CXC Camps for Master Skiers

Masters cross country skiers in the Midwest have a unique opportunity this fall and winter to both develop their own skills and help aspiring young athletes.

Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC) will hold a series of weekend-long camps from August to December. Proceeds will go directly to support junior athletes from Central Region attending international events. The camps are open to any athletes with a focus on master skiers.

Each will feature a celebrity guest coach along with the CXC high performance staff. The emphasis will be on technique with hands-on coaching and feedback during roller ski or on-snow sessions. Each camp will include evening presentation from guest coach on their athletic career and international racing.

Each camp will help with the cause of supporting athletes striving towards excellence in international competitions. Much of the funding to support Junior World Championships, U23 World Championships and the annual U18 international trip comes from grants provided by National Nordic Foundation (NNF). CXC’s goal with its masters camps is to provide additional  support specific to helping Central athletes and their families.

“This support is really vital for young athletes and their families,” said CXC Executive Director  Yuriy Gusev. “Masters skiers can help through their participation in these CXC camps and make a difference for these future stars of our sport. Our eventual goal is that our athletes can attend these international events – starts they have earned – without having to pay for the privilege.”

Featured coaches each weekend will include Olympian Ivan Babikov, three-time World Championship team member Tad Elliott, veteran CXC skier Matt Liebsch, 2009 Czech National Champion Krystof Kopal and rising U.S. Biathlon star Deedra Irwin.

All camps will be held in Cable, Wisconsin, taking advantage of the culture of the American Birkebeiner and the amazing roller ski terrain in the region.

The weekend camps will cost $200 for full engagement in the program. Meals and lodging are not included in the $200 coaching fee. Registration is now available at:

http://cxcskiing.org/pages/events/camps/cxc-training-camps.html#TechniqueCamps

NOTE:

These camps are free to CXC Masters Team (?) members; please RSVP to reserve your spot.

 

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CXC MASTERS CAMP SCHEDULE

 

August 17-19 (Cable, Wis.) – Technique Camp

Guest Coach: Tad Elliott

 

September 28-30 (Cable, Wis.) – Technique Camp

Guest Coach: Deedra Irwin

 

October 9-14 (Park City, Utah) – Altitude Training Camp

Camp Host: Dave Knoop

Note: Space limited at this camp

 

October 19-21 (Cable, Wis.) – Technique Camp

Guest Coach: Ivan Babikov & Steve Myrland

Note: Clinic will be as a part of coaches conference

 

November 23-25 (Cable, Wis.) – Technique Camp

Guest Coach: Krystof Kopal

 

December 28-30 (Cable, Wis.) – Technique Camp

Guest Coach: Deedra Irwin

FRIDAY / December 28
4:00pm – Technique training (skate) meeting at the OO Trail Head
7:00pm – Dinner and video review of technique

SATURDAY / December 29
9:00am – Technique training (classic) meeting at the OO Trail Head
10:30am – Video review and technique analysis 
1:30pm – Technique training (skate) meeting at the OO Trail Head
3:00pm – Video review and technique analysis 
6:00pm – Dinner & Presentation by Deedra Irwin

SUNDAY / December 30
9:00am – Technique training (classic) meeting at the OO Trail Head
10:30am – Video review and technique analysis

 

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Typical Weekend Clinic Program

Friday afternoon – Skate Technique (free skate, double pole & V1)

Saturday morning – Classic Technique (striding, double pole, diagonal stride)

Saturday afternoon – Skate Technique (V2 and V2 Alt)

Saturday evening – Inspire Excellence Presentation

Sunday morning – Classic Technique (diagonal stride and kick double pole)

 

FEATURED GUEST COACHES

Ivan Babikov

Three-time Olympian Ivan Babikov is a legend in North American cross country skiing. He competed for both his native Russia at Torino and for his adopted Canada in Vancouver and Sochi. He was fifth in the 2010 Olympic skiathlon. More recently he had been coaching the Canadian National Team.

 

Tad Elliott

An accomplished cross country skier and pro mountain bike racer, Durango, Colorado native Tad Elliott is a veteran of three World Championship teams.

 

Deedra Irwin

Wisconsin native Deedra Irwin forged a strong career in cross country skiing with CXC club Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team (ANST), qualifying for U23 World Championships and skiing for Michigan Tech University. She is now pursuing biathlon as a member of the U.S. Biathlon Team.

 

Matt Liebsch

Minnesota native Matt Liebsch grew up racing in CXC programs, forging a pathway to becoming a top elite racer competing on the World Cup tour and picking up an American Birkebeiner win. He is also known as a guru on cross country ski equipment, now working with Pioneer Midwest in his hometown of Osseo, Minn.

 

Krystof Kopal

Coming from the Czech Republic, Krystof Kopal started his ski career at 11 when he joined Ski Klub Jablonec and competed for the club until his admission to Northern Michigan University where he spent the past five years skiing under Sten Fjeldheim. Krystof’s personal highlights are the title of 2009 Czech National Champion in 10K freestyle, bronze from skate sprint at the 2011 Czech Nationals, and fulfilling his goal to get education in the U.S.

 

Steve Myrland

Steve Myrland is currently the Wellness Director and District Performance Coach for Athletics at Middleton School District in Wisconsin. As a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Wisconsin (1988-2000), Myrland was part of Big Ten and national championship in hockey, soccer, cross country, tennis and rowing. In 1993-94, he worked with the San Jose Sharks where the Sharks set an NHL team record for single-season improvement. He is also a faculty member of the GAIN Network, which provides a global platform for education, innovation and motivation in athletic development.