Congratulations!

Congratulations to the entire FHS Nordic Ski team on a fantastic season!

The past few days in Presque Isle provided the perfect finale to a great season! 

Many of you have expressed an interest in competing in the Eastern High School Qualification race. The race will be held on Saturday, March 2 at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center. We need to know who is planning on attending this event, so as to arrange the necessary support. The race is a pursuit (a 5km classic in the morning, followed by a 5km skate in the afternoon), which will take the entire day. 

Please email us as soon as possible if you plan on attending this race!

We encourage all of our skiers to continue getting out on the snow, while it lasts. Pineland's website says that they will have all trails open again by tomorrow (Thursday), however I would call before going. Considering it is vacation week, perhaps skiers can arrange to travel north towards better conditions (options COULD include Waterville Quarry Road trails, Black Mountain, Jackson NH, Great Glen, and Sugarloaf. However, I would always call before making a trip!) 

For those wishing to continue their race season and attend the EHS qualification race, here is a training schedule:

Thursday: easy ski or off day (depending on how tired you feel). If you ski, go out for an easy hour ski. If you get out with a few friends end the ski with a game! :) 

Friday: easy distance ski (practice pursuit style skiing by combining classic and skate). Go out for a slow 2 hour ski (ski classic for the first hour and then switch to skate for the second hour). Include 2 X 5 minutes of no pole skiing in each discipline. 

Saturday: Classic Endurance SPEED workout - 5 X 5 minutes at race pace with 3 minutes between each interval. These intervals should not only raise your heart rate, but should also aim to improve efficiency, especially on climbs and transitions. Finish with 10 short (10 second) sprints (five striding and five double poling). If you are skiing somewhere with tricky classic waxing conditions it is best to go EARLY when the snow is still cold and waxing is easier!

Sunday: long, easy ski (practice pursuit style skiing by combining classic and skate). Go out for a slow 3 hour ski (ski classic for the first 1 1/2 hour and then switch to skate for the second 1 1/2 hour). Include 2 X 5 minutes of no pole skiing in each discipline. Finish each 1 1/2 hour section with 5 short sprints. 

Monday: Off!

We will send out a schedule by next Monday (2/25) outlining next week's practices. All practices next week are optional and will require your own transportation.

See you soon!