Tuesday, July 31- 

On a hot humid day with temps in the mid 80’s, ten skiers turned out for our weekly session.  This marked a record number of athletes for a summer practice so far!! To start, the team worked through a classic progression drill emphasizing solid ‘kick’ and body position.  By breaking down the diagonal stride to focus on the kick aspect, skiers could better understand that a solid kick is generated by a quick compression of the knee, sending an ‘impulse’ into the ground which sets the wax.  On a more interesting note, the team got a chance to test their shooting skills in our first tennis ball biathlon of the summer.  Incorporating pushups and crunches into the race, along with an agility course, gave the kids a chance to work on strength and quickness; a crucial part of any Nordic skier’s summer training. 

The crew performing classic diagonal strides

The 1st leggers of the relay hammering out push-ups on the start line

Shooters at 'the range'

Its a close race!