Prep/Comp Team Update
Fall is in the air and athletes are training hard for the upcoming season, some are balancing two sports all while finding a balance and rhythm with respect to what it means to be a successful student/athlete. Change, transition and the ability to remain dynamic mentally and physically are all aspects that define what it means to be a thriving athlete on the Prep and Comp team. As much as finding routine is important, it's the acceptance of routine as things develop, evolve and progress that allow the athletes to respond to a variety of challenges and circumstances. As the team is in the midst of a new training block, they are emphasizing transition, change and progression in every weekly routine; as such athletes are increasing the their yearly hourly plan to 450hrs for U16s and 500hrs for U18s plan. The intention is to emphasis that these next two training blocks (October-November) are really the most important preparatory training months of the year.
The team completed their third physical testing week last month as means of measuring progress in their training. The coaches remind the athletes that they may see and typically do see incremental improvement if they regularly attend training, but it's important to understand that heavy training loads can sometimes impact time trial and physical fitness test results. Each test really only gives us a snapshot of what it means to be a complete Nordic athlete with the understanding that we want to be able to ski fast come January, February and March. Team test results can be view here.
Coach Ali is fresh back from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard L200 coaches seminar in Bend, Oregon with some new training ideas, but she is also confirming the team training plan is on track. U.S. Ski Team Development Coach Bryan Fish spoke to the importance of focusing on process oriented goals early in the season so it's easier to observe incremental progress on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. World Cup athlete and now Nordic Team Solutions Coach, Andy Newell was in attendance and introduced some interesting training ideas, including grass skiing and bounding with skis on. Feel free to reach out to coach Ali if you have any specific questions about the seminar - ali@jhskiclub.org
Important Upcoming Dates
- October 8th - Prep/Comp Team Meeting - King's Grill (at the base of Raferty ski lift)- 6 p.m.
- October 9th - Junior Team Meeting - King's Grill- 6 p.m.
- October 10th - Development Team Meeting - King's Grill- 6 p.m.
- October 11th - Nordic Program Internal Swap - King's Grill- 5:30- 7p.m.
- October 14th - First day of dry-land for Development and Junior teams
- October 16th - Concussion testing for U14 and older athletes - Ski Club Office - 4 - 7 p.m.
- October 22nd- Skinny Skis Team Discount Night - 5- 8 p.m.
- October 28th - Concussion testing for U14 and older athletes - Ski Club Office - 4 - 7 p.m.
- November 2nd - Trail Creek Clean Up- 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Junior Team and Development Team Start Dry-land
The Junior and Development teams will be starting dry-land training on October 14th. Coaches and athletes will focus on fundamental movement exercises, games, some strength training, and ski imitation exercise. The Junior team will also roller-ski a hand full of days throughout the dry-land period. Development dry-land training will be held on Monday's and Wednesday's from 4 p.m. - 5:15 p.m at the Middle School soccer fields. Junior dry-land training will will be held from 4 p.m. - 5:30, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and also starting from the Middle School soccer fields. Tuesday training will start for the Junior team once the team is able to ski. For any Development team questions contact head coach Rob Murphy at rmurphy@jhskiclub.org, or Junior head coach Calvin Wight at cwight@jhskiclub.org.
New Coaches
We're welcoming a handful of new and returning coaches to the Nordic program, and we continue to have very qualified applicants approach the club as the rosters continue to grow.
Will Wicherski will be returning to coach for the Development team after a two year hiatus. Will is a former Nordic racer from Boise who has raced across the country and around the world and loves skiing culture and the Nordic lifestyle. He lived abroad and attended a ski academy in Norway between high school and college., and was an academic all American all four years at NCAA championships. After graduating from Williams college he coached the Junior team and the Development team before getting his masters degree in Colorado. He now works as a geomorphologist for a river science consulting firm while not recreating outdoors.
Mark Newcomb will also be joining the Development team coaching staff; he brings a wealth of knowledge as a former mountain guide, ski patroller, avalanche course instructor, and community leader. Mark is currently a Teton County Commissioner, born and raised in Jackson Hole and has two kids in the Nordic program. He grew up within an easy tour of Trail Creek, trained briefly with the Nordic team but chose alpine skiing at first for fun, later as a senior in high school to race. He also alpine raced in college at Carleton in Minnesota. He looks forward to sharing with kids his love of skiing in all forms with and helping support a great program.
Also new to the JHSC Nordic coaching staff, George Cartwright will be joining the Junior team coaching team for the 2019/20 season. George grew up in Lander, Wyoming where he found his love for skiing. He raced in the Wyoming High School circuit as well as competed at Junior Nationals, Scando cup,and World Juniors. After high school, George skied for Northern Michigan University where he studied Spanish, English and Criminal Justice. He eventually made his way to Jackson where he teaches Spanish and enjoys all the recreational opportunities right outside his door.
Support the Nordic Team Purchase a "Supporter" Sweatshirt
New this year, we will be selling "supporter" JHSC Nordic Sweatshirts! If you love what we do and want to show it, please purchase your supporter sweatshirt for $50 here.
JHSC Nordic Sponsors
The community is rallying around the Nordic team this year, thanks to all of our program sponsors that continue to support our mission at JHSC. We are still searching for two more sponsors for our new and custom event fence that will be featured at our home races at Trail Creek. If you're interested please contact Nordic Program Director Ben Morley- bmorley@jhskiclub.org.
Fast and Female Champ Chat: PARK CITY
"Fast & Female is proud to present an afternoon of fun and athletic inspiration for girls 8-14!
Join Olympic Champ Kikkan Randall and a host of elite female atheltes for a morning of fitness and inspiration. Connect with professional athletes, meet other girls interested in sports, and hear about life as an athlete!"
More information can be found at https://www.fastandfemale.com/events/champ-chat-park-city/
The team will not be traveling to this event, travel and lodging will be each families responsibility. However coach Bria Riggs will be attending the event and holding a training session afterwords if any JHSC athletes are interested. Please be in touch with Bria at briggs@jhskiclub.org
