The Durango Nordic Ski Team will begin the competitive season with its first Junior Nationals qualifying meet this weekend in Crested Butte.
Under the guidance of head coaches Gary Colliander and Evan Elliott, older team members have been lifting weights, roller skiing, running and hiking since the end of last season’s competitions. Others have been biking with DEVO, running trails and playing games and sports to develop as versatile athletes, working to become stronger, faster and more agile.
The older skiers were joined in October by younger kids (younger than 14), who began loosening up muscles and working on ski-specific exercises in preparation for the coming snow season. All have put in some time on snow the last few weeks with excellent early-season skiing conditions at the Nordic Center at Purgatory.
Fourteen high school-aged skiers (U20) traveled to West Yellowstone, Mont., during Thanksgiving week for team building and on-snow training with about 400 of their best friends from around the country. Most members (and coaches) put in more than 20 hours of training in sunny and pleasant conditions.
At the end of the training week, the skiers participated in two practice races. These contests were less important for the Durango team but of pivotal importance for those looking to improve their résumé in order to make the U.S. Olympic Team for Sochi. Durango’s own Tad Elliot, who has been fighting illness, put in his best efforts in these races.
Older team members also traveled to Grand Mesa earlier this month for two more days of practice racing but with a bit more grit. A 4-kilometer classic event was held the first day in blizzard conditions and abundant snow with temperatures in the single digits, and a 4K freestyle (skate) race was held on a calm second day in near-zero temperatures.
These early season efforts served as a platform for the vastly improved performance of senior Hannah Petersen, who won both races among all women in Grand Mesa. Petersen was one of the cadre of athletes who made the jump from fall cross country and mountain biking.
Durango Nordic Ski Club has redesigned its enrollment groups this year. In addition to the regular racing program, some new groups have been formed with the intention of providing opportunities for kids who are less interested in competition but simply would like to learn to ski better or train during the winter for summer sports.
One of those groups, under the guidance of longtime Nordic coach and DEVO co-founder Sarah Tescher, will consist of kids younger than 12 who want to develop off-course backcountry skiing skills. Her sessions will go from mid-January to mid-March and will be conducted one day per week with a couple weekend days thrown in.
Similarly, there now are less-competitive groups for kids older than 12 who are more interested in cross training for summer biking, running and other sports while improving their skiing skills.
Altogether, the club boasts 65 members this year who are learning under the guidance of nine coaches.
jeisele@durangoherald.com
On the Net
For information about Durango Nordic Ski Club programs, visit the DNSC website at www.durangonordic.org.
