Stellar Keystone training elicits sunny dispositions

By Published On: November 9th, 2007Comments Off on Stellar Keystone training elicits sunny dispositions

NFL players generally don’t smile much after grueling two-a-days. Ski racers generally don’t, either.
    Thursday under blue skies and mild temperatures at Keystone, things were a bit different for the U.S. Ski Team’s first day of training at Star Fire on North Peak.
    “Just look around, everyone’s smiling,” men’s World Cup GS coach Greg Needell said. “If you end training days and everyone’s smiling, then it’s a good day.”

KEYSTONE, Colorado — NFL players generally don’t smile much after grueling two-a-days. Ski racers generally don’t, either.
    Thursday under blue skies and mild temperatures at Keystone, things were a bit different for the U.S. Ski Team’s first day of training at Star Fire on North Peak.
    “Just look around, everyone’s smiling,” men’s World Cup GS coach Greg Needell said. “If you end training days and everyone’s smiling, then it’s a good day.”
    After some intro training on the front side of Keystone earlier this week, the team headed back to its private carpet on Star Fire, a steep, undulating, challenging stretch of snow that allows for solid GS and slalom training and enough length and terrain to benefit the speed racers. This is the second season of the team’s exclusive partnership at the Summit County, Colorado, resort.
    “This was awesome, this was awesome,” Needell said as the men wound down their Thursday session. “Keystone did an awesome job getting this hill ready. Two days ago, there was just piles on the hill, and they pushed it all out — groomed it all out yesterday, we spent all afternoon putting up fence, then came out this morning and it turned out really good. We’re fired up.”
    The three-week camp — in conjunction with speed training at nearby Copper Mountain — marks the final prep period for the national teamers before the White Circus hits Canada and the United States for its annual swing.
    The Charles Schwab Birds of Prey men’s races are Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at Beaver Creek and the Audi Aspen Winternational women’s races Dec. 7-9.
    In addition, the NorAm schedule begins with Super Series races Nov. 26-29 at Keystone for men and Winter Park for women Nov. 28-Dec. 1.
    Thursday, most of the national teamers — minus the crew that will race slalom this weekend in Reiteralm, Austria — were dialing in equipment, gauging how some recovering body parts were coping, fine-tuning mechanics, and gaining confidence.
    “It was awesome, a lot of fun,” final-year junior Travis Ganong said. “It’s nice to get on a nice, steep, challenging hill. We were on the front side for a couple of days while they were prepping this hill. It’s sweet to be back here now.
    “It’s just a little flatter [on the front side]. It’s good to get back on snow there, but after a while you need to push yourself and challenge yourself.”
    At the other end of the age spectrum, veteran GS racer Erik Schlopy was savoring the conditions following his return from a left-knee injury. He was unable to train much this season but did start in the Sölden GS two weeks ago, failing to qualify for the second run.
    “I had a week off after Sölden and I’m pain free again,” Schlopy said. “Only took 11 months. But I’m feeling good again, looking forward to having three weeks here in Keystone. They’ve really set up the trail unbelievable considering there was so little snow. They’ve done great prep work. We have awesome training set up for us and hopefully we’ll be able to bring that momentum and get ready for the World Cup better than any other team.”
    Like Schlopy, Aspen’s Jake Zamansky is looking for good things in 2007-08 after injury — an MCL tear — cut short last season.
    “God, they did a great job on the hill,” Zamansky chimed in. “I think it was the best man-made snow on the first day skiing on it that I’ve ever seen in my life. So that was good. We just got back from Austria training in Sölden, so it’s been a really good summer. … The light’s tough [at Sölden], the snow is inconsistent at best, there’s a lot of rocks and whatnot, but it’s glacier training, that’s the way it goes. We’re spoiled here — they take really good care of us at Keystone.”
    With FIS altering the sidecut specifications for World Cup skis, racers — and techs — are dialing in gear setups. Most of the racers are adjusting with little trouble, able to focus instead of their tactics and strategy.
    “This training block, when I come out of it, the last day of training before the race season, I want to feel like I did everything possible to put myself in the right situation on that first race day,” said Will Brandenburg, the 2007 Ski Racing Junior of the Year.
    A four-event skier, he’s one of the young guns Needell said is putting a bit of pressure on the veterans to perform.
    “I’m trying to continue with that speed — I have speed but I’ve got to keep working on the consistency side of things,” Brandenburg said. “So I’m just taking a step back and really working on a consistent stance — that’s where it starts.”
    On the speed side, the Keystone camp is crucial in advance of team time trials that will help determine starting spots in World Cup races.
    “We’ve got about four guys fighting for two spots [in downhill], so I have to go out there and ski fast so I can get one of those two,” downhiller Chris Beckmann said before making his first runs on Star Fire.
    The atmosphere Thursday was an upbeat one, and Zamansky pointed to a solid chemistry between the newcomers, the veterans, the coaching staff and techs for a heightened sense of optimism in the Red, White and Blue camp.
    “I think the team’s in the best place that it’s ever been since I’ve been on it,” Zamansky said. “We’ve got a young group, everyone gets along great, the coaching staff is the best for my liking that I’ve ever had it. I don’t really want to offend anybody, but I really do think that as a whole, it functions better than we ever have between speed, tech, Europa Cup and every level.”

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About the Author: Pete Rugh