Ski Etiquette for All

Transcription

1 The Utah Nordic Alliance Volume XX No.3 december 2009 Ski Etiquette for All by Chris Magerl Mountain Dell had a busy year last winter! There are more skiers than ever drawn by our great grooming, affordable track fee and quick access from SLC. However, increased skier days have led to a few skier conflicts and unsafe situations. A brief review of basic nordic ski etiquette can help ensure that we all have a great ski day. Trail etiquette is an issue for novices as well as racer types. There are some universal basics at cross-country ski areas. They include: Always ski in control. Conditions change. Make sure you are skiing in a way that ensures you can avoid obstacles and other skiers. Yield to the skier headed downhill. It is easier for the skier going uphill to slow or step to the edge of the track. Never walk on the track. If equipment malfunction or just plain scary terrain has you removing your skis, walk in the ungroomed snow. It can take several days of grooming to remove footprints on the track. Ski to the right side unless you are passing. If you have stopped skiing, move to the right side and do not obstruct the skate or classic lane. Be particularly aware of this when stopping at intersections. Be sure to look behind you before you step back into traffic. Do not worry about faster skiers. If you are moving, the track is yours. Stay single file and to the right and expect the fast folks to go around you. If you are passing a slower skier, be sure to offer a friendly hello or on your left. Shouting Track! is best left for your Olympic qualifying race. If you are headed down a hill or through a turn and the slower skier looks tentative, back off and pass them in a place that won t leave them flustered. Don t skate over the classic lane. There is enough room to avoid this. If you crash, take a moment to try to fill in your crater. Keep it safe for the next skier. There are some issues that are unique to Mountain Dell. We will have a few Wrong Way signs near the bottom of some fast hills this winter. If a skier is headed down the Creek Loop dip or the fast downhill near the end of the Main Loop, it is almost impossible to avoid skiers who are headed the wrong way. In other areas, if you know you are swimming upstream, keep your head up and stay to the right. There are days that the track is full of kids learning to ski. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4.30 P.M. to 6 P.M. we have about 200 kids and coaches on course. The lower loop stays fairly empty, but the rest of the course will be very crowded. If this bothers you, best to stay away at these times. On Sundays in January the Learn to Ski program fills a portion of the main loop with the littlest skiers. Give them plenty of room! Most of the course is still uncrowded, so if this is your interval day, choose your terrain wisely. If you ski with music in your ear, keep the volume low enoungh to hear fellow skiers or groomers, for everyone s safety. A great ski day at Mountain Dell can fill us all with a feeling of exhilaration. Take a moment to make sure you are not crashing someone else s bliss. Ski aware and enjoy your outing! Photo: Bruce Schroeder

2 Nordic Glide Wax Always be ready to go cross country skiing... Nordic Glide Wax provides wax recommendations (Swix, Toko, and Solda) based on temperature, snow type, and humidity. Wax recommendations are for glide wax, and intended for everyday cross country skiing and training. Olympics Vancouver Countdown Countdown the days to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver with this app. Check in as often as you like and see the numbers go down, down, down then before you know it... it's here. Also includes the latest news feeds and information. There s an App for That Over the summer I acquired an iphone for work and immediately started to learn the most useful and productive applications or apps. After a few weeks I wanted to go beyond the basics and headed to the online App Store to review which of the 101,567 (and counting!) applications would be useful for Nordic skiers. Here is my round-up so far. Utah Snow Report Provides an online report of snow conditions for each of Utah's 13 ski and riding resorts. This free app provides the basics like new snow in the last 24 hours, the amt of the 2 previous snows, base depth, percent, trails and lifts open and surface conditions. It also provides live webcams (where available) for each resort as well as a link to the resort website and a button to call each resort. Comments Welcome Submissions, photos, and high resolution digital images are needed throughout the season. Direct your questions, concerns, and comments to me at bruceschroeder@yahoo.com. DECEMBER 2009 C O N T E N T S EDITOR S NOTE Ski Etiquette for All by Chris Magerl Nordic News by Dave Hanscom Park City Nordic Skiers Dryland Season Training by Marie Jackson Park City Junior Ski Programs Back of the Pack by David Susong TUNA Classfied Ads Are Now Online by Dave Bruns Wasatch Citizens Series Shirts, Shoes, & Service by Bruce Schroeder Teton Ridge Classic,The Race Will Go On by Ron Sawdey SteinBock Invitational Rollerski Race Sean McCabe Cross Country Tracks TUNA Membership by Lisa Bruns /2010 Utah Cross Country Ski Race Schedule Salt Lake Junior Ski Programs The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA) is a nonprofit organization which supports Nordic skiing in all its forms in the state of Utah.The club offers its members discounts on equipment and ski passes at participating local merchants, as well as discounts on races and social events. Members also receive TUNA News which is published seven times a year. Annual membership runs June 1 thru June O F F I C E R S PRESIDENT Richard Hodges VICE PRESIDENT Tim Metos SECRETARY Donna Wahoff-Stice TREASURER Lori Gates BOARD OF DIRECTORS Greg Adams Lisa Bruns Stan Burns Terry Davis Cassie Dippo Barry Makarewicz Chris Magerl Tim Metos Pat Putt Bruce Schroeder Donna Wahoff-Stice ADVISORS Dave Hanscom Ernie Page TUNA NEWS EDITORIAL STAFF Bruce Schroeder, Editor Kurt Dudley, Ron Sawdey, David Susong, TUNA NEWS / DEPARTMENTS Race Results Kurt Dudley Membership Promotion Lisa Bruns Nordic Scene Dave Hanscom Youth Program Stan Burns Dryland Program Bill Hokanson Design & Production Elmore Design TUNA NEWS / CONTRIBUTORS Dave Bruns, Lisa Bruns, Al Davis, Kurt Dudley, Justin Easter, Dave Hanscom, Marie Jackson, Chris Magerl, Ron Sawdey, Bruce Schroeder, David Susong, PHOTO CREDITS Kurt Dudley, Kirk Nichols, Bruce Schroeder ADVERTISING Suzi Elmore info@qstreetfinecrafts.com DEADLINE IS THE 1 ST OF EACH MONTH Articles, race listings, photographs and artwork are welcome, but TUNA News assumes no responsibility for loss or damage. Material sent on disk or is especially welcome. Classified ads are free to TUNA members. A $5 donation is required for nonmembers classified ads for up to 20 words; 20 per word over the first 20 words. Send to bruceschroeder@yahoo.com bruceschroeder@yahoo.com TUNA News, PO Box 9008 Salt Lake City, UT page 2 december 2009

3 N O R D I C N E W S by Dave Hanscom December 2009 Early November certainly isn't looking very promising this year. It s starting much too much like 2008 for my taste. Let s hope we don t end up postponing races like we did last winter! I was excited to read that former University of Utah ski coach (and Soldier Hollow volunteer extraordinaire) Pat Miller was recently inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to having been a top nordic combined competitor in his heyday, Pat had one of the best records of any ski coach in the country during his 25-year tenure at the U. He was previously inducted into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame, the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, and the Fort Lewis College Athletic Hall of Fame. This latest honor puts Pat in the company of professional athletes in many sports, including football and basketball, which indicates the level of respect he has received for his accomplishments in this balloriented state. North Fork Fun Series The Ogden Nordic chapter of TUNA will (hopefully) kick off the Utah racing season this year with the first of their North Fork Fun Series events on Thursday, December 3. Meet at the south gate parking lot at about 4:00 pm to sign up. The 5-kilometer skate race will start at 4:30. Organizers Jim and Lisa White recommend that you bring a headlamp for the early season events. Here's your chance to check out the great new track system at North Fork Park. White Pine/TUNA Relay The second race on the Utah calendar is the White Pine/TUNA Relay on Saturday, December 12. Teams consist of three people, each skiing five kilometers. (They'll put you on a team if you don't have one.) The first person on each team uses classical technique, and the last two may skate. Each racer has a handicap based upon performance in previous relays (or age and gender if this is your first one). After the handicaps have been subtracted from everyone's time, any team can be a winner. In fact, the first one to cross the finish line seldom ends up in first place. The race will start at 10:00, with registration from 8:30 to 9:30. We'll need a few helpers for this event. Many of the people who usually take care of registration and timing will be working at the Nordic Combined races at Soldier Hollow. If you can spare a few hours that Saturday morning, please contact me (hanscom@cs.utah.edu). No previous experience is required. Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series I m happy to report that almost the entire Wasatch Citizens Series crew will be back this winter. We do appreciate their dedication. Please thank them when you see them at the races. They don't get paid for contributing to the quality and enjoyment of your WCS experience. The series will have at least one new drawing prize sponsor this year, with a couple of others looking promising. We welcome Suunto, who will donate sports watches for our prize table. We expect that prizes will also be provided by Allen Wealth Management, Black Diamond, CW-X Conditioning Wear, Easton Aluminum, Jan's, Kelty, Lone Peak, Nathan, Petzl, Sporthill, Toko, Ultimate Direction, Wild Rose, Winter Sports School at Park City, and Yaktrax. Local race sponsors Wild Rose, White Pine, Kirkham s, REI, and Wasatch Touring will donate more items for their individual event. In the food category, Clif Bar will again provide a bar and a package of Shot Bloks to each racer at each event. Mid-Valley Animal Clinic (Kelly Milligan), Nate Wade Subaru (Brett Kassing), and Intermountain Bobcat (Jeff Scott) will repeat as lunch sponsors at the Soldier Hollow and White Pine Farm races. It looks like Atomic, Fischer, Rossignol, and Swix will provide skis or poles for the special drawing at the end of the season. Remember that you must participate in four events or purchase a Season Pass to be included in this. Soldier Hollow will host the WCS opener as usual. The 10-kilometer classical race on Saturday, December 19, will start and finish at the lodge. The younger kids will lead off at 10:00 am, and adult groups go when the kids are done. Purchase your WCS Season Pass now to save a few dollars and insure that you get the participation prize at the last race. Just go to and click on the link to Membership under the About menu. Those who preregister will just need to sign a release and pick up a bib at their first race. Other Events This from Jack Lyons, a TUNA member from Ogden: Snowbasin has been grooming (skate and classic) quite a few K's (15-30?) each morning for a number of years, but hardly anyone ever uses them. They don't charge to use the trails. I've been training there quite a lot, but it gets darn lonely. Would be nice to use this race to get some increased use there. Seems folks might like to come up and XC in the AM on occasion and perhaps eat at the sumptuous Lodge, then perhaps alpine or tele in the afternoon." Jack has decided to host a race on Presidents Day this year. He s calling it the Snowbasin Nordic Challenge, and it will be a benefit for a small Mayan community hospital in Guatemala (Hospitalito Atitlan) which was buried in a mudslide. More information on this in the February TUNA News. And some good news from Dan Streubel, Teton Ridge Classic race director: The 7th annual Teton Ridge Classic will be January 16th, The Teton Ridge Ranch has closed as a guest ranch but will open its trails for our event. You can expect the same great course, lunch, and awards as at this year s race. december 2009 page 3

4 Park City Nordic Skiers Dryland Season Training by Marie Jackson Many of the Park City Nordic Ski Club skiers have been dryland training all summer with Coach Gordon Lange. Summer training began with an Elite team camp the week after Park City schools were out in June. June camp focused on establishing training parameters for the kids so they could train on their own. Training zones were established as well as max heart rates at least we tried. Additionally, time was taken to work on technique, interval training, and strength training including circuit workouts as well as talk about nutrition. With this information the skiers took to dryland training all through the summer. Summer training is always hit and miss with kids traveling and doing other activities. In addition this year, Devo skiers participated in summer dryland training once a week with the Elite team. A daily training schedule was set up for the skiers to follow whether they are in town to work out with the team or not. The daily workouts with periodization and as always interval blocks are part of Gordon s philosophy. Interval blocks, done properly, are the way to go even for young developing athletes. Just ask Rosie Brennan who PR d up Harpers in Sun Valley this summer and is now the second fastest female up that hill ever! At the end of the summer the Park City Nordic Ski Club Cross Country and Nordic Combined skiers made their annual trip to Sun Valley Idaho to focus on roller skiing and technique. This camp is always highly productive and it s great to have the full squad training back together again. Along with the roller skiing training everyday on good terrain without traffic the team had the opportunity to do the infamous Harpers Hill Climb time trial. Even though the kids trained hard every day in Sun Valley, they were still responsible for their own meals. Each night the kids paired up to cook dinner for the group. Most of the time it was pretty edible. In between consuming 14 gallons of milk, training and cooking, the kids still had time to play doing other activities such as swimming, wall climbing and biking. It also is nice to get out of town and break up the monotony of the same old trails and roads used around home and enjoy some different scenery. Overall, it was a great trip and we saw some good improvements! Training for both Devo and Elite team skiers is now in full swing. Back are the bikers and soccer players and it s great to have the full squad training together again. The Elite team has stepped up their intensity focusing their training now from building muscle to endurance strength with lots of circuits and a wide variety of core movements. Everyone really enjoys the challenge of these workouts, although they are brutally hard. We will see if they still like them after about six weeks. Training as a group you can really see the kids feed off each other! The Devo team began dryland training three times a week on Mon/Wed/Fri. Devo team athletes spend more time on course skiing, with a focus both on recreational and race components. Everyone is waiting anxiously now for the snow to fall and are ready to get on skis! Once snow is here the club s Kickers and Gliders will be going. The Kickers & Gliders program targets boys and girls 6 11 years old and has a strong emphasis on learning through fun and games. page 4 december 2009

5 Park City Junior Ski Programs Kickers & Gliders This is PCNSC s introduction to cross country skiing. This program targets young skiers who want to learn how to cross country ski or who have the basic fundamentals and want to get ready for racing. Coaches will teach basic cross country ski skills including VI, VII, VII alternate, and classic skiing technique with a classic technique block in the middle of the winter. Kickers and Gliders will race, tour, play games, do drills, and learn how to ski. Suggested ages are from 7 to 11 years old. Development Team This program is designed for the young athlete who wishes to improve in the sport of cross-country skiing, or be better prepared for regional competitions. Emphasis will be placed on techniques and fundamental training principles. Coaches will structure workouts around local races. These workouts will include everything from intervals for race preparation to light touring and games. Suggested ages for these young athletes are from 12 to 15 years old. Because of the different levels of commitment at this age group, we will separate the group into two loosely connected programs. The three- day a week program will be geared for new comers into the Devo group as well as racing and training for competitions. Elite Team This is a year round designed program to offer the highest level of instruction and training for cross country ski racers. The program incorporates the latest theories on training., periodization, peaking, and intervals mixed with proven base training strategies. Emphasis is on physical training including cardiovascular development and specific strength training for cross country skiers as well as technique, racing strategies and competition. The Park City Nordic Ski Club staff recommends athletes that are interested in competing in the Intermountain Division JII, JI, OJ, & Sr. National events enroll in this program. $150 work deposit is required for this program. A USSA competitor s membership is required. An Intermountain License and TUNA membership is recommended. For additional information and registration go to T U N A C L A S S I F I E D FOR SALE 1 pair Fischer RCS classic skis, mounted with Salomon SNS classic bindings. 185cm. Fits skier weight 120 lb lb. $65. Ted Palomaki 435/ Solitude Nordic Center is looking for a cross country instructor with teaching experience for this winter. Contact Aram at for more information. race finish NORDIC STONE GRIND FULL REFINISH $49.99 Bases better than new! Complete restoration of your skis with Precision Custom Structure Base Repair* Precision base flattening on stone Blank Finish applied to flat base Precision custom structure applied to base Base hair removal Hand polish and brushing of base material One coat soft penetrating wax PREMIUM REFINISH $64.99 Precision Custom Structure plus Hot Box Treatment Hot Box base saturation process replaces hours of tedious hand waxing Everything in our Standard Tune plus the following: Extensive hand polishing and brushing of base Hot Box base saturation with soft penetrating wax One coat blue wax for base hardening Hand hot wax with wax of the day december 2009 page 5

6 B A C K O F T H E P A C K Why Do We Do This? by David Susong I just finished a run in late October. It was snowing hard with a stiff wind blowing. As I brushed the snow off my hat and shoulders in the driveway of our house, I wondered why am I doing this. I just spent 40 minutes running in a snowstorm while being buffeted by a cutting north wind. The trail was covered with snow, there was unfrozen mud underneath. I slithered and slid on the corners and downhills but somehow managed to stay on my feet and not wipeout. Needless to say I didn t see anyone else on the trail while I was out. Most people have more sense than to be out in such weather. For some strange reason cross country skiers don t seem to be deterred by these kinds of conditions. Why is this? For the most part they are good looking and above average intelligence people. For those with a competitive bent there is always the excuse that they need to keep training hard into the fall months to be in shape for the upcoming season. For the back in the pack skiers, we generally don t start training for the upcoming season until it starts to snow. I, for one, am just starting to think about getting in shape for winter about the time the weather gets grim. I am always in a training deficit and trying to make up for it. It never works, but I do it year after year. As I pulled off my soaked jacket it doesn t seem to be a good explanation for being out in such conditions.. I could have easily gone to a gym and run on a treadmill like more sane people. Yet there is something fundamentally wrong with going for a run while standing in one place. It may be good for you physically but it is deadly for the mind and soul. As I thought about what causes skiers to willingly venture out in abominable winter conditions, it made even less sense when I considered backcountry skiing. Imagine, you are at a party in Florida or southern California and someone asked you what you did for fun. What would their reaction be when you describe a typical day of backcountry skiing. After driving to the trailhead in four-wheel drive and blizzard conditions, you put on your skis and hike through knee-deep snow for 3 hours in a raging snow storm to the highest point of a ridge where the wind was blowing 40 miles an hour. Once on the ridge in the howling wind you stand around and rearrange your gear and ski back down for 20 minutes and then turn around and do it again. The likely reaction would be that you are certifiably crazy. The reaction would probably be similar if the folks at this imaginary party happened to see people skiing around the Mountain Dell tracks with headlamps in the dark. Certifiably crazy! Why would anyone in their right mind be skiing around in the dark. Sane or certifiably crazy? I don t think I can provide a rational an answer to the question since I am one of the afflicted. Yet as with other outdoor enthusiasts, there is a fundamental underlying love for the outdoors and cross country skiers share this passion. Over all they just like to be out sliding on skis on the snow. Since skiing is a winter sport, the weather of winter comes along with it and is embraced and celebrated. Besides what are the other options, going to the gym or sitting on a couch in front of the TV, neither sounds very desirable to me. So skiers will just have to endure the looks that question our sanity knowing that no matter what the weather we can enjoy it. Or we can just embrace our insanity. So as the trees shed their final leaves, temperatures drop and snow begins to accumulate, we welcome it because we are crazy. TUNA Classfied Ads Are Now Online by Dave Bruns We ve rolled out a simple version of TUNA website classified ads for active members. If you ve got skirelated equipment that you d like to sell, give it a try. Here s a quick primer: Posting classified ads is free! However, to post a classified ad, you must be logged into the website and must be an active member for the current season (membership runs from June 1 through June 30). Buyers don t need to be logged in and don t need to be TUNA members. Classified ads are for ski and outdoor equipment only please. No tires, cars, air-conditioners, computer equipment, furniture and the like for that, please try ksl.com or craigslist. They re also free and work well. To enter a new classified ad, log on to the site and select Create content > Classified from the navigation menu at the left. Then fill out the form following the instructions provided. When you click Save your ad will appear live on the site in the Classifieds section. You can find and edit your ad later by clicking the My Classified link in the left sidebar. If you sell your item, please remember to come back and mark the item as sold. For contact information, we d recommend that you supply your name and phone number and/or address. If you do add your address, it will be obfuscated from harvesting spambots but still appear readable to humans. Classified ads will expire in 60 days (once we figure out how to make that part work). You can see the latest classified ads at the bottom of the home page. If you have problems or questions, please us at classifieds@utahnordic.com page 6 december 2009

7 NEW WINTER RANGE INSTORE NOW AT WASATCH TOURING Passionate about Cross-country, Telemark, and Alpine Touring (Backcountry) skiing since Specialty clothing, equipment, rentals/demos, repairs and tunes FREE Wasatch Touring/ Alta Tele and AT Ski Demo December 12th PURE MURINO 702 EAST 100 SOUTH, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH $70 SEASON PASS $50 FOR CURRENT TUNA MEMBERS Purchase online with a credit card or check december 2009 page 7

8 SMARTWOOL Wasatch Citizens Series Shirts, Shoes, & Service: You Still Can t get these on EBAY by Bruce Schroeder How many miles do you have on your free Timberland Shoes from last season? If you missed out on the Wasatch Citizens Series (WCS) Participation Award last year (or the year before ) consider this your advance notice. SIGN UP NOW for the Wasatch Citizens Series Season Pass. You get 5 races for the price of 4 AND you get the valuable year end award. See the photos of premiums from previous years. This year all seasons participants will receive a Smartwool Shirt. WOW! This continues a 20 year WCS tradition that is unmatched for citizens racers anywhere in the country. Even if you are a cross country purist and only race in the two classic events and ignore the skate events you cannot go wrong. The gear I receive at the end of each season has become my most valued stuff because each item represents a whole season of skiing and racing. You won t find these items on Ebay, the only way to get one is to sign up for a Season Pass or participate in 3 or more races during the year. page 8 december 2009

9 F I R S T A N N U A L SNOWBASIN NORDIC CHALLENGE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI RACE At Beautiful Snowbasin Resort! To benefit the rebuilding of Hospitalito Atitlan, a small hospital in a predominantly Mayan Guatemalan village, destroyed in a 2005 landslide President s Day February 15, and 15 K freestyle events (both skaters and classic skiers welcome) Beginners and Experts welcome $ 12 preregister*, $17 on-site Shirts for all registrants Raffle, prizes and more! *Will be through active.com after December 15 January 30 February 7 NORDIC TOWN USA This popular mountain resort destination has plenty to offer Nordic skiers and winter recreationalists of all ages and abilities, from over 200 miles of groomed trails and one of the country s premier Nordic ski races, the 32K Boulder Mountain Tour, to plenty of other top-notch yet affordable recreational and cultural diversions. With all this and more, The Sun Valley Nordic Festival evolved. Join us this winter for the 1st Annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival. Here s a sampling of what to expect... February 6 $49-9 Day All Access Trail Pass & More Great Deals! Saturday, January 30 Ski the Rails from Ketchum to Hailey & Event Launch Party Sunday, January 31 Boulder Mountain Tour Prep Clinics - Olympian Send Off Party Tuesday, February 2 Boulder Mountain Tour Tips & Technique Clinics Wednesday, February 3 Guided Snowshoe Adventure Sun Valley Nordic Sprint Races Sun Valley Snowshoe Challenge Author/Olympic Skier John Morton talk/slideshow Thursday, February 4 Evening Event - Races, fun and music Banff Mountain Film Festival Friday, February 5 Boulder Mountain Tour Expo Banff Mountain Film Festival Saturday, February 6 35th Annual Boulder Mountain Tour 1st Annual Half Boulder Tour BMT Awards Dinner Banff Mountain Film Festival Sunday, February 7 Nordic Demo Days december 2009 page 9

10 TETON RIDGE CLASSIC The Race Will Go On by Ron Sawdey The great news is that the Teton Ridge Classic will be held again in 2010, on Saturday, January 16. For those of you who have not raced there, and had the chance to enjoy this beautiful venue, it may not mean a lot. However, for those of us who have, it was a great relief to hear that the race is once again on our calendar. It wasn t a matter of the race organizers folding, but that the owner of the Teton Ridge Ranch (rumored to be Paul Allen of Microsoft fortune), was no longer offering lodging at the Ranch. Closing the lodge to the public meant that the Ranch would potentially be off limits to anyone but the owner and his friends and family. It s too bad he closed the lodge to the public, but it is wonderful that we can still race there. The lodge is the kind of place you dream of staying at, walking out the door, and skiing to your heart s content. For those who have raced there, you will recall that the last feed station on the 14km race loop is located at the massive log lodge before the long descent. You might also recall seeing guests sipping a warm beverage in the lodge s great room as you sloshed energy drink on your race suit at the feed station. However, unless you were willing to spend the $400 or so per person per night to stay there you will not get that chance again. Thankfully, Dan Streubel, the driving force behind the TRC, was able to negotiate with the owner to allow the race to be held that day. Dan is still trying to determine whether they will make the Ranch available for racers the day before and the day after the race, and will post that info on the race web site ( once he has that information. If you haven t raced the TRC, you should. It is a wonderful challenge in a spectacular valley on a gorgeous course. You have the option of skiing 10, 14, or 28km through rolling, forested Teton foothills; a perfect course for classic skiing. The field is not overly big (around 150 racers), but the quality of the competition is high. The field is regularly populated with local racers from the Teton Valley and Jackson Hole. And, there is also good representation from the folks from Sun Valley, Boise, West Yellowstone, and Bozeman. Break that steady diet of skate skiing and give the TRC a go. If you do, I might share the name of our favorite Sunday breakfast place in the Teton Valley. page 10 december 2009

11 SteinBock Invitational Rollerski Race On 24 October, people in 181 countries came together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet s history. At over 5,200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis ( GLOVE AT FIRST SIGHT Winter 09/10 Gloves IN STOCK NOW Skiers, parents, coaches, and spectators gathered at Soldier Hollow on Saturday for the 1st Annual 350.org/Steinbock Invitational, a rollerksi race and 350.org event. On a beautiful day that featured some sun, some clouds, a touch of rain, and the great fall colors of the Heber Valley, over 40 racers challenged themselves on the SoHo rollerski track. Athletes from the US Biathlon team, Maine Winter Sports Center, the University of Utah, the US nordic-combined team, The Utah Nordic Alliance, National Guard Biathlon, the University of Wyoming, and many more participated on the day. Mercury $85.95 Ultimate warmth. Guide $ Work, ski, repeat. Athletes skied on many different types of rollerskis, so direct comparison of race times is difficult. However, this day was much more about participation than it was about performance. Everybody here felt part of something bigger, said Steinbock Racing director Zack Simons. Race announcers Pete Vordenburg and Eli Brown kept the crowd entertained with music, unique insights, race updates, 350.org news, and live interviews (via phone) with skiers around the country. Highlights included a couple interviews with Andrew Gardner, a 350.org volunteer, who was in Times Square and provided updates on actions that were taking place in other parts of the world. With spectators, professional timing via Summit Timing, a great prize table, and the big SoHo scoreboard providing real-time results, this day provided a great preparation event as we head towards winter. LightWeight $17.95 The go-to liner, everyday. Impulse $62.50 The aerobic choice. TUNA members: Mention this ad & receive 20% OFF all regularly priced gloves through December 31. Many thanks to Solder Hollow for hosting the event. Thanks also to race sponsors Toko, Wild Rose Sports, Swix, Knead-a-Massage, and Rossignol. Complete results, photos, and videos of the race can be found at More information on 350.org, including thousands of pictures from events around the world, can be found at East 3900 South Salt Lake City, UT Hours: Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 9-7, Sun 11-5 december 2009 page 11

12 Sean McCabe, a 46 year old resident of Mazama, WA passed away on November 7, 2009, from undifferentiated anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid. He is survived by his wife, Laura (43), and daughters, Novie (7) and Dashe (3), his mother and eight siblings, Laura s parents and four siblings, in-laws and nieces and nephews. His presence and spirit will continue to be felt well beyond the Cascades. Sean felt his gifts as an artist, a teacher, and amazing athlete came to him through God s hand. It was with his gift of openness, understanding, and God s will, that enabled him to share his talents with others. Those who knew him or knew of him understood this was how he pursued his whole life. He married his best friend and partner in all things on August 26, Together they began a life of skiing, climbing, and teaching in Utah and moved to the Methow Valley in 1995 to continue their life dreams. An Inspirational Artist and Teacher will be Fondly Remembered in the Methow Valley His teaching is best known by the students, parents, and fellow educators that have honored him with numerous teaching awards including Teacher of Year in Utah and Washington. He received the prestigious Catalyst Award in 2000 which was a precursor to his national recognition in 2002 with The Milken Family Foundation Award. His legacy lives on with his students, those that have pursued artist endeavors, athletics, and those who still use the lessons learned in daily life. His artwork will continue to inspire us. Sean s vision lives on in his painting, prints, and in his graphic designs found on clothing and in periodicals. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Methow Valley Education Foundation for the Sean McCabe Art Scholarship, P.O. Box 3056 Winthrop WA and/or to Little Star Montessori School, P.O. 608 Winthrop, WA Retrieved from November 9, 2009 Early Season Deals for TUNA Members Wastch Touring and Wild Rose stayed open late offering early season deals on skis, boots, clothes and more. Shoppers could get ski and boot selection questions answered by factory representatives as well as pick up a few tips on waxing skis from local experts. Andrew Johnson of Steinbock Racing Expect last year s age group winner Aaron Phillips to be even faster this year with his new ski boots. page 12 december 2009

13 WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA Rendezvous Ski Trail & Yellowstone Park Skiing Professionally groomed trails. Family fun! Race Schedule 2009/2010 Dec 11- NorAm Biathlon Dec 19 - Spam Cup #1 Jan 10 - Spam Cup #2 Feb 6 - Spam Cup #3 Mar 6 - Rendezvous Race Mar 7 -Youth Ski Festival Mar 20/21- Equinox Ski Challenge Grooming Conditions at RendezvousSkiTrails.com Lodging and Yellowstone Tour Info at YellowstoneDestination.com Cross Country Tracks Alta Nordic Center Trails: 5 kilometers, classic/skate Fees: Season Pass $99, Daily $10 (At the Wildcat Ticket Office) Rentals and Lessons are available. For additional information call the Alta Ski Shop at (801) Location: At the base of Alta Ski Resort, Little Cottonwood Canyon Homestead Resort / Trails: 12 kilometers, classic/skate Fees: $6, Guests ski free Rentals and Lessons are available. Location: 700 North Homestead Drive, Midway UT From downtown Salt Lake City, take I- 80 East to US Highway 40 (Heber Exit). Travel south 14 miles to the Midway and Wasatch Mountain State Park turnoff. Turn right at the stop light onto River Road and follow the green directional signs approximately 5 miles. Mountain Dell Trails: 12 kilometers, classic/skate Fees: $5 per day, $70 Season Pass, $50 for TUNA members. Maintained by TUNA volunteers Location: Lower Parley s Canyon, I-80 Exit 134 Ruby s Inn / Bryce Canyon or Ski from right outside your guest room door. Trails interconnect with ski-set trails inside Bryce Canyon National Park. Trails: 30 km, classic/skate Location: Hwy 63, Bryce, Utah Soldier Hollow Trails: 30 kilometers, classic/skate Fees: $18, $15 after 2 PM Rentals and Lessons are available. Also available, biathlon range and tubing hill. Location: 2002 Olympic Drive, Midway Directions: From Salt Lake City, take I- 80 East to Silver Creek Junction (exit 146). Go east on U.S. 40 past Jordanelle Reservoir toward Heber City. Take right turn on State Road 113 (100 South) to Midway. Take a left on 113 in Midway, and travel two miles. Turn right just before the railroad tracks and follow signs to Soldier Hollow. Solitude Nordic Center Trails: 20 kilometers, classic/skate Fees: $15, $10, starts at 12:30 Rentals and Lessons are available. Location: Solitude Village Big Cottonwood Canyon Sundance Trails: 26 kilometers, classic, skate. 10 kilometers, snowshoe only Fees: All-day $16, after 2:00 $12 Seniors & Kids 12 & under ski Free Directions: from Salt Lake Take I-15 South towards Provo and continue to Orem. Exit Freeway At Exit 272 8th North. Travel East on 8th North until the mouth of the canyon. Using the left lane, take Hwy 189, north towards Heber City. Turn off at the Sundance exit. The cross country area is one more mile past the Village. White Pine Trails: 18 kilometers, classic/skate Fees: $18, $10 after 3 PM, 10 Punch for $140 Rentals and Lessons are available. Also available, ski archery range. Location: Park City Golf Course Millcreek Canyon Trails: The road is groomed by the Parks and Recreation for skiers and snowshoers. Location: 3900 South Exit off I South turns into Millcreek Canyon. Mirror Lake Highway Trails: The road is groomed by the Forest Service for skiers and snowmobilers. Location: Hwy. 150, the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway The highway is closed from the Soapstone Campground, 15 miles past Kamas, to the East Fork Campground, 33 miles from Evanston, Wyoming. december 2009 page 13

14 TUNA Membership by Lisa Bruns, Membership Chair It s time to renew your membership in TUNA! Membership in TUNA is on a yearly basis and is for people who want to enjoy, support, and promote cross-country skiing in Utah. Every year your membership in TUNA supports a multitude of programs and activities that you and your family can participate in: groomed skiing at Mountain Dell, youth programs for young skiers, a newsletter, social events, fall and summer conditioning classes, and volunteer opportunities for local and international races. All of this would not be possible without the good graces of our volunteers and the support we get from our membership. TUNA membership costs $30 for individuals and $40 for families. To join TUNA, or renew your membership, please visit: If you are renewing your membership, and can t remember your password, click the Request New Password link on the home page and follow the instructions to have your password ed to you. Please give this a try even if you aren t sure you have a login or not. If you are new to TUNA, or know you don't have a login, click the Create new account link and enter the information requested. Once you are logged into the site, you can purchase memberships and ski passes using the TUNA online store. You can pay by check, credit card, or with a Pay Pal account. (Note a Pay Pal account is not required to pay by credit card, see for details). If you have any trouble with the site, please send to help@utahnordic.com.we are ready to sign you up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Registering online greatly reduces the effort of volunteers who maintain the membership TUNA database. As a special incentive, the first 100 members who register online will be selected for a prize drawing! Please join or renew your membership in TUNA now! This race schedule is published and distributed compliments of Smartwool and TUNA 2009/2010 Utah Cross Country Ski Race Schedule DATE RACE TECHNIQUE(k) LOCATION START December Thur North Fork Fun Series free (5k) North Fork Park, Ogden 4:30 12 Sat White Pine/TUNA Relay both (3 x 5k) White Pine 10:00 1 leg classical, 2 legs free 19 Sat Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series classical (10k) Soldier Hollow 10:00 January Sat Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series free (15k) White Pine 10:00 5 Tues North Fork Fun Series free (5k) North Fork Park, Ogden 4:30 9 Sat Potato Cup pursuit (4/10/20k) Mink Creek, ID 10:00 13 Wed Wild Rose Fun Race any (5k) Mountain Dell 4:30 15 Fri JO Qualifier free Bozeman 16 Sat JO Qualifier classical Bozeman 16 Sat BASH Winter Triathlon run/bike/ski Soldier Hollow 8:30 16 Sat BASH Freestyle Sprint free(2.5) Soldier Hollow 12:00 16 Sat Teton Ridge Classic classical (6/14/28k) Driggs, ID 10:00 20 Wed Wild Rose Fun Race any (5k) Mountain Dell 4:30 23 Sat Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series classical (10k) Mountain Dell 10:00 26 Tues North Fork Fun Series free (5k) North Fork Park, Ogden 4:30 27 Wed Wild Rose Fun Race any (5k) Mountain Dell 4:30 29 Fri JO Super Qualifier classical (sprint) Soldier Hollow 30 Sat JO Super Qualifier free Soldier Hollow February Wed Wild Rose Fun Race any (5k) Mountain Dell 4:30 6 Sat Boulder Mountain Tour free (30k) Sun Valley, ID 10:00 10 Wed Wild Rose Fun Race any (5k) Mountain Dell 4:30 12 Fri JO Qualifier free Boise, ID 13 Sat JO Qualifier class Boise, ID 13 Sat North Fork Fun Series free (TBD) North Fork Park, Ogden 9:00 14 Sun Bryce Canyon Archery Biathlon free (6k) Ruby s Inn 11:00 15 Mon Bryce Canyon Ski Festival free (10k) Ruby s Inn 9:00 15 Mon Snowbasin Nordic Challenge free(5/15) Snowbasin 10:00 17 Wed Wild Rose Fun Race any (5k) Mountain Dell 4:30 20 Sat Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series free (10k) Soldier Hollow 10:00 27 Sat Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series free (20k) White Pine (farm) 10:00 March Sat Yellowstone Rendezvous classical (25k) W.Yellowstone, MT 8:45 6 Sat Yellowstone Rendezvous free (25/50k) W.Yellowstone, MT 9:00 13 Sat Wooden Ski Classic & Potluck classical (5k) Alta (upper parking lot) 10:30 For more up-to-date information check the TUNA web page at Wrap it up for the Holidays Available in many colors, styles and sizes Shop online page 14 december 2009

15 Early Season Races Thursday, December 3 Lisa's Loppet - Ogden Nordic Fun Series place: North Fork Park time: 4:30 distance: 5 km technique: free registration: 4:00 at North Fork Park South Gate fee: NFP season pass holders $5, others $10 contact: Jim White ( or jimwop@comcast.net) sponsors: Ogden Nordic Saturday, December 12 White Pine/TUNA Relay place: White Pine time: 10:00 distance: 3 x 5 km technique: 1 lap classical, 2 laps free registration: 8:30 to 9:30 (teams may be formed there) fee: juniors $3,TUNA members $5, others $8 contact: White Pine ( ) sponsors: White Pine, TUNA Saturday, December 19 Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series place: Soldier Hollow time: juniors 10:00, others 10:20 distance: juniors 1-5 km, novices 5 km, others 10 km technique: classical REI CALENDAR registration: 8:30 to 9:30 fee: juniors $6, TUNA members $12, others $18 (lunch included) contact: Soldier Hollow ( ) sponsors: Smartwool, Wild Rose Saturday, January 2 Smartwool Wasatch Citizens Series place: White Pine Touring time: juniors 10:00, others 10:20 distance: juniors 1-5 km, novices 5 km, others 15 km technique: free registration: 8:30 to 9:30 fee: juniors $6, TUNA members $12, others $18 contact: White Pine ( ) sponsors: Smartwool, White Pine Tuesday, January 5 Cutler Ridge Rampage - Ogden Nordic Fun Series place: North Fork Park time: 4:30 distance: 5 km technique: free registration: 4:00 at North Fork Park South Gate fee: NFP season pass holders $5, others $10 contact: Jim White ( or jimwop@comcast.net) sponsors: Ogden Nordic SALT LAKE CITY - The following presentations are offered free of charge to the public at the Salt Lake City REI store located at 3285 East & 3300 South. For more information, please call (801) or visit our website at and use the store locator feature. WINTER WILDLIFE TRACKING Monday, December 7th, 7pm Join naturalist, educator, author and photographer Bruce Thompson for a magical evening to learn about wildlife in the winter environment, the tracks they leave and how they have adapted to what we consider a harsh environment. AVALANCHE AWARENESS Tuesday, December 8th, 7pm A local avalanche professional will tell their story about close calls or accidents they have experienced in the backcountry and show a narrated video of avalanches, people triggering avalanches and the destructive power of avalanches. This presentation by experts from the Utah Avalanche Center always fills to capacity, so please arrive early to ensure that you get a seat. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: AVALANCHE AWARENESS FOR YOUTH Tuesday, December 15th, 7pm Just like students in Hawaii learn about the dangers of rip tides and shore breaks at an early age, students in Utah need to learn about avalanches. Join the experts from the Utah Avalanche Center as they address this critical need for basic avalanche education. Salt Lake Junior Ski Programs TUNA offers junior ski programs that are designed to foster a fun and enjoyable environment in which kids can improve their skills as nordic skiers and develop a life-long love of skiing. There are several programs to choose from based on ability and age. The classes include the Learn to Ski Program and the Nordic Ski Team which is comprised of the Youth League, and Comp Teams. Adult lessons are also available Tuesday afternoon for parents of junior skiers and other interested adults. Registration A makeup registration will take place December 5th at 1351 E Logan Avenue between 9:00 and 11:00 am. Classes fill early so plan on attending the November registration. This year on-line registration has been possible since early November. Additional information is available on the TUNA website:. Here is a brief description of available classes: Learn to Ski Program This This program is for young skiers age 5-8 years old. Intro to x-c skiing (games, relay races, treasure hunts, obstacle courses). Tentative times & dates: 1:00-2:30 pm each Sunday in January (starting either the 3 rd or the 10 th and running four weeks). Location: Mountain Dell Golf Course Volunteer parent help is required of this program. Contact: Laurie Browne, see the TUNA Website for phone number and address. Salt Lake Nordic Ski Team Youth League For kids 8-19 years old Beginner to advanced skiers. Emphasis on fun, teaching ski skills, and developing a life long interest in x-c skiing. Classes are available to skiers either Tuesdays, Thursdays or both days Classes run from January 5th to March 9th, 4:30-5:45 at Mountain Dell Golf Course. Competition Team Programs Junior Comp This is a more active, competition oriented program incorporating a combination of games and formal training. J5 Ages 8 to 9, skiers can attend training either 1 or 2 times a week. J3/J4 Ages 10 to 13 - skiers can attend training either 2 or 3 times a week. Comp Team This program is open to all motivated skiers who want to improve their skiing, train and possibly race. OJ/J1/J2 Ages 14 to 19 2 days per week (primarily interested in fitness skiing or participation in local ski races) 4+ days per week (interested in developing the skiing skills and fitness required to ski at a regional and national level) Classes run from November 30th through mid-march. Head Coach: Bill Hokanson (801) or (801) , skiingxc@yahoo.com General information: Matt Slawson (801) , matt.slawson@utah.edu Stan Burns (801) , burns.s@att.net Tom Bonacci (801) , tom@bonacci.net december 2009 page 15

16 The Utah Nordic Alliance PO Box 9008 Salt Lake City, UT Non-Profit Org. U S Postage P A I D Salt Lake City, UT Permit No, season pass A SEASON PASS entitles the holder to enter all 5 races $50 for TUNA members, $70 for non-members, and $25 for kids. This is over 20% off the regular single-race price. SEASON PASS holders automatically qualify for the WCS Participation Prize and the Ski Drawing which will take place at the last race. REGISTER online.