill To Receive Benefits at our Supporting Merchants and Ski Areas, you MUST show your Far West Nordic Membership Card.

4 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 Welcome to “Nordic News” 2017

Come on people now, Smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another…Right now. This song was written over 50 years ago, and yet I can’t think of a better way to start this introduc- tion to Nordic News 2017. 2016 has been a tough one, in so many ways. We’ve lost many iconic individuals throughout this year—Ali, Bowie, Prince, Wilder, and so many more. And then, well, we won’t even talk about politics. And so I think about what Nordic skiing means to many of us in the “big scheme of things,” and how our little niche sport can help solve all the world’s problems. And I come back to the lyrics above, because when it comes down to it, we are truly a community of individuals tied together by our love of one simple activity – cross country skiing. We are all brothers and sisters in sport, and you can see this in the interaction between individuals on the tracks, in the backcountry, and especially in cross country ski races. It is there that this community effect is really noticeable – long-time competitors and friends seeing each other every weekend to challenge themselves against the terrain and each other. Far West Nordic is really just an exten- sion of that community, and our organization is proud of its role in keeping XC PERFORMANCE those friendships and competitions alive and thriving. We can especially see this effect on our Junior skiers. Read about Katerina Nash’s role as an TRACK • BACKCOUNTRY • FAT BIKE incredible role model for so many of our junior athletes on page 6, along California’s Largest and Most with Hannah Halvorsen’s and Sofia Sanchez’s writings beginning on pages Complete Nordic Store 12 to illustrate just how important our sport—and Far West Nordic—is to the development of quality young adults. You hold the key to love and fear, all in your trembling hand. Just Skate, Classic, or Fat Bike one key unlocks them both, It’s there at your command. XC SKI “Your Smile Goes Here” Happy skiing, everyone. See you all on the trails. RACING Mark Nadell Nordic News Editor NORDIC TOURING Table of Contents FAT BIKES aterina ash Far West Nordic’s Own Olympian . . . . pg . 6 K N : (Sales & Rentals) by Mark Nadell & Mitch Dion

Trail Building 101: Noah Brautigam ...... pg . 10 by Spencer Eusden THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE A Small Pond: Growing Up Nordic Racing in Tahoe . . . pg . 12 by Hannah Halvorsen and EXPERIENCED How Ski Racing Has Helped Me Grow . . . .pg . 15 SALES STAFF by Sofia Sanchez

Heart Disease and the Endurance Athlete ...... pg . 16 by Andy Pasternak, MD

Racing? Are you Crazy?: A Nordic Primer . . . . .pg . 18 by Bruce Culbertson Far West Nordic Race Series: Sierra Ski Chase, Masters Challenge, Fischer Cup ...... pg . 20

Super Tour: Top Level Racing at Auburn Ski Club . . . . pg . 21 by Beth Ingalls/Auburn Ski Club

Nevada Nordic: Bringing Back Nevada Skiing . . . . . pg . 22 by Dave Straley

Far West’s 2016-2017 Race Schedule . . . .pg . 23 Cover Photo: Sadie Bjornsen, Kikkan Randall, and Liz Stephen 12047 Donner Pass Road share the podium at the 2013 USSA Super Tour Finals Classic Truckee, California • 96161 All Photos (unless otherwise Specified) by: Mark Nadell, 530.587.5561 • 877.532.8798 www m. acbethgraphics com. “Nordic News” is a yearly production of the Far West Nordic Ski Education Association. Monday–Saturday 9-6 Copyright © 2017. Design/typesetting is by MacBeth Graphics of Truckee. Sunday 9–5 Any submissions, questions, or corrections, contact: www.pacosxc.com Mark Nadell, Editor • [email protected]

Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 5 Katerina Nash Far West’s “Olympian in our Midst”

t wasn’t long ago that many of And although NBC and their commentators largely us endurance sports fans ignored her (USA! USA! USA!), some of you may have were glued to our TV’s, noticed a certain familiar name from the Czech Re- watching the Summer public in the Mountain Bike competition — Katerina Olympic Games from Nash — mixing it up with the leaders during the race. Far West Nordic is proud to call Katerina our Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “Local Hero,” and while her most recent exploits And while there was have been of the two-wheeled variety, she has quite enough gymnastics, an extensive background in Nordic skiing and swimming, and track & field World Cup racing, and is one of the very few Icoverage to keep a viewer occupied individuals who have competed in BOTH for days (weeks?) at a time, many Summer and Winter Olympics – multiple times! of the readers of this magazine probably made a special effort We caught up with Katerina recently, and to watch more “compatible” decided that this 5-time Olympian’s story is one that our readers need to know more about. sports to our interests, such Not to mention, this world-class athlete is also as road cycling, triathlon, one of nicest, most humble, and down-to-earth and mountain biking. role models our youth could hope to emulate….. Born Katerina Hanusova in the small town of Prach- atice, Czechoslovakia (previous to the falling of the “Iron Curtain”), she grew up with a strong love of the outdoors and sports. “I wasn’t one of those kids who wanted to stay home and read a book,” she says. Even though she started off as a gymnast in the Czech “system,” (influenced heavily by the eastern European-style clubs of the time), she soon gravitated toward the outdoors. “While I didn’t enjoy the in- door sports, their structure and rigidity, I do credit that sport with helping me in everything else I have done. With gymnastics, you learn how to handle your body.” Growing up in a small town, “club sports” were available to every young athlete and were well-supported. There was great men- toring and coaching, where you could just sign up and get equipment. Back in those days, in that country, people had more time to spend on athletics. From an early age, she started Nordic skiing. “What I loved first about the Nordic club was summer training — running, biking, track and field,” she says. “I was a decent middle distance runner, but nothing special, and even competed as a high-jumper for awhile.” In the winter, we Nordic skied. “While we didn’t have tons of snow, the Club kids were cool to hang out with. Races moved from town to town, and with just one snowmobile around, we had to go pack our own trails for striding.” Clubs trained often in the local soccer stadium, on wooden skis and bamboo poles, and most often in the darkness. Soon, Katerina was picked out of the “pool” into the Eastern European structure of choosing promising talents at a young age. That led her to the nearest Ski Academy, in the mountains about an hour away from her home. Designed for teenagers from 14 to 19 years old, the academy didn’t cost anything to the families, and housing was provided for the athletes. School was only a 3 kilometer walk away, and the Academy paid for the races. These times were also an era of political upheaval for Eastern Europe, with many of the old “systems” being discarded and entirely new country boundaries being established. “I can actually say I am “Czecho- slovakian,” she says, “born before the split of what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. As kids, we didn’t understand the politics. We were told negative things about the outside world, about the United States especially.” As 1989 approached, she could tell something was up, and then “everything changed. I’m mostly sad for my parents, who couldn’t do the things I have been able to do.” Even though her home town was only a half hour away from (West) Germany, she 6 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 had never even crossed the border until she was almost an adult. She began competing at the highest levels in Junior XC Skiing. Her most memorable race, she says, was at the 1994 Junior World Champion- ships in Austria, where she moved her Czech relay team up from 5th place to 1st by passing other competitors one by one. Even though she began as a Nordic skier, it was cycling that pro- pelled her into the upper echelon of sport. At age 15 (1992), she began biking, and knew that she wanted to go to the Olympics by the time she was 18 years old. Mountain Biking was just starting to boom, and she immediately got thrown into the “elite” category, even though she had just started riding. “One of the coaches at the ski academy started riding, and he said he could get us sponsored if anyone was interested. I had been saving money for a mountain bike but could never afford it, so getting a bike for free was all I needed!” It didn’t take long for Nash to utilize her childhood skills of running and skiing and transfer them to the pedals. By 1996, she competed in her first Olympic competition, the Summer Games in Atlanta, in the mountain bike division, finishing a respectable 19th place (one place behind another famous Czech Nordic-skier-turned-cyclist, Katerina Katerina leads the break at the 2013 Great Ski Race Neumannova). Nash cites the benefit of cross-over skills between XC skiing and cycling, “Cycling requires a lot of strength, and there is the different sports, with Cycling to Nordic being the most common cross-over. She technical element to it, just like Nordic. I think the balance and coor- believes that Nordic skiing is simply a great general fitness base for just about any dination of a skier – turning on icy trails, stepping around corners – sport. was great preparation for cycling. The sports also are similar in terms Soon, however, Nash set her goals in a different direction – at university in the of effort because they both have climbing and descents, so the body United States. After a brief spell in Boulder, she landed at the University of Nevada, is used to drastic changes in heart rate.” Reno, becoming a four-time All-American, and establishing herself as one of the Not satisfied with just a single Olympics, Nash soon was skiing for top skiers in World Pack history as a three-time NCAA champion in 2001 and 2002. the Czech Republic in the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, with And, along the way, a marriage to 9-time U.S. National XC Ski Champion Marcus results from 22nd to 24th place in the 3 individual races. (The Silver Nash. In 2002, it was back to the Winter Olympics, this time close by in Salt Lake medalist in the 5K was none other than Katerina Neumannova). Nash City, where her top finish was a 20th place in the 15 km. Freestyle event. believes that only 46 people have ever been to the Olympics in two By now, however, Nash’s goals were set in the cycling realm, where she com-

Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 7 Fresh Air, Unsurpassed Views and Miles of Trail for All Abilities That

Wander Deep into the High Sierra royalgorge.com

North America’s Largest Cross Country Ski Resort.

GOLD RUSH FESTIVAL MARCH 18TH 9:30 am Kids Obstacle Course Free 10:00 am 5 &10 km Classic Individual Start

MARCH 19TH 9:00 am 15 km Skate 9:05 am 10 km Skate 9:10 am 45 km Skate

$45 Early Registration $60 March 13th Until Race Day

9411 Pahatsi Rd, Soda Springs CA 95728 | Mailing: PO Box 1100 Soda Springs CA. 95728 | 530 426-3871 | [email protected]

8 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 peted for the next 14 years on both the Mountain elor’s degree in Marketing to start a new career. But Bike and Cyclocross World Cup circuits, including she is definitely planning on still taking advantage multiple wins and other top finishes. She claims of the Tahoe area for both cycling and skiing. “I’ve that it seems like the last 15 years have been most- been all over the world, but skiing at Tahoe Don- ly spent in an airplane, since 80% of the racing she ner, Royal Gorge, and the rest of the resorts around does is in Europe. But she never discarded her here is just the best.” And she’s also looking for- Truckee roots, and although she currently is based ward to some “retirement” competitions, such as in the Bay Area, she spends much of her time here defending her (three-time) title in the Great Ski in the mountains, skiing and biking the local trails. Race every March (“I just love the sense of com- “The variety of trails around here makes this just a munity, the reconnecting with friends that give that great training area, whether you want big climbs race a bigger meaning.”), and hopes to ski in the or super-fast cruising. On the bike, I love the Tahoe American Birkebeiner and possibly one of the lon- Meadows to Spooner section of the Tahoe Rim ger World Loppet races such as the Jizerská 50 km. Trail. And on skis, there is nothing like I’m OK – event in the Czech Republic. Long-time Far West You’re OK at Tahoe Donner Cross Country. It’s mind Nordic coach Jeff Schloss says, “Having Katerina blowing!” But what she likes the most is just skiing living, training, and racing here in the Tahoe area out in the woods with her two Viszla companions, gives us all an example of how prioritizing fitness Ruby and Lola, even if just going out on waxless and dedicated training can lead to major success skis and enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells at the highest levels, and can be a lifestyle that of the outdoors. Asked how she’s sustained the is fulfilling and rewarding for many years.” Kara highest level as a competitor for over 20 years, she Lapoint is a former Far West Nordic Junior Skier says, “It just became a lifestyle. For me, training is who has become one of the world’s top profes- not a sacrifice – I just love moving through the out- sional XTERRA Triathletes, and counts Katerina as A little snow doesn’t stop her training regimen, shown here at the 2013 Super Tour Finals at Royal Gorge doors. It’s “normal” life that makes me tired.” one of her most important role models. “Not only is she one of the most incredible athletes in the Although her “base of operations” is now the Now that her “World Cup” status as a cyclist and world, but she is just an incredible human be- Bay Area, Katerina maintains a strong presence skier is winding down, Nash is looking to the future ing. Having Katerina in the community, as a former here in Truckee, and plans to keep skiing and rid- for new challenges. But she believes that being a teammate, an occasional training partner and most ing the area in the years to come. If you have a top athlete is a pretty special job, and wants to importantly a friend, I can say that she has made a chance to take any of her Nordic Ski clinics at one do it as long as she can. She’ll still retain her main huge impact on my athletic career, and on me as of our local areas, jump at the opportunity – you sponsorships with Clif Bar (formerly Luna) and a person.” won’t be disappointed. Fischer/Swix, and hopes to soon utilize her Bach-

NORDIC DEMO DAYS

TRY THE NEW WINTER 2016/17 SALOMON NORDIC SKIS & BOOTS Please check the ski area below to confirm date:

Dec 27: Royal Gorge at Sugar Bowl’s Village Station

Dec 28: Tahoe Donner Cross Country

Dec 30: Royal Gorge at Summit Station

Jan 7: Tahoe Cross Country

Jan 8: Tahoe Donner Cross Country credit: focus nordic ©

FW16.FAR.WEST.NORDIC.AD_final.indd 1 Far West Nordic News • Winter, 10/31/162017 9:12 • AM 9 Trail Building 101 A Conversation with Noah Brautigam by Spencer Eusden

Question & Answer session with Noah Brautigam, professional trail designer and a former member of the Far West Nordic Elite Team. Noah has moved on from his time in Far West Nordic as ASC Comp/Devo Team Coach and Royal Gorge Ski School Director, and is now a Trail Designer & GIS Analyst for Morton Trails. Noah has designed trails from here in the Far AWest all the way to China.

7800 How did you become involved in designing ski trails? I grew up at a small cross country ski center—started by my parents—in the Green Mountains of Vermont. So, from a very young age I was out on the trails, grooming in the winter, clearing new trails in the summer, and walking through the woods with my dad, laying out new trails. I first became involved with Morton Trails during my Junior year at Middlebury College, where I skied for the team and studied Geography and GIS. John Morton was hired to design the new racecourse at the Rikert Touring Center at Middlebury, and I was asked to do the entire course mapping with him as a school project. At the time I thought, “Man, it would be pretty dang cool to get paid to do this!” But it wasn’t until I helped with the design of the FIS homologated racecourses at Tahoe Donner in 2012/2013 that I really embraced the idea of being a trail designer, and started to work more closely with Morton Trails. For those unfamiliar, what does it take to create a nordic ski trail start to finish? That’s a good question! It really depends on whether the trail will be used primarily for recreational skiing, or whether it is planned as an FIS homologated course. The process also depends on the landowner: is it a municipality, or a private landowner? Is the trail on state or federal land? All of these things play a role. The basic process for any trail, however, follows these steps:

1) Conceptual design: I gather all of the data I can on the property (boundaries, ter- An accomplished runner, Noah can appreciate rain, wetlands, soils, vegetation, etc), and lay out a conceptual trail network. trails of all kinds, whether on snow or dirt. 2) Field work: we take the concept to the field, and oftentimes change the concept drastically to 4) Building: this is where we step out of the meet the conditions we find on site. Once the trail is laid out on the ground I do a GPS survey of the trail. scene. Building a ski trail is like a building a road, 3) Revisions: there are always revisions! Sometime to meet environmental regulations, sometimes to and often requires serious excavation and engi- reduce cost, or get that “A” climb (for race courses), etc. neering if bridges are needed. Has your work changed the way you ski? I don’t know if it has changed the way I ski, but it has certainly changed how I experience a given trail while skiing! I appreciate the thought and con- struction that went into those fun twists and turns, the ups and down. It also makes me (for better or worse) much more critical of unimaginative trails! What is the coolest trail system you have built or worked on? That’s a tough one. Each project has its own objectives and challenges. If I had to pick one “Live Well, Ski Often” right now, I would have to go with the design of a World Cup-level cross country and biathlon venue we have been working on outside of Changbais- han, China. The site is about 30km north of the North Korean border, and while working over 10 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 there has been a huge challenge in some ways, many other Nordic skiing regions in I always feel lucky to experience another culture the US, which changes how trails and a wildly different landscape on the job! While are built, and therefore how we the trail design itself isn’t much different than jobs design them. in the US, the food, drink, people, and landscape How does one design certainly are. trails for summer and How has climate change affected winter use? trail design? Trade secrets—have to keep a Global warming has changed so much about few! The important thing that a lot winter-oriented trail design. For one thing, design- of people don’t realize is that it ing a new cross country ski area almost always in- is absolutely possible to design volves a discussion about snowmaking. Beyond a single trail network that will of- that, we make an effort to design ski trails on fer phenomenal opportunities for northerly aspects, and in areas that will hold snow recreation in all seasons. better than others, and also design trail networks What is your favorite that can be multi-purpose so that when there is Nordic Ski trail? no snow they can be used for walking, running, Of course you had to ask this. mountain biking, and horseback riding. I’m going to stick with sentiment What is different about designing and say that my favorite trails are trails in the Sierra Nevada? the one I grew up on at Camel’s A couple of years ago I would have said that Hump Nordic Ski Area, in Hun- the main difference in the Sierra is that you don’t tington, VT. They are narrow, sinu- have to worry about small ground cover or rocky ous, beautiful, fun, and always trails, because all the snow would cover every- expanding, thank to the efforts thing up in the winter. That’s obviously not a guar- of my dad (Dave Brautigam) and antee anymore! Trails in the Sierra are generally at his tireless corps of volunteers. a pretty high altitude, and with less available oxy- I learn more every day from the gen it becomes important to mellow out gradients legendary John Morton, but my and keep climbs from being too severe. Nobody, first teacher was my dad, and he even a World Cup athlete, wants to ski up a 20% has created one heck of an amaz- Brautigam leads his teammate Wyatt Fereday grade for 100 meters! Besides those concerns, the ing trail network at Camel’s Hump. through the scenic Euer Valley at the 2013 Valentine’s Race at Tahoe Donner XC soils and vegetation in the Sierra are different from

EXPLORE THE EASTERN SIERRA Discover Mammoth’s scenic Lakes Basin with over 30km of immaculate tracks and trails. Experience world-class Nordic skiing and snowshoeing through the High Sierra at 8,600 ft.

Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 11 A Big Fish — in a Small Pond A Far West Nordic Junior’s Path to the U.S. Ski Team by Hannah Halvorsen

y name is Hannah Halvorsen and I am a cross country skier from Truckee, California. I am 18 years old and graduated from Sugar Bowl Academy last spring. This is my first year on the U.S. Cross Country Development team and I plan to pursue my goals by training with M the Sugar Bowl Academy Nordic Ski Team. I have always been proud to be a skier from is, I didn’t fully appreciate Truckee, California. If I could only say one thing this until I started leaving about being a cross-country skier born and my home. I have traveled raised in the Tahoe region, I would say that I am all over the country to ski one of the luckiest skiers in the world. The years and race in places such as I have spent exploring the mountains and swim- Oregon, Utah, Colorado, ming in the lakes confirm that I live in one of the Michigan, New York, and most beautiful places on earth. The funny thing Vermont. I have ski raced

XIUM ANOTHER

The result of Rossignol’s athlete- approved racing development, BEST the all-new X-IUM PREMIUM SKATE is the elite-level, high- performance World Cup skate ski designed for the world’s most competitive athletes. DAY

X-IUM PREMIUM SKATE SKI X-IUM PREMIUM CARBON SKATE BOOT

12ROSSIGNOL_FAR • Far West WEST NORDIC_2016.indd Nordic News 1 • Winter, 2017 10/10/16 9:59 AM Hannah leads the pack at the 2014 Junior National Freestyle race in Stowe, VT.

across Scandinavia, and also traveled to Norway pristine alpine lakes. in the summer for an international training camp. It That we routinely train on gorgeous terrain with wasn’t until I had raced and trained in some of the bluebird skies isn’t the only thing that has made most well-regarded nordic terrain in the country, skiing such a positive and fulfilling part of my and even the world, that I realized the Truckee- life. Since I first started skiing, I have been sup- Tahoe area is as awesome as it gets. ported by coaches who are knowledgeable, ex- However, when it comes to nordic skiing, par- perienced, hardworking, and passionate about ticularly competitive racing, Truckee isn’t a wide- cross-country ski racing. Since I began training, I ly-recognized “Nordic Hub.” Places like Vermont, have always had a well-written training plan while Alaska, and the Midwest have a strong tradition simultaneously being taught to be my own best of elite Nordic racing. The Truckee-Tahoe region coach. Throughout high school I was lucky enough is known for a different reason—its alpine ski- to work with a structured and motivating strength ing—and has produced some of the world’s best program run by professional coaches. I have had downhill skiers, including World Cup winners. But access to a state-of-the-art gym, VO2 max tread- in cross-country skiing, Far West has always been mill and lactate testing, and strong physical ther- a smaller region that has never had the depth to apy. Living here in the Sierra Nevada, I have also dominate on a National level. been lucky enough to have close access to several low-elevation dryland training sites. As I mentioned earlier, it is not location that puts Far West Nordic skiing at a disadvantage, and The point is, it’s not that we lack the potential to at a closer look, it isn’t that we lack other impor- be a Nordic Hub. Validation of our strength can’t tant assets of high level racing and training either. always be seen in numbers, but in the individual After training with premier ski clubs on both sides athletes we have produced that are competitive of the country, and going to National and Interna- internationally. Homegrown athletes such as Rus- tional training camps, I can say confidently that I sell Kennedy, Matt Gelso, and Annika Taylor have have received some of the best training oppor- competed recently on the World Cup, and Joanne tunities offered to juniors in the world. My home Reid has raced International Biathlon events. We’ve has multiple ski areas with world-class terrain that also had other athletes qualify for U18 (formerly each have more than 100k of groomed trails. I live J1) Trip, World Juniors, and U23 Championships. on the Nordic trails in the Tahoe Donner neighbor- Another reason that proves the Truckee-Tahoe hood, allowing me to have year round access to area to be a great training ground for high level running and skiing right out my backdoor. I have athletes is the number of world-class athletes we grown up hiking and running hundreds of miles of have living here. Truckee has an incredible amount panoramic ridgelines and swimming in dozens of Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 13 of Olympians and World Champions from all dif- even though I have a sup- ferent sports. I had the opportunity to sit down portive community behind with two-time Olympian and multiple-time Na- me. Likewise, when I have tional Champion Marcus Nash, a cross-country traveled abroad and rep- skier who moved to Truckee while racing at the resented the United States, World Cup level. When I asked what he thought I have had the same feel- of Truckee, Nash—someone who has a wealth of ing. Similar to growing up in experience skiing and racing around the world— California, all US skiers share said, “there’s nowhere better to train.” He went a common background. We on to explain the unique opportunity Truckee are all ultimately coming from provides, where athletes can train at 8,000 feet areas where cross-country in the morning and be at sea level that same af- skiing is not the most popu- ternoon. He told me a time when former Nor- lar sport, but the athletes are wegian National Coach Trond Nystad skied with seeing success given the sup- him in Truckee and afterwards asked, “Why isn’t port they are receiving from this place a skiing mecca?” I asked him what he coaches, teammates, family thought Truckee lacked in attracting more skiers and friends. We are passion- and he explained that although Far West has great ate to learn from what our junior involvement and support, athletes beyond best are doing and constant- high school and college fear the expense of living ly improving, but we are also here. He went on to say, “what senior skiers need confident to trust our own to know is that this community would be more program, given the success than happy to support them with living and jobs.” we are seeing on the Interna- Nash also wants more skiers to take advantage of tional level. What is important the Truckee-Tahoe training and said, “I have always is to maximize your opportu- envisioned there being a really strong [Elite] team”. nities and allow the commu- We both agreed that coming from a smaller pond nity to support your goals. It is not a disadvantage to an athlete. Nash summed is possible to succeed from a it up well when he said, “You can be a world class small region, just as it is possi- athlete in a very small community”. ble to succeed from a coun- Hannah is always good for a photo “game face,” shown here at the try that is rather small when it When I travel around the country racing, I feel 2015 Junior Nationals Sprint Competition at Auburn Ski Club. comes to nordic skiing. as though I am representing an underdog division

14 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 How Skiing Has Helped Me Grow by Sofia Sanchez

s a highly competitive athlete, Nordic skiing consumes most of my time and energy as a year-round endeavor. Having participated in many training camps, ski trips, races, and other events that correspond with the sport, I have often heard the question, “Why do you ski?” As simple of a query as this is, it always takes me a while to get down to the core reason of why I do, what I do.

AThis leads me to question myself, “Why do I before races to train six days a week”, or “Why do I go to West Yel- remind me of lowstone over Thanksgiving break to ski in negative why I ski. Along twenty degree weather?” After thoroughly think- with re-motivating through all of the ups and downs of skiing, I ing myself, and came to the realization that the unique experi- using running as ences competitive skiing have brought me have cross-training to not only helped me develop within the physical get a break from disciplines of the sport, but also my mental per- skiing, I was able severance. After years of vigorously training and to make a full re- Sofia shows off great diagonal stride form at the traveling, skiing competitively has helped me learn covery and have 2016 CNISSF Foothill Classic at Auburn Ski Club. the balance of how to efficiently challenge my my best results physical and mental capabilities. My past seasons at Junior Nation- of racing consist of several results that I consider to als. I learned Left: Temporary tatoos were popular with the juniors during the 2015 Junior Nationals at Auburn Ski Club. be successful, but with these good results comes that my burn- a series of bad experiences as well. After having out was not only at some of the more complicated areas bad races, trips, or even times during training that I due to my over- in life, and manipulate them into some- didn’t feel my strongest, I came to the understand- training, but also thing positive. Having the power to do ing that all of the physical limits I set for myself are because I lost this has helped me overcome many completely mental. I discovered that having these focus of why mental barriers that were prohibiting my negative experiences to look back on and analyze I ski in the first improvement in athletics, academics, is what allows me to grow, and that without the place. Instead and even in communication. I continue occasional poor result, there would be no room of focusing on my improvement, I was focusing to ski because it allows me to be the best version for improvement. After having this shown to me on what was prohibiting me from performing, of myself, it challenges me so that I can improve, first hand a series of times, I didn’t completely while losing the idea that I ski for the enjoyment and provides me with amazing opportunities to understand how important the mental side of the of it. Ultimately, skiing has taught me how to look experience the unique aspects in life. sport was until Junior Nationals of last year. At the beginning of last season, I began to receive some of the best results of my entire career, and carried this on throughout most of the season. About three weeks before Nationals, I began to compulsively overtrain, which only made my results plummet. I grew extremely frustrated at the thought that my performance was moving the opposite way that I wanted it to, and figured that my best option would be to seek help from a sports psychologist. Exactly one week before my departure to Nation- als, I arranged a meeting with her to discuss my sudden burn-out, and how I could find a way to motivate myself before the most important races of my season. After meeting with her and discussing my problem, she helped me come up with a “Mission Statement,” which was basically a short series of sentences that I could repeat to myself Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 15 You Gotta Have Heart Heart Disease and the Endurance Athlete… Is More Exercise Always Better? by Andy Pasternak, M.D.

hysical inactivity is one of the most significant public health issues health care providers face. One of the early studies to demonstrate the benefit of physical activity compared drivers and conductors in London’s double decker buses. The bus drivers, who sit all day, had a higher risk of heart disease compared Pto the conductors who walk up and down the steps. Subsequent research has shown that physical activity is effective in the prevention and treatment of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, heart failure and depression. In addition, physically active people have better life expectancy and better quality of life than physically inactive people. Recently though, this question has come up: “If from the Battle of Marathon, he arrived in Athens, some exercise is good, is more necessarily bet- announced the Greek victory over Persia and then ter?” Is there a point at which too much exercise collapsed and died. can be detrimental to the athlete’s heart? If more is after prolonged endurance exercise, the heart Acute Effects of Exercise: worse, is it because of duration of exercise, inten- also shows evidence of fatigue. Increased pres- Before discussing the long-term effects of ex- sity of exercise or cumulative effects over years? sures and stretching of the heart during exercise ercise on the heart, let’s review what happens to Many of the questions have come to light because can result in persistent enlargement of the heart the heart during exercise. When you start exercis- there are more active older athletes and many of and reduced pumping ability after exercise. Most ing, the muscles in your arms and legs need more the endurance events are getting longer in dis- of those changes resolve a few days but there oxygen. The heart, another muscle, pumps faster tance and time. are concerns that with recurrent stress, the heart and pushes more blood out to respond to the muscle won’t bounce back to 100% normal. An While the research on this topic is new, the is- demand for more oxygen. Because the heart is analogy would be to think of it like a balloon that sue is not. Perhaps one of the first noted cases of working harder, it also needs more oxygen. Dur- has been blown up over and over. Once you let heart problems in an athlete occurred when after ing exercise, the pressures in the heart increase, the air out, it may not return to its original shape. the epic run by the great, great, great grandfather which in turn stretches the chambers of the heart. of ultrarunning, Pheidippides of Greece. In 490 Chronic Exercise and Remember, the heart is a muscle. In the same BC, Pheidippides ran about 150 miles in two days. Atrial Fibrillation way the muscles in your arms and legs fatigue, On the third day, after running about 40 kilometers The top part of the heart, the atria, are sup- posed to contract first, pushing blood down to the lower part of the heart and the main pump, the ventricles. In some people, the electrical and muscular activity of the top part of the heart goes haywire and instead of contracting as one unit, the cardiac muscle in the heart shakes irregularly. This is known as atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent research is starting to back up what I’ve seen clinically; years of endurance exercise increases the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, primarily in athletes over the age of 50. One of the first studies to demonstrate this looked at skiers 2 groomed trail systems, just minutes apart in Tahoe City. over the age of 65 doing the Norwegian Birkebein- er. Subsequent studies have demonstrated a simi- Trails for all abilities. Dog-Friendly lar trend in cross country skiers and marathon runners. Within cross country skiing population, skiers tahoexc.org (530) 538-5475 with a greater number of races and faster finishing 16 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 this may be happening and how much credence we should put in these findings. One theory is that while exercise may contribute to coronary calcium build up, the calcium build up is denser, stabilizes the plaque and results in a lower risk of getting a heart attack. Coronary Artery Disease The issue with those previous studies is the researchers measure markers for heart disease and not outcomes. We need to turn to the epidemiology literature to see how endurance athletes fare compared to non-athletes. In this case, the best long-term studies show that exercise does decrease your risk of mortality between 30-45% with an increase of life expectancy between 3-6 years. A few studies have shown that athletes who are exercising at the highest levels have a slightly higher mortality rate than more recreational athletes but the findings aren’t consistent. For example a Swedish study looking at 73,000 skiers show that skiers had lower mortality compared to non-skiers, including lower deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Similar studies show excellent morbidity and mortality benefits for Olympic athletes and Tour de France cyclists even years after their professional athletic careers. Complicating factors are athletes who use performance-enhanc- ing drugs. Human growth hormone, erythropoietin, and anabolic steroids all have the ability to increase an athlete’s risk of coronary artery disease. Take that, cheaters! Summary The benefits of exercise for cardiac and overall health far out- weigh the risks to the heart. We need to continue to promote exercise for all of its benefits in all ages. At the upper levels of exercise, athletes may put themselves at a higher risk of atrial fibrillation but it’s unclear if that is a result of the duration of exercise, the intensity of exercise, the cumulative years of exercise or some combination thereof. There may be a small chance of increased risk of developing coronary artery disease in the highest intensity athletes but the The good doctor and author shows he has a research on that is still unclear. lot of heart at some of the races last season. times seem to be at a higher risk for developing AF. Exactly why this happens in unclear but we think it may be due to stretching of the atrium, remodel- Cutting-edge ing, inflammation and scarring. Fortunately, a new study demonstrated that while endurance athletes are at a higher risk of AF, they tolerate AF much sports science for better than non-athletes and are able to continue to be physically active, albeit maybe not at the every athlete. same level. Chronic Exercise and Promoting health and Coronary Artery Disease Markers A more controversial issue addresses recent wellness in our community. studies suggesting that endurance runners have a higher risk of having a heart attack due to plaque formation in the arteries. When some of these Andrew Pasternak, MD, MS studies hit the media, we often see headlines like Teresa Angermann, DO “Exercise is Bad for You!!” In general, while these Darin Olde, APN studies have caused to me to pause and think, they haven’t changed how much I exercise or Julie Young, Lab Director what I recommend for my patients. • VO2 max, lactate threshold, metabolic One of the first studies that caused alarm com- efficiency & body fat testing pared 50 men who had run at least one marathon per year for 25 consecutive years and compared • Return to sport & injury prevention them to a group of sedentary men. The runners • Endurance coaching did have higher coronary calcium scores (a marker for plaque build up in the arteries performed by • Strength conditioning & performance training CT scan) despite having better blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Another study showed that runners had more fibrosis in the heart than non- 10467 Double R Blvd. Reno · 775.853.9394 runners, as measured by cardiac MRI scanning. There have been a number of theories about why silversagecenter.com Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 17 Me? Race? Are You Crazy? A Nordic Ski Racing Beginner’s Primer… by Bruce Culbertson

uppose you are new to Nordic skiing and are eager to hone your skills. Or maybe you’ve enjoyed skiing for a while and are wondering how to bump your skiing technique up a notch. You might feel completely ill-prepared and even intimidated to enter a ski race, yet racing could very well be the fastest Sway to improve your skiing ability and increase your satisfaction and enjoyment. Nordic ski racing has a wonderful tradition of encouraging skiers of all ages and abilities to participate. The Great Ski Race, from Tahoe to Truck- ee, has had as many as 1,100 skiers — and most of them wouldn’t be

considered “serious” racers. Wisconsin’s American Birkebeiner race has The author styling in the new had almost ten thousand and several European races routinely exceed Far West Masters race suit at the 2016 California Gold Rush. that number. Only a tiny fraction of those skiers have even the slightest hope of climbing onto the winner’s podium at the finish. So, why do so many people enter these races? There are a number of good reasons. Racing is the fastest way to improve your skiing. Just a few minutes into a race, you’ll find yourself among you’ve admired. A race is a terrific workout, and other skiers with abilities similar to your own. This is the perfect time to experiment and discover adjust- an upcoming race is great motivation to train a lit- ments to your technique that will make you ski a little faster—or better yet, ski the same speed with less tle more and a little faster, even when you are not effort. As you push yourself over many kilometers, your skiing will become smoother and more efficient. racing. The same logic can lead you to be more Watching those other skiers, you’ll pick up new tricks – and maybe even spot a few pitfalls to avoid! active during the summer in anticipation of the next season. Soon, you’ll be more healthy and fit. Besides improving your skiing, there are other reasons to race. It can be incredibly satisfying to fin- After several races, you’ll get to know other skiers ish your first race, or race a distance that is a stretch for you, or to catch another racer whose skiing in your part of the pack. These people make great ski partners, and just might become some of your best friends. It’s above all the rest with a base elevation of 7,800 feet Let’s suppose we’ve convinced you to give it a and up to 80 kilometers of try—here are a few tips for your first race. A “mass machine groomed track. start,” “freestyle” race is probably easiest for your first event. Mass Start means everyone lines up and • FAR WEST MEMBERS: Receive a discount on a daily trail pass. starts off at one time (or at least in “waves” by gen- • SEASON PASS CONNECTION: der or expected time of finish). Freestyle means Pass holders of other Nordic resorts that most people will use skating technique (al- ski for a discount at Kirkwood Cross Country. Call for details. though you can diagonal stride if you want.) If possible, try to ski the course before race KIRKWOOD CROSS COUNTRY day so you’ll know what to expect. Most of the Kirkwood, CA rules are pretty self-evident: don’t start before the (209) 258-7248 gun goes off, don’t bump into other people or ski KIRKWOOD.COM over their skis or poles, and so forth. You’ll want to warm up a little before the race starts, and don’t 18 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 line up at the start so early that you completely cool off again. Race starts are high energy and adrenaline-inducing, so try to stay calm and avoid the inevitable urge to start too fast. Olympian Nan- cy Fiddler likes to remind skiers that races are not won at the start—but you could lose it there. You’ll probably be instructed to double pole for the first hundred yards or so of the race to reduce conges- tion. While it’s congested, keep a narrow profile so you don’t cause a crash. Soon the crowd will thin and then the skiing will be much more com- fortable. Before you know it, you’ll cross the finish line. Congratulations! Classic races are more complicated. In these, skating is not allowed or, more precisely, your skis are only allowed to glide if they are parallel to each other. So, the techniques you’ll use are diagonal stride, double pole, and herringbone. Be sure your All speeds and abilities can enjoy ski racing, such as skis do not glide when herringboning. Classic races during the 2016 California Gold Rush at Royal Gorge. often have interval starts – in other words, skiers start one at a time in a pre-assigned order. website is the source for up-to-the-minute infor- occasional technique and waxing clinics and most For a nice summary of the rules for both classic and mation about everything related to Nordic skiing offer ski lessons. freestyle racing, see www.farwestnordic.org/racing/ in the Sierra, including news, the race schedule The Sierra Ski Chase is a wonderful motivator xc-race-rules-101. But don’t let them overwhelm you (which also appears in the back of this magazine), for new racers and even seasoned veterans. Finish – people are very sympathetic to newcomers. Also, same-day race results, and links to our region’s five Sierra races, or just three for first-time racers, look for the Far West Nordic tent at most Sierra races. ski areas and clubs. For Juniors (19 years old and and you’ll earn a participation prize. Wear it with There you’ll receive a friendly welcome, expert ad- younger), there are superb programs at many Sier- pride! See farwestnordic.org for details. vice and answers to all your questions. ra Nevada high schools and middle schools, and So, give some thought to ski racing. If it im- There are many resources available to people nearly all ski areas and ski clubs. For adults, there proves your skiing, makes you more fit and healthy, who want to improve their Nordic skiing and stay are training groups at Auburn Ski Club and at other and helps you make a bunch of new friends, then informed about skiing events. The Far West Nordic XC resorts. Nearly all our ski areas and clubs host you’ll be a winner, no matter where you finish!

Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 19 Far West Race Series Sierra Ski Chase • Masters Challenge • Fischer Cup Far West Has a Race Series for Every Skier

Far West Nordic sponsors two major Race Series for cross country ski racers—the Masters Challenge and the Sierra Ski Chase — in addition to helping coordinate the Fischer Cup series. These races are the perfect way SIERRA SKI CHASE The Sierra Ski Chase is a low-key race series, to compete over a full season against your peers in the sport. The Masters now in its 22nd season. It’s open to cross-country Challenge pits racers against the best in their Age groups, while the Sierra skiers of all ages and abilities. The purpose of the Ski Chase is a more low-key, fun-oriented series that uses an Age Handicap Chase is to promote greater participation in XC ski system to determine the winners. race events, from top-level athletes to recreational skiers who complete courses at their own pace. Whether you want to race, push yourself a bit, or take on a Ski Chase event as a “tour” is up to you! There are two ways Far West members can participate in the Sierra Ski Chase: PARTICIPATION or RACING COMPETITION PARTICIPATION is all about completing a series of races – many participants like having such a goal for their ski season. RACING COMPETITION is an age-handicapped competition in which points are awarded based how you place at each race in which you complete. Competitors are scored throughout the season, and Ski Chase Racing Far West Nordic Board President (and Sierra Ski Chase standings are updated as races are completed. Czar) Peter Hanson dukes it out with 2016 Sierra Ski Chase ALL ages are eligible for Basic Participation. Any winner Peter Mayfield at the finish of the 2016 Bjornloppet XC ski race that’s at least 5K counts towards Ba- Freestyle 20K in Bear Valley. sic Participation. The Deadline for inclusion in this year’s Sierra Ski Chase is January 16th, 2017 SIERRA SKI CHASE PARTICIPATION FISCHER CUP MASTERS CHALLENGE Participation Prizes! All Far West members This is the race series to see how you stack up The Fischer Cup is the PREMIER Nordic race se- who complete a minimum of 5 eligible XC races competitively against your age group peers. Ski in ries in the Far West Division, offering prizes for the this season are eligible to receive the 2017 sea- 5 of the 11 chosen races throughtout the Nordic fastest overall skiers in 3 Age Divisions: son commemorative Participation Prize. If you’re racing season and be eligible to be in the Masters • 20-34 Men’s and Women’s Challenge! This is a great way to show speed, con- a first-time Far West member this season, you’re • 35-49 Men’s and Women’s sistency, and skill. eligible to receive a bonus prize after your first 3 • 50 + Men’s and Women’s qualifying races. The list of races in the Far West Age groups will be divided every 5 years (in- region can be found on our Race Schedule. Winners receive a Swix CARBON Jacket with cluding a Seniors group 20-29); racers need to the Fischer Cup logo and Far West Logo. compete in 5 of the master’s challenge races and Great Raffle Prizes: all participants ages 20 and the scoring rules are 5 points for 1st place, 4 for over who complete a minimum of 5 races will be Skiers must have a Far West Nordic Racing Mem- 2nd, etc — the total score is based on your BEST eligible for raffle prizes donated by our sponsors bership to be eligible for the Cup. Racers must use five races). Skiers must compete in one classic (in addition to the participation prize). You must at least One Classic race in the year-end total score. race to be eligible for awards and must have a rac- be present to win a raffle prize at the prize awards Fischer Cup Races include: ing or supporting membership. Cumulative score ceremony (see below), and you must complete will be the best 5 races for each individual skier Snowshoe Thompson Classic @ Auburn Ski Club 5 races by the date of the awards ceremony to December 18, 2016 In the case of any ties, your score in your 6th qualify for a raffle prize. best race will be used as a tie breaker (if it’s still Sierra Skogsloppet @ Tahoe Donner XC tied, we’ll move to the 7th race, 8th race, etc). The RACING COMPETITION January 16, 2017 Masters Challenge will recognize the top THREE You MUST be a Far West Nordic member age 20 Tahoe Rim Tour Classic @ North Tahoe HS skiers in each age category with awards with a or over to be scored in the Sierra Ski Chase Racing January 29, 2017 • special award for first place in your age category. Competition, and have designated you want to be scored as a “Racing Member.” Juniors are not eli- Alpenglow Freestyle Race @ Tahoe XC Deadline: You must have renewed your Far gible for the Sierra Ski Chase Racing Competition. February 26, 2017 West membership by 1/16/2017. The Great Ski Race @ Tahoe XC For more information, go to the Far West Nor- For all the rules and information, and current March 5, 2017 dic website and click the Masters Challenge link standings, go to www.farwestnordic.org/rac- California Gold Rush @ Royal Gorge under contact “MASTERS,” or Andy Pasternak at ing/sierra-ski-chase/ or contact Peter Hanson at March 19, 2017 [email protected]. [email protected]. 20 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 SUPER TOUR! The Top USSA Competition Comes to Auburn Ski Club Next January

The fastest cross country athletes from across America (and more) will converge at ASC Training Center on January 21 and 22nd for the fourth stop on the USSA’s annual SuperTour, which kicks off in December in Bozeman, MT. The SuperTour is a series of International Ski Fed- eration (FIS) sanctioned cross country ski races taking place across the U.S., produced by the USSA, together with its divisions and clubs. It’s a vital piece of the USSA’s development program and a proving ground for athletes with aspirations of making it to the U.S. Ski Team and competing on the FIS World Cup tour and in the Olympic Winter Games. “As the top cross country racing venue in the Western U.S., we’ve already played host to a lot of high level events and national championships over the years, including a SuperTour Finals in 2013. This summer we built out a new FIS homologated Above: The start of the Women’s Classic 30K Classic event at the 2013 SuperTour competition at Royal Gorge. 5km course which makes us an even more desir- Above Right: U.S. Ski Team’s Kris “Bird” Freeman shows just how hard the Hill Climb competition was in 2013. able venue for world class races such as this,” said ASC Training Center’s Executive Director Bill Clark. Athletes also vie for points during the Super- Auburn Ski Club Tour to earn Continental Cup leader starts and World Cup starts. There will also be spots available TRAINING CENTER for the 2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Feb. 22 – March 5 in Lahti, Finland. Those spots Cross Country Ski Area will be awarded after the conclusion of the U.S. Cross Country Championships in January. “Bringing high level races to our area shows the U.S. and the world what a prime location the Truckee Tahoe area is for Nordic skiing. It provides our young athletes with the opportunity to compete with some of the best skiers in the world, and is a fabulous way to showcase our talent and our region as a destina- tion,” Event Chair Maggie Shane commented. The SuperTour stop at ASC Training Center 25KM XC trail system will bring hundreds of athletes and support staff into the area for the weekend of January 21-22. New trails for 2017 Saturday’s race will feature the CLASSIC SPRINT competition, a 1.25 km. event with two distinct Season and daily passes modes. First comes the Preliminary competition, a 1.25 time trial to determine who advances into Youth programs in XC, Biathlon the Championship Round. Then come a series of Alpine and Snowboarding 6-person heats, head-to-head competitions to crown the day’s winners. Equipment rentals Sunday is the FREESTYLE DISTANCE 10 kilometer Coming to ASCTC XC instruction competition on the tough trails at Auburn Ski Club. January 21-22, 2017 For sponsorship and volunteer information call Interstate 80, Castle Peak exit -- www.auburnskiclub.org the ASC Training Center at 530-426-3313 or email 530-426-3313, [email protected] Beth Ingalls at [email protected]. Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 21 Nevada Nordic is Back! Working to Bring XC Skiing back to the Silver State by Dave Straley

The winters of 2012/13 and 2013/14 were among the driest Tahoe has ever experienced. Cross country (XC) skiers and snow-shoers in particular struggled to find groomed terrain with enough snow coverage.

There was plenty of snow in those dry years in Nevada Nordic’s ultimate goal, however, is the Incline Lake area off of Mt Rose Highway, thanks to establish a multi-season, multi-use lodge largely to its high elevation (7,500 - 8,500 feet). built on the IVGID-owned parcel of land just There just wasn’t an XC operation with groomed above Incline Lake. For community ski trails, trails. Based on its history, this area could support Nevada Nordic envisions grooming 15 kms groomed ski trails from December to April every of trails on the north, Incline Lake side of the year, making it possible for skiers to get in a whop- highway with an eventual tie-in to the 50 to ping 140 ski days per season. It has the potential to 60 kms of trails formerly groomed by Dia- be an XC skier’s paradise. And, the Incline Village mond Peak XC on the south side of Mt. Rose General Improvement District (IVGID) owns five Highway. This project would bring more eco- acres along the highway, where a lodge could be nomic activity to the Incline Village area, of- built and grooming equipment stored. fer a new forum for youth clubs and teams, and provide all community members with the This little known fact is what inspired a few en- opportunity to recreate and enjoy our local thusiastic and community oriented XC skiers to natural history and environment. launch NEVADA NORDIC, a non-profit dedicated to establishing a community-supported, cross This will be a very challenging project. country ski and multi-use venue in the Mt. Rose area It relies on coordination and cooperation The views at the old Spooner Lake Cross Country area were epic. and make community XC ski and multi-use trails among multiple government agencies, some Photo courtesy of Max Jones more accessible on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. of which include the US Forest Service, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), IVGID, While the USFS permitting process delayed Ne- TRPA, and Washoe County. In order to operate, vada Nordic’s first objective last year, the founding Nevada Nordic also relies on the local community Subject: “OSVUM.” If writing by mail, please team—a group of volunteers—decided to keep of supporters through 1) private donations and 2) address your comments to: up the initial momentum and find another way to enthusiastic, resourceful volunteers. bring XC ski trails to Nevada. They managed to do U.S. Forest Service so through a great partnership with the Lake Tahoe Nevada Nordic is seeking your help in both of Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Nevada State Park. In its first season, Nevada Nor- these areas. If you want to enjoy an XC – multi- ATTN: Jeff Marsolais dic groomed 10 kms of trails which were open to use community center in the Mt Rose area, please 35 College Drive the public for 58 days at Spooner Lake State Park share your opinion with the US Forest Service. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 under the Nevada Volunteers in Parks program. You can email or write to the LTBMU and express Nevada Nordic also needs volunteers to set the your support for XC trails off Mt. Rose Highway trails at Spooner and Incline using a snowmobile This year, Nevada Nordic plans to groom at in the Incline Lake and former Diamond Peak XC and a Yellowstone Ginzu groomer. The organiza- Spooner again and hopes to groom 7-8 kms at the area. If emailing, please address your comments tion seeks to train enthusiastic volunteers who can Incline Village Championship Golf Course under a to Jeff Marsolais, U.S. Forest Service LTBMU at: commit to the winter grooming schedule. Nevada similar partnership with IVGID. [email protected] Nordic is also looking for Volunteer XC Ski Report- ers to sign up to post news and updates about grooming and ski conditions to the website, mail list, social media, and local press. Finally, Nevada Nordic needs funding. While it is an all-volunteer organization, Nevada Nordic does have some expenses that are necessary to operate. The largest annual expense is contract grooming. After each snow fall, Nevada Nordic hires an operator to pack and level the trails with a Snow Cat. At each location, this winds up costing between $300 to $500 after each storm. Visit the website at www.nevadanordic.org or Facebook page to become part of Nevada Nor- dic. After all, a cross country skier’s paradise only happens if skiers participate.

22 • Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • DECEMBER JANUARY MARCH DECEMBER 11, 2016 JANUARY 22, 2017 JQ MARCH 11, 2017 TANNENBAUM 10K CLASSIC SUPERTOUR FREESTYLE DISTANCE BJORNLOPPET FREESTYLE 10 am • Sunday • Tamarack Lodge XC Sunday • Auburn Ski Club 10:30 am • Saturday • Bear Valley XC 10 km. Classic (Juniors & Norice: 5 km. or Youth 2 km.) 20 km or 10 Km • $45 by 2/24 (Jrs: $30) • Late Reg: $50/$35 10 km. Men • 5 km. Women • $45 for one race • $80 for both races Includes T-Shirt, Party, Prizes, Food and Music Online Signup: $29 • In person Signup: $35 • Juniors: $8/$15 Registration closes on Thursday, January 19th at 4 pm • No Late Reg. www.bearvalleyxc.com • (209) 753-2834 Start at Packstation • DIAGONAL STRIDE ONLY FIS & USSA Sanctioned Fundraiser for Eastern Sierra Nordic Skiing www.auburnskiclub.org • (530) 426-3313 MARCH 12, 2017 www.tamaracklodge.com • (760) 934-2442 BJORNLOPPET CLASSIC JANUARY 29, 2017 MC FC 10:00 am • Sunday • Bear Valley XC DECEMBER 17, 2016 JQ TAHOE RIM TOUR & RACE 10 km./5 km. • $30 by 2/24 • $35 Late Registration TAHOE MOUNTAIN SPORTS Sunday • North Tahoe HS to Northstar DIAGONAL STRIDE ONLY HOLIDAY SPRINTS Classic: 9:00 am • Freestyle: 9:30 am www.bearvalleyxc.com • (209) 753-2834 10 am • Saturday • ASC Training Center 26 km. • $50 ($20 Juniors) postmarked 1/23 • Online by 6pm 1/28 MARCH 18, 2017 MC 1.25 km. Sprint Course (1 km.

Far West Nordic News • Winter, 2017 • 23 THE LOCAL’S FAVORITE

VOTED ONE OF THE TOP 3 CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREAS IN THE NATION 100+ KM GROOMED DAILY FOR SKATING AND STRIDING TERRAIN FOR ALL LEVELS OF SKIERS FROM BEGINNER TO EXPERT BEAUTIFUL MEADOWS AND SPECTACULAR VIEWS 4 WARMING HUTS PSIA SKI SCHOOL TOP OF THE LINE RENTAL FLEET PUBLIC WAX ROOM AND FULL SERVICE WAXING DELICIOUS, HEALTHY FOOD AND GREAT VIBE

SEE TAHOEDONNER.COM/CROSS-COUNTRY FOR DETAILS ABOUT:

• EXTRA BENEFITS OF BUYING A SEASON PASS • MULTI-DAY TICKETS AND DAILY RATES • MULTI-WEEK PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS & KIDS • SEASON PASSHOLDER “BRING A FRIEND” DAYS (DEC 3-16) • NATIONAL LEARN-TO-SKI MONTH DISCOUNTS (JANUARY) • EVENING SNOWSHOE TOURS • EXPANDED DOG AND FAT BIKE FRIENDLY TRAILS • DEMO DAYS AND WAX CLINICS • FUN SKI RACES AND TOURS JAN. 19, FEB. 12 AND MARCH 26

Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area 15275 Alder Creek Rd., Truckee, CA 96161 tahoedonner.com/cross-country [email protected] 530-587-9484

FarWestNordicNews_Full_Nov2016.indd 1 11/9/16 4:46 PM