North American Womans Training Alliance Camp!

3rd Annual NAWTA Camp completed!(NAWTA=North American Training Alliance) For three years, the North Americans have been putting our heads together and working towards getting better and better among the international world. There are so many neat aspects of these two weeks that we spend together. First, we have started a thing where we invite a guest that doesn't necessarily fall under the "North American" category. Last year we invited Saarinen, a top skier from Finland. Even though I was only able to participate in the first day of the camp- I brought away many new lessons from her experience. This year, we invited one of the younger World Champions among the Norwegian team, Astrid Jacobsen. Astrid was incredible, she was so open and willing to teach us what she has learned over the years. The Norwegian team is a dominant force among the nordic skiing world; so it is always so interesting to hear the dynamics of their team, how they set goals, how they work together, and what all the skiers are really like off the trails.

Thanks to Kikkan for supplying us with some great seafood from her new sponsor- Alaskan Seafood!

My first true King Crab

It is especially fun for me to get to know Astrid because of my very first international experience at World Juniors in Slovenia. I was 16 years old, I had never been on any form of vacation without my parents, I had never been overseas, and I pretty much didn't know what any food was besides pizza and burritos. Needless to say my first World Junior experience was to say the least, "EYE OPENING". As I skied around the manmade trail in Slovenia in the middle of a cow pasture, I was surrounded by people from all over the world warming up so fast I felt like I was standing in place. My first reaction was fear! Tears started to role down my cheek, so I put my glasses down and pretended I knew what I was doing! I was the VERY last starter in every race, so I learned from the start… there was no-where to go but up. One of the things that stood out to me most in that first international experiences was the Norwegian star, Astrid! I watched her as she won races, walked around in a zone of focus, and looked so chill and relaxed. Since that very first experience, she has always been a reminder of "my start". She started as my hero, but as I entered the international circuit, she became my competitor. That is why this camp has been so fun for me. I have gotten to know this girl that I watched in awe eight years ago. I have gotten to know her focus, her open mind with training, and her incredible team spirit!

 

Astrid and the US Ski Team girls (minus Soph) Matt Whitcomb photo

Turns out she is a tough one too.... raspberries from sliding on the ice in the morning

So with this new guest, the National Team girls (minus Sophie Caldwell- we missed you!), the APU woman's team, and some of the top juniors and development skiers from around the US- we put together two great weeks of training. The first week was in town including roller skiing, hiking, biking, and all the dry land options you get. I am still working on getting my feet in working order, so I substituted in some different training, but got to participate in the majority of the camp! (Huge difference from last year). The last day of our dry land camp, we took a trip out to the Valley where the Alaskan REG camp was going on. After spending the day training with them, we dined in the sunshine and had some Q&A with the local juniors. It was fun to ask Bettina Gruber(another guest who joined for the dry land portion, from Switzerland) and Astrid a few of my own questions. As we discussed with the younger juniors about what it means to believe in yourself and work hard; it brought goose bumps to my skin to review how important the leadership and teamwork has been among the National Team. I learned that the Norwegian Team operates in a very similar manner- finding ways to push each other, but also support each other and believe in each other!

Giving a talk with the REG athletes- Brian Fish Photo

Rosie, Jo and I at the top of Hatchers

Zuzana Rogers doing a house visit, teaching me how to tape with a Sharpie Diagram

Bunch of girls, hanging out waiting for the Glacier! Holly B photo.

From there, we headed up to Eagle Glacier for by far THE BEST WEEK I have spent on the glacier. All but one day, we had sunshine and awesome conditions. Last month I traveled up with the APU Team, but had to come down after one day because my feet were not healthy enough to be spending so much time skiing in soft conditions with no option for "cross training". The NAWTA camp, the snow firmed up a bit as the glacier snow began to come through (which tends to be more firm). Besides the change in snow, the most important part that made the week of training on snow possible was the support of Zuzana Rogers, a local Physical Therapist! I have been working with Zuzana for the past year and a half, through many highs and lows. She has been so positive and helpful through the process. 

PT at the top of the mountains!

Zuzana joining us for a sunny ski- Colorful Zinc was a hit this week!

Since the beginning of the summer, Advanced Physical Therapy, the clinic Zuzana works for, has started sponsoring the APU Team. It has been huge for all of us. Zuzana took it one step further though, and volunteered her time to work all day, and all evening up on Eagle Glacier this week. With many of the girls at camp working through some small feet issues, Zuzana spent endless hours keeping us going. Thank you so much Zuzana! Thank you also to Michael Henrick, who joined us for some body care the last three days of the camp as well!

Kikkan and I doing some ice water/warm water body care after every training session!

The group on a clear day- Matt Whitcomb photo

Some days the weather was wild...

Some days too warm for clothes!!

On our fourth day of camp, we had our annual “Sprint Relay Competition”, where we make teams of four and we race around a 1km track tagging off to each other, practicing many different aspects of sprinting. By turning our usual speed workout into a little competition, things get more exciting. We come up with team names, we smack talk each other, and we get good practice with the ever-important exchange/tagging. To make things a little more exciting than usual, four helicopters full of media arrived to watch the fun and games. Erik Flora had built a jump into one of the downhill’s- so we got some practice with our “big air”. The media groups were not just there for our Eagle Glacier Sprint Workout though; they were there to check out what we do, and what it looks like. Local radio stations, TV stations, and Newspaper stations got to get a little taste of how we train, what the living conditions are like, and how this week of training was going to get us one step closer to winning a medal in Sochi. It was fun to sort of show off the set-up, and see their excitement as we raced across the snow. There were some great articles, pictures, and news broadcasts that came from the little visit. Kikkan and Holly were the big stars, but there was some good APU recognition as well.

APU/USST ladies- Matt Whitcomb photo

Getting some air time on the jump- Matt Whitcomb photo

Here is a video from our sprint relay- The very brightest pink shirt is me

Helicopters arriving mid-workout Zuzana Rogers photo

One of the best parts of the glacier is the constant focus on ski technique. With rollerskis on all summer- you sometimes get lazy with your classic kick and take advantage of the "perfect ratchet kick"

Day one of the sun.!! Liz Stephen photo

Girls getting after it! Matt Whitcomb photo

Helping Holly make her famous Glacier Tuna Salad! Anchorage Daily News photo

Middle of the day is often filled with lots of technique analysis with the coaches. Anchorage Daily News photo

Because of the "midnight sunshine" in Alaska... our bunk beds turn into "princess beds", a fort that I would have dreamed of sleeping in when I was 7 years old!

Taking a roped up trip down into the crevasse the first afternoon to listen to the flowing water underneath! Glacier Studies 101!

By Saturday afternoon, everyone was exhausted and ready for a little rest from training for a while. With two great weeks of training together, it was time to rest, recover, and spend some time enjoying each others company. After every NAWTA camp, the national team girls have made it a goal to have a little side trip for fun and relaxation. This year, Holly treated us to a few nights of fun at her cabin that she is building in Hope. It was so fun to see the work Rob and her have put into it- and it got me inspired to one day build my own house! One day...

 

Astrid "manning" the fire

With that I am now quickly catching up and packing my bags for the next training block. For the next month I will be spending 10 days training in the Methow, enjoying some family time before I take off for an altitude training camp in Park City with the APU team for two weeks. Following that I return back to Alaska for the start to the fall semester of school.. how can the summer already almost be over?

With incredible weather, great training, and fun company- NAWTA Camp was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who helped make such a great two weeks! 

Zuzana taking advantage of the weather and the location for some afternoon body work

Kikkan- always making sure she gets the best parts of video!

Who knew this NCAA Champion in Alpine could be so good at nordic too!

USST coaches Matt Whitcomb and Jason Cork really getting into their selfies mid ski!

Tired coaches- down for the count!

Exhausted, taking a rest at the top of the hill on this fine bed!

Mikey Matteson..... making the tool shed his own!

A motivated train of girls- getting one step closer! Matt Whitcomb photo

Summer is HERE!

What is summer in Alaska? I didn't even know it existed. I can remember about 3 total sunny weeks that I have experienced in Alaska where I break out my shorts and tank tops. That's why it's always such a miracle when the heat makes its way up here!

Mikey and Rosie enjoying some sun time at the market!

Some much needed practice in the driveway!

Some new training combinations with the sun!

While we were at our camp in Bend I kept seeing pictures from Anchorage of people skiing in shorts and sports bras and I was worried I had missed my opportunity, but sure enough- when I got back, summer was still here!

Pete Kling at Eklutna Lake

Some sweet little side rivers in the mud.

It's almost like the beach!!??

As amazing as the sun is in Alaska, it also has its challenges. I always get this feeling that when it is sunny, I have to be outside as much as possible. I want to do my training outside, eat my meals outside, do my homework outside, and do any form of activity outside.... but that doesn't work so well. You end up just falling way behind in everything besides training. So, for the first week I was what you call "a sun bum". I was biking down to the lake after dinner. I was listening to my class in the lawn outside, and I was even converting many of my gym workouts into "outside activities". After a week though, I realized summer was here to stay- so I have gotten better about being productive.

Alaskan Rodeo. My second cousins are all amazing at this. One of them is National Champ, so it was fun to gain an understanding for their mad skills! Tanner, you are impressive! Bareback! Yikes!

My past two weeks have been one of the happiest two weeks I can remember. As an athlete, your world revolves around training and health. When health goes out the door- forcing you to change your training to great degrees... your happiness walks right out as well. As much as I tried to be positive last summer- I struggled to find my joy. This summer has been different. I have learned to gain control of many of my chronic injuries, and I have started to make improvements. The combination of the sun, my gaining health, and my adventures the past few wakes have put me in a happier place than I can remember.

Sitting in the river ice bathing... oh yeah!

OUCH! Blisters :(

I have also been getting to spend some time with my young buddies. When I moved to Alaska- a family my sister had been babysitting for in Bozeman suggested I meet a good friend of hers from growing up. It has evolved into a part time babysitting job, and a second family. Johnna and Mike have two young kids that are the cutest things in the world. I started babysitting them when Reed was 3 months old and Molly was 2. Needless to say, Reed didn't like me for the first year of his life since I got to teach him how to drink out of a bottle and operate without his mother for a few hours. Three years later; they are now becoming grown up and even cuter. With all the sunshine lately, I have been having tons of fun spending time with my little buds!

Molly and Reed ripping around on their bikes

Stylin!

This year APU started working with a Physical Therapy Clinic that has been keeping our team operating. Like any other sport, elite skiers spend hundreds of hours a year building and beating down our bodies. We train hard, and do all we can to recover hard. In the majority of other sports, there would be a "recover team" working with elite athletes to help make sure we stay functioning. This year Advanced Physical Therapy has signed on to fulfill that position. Many of us have been working with head PT, Zuzana Rogers for the past couple of years on our own dime, as well as the masseuse, Michael Henrick. This year, the owners of APT have been so generous to start sponsoring our team. It has come at the most ideal time when little injuries have started creeping up on the majority of our team. The effect of this new sponsorship is going to be huge for our team! It will simply take professionalism one step further to allow all of us the best chance at reaching our potential! So thank you so much APT, Zuzana and Michael for getting this started!

A very generous APT owner with my World Champs bib.

Michael Henrick- the best Masseuse int he world!

My roomate, Rosie has been suffering from a little planters, so we have been getting after our adventuring on a bike. I feel like I need to start making a section in my training log, "Adventures of Sadie and Rosie". The great thing about  being on a bike is you can go anywhere. You aren't limited to lack of breaks (like roller skis), and you move pretty darn fast! Anchorage is a huge town, that has many little hidden roads and neighborhoods throughout it. It has been great to get to know some of these little secret "oasis's" and areas! We have also encountered some fun wildlife and interesting people... all parts of spending time in Anchorage!

Rosie- a proud Liberty Bell High School Honor Role Student!

Fitz- rocking her naked biking jersey!

Believe it or not- this is in Anchorage!

here moosy, moosy!

Earlier this week, we had our GALA fundraiser, which is the main fundraiser for APU as a University. The skiers are fortunate enough to be part of this, where we auction off a dinner cooked by the mens and woman's team as one of the live auction items they offer. The GALA also provides a sweet opportunity to get to know some of the people of our community. Erik and I got to hassle Mayer Dan Sullivan for a while, get to know some of the employees of Shell (one of which skid for University of Washington- who knew that ever existed?), and spend some time with my biggest supporters, the Carlile Crew. It is always fun to get all dressed up and spend some time meeting people at a Circus Olay party! Thanks APU for including us in this evening!

The scene!

Rosie, Fitz, Erik and I

Holly and I in front of a shiny Carlile truck

So after two weeks of summer in town; we are now headed up to the Glacier for the week. Weather is variable, so we will likely be back in typical summer glacier time. Some good days, some bad days, and some days you just can't see further than one foot in front of your face. It will be great to get back onto skies and log in some solid kilometers of training! I am actually looking forward to getting back on snow. We are lucky in Alaska with things always changing, you never manage to get bored!

Getting some nice color in our food!

My snazzy new running shoes- thanks Salomon! Hope it doesn't get rainy any time soon!

A New Season

May marks the beginning of a new season... the Olympic Season. This year the racing ran a little further into the spring than normal- so the start of the new training year began a little later as well. This meant that the "start" landed during Bend, Oregon for the past two weeks.

Liz keeping it real skiing in her undies!

Spending some time with the PNSA girls during our Fast and Female Event. Even PNSA girls make it to the top!

Dancing with Diggy time!

Fired up to spread the love of sport with the young girls!

For all three years I have been on the National Team, our first camp has been in Bend- where we spend the mornings skiing on Mt. Bachelor, and the afternoons dryland training in town. It is the ideal training condition, like we are living half summer and half winter. Unfortunately the sun didn't shine as much as usual this camp which sometimes left me feeling like it was the middle of the winter in some situations... but it was still fun!

Making time for TACO TIME!

Because it is May, this means we have less "focused" training and more training that has a goal of getting back into form. Workouts consist of mountain biking, jogging, swimming, yoga, roller skiing... you name it! May always leaves this team with a light fun atmosphere as we begin to wrap our heads around working another year towards our largest goals. This camp also serves as a time to keep my body in check. Every year I come to Bend, I walk away with injuries. I forget to listen to my body, and I simply overload. This year I decided to focus my energy on staying right below that level, and keeping my body in check. For the past year I have had tendinitis in my foot, which limited me a lot- but this Bend Camp, I dedicated my time to keeping my feet in a working manner. This sometimes meant taking the mornings to do a dry land combination when the rest of the team went skiing. Or it meant keeping the majority of my running in the pool as I work to build my foot strength back up. Whatever it was, I wrapped my head around it, staying positive and knowing that this year I would walk away from the week of training in a healthy place.

Team Mountain Bike Session

Pink!

Who knew Erik Flora could ride a bike???

Team SODIE

Kikkan demonstrating even the worlds fastest can run in the pool!

Many of our evenings we spend a lot of time going over team goals and schedules and what we look for out of the season. As a group we look at what we did well last year, what we didn't do as well, and how to make improvements. We also have a new member of the team, Sophie Caldwell- so we get to spend some time "showing her the ropes". Sophie spent the majority of the season on the World Cup with us last year, so she was well versed in how the team works.

Thank you OnePiece for sending us some suits!

US Woman's Team :)

Olympic Years are unique years, because once every four years you throw in every effort, every dream and goal, every ounce of energy into fighting for these three weeks of competition. Many times, you do something better than a previous year, or you set specific goals that you will do every day until the games. Four years ago, this is what I did. I dropped out of school, moved back home, and threw in my best straw. Through that process, I learned a lesson though. I learned that despite focusing 300 times more energy on a specific event- I didn't make my goal of racing on the Olympic Team. So, this Olympic Games I have a different approach. For the past four years, I have been making a consistent jump up. I ended last season with my first top ten on the World Cup and within striking distance of making World Cup Finals. Despite my summer of injury training- I made a jump. What this means is that even though it is an Olympic year, I am going to keep doing what I am doing. I am going to continue to focus all my energy on the small goals that I have made for the training season; more running, more classic skiing in variable conditions on the glacier, leg strength vs. upper body strength, etc. This isn't to say that I am not dreaming about the Olympic Games every morning I wake up, and every training session I do. I do, I DO! I have Olympic rings hanging over my bed with five small step training goals at the moment. The key is that I am not making huge drastic changes. I am doing what I have done best in the past- and continuing with that direction.

Diggy keeping it bright on the roads!

Skiing in the sun on our very first day!

Cupcake party after a long ski

Matt Whitcomb- YEAH BUDDY!

So with that- we are off to Park City for our annual "testing" before the season. This is where we check our strengths, assess our weaknesses and make sure we are healthy. It is always best to start the training season knowing what little things to work on, what vitamins and supplements we are low on, and what additional stretches to incorporate into our post-workout routine. Fortunately the forecast seems nice- so summer HERE WE COME!