HURT Camp 2015

July brings the real summer heat and the annual HURT nordic junior development ski camp.  Each year the camp seems to get better and this year was no exception.  Camp this year featured several new additions.  HURT brought in some very experienced coaching from Adam Terko (Mansfield Nordic), Callie Douglass (Vermont EHSC team and Colby assistant coach),  Ethan Townsend (SLU head coach), Steve Tomb (Johnsburg Nordic) and HURT's DPK and Bob Underwood.  Additionally, the new coaching internship program brought in Seth Mares (Michigan Tech, HURT) and Hilary Saucy (UMPI).  All this leadership meant juniors were treated to small group work and plenty of technical feedback over the week.  

The week started with a focus on goal setting, teamwork and new physical challenges.  ACC opened up their challenge and high ropes course to HURT campers and it created a nice illustration of the way athletes set lofty goals, calculate mini-process goals, work as a team, adapt to challenges and overcome obstacles.  Many of the challenges high level nordic skiers face are mental and this gave our athletes a chance to face their own fears and get after it!  There is nothing quite like jumping off that pamper-pole!  

 taking a page out of old-school Norwegian ski training

keeping the team all on the wires

vertical playpen

In between morning and afternoon training sessions, coaches took an opportunity to talk about many aspects of being a nordic athlete.  USA development biathlete Brian Halligan shared valuable knowledge on periodization, Callie and Ethan talked about NCAA skiing, DPK talked about club skiing and opportunities of NY high school skiers and Coach Tomb talked through pre-race mental preparations, positive self-talk, recovery and rest.  So much valuable information for athletes at EVERY LEVEL! 

While much of the week was spent rollerskiing, doing technique drills, getting long easy distance on rollerskis, and building a strong base; the week featured a fast and furious uphill time trial and skate TT.  For the first time ever, EVERY SINGLE hurt camper broke 30 minutes on the uphill run up West Mountain.  While the Ben Anderson course record remains intact, it was the most competitive at the front of the race as well.  Campers were joined by MWSC standout Austin Huneck and Clarkson sophomore Brian Chrzan.  Check out the solid results below:

Austin Huneck* 15:28

Nino Manzella   15:31

DPK*   16:04

Adam Terko*   16:13

Seamus Tomb   16:17

Eric Houck   16:31

Brian Chrzan*   16:41

Seth Mares*   16:53

Aaron Huneck   17:40

Casey T.   17:47

Owen P.   18:28

Adam C.   18:32

Justin   18:39

Joe    18:42

Sarah D.   18:59

Tyler   19:20

Dan M.   19:50

Dowon L.   19:51

Adam M.   19:54

Hilary Saucy*   20:03

Ben   20:20

Sullivan   20:41

Amy D.   20:47

Eliza Blood   21:16

James C.   22:20

Brendan T.   22:29

Claire L.   23:25

Sophie   25:50

Nick   27:14

Sarah M.   27:59

Anna   28:04

Emily   28:10

Allison   28:25

Group shot at the summit

Special Thanks to Rudy Project, Stewarts Shops, Price Chopper and The Sportspage in Queensbury for their continued support of the junior ski camp.  The new Rudy's were the coveted prizes and the new race poles from Sportspage will be great on the snow.  And the Stewart's ice cream....what a great treat! 

It is awesome to have such great support from such fine business and supporters of youth camps. 

It wasn't all work and no play....the HURT ladies saw to that.  When asked by HURT nordic "HOW WILL YOU BRING IT?".....they answered........"with whips".  Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhRyPUFZhP8&feature=youtu.be

Like us on facebook or visit our photo gallery at http://www.hurtnordicskiing.com/pictures.html to see more pictures from the 2015 camp.  Technique videos for campers will be posted on the site in a few days. 

Keep your eyes on all HURT social media outlets for upcoming August "Big Dayz".  Seth is already setting up something for August 1st and DPK is looking to set up another assault on on the Green Mountains.  

Big Dayz Series

The HRT newsroom is excited to report on the newest brain-child of the HURT sadistic-over-distance-training-committee.... also known as the H.U.R.T.S.O.D.T.C.

Despite being investigated for crimes against humanity and overuse of letters in an acronym, the HURTSODTC team has unveiled a new "Big Dayz" series designed to inspire big off-season training sessions and an overall "hardening" of the HURT race team.

You too can play along at home....You do not need to be a HURT member to play along....so here is how it works.  Visit our facebook page and post a picture from an epic day of training. In your post you should include time, distance and any other details that make your training day the most amazing.

On September 1st the "Big Dayz" training session with the most "likes" will win a HURT nordic prize pack*

*prize pack is valued at slightly more than "meh" but slightly under "AWESOME-SAUCE!"

Rules:
-Your training day should be more than 4 hours
-It should include more than 1 feat of athleticism (multi-sport)
-It should include more than 1 person. (race events are included in training sessions and multi-person activities)


There have already been two opening shots fired in the "Big Dayz" competition.

1) Heidi Underwood rocks Ironman Quebec.   'Nuff said....she is badass and she rocks her guns on the podium.  Boom.

2) SMS invasion.   The O.P. and DPK get together with Peru's newest recruit for 5,000+ ft of road bike climbing and a foot assault on Stratton VT and Stratton Peak. The bike/climb/bike combo was a big day for all.  Operating with the attitude of "There is still good in him" the two HURT speedsters felt that a full day with Chris might turn away from the "Cystic Fibrosis fighting menace from the north".  Alas the connection with CF is strong in that one.

necessary summit selfie

great day for a big day

post-ride bro pic

Chris preparing for the morning bike ride (Manchester-Londonerry-Stratton loop)

So get after it!  Share your big dayz. If you want to plan one and get some company just let the H.U.R.T.S.O.D.T.C know.  We will help spread the word! 

And It's Summertime!!

The end of May has come and with has come the hot temps, black flies and thoughts of the first snow and racing season.  But don't jump ahead to quick! Summer is great time for nordic skiers (ugh? really?) and for training.  Already many HURT athletes have been having fun and informally logging some great times outdoors.

The Hunecks (Austin, Aaron, Tim and Gina-sherpa) made their annual trek to Peru country for heavily hyped, uber-epic, positively painful and TOTALLY delightful PATCH SPRINT.  This year they brought along NY-expat DPK to take a crack at the challenging course that summits 4 mountains in 13 miles. It was a great day of racing for HURT nation and all 4 racers cracked the top 20 and Austin came within a few mere minutes of the course record and 2-hour mark. A great review of the day can be read here.  

DPK shoots for fast splits when the course it flatest

Huneck takes advantage of his "county-strength" to power the uphills to victory

HURT foursome heading out

Aaron finishes strong

Others in HURT nation have been taking to the trails and heading for the peaks.  J.C., the Ducli, and the Chrzans made it an overnight and bagged some of the 46.  Other HURT faithful have been logging bike miles, turns on the mountain bike and even (new mode of training from the Directress....climbing up stairs and throwing herself down slides.)  We would love to see what you've been up to so share you favorite spring-time training on our facebook wall!

All smiles in the high peaks

100th interval

There are big plans for HURT's 2015 Summer season and we hope you can be a part of it.  HURT organizers are making big plans for summer camp and we want you to get your registrations in early.  It will be a big camp this year and Mansfield Nordic is looking to bring a talented crew down for the week.  There will be summer training days set up in Glens Falls by coach Tomb from Johnsburg and even more additional training opportunities will be advertised and shared very soon.  Be sure to stay tuned in in the evenings while you are drinking your recovery chocolate milk or (chocolate porter) as the case may be.   

Bunnies - CANCELLED

So sorry to say that the Easter Scramble will be cancelled do to the forecasted wind, rain and cold temps.

(note to the weather) future Easter Scramble races are best held with 42 degrees and full sun.  With three feet of corn snow on the trails.  and no wind.

Thanks.

The BUNNIES ARE BACK!!

We have SNOW! So we are bringing the bunnies back!! Come to the HURT Easter Scramble, on Saturday, April 4th. We will aim to race at Saratoga Biathlon Club in Day, NY.  The event will begin at 10am. Here are the rules of the game:

All skiers will ski a 4K-5K loop.

Along the trail there will be 4 baskets of Easter Eggs. You have the OPTION to collect 1-3 Easter Eggs at each basket. 

Each egg has either a time bonus OR a time penalty. You must carry your eggs in someway over the whole course. If you bring and use a traditional wicker Easter basket to carry your eggs you will subtract 3 minutes off your 5K time. 

For every Spring/Easter themed item you wear on your body you will be able to subtract 10 seconds off your race time. “Easter themed items” will be determined by the event officials.   

The race will be FREE! but you can make an optional donation that will be donated to the Saratoga Biathlon Club to thank them for grooming, preparing the course and supporting nordic ski racing in the area. 

For every dollar you donate you can subtract an equal number of seconds off your race time. 

This is NOT and NYSSRA sanctioned race.  This will be a unsanctioned-ski-at-your-own-risk family fun club event. Bring your kids and family! 

Winner will receive a prize pack and chocolate-bunny-shaped-prize! 

Stay tuned to the HURT facebook/twitter accounts in case conditions deteriorate quickly and we are unable to host the event. 

History made over Championship Weekend

It has been a week since the NYSSRA Championship weekend and it has taken that long to recover from the nail-biting, suspense filled race weekend that saw HURT nordic squeak out a team points title for the sixth straight year.  In years past, HURT has been able to lean heavy on huge team turnout and and a massive points lead heading into the final relay and distance championship.  This year they had no such luxury on either account.  Most of the junior field and HURT laydz were off to sunny Cali for a week of Junior National racing and vitamin D replenishment and the race team in Lake Placid was truly skeleton.

Facing the massive Peru Nordic contingent on both Saturday and Sunday was a lot like the Battle of Rorke's Drift depicted in the epic 1964 movie "Zulu".  And while HURT's official organizational position is considerably less-colonial than the British Empire's, the battle on snow was equally lopsided at the onset....and very nearly as bloody.

Picture from my obscure movie reference

Appearing leaderless (both Directresses were not in Lake Placid) HURT looked to its once ruthless Dictator, Aaron Huneck to shoulder the burden and lead the team to victory.  It was reminiscent of Napoleon returning from Elba after his exile.  Aaron and DPK skied into a 3rd place finish in the men's relay and a he followed it up with big podium finish in the Sunday classic race behind Douglas and Wellford.  Perhaps the biggest effort of the day came from Emma Huneck who dusted off her race boards to join with her mom to score some all important women's relay points.  In year's to come, 2015 will be remembered as the "year of the Huneck."

Visual approximation of A. Huneck pre-race. 

On a weekend where every point mattered on Sunday there was some great skiing by Chris Y, DPK, Bob and Heidi, Tim, Adam and Cameron and despite being outnumbered 2-1 by Peru the lead going into the race after a season of racing was just enough to grab the win....by 2 points.

HURT train rolls out at the start of Sunday's race

Huneck battles with Douglas early on. 

So...HURT nation....celebrate now, for we once again reign champs....but "Winter is coming"....and so is Peru.

Sorry, No historical reference here.....just looking forward to the next season of "Game of Thrones"....I mean "NYSSRA racing".

Hurt rides podium wave into Championships

Last weekend's Lake Placid Loppet and Tourathon saw some awesome racing conditions and some great race performances by Hurt nation. Overall podium spots were grabbed by Bob "still got it" Underwood in the 25 k classic and Dave "baby, what baby?" PK in the 25k skate.  Aaron "first 50" Huneck skied to a strong 2nd place in the Tourathon as well.  Check the full results to see all the great times posted by the big green.

Peak form seems to be found by many skiers.... just in time for the season closes in three days up at vanho.  NYSSRA champs is here and it is going to be a battle for the team title.  You've seen the hype from the talking heads and word is out the Peru is hungry for a comeback win....and have the ranks to be a real threat.  The Directresses are counting on you to sign up today and stem the black tide.

Underwood looking forward to his waffles

Pete Pedrotty storms his way to a solid finish in the 25k skate

Junior crew plus PK hanging around after Loppet-ting

PK's maple dance after 3rd overall in the 25K skate

Age group winner S. Duclos prefers pancakes. weirdo. 

They certainly help her ski well, though.