Central Cross Country Ski Association

New Madison Run Benefits Olympic Skiing Hopeful

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:18:32 -0500

Matt Liebsch, CXC Team Vertical Limit member and father of two young children, will participate in the “Run for Snow” trail run event at Elver Park, Madison on Sunday, August 16, 2009.

CXC Team Vertical Limit member Garrott Kuzzy reports on the CXC/Birkie Summer Camp at Telemark Resort

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:33:05 -0500

Mornings started with a jog to the top of Mt. Telemark and stretch overlooking beautiful Northwestern Wisconsin. Coach Fish led skiers through a series of coordination and agility drills, while Coach Badamshin worked on ski specific strength and balance using Russian bungee cords. “The agility course taught me some great drills to improve my power on skis,” commented Paul Schommer of Kimberly, WI.

Vertical Limit Unites with CXC as Elite Team Sponsor

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 13:28:30 -0500

The Vertical Limit sponsorship will be seen this year with logos on CXC Team apparel and by providing many items from their fine line of outdoor technical and leisure wear. The CXC Elite Team will now be known as “CXC Team Vertical Limit”.

On Snow Skiing in July/August

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:23:35 -0500

Yesterday afternoon the clouds cleared out and we have been treated to some fantastic weather here on the Haig. This week will be a huge week. The mornings we ski 2-3 hours, plus 1-1.5 hours of hiking. Thankfully, the camp staff John and Joel keep us well fed so we can recover for an afternoon session and the following day.

List of upcoming Clinics, Events and Seminars

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:47:06 -0500

Get your equipment fit by CXC Team Vertical Limit professional athletes and coaches using state of the art 3D ski pressure mat. Bring your old skis to test if they have a good fit for you, and get an independent opinion from the CXC Team Vertical Limit athletes and coaches.

CXC Adaptive Ski Program

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:57:03 -0500

The newly created CXC Adaptive Program is committed to providing year round cross country skiing sports specific recreational, training, and competitive athletic programs for individuals with physical disabilities. CXC will manufacture 100+ fully adjustable sit skis. These sit skis and all the necessary equipment for stand up and visually impaired skiers will be distributed without charge to these Opportunity Centers.

July Camp REG, by Karl Nygren

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:05:44 -0500

Everyone completed a VO2 test on the treadmill so the result could be used to improve training. The point was not so much how high your VO2 max was or how fast you went on the treadmill but how metabolically efficient people were. Looking at results people could determine if they needed to focus more on easy distance or intervals and at what intensity those workout should be.

Regional Elite Group Camp and Testing

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 09:23:04 -0500

The CXC Elite July camp coincides in part with the Regional Elite Group (REG) camp. The REG camp has transformed over the years and currently is an opportunity for juniors in the region to get together to learn, train, test and work with US Ski Team coaches. Matt Whitcomb is here from the US Ski Team. The intent is to bump up the focus and hence athletes are provided bibs for coaches to identify, evaluate and assess each athlete in a multitude of categories. The top candidates in the country from all REG’s will be invited to train with the USST in Whistler, British Columbia in September.

Coaches Corner Post: Hockey Camp, by Brian Fish

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:12:50 -0500

Innovation, creativity and specificity are critical for a coach. These are attributes that Jack Blatherwick possesses in full. Jack is a hockey coach and has his PhD in Sports Physiology from the University of Minnesota. He was an assistant to Herb Brooks during the Miracle on Ice, worked with University of MN hockey and is still independently coaches a number of the top USA women, some NHL athletes from the Twin Cities Metro as well as being a consultant for the Washington Capitals.

CXC Named as 2009 Olympic Opportunity Fund Grant Recipient

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:25:45 -0500

The highlight of the CXC Adaptive Program will be the development of Opportunity Centers throughout the Central Region. Clubs, ski areas, and parks will be offered free equipment on loan for stand up and sit skiing. Instructors and coaches identified with each location will receive instruction and certification for work with first time through advanced level participants.

CXC Elite Blog - New Video and Article Addition

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:15:28 -0500

CXC has recently re-launched the CXC Elite Team Blog to accommodate for several new additions to its existing content. The blog now has a section for video called "CXC Academy" featuring expert interviews, videos on waxing, technique and more. Coaches Corner section will now feature a periodic article.

2009 CXC Technique Camp at Telemark Resort presented by American Birkebeiner

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:57:07 -0500

Open 4-day high school camp and open 2-day middle school camp is set for August 3-6 along with coache’s education sessions. The goal of the camp is technique development in small groups (4-6 athletes per coach) and individual video analysis for instant feedback.

Get Your Nordic On! Clinic Recap

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 10:48:07 -0500

The 2009 rollerski season is underway! The Rochester Active Sports Club and Rochester Nordic Ski Team hosted a great early summer rollerski clinic led by US Ski Team and CXC Elite skier Garrott Kuzzy. By attending, clinic participants earned the technique clinic portion of the USSA Level 100 Coaches Certification.

2009 Central Regional Elite Group Camp scheduled for July 5-10

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:19:04 -0500

Qualified top regional athletes will attend this camp including the CXC Elite Team and the CXC Junior Development Program. The goal of the camp is to provide an opportunity for top regional athletes to conduct testing, workouts and time trials together and to work with US National Team coaches.

Expansion and Season Opening for the CXC Masters Team

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:59:51 -0500

This year the CXC Masters Team is expanding programming by establishing specific chapters around the region. CXC coaches will be assigned to each chapter to work with Master skiers in group and individual settings. Each chapter will have unique structures based on member's needs.

Reputation is Everything

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:29:33 -0500

As a member of RatePoint, a service that lets users rate our programs, we take user feedback very seriously. Please take a few minutes to read member reviews or write one about your experience with CXC Academy. Your feedback will allow us to improve our programming approach within the association.

Training Period 2 of Season II Recap | 23.05.09

Sat, 23 May 2009 13:45:50 -0500

New in the period:
In Training Plans:
- Period 2 is similar to period 1. We increased distance training and added a level 4 effort approximately every week instead of every other week as in period 1.

In Video Extras:
- Dryland Drills – bungee work (Single Stick and Double Pole);
- Dryland Drills – classic kick ;
- Over Distance – intensity levels;
- Cycling Series | Vision Quest Coaching and Robbie Ventura – Overuse Injury;
- Cycling Series | Vision Quest Coaching and Robbie Ventura – Core Strength;
- Cycling Series | Vision Quest Coaching and Robbie Ventura – Threshold Training;
- Coaches Corner Notes Series | Calculate Training Load, PDF download;

We have added a new learning resource “Dartfish Mediabook” (look for it in the extras tab)

- Dartfish Mediabook Series | Double Pole Technique Analysis - CXC Elite Team Athlete Brian Gregg

Central Cross Country Ski Association utilizes the Dartfish Video Analysis System to evaluate different aspects of cross country ski technique. CXC’s Elite and Junior Teams both make use of this motion analysis software to give visual feedback and pinpoint the areas that require improvement.

Spring Fitness Assessment

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:00:24 -0500

Also known as the Medals Test, the assessment gives us a baseline on how our current fitness compares to previous years. The Medals Test is very similar to the old “Presidential Physical Fitness Test” that John F. Kennedy started back in the 1950’s, slightly modified to test attributes considered important for cross country skiers.

Birkie Masters Camp Registration Opens

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:01:09 -0500

Looking for your best jump start for the season and a great vacation as well? CXC now offers a training camp for master skiers of all abilities and levels. This camp is filled with technique group instructions, individual lessons, presentations, and a lake side evening barbecue with the CXC Elite Team. Other activities include road and mountain biking, paddling, water skiing, running and hiking on the Birkie Trail and evening seminars.

XC Coaches Education Certification Launched

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:00:07 -0500

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has launched a cross country coaches level 100 certification. This is the first level of a multi-level cross country-specific coaches education certification system. The curriculum is based on up-to-date practices used by the U.S. Ski Team in the quest for Olympic medals. The course material comes directly from the Team’s coaches and several of their key partners.

New Junior Development and Master Program for Lower Michigan

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:03:37 -0500

Central Cross Country Ski Association is pleased to announce new addition of Lower Michigan Junior Development and Masters Program. Program will be led by Igor Badamshin and Yuriy Gusev. Igor (born 1966) is a former Soviet/Russia cross country ski racer who competed from 1989 to 1997. Program is limited to 12 junior and 12 Masters skiers in order to provide good coach to athlete ratio and high quality sessions.

2009/2010 CXC Academy Training Season II: New Training Plans by Matt Liebsch and Vision Quest Coaching Partnership

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:46:25 -0500

Matt Liebsch, the winner of the 2009 American Birkebeiner, 2009 US National Championships Bronze medalist, and World Cup Competitor will share with you his ideas and thoughts on training for skiers of all ability levels: novice, intermediate and advanced.

CXC Academy is also pleased to announce partnership with Vision Quest Coaching and its owner Robbie Ventura. Robbie will introduce two bike workouts a week to our training plans to supplement or substitute some of the cross country specific training workouts.

2009 CXC Skiing Annual Spring Meeting

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:31:48 -0500

Two extremely dedicated and energetic cross country ski supporters have offered to run for the open positions of President Elect and Secretary. The attached ballot contains brief statements that outline their qualifications. Both candidates are running unopposed. However, our by‐laws require that candidates be presented to the membership for election.

2009-2100 CXC Junior Development Program Description and Application

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:45:39 -0500

Key components to individual athletic progression within the programming include monthly specific goal oriented training camps, detailed training plans customized to individual needs and program goals, one-onone contacts with a full time coach, and race support at selected Midwest/Great Lakes JOQ races.

2009 American Birkebeiner Video

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:07:04 -0500

American Birkebeiner and Central Cross Country Ski Association presents: Travel the hills of the Birkie trail with the men competing to win the 36th American Birkebeiner. This exciting video puts you with the lead pack as they seek to drop their competition and strategize with teamates to secure victory on Main Street in Hayward.

Junior Olympics Update

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:40:18 -0500

The Midwest team spent Thursday traveling to Sacramento, then east to Truckee, giving the athletes a few days to acclimate to the 7000+' elevation that they'll be racing at for the week. The team this year is represented by 48 athletes from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Nordic Walking Clinics with Caitlin Compton

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:43:54 -0500

YWCA Nordic Walking Clinics during the Fitness Meltdown Challenge: - Monday March 2nd @ the Uptown Minneapolis YWCA 5:00 PM - Monday March 16th @ the Downtown Minneapolis YWCA 7:00 PM - Wednesday March 18th @ the Midtown Minneapolis YWCA 7:00 PM

Birkie Finish Video

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:44:58 -0500

Saturday's American Birkebeiner events recorded the second largest number of registered skiers in the history of the event. There were 7,461 skiers registered for the 50K Birkie Skate sponsored by Becker Law Office, 54K Subaru Birkie Classic, 23K Kortelopet Skate and Classic races sponsored by Premier Physical Medicine and Wellness Clinic and the Johnson Bank Prince Haakon 8K.

CXC Skiers Share Birkebeiner Story with Hayward Schools (by Brian Gregg)

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:46:04 -0500

The ‘Skiers’ came to class at the Hayward Primary School on Monday. Kristina, Heather, Katie and I presented a short skit of the Birkebeiner Story, brought in our ski equipment for show and tell, taught the crowd a few skiing cheers and shared our experiences as professional cross country skiers.