Shows
The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierJohannes Høsflot Klæbo has a lot to say. We listened.A few weeks ago, Nat got a Facebook message from one Haakon Klæbo — father of Johannes Klæbo, also known as one of the greatest skiers of all time. What followed was a visit by Nat to Klæbo's training camp in Park City, Utah, where he and Johannes taped this episode of the Devon Kershaw Show.Join us to hear an interview with the five-time Olympic champion from Norway about his time in the U.S., his training and his schism with the Norwegian national team. You can read Nat's first written story from his visit...2023-09-201h 17The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierLive from Estonia, it's Tuesday nightEstonia put on one heck of a show at a city sprint in the nation's capital, Tallinn, this week. We give you a full recap with the help of an on-site expert, Vahur Teppan, and break down some complaints about a new system designed to level the waxing playing field — which may not have worked.We'll be back for one more recap after the Lahti Ski Games in Finland this weekend. Devon is at devon@fasterskier.com and Nat is at nat@fasterskier.com.2023-03-2345 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierSwinging through Sweden with Canada's Katherine Stewart-JonesThe World Cup's penultimate weekend of the year took us to Falun, Sweden for a trio of races, including two more fun 10 ks and a mixed relay. Canada's Katherine Stewart-Jones joins us to recap her sensational season and what's ahead for her next year.We'll be back after Tuesday's city sprint in Tallinn, Estonia. Get at us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com2023-03-201h 20The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierDouble trouble in Norway: recaps from Holmenkollen and DrammenNo rest for the weary (except those who skipped Holmenkollen): We're back with recaps of, objectively, the most lit series of races on the World Cup circuit, in Norway. We've got the goods from the Holmenkollen 50 k races, including the first-ever for women, and the always satisfying Drammen sprints.We'll be back next week. Reach us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-03-151h 07The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThat was a really fun World Champs 50 k.We've made 10 podcasts in 11 days and I have no juice left to come up with snappy episode titles or show notes. So this is what you get. Click play and listen to us talk. It was a cool 50 k.Get at us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We'll be back after the first-ever women's 50 k, with both Devon and Nat on scene in Oslo.2023-03-0533 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierAn epic 30k to finish off women's racing in PlanicaThis race had it all — a solo breakaway, chase packs and a nail-biting performance from America's Rosie Brennan. Devon and Nat ditch the guests to break down the race themselves. We'll be back tomorrow with a last World Championships episode. Thanks for your support. Reach us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-03-0450 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierQuick bonus: Hear from the Canadian relay men on their World Champs fifth placeCanada threw down an impressive fifth place finish in Friday's men's 4x10 k relay, finishing just seconds from the medals. We caught up with the team afterwards in the mixed zone — here are our interviews with, in order, Tony Cyr, Graham Ritchie and Olivier Leveille. (We interviewed scramble leg skier Xavier McKeever earlier in the day, which is why he's not featured in this clip.)We'll be back tonight with a recap of the women's 30 k. Stay with us. You can reach us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-03-0410 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierIgNor-way and it was an awesome men's World Championships relayYeah, Norway smoked everyone in the men's 4x10 k relay at World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. But the race for silver and bronze was a thriller, with Canada delivering an electrifying performance. Chris Jeffries, the Canadians' high performance director, joins us from on site to break the race down.Get at us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. Ten races down, two to go.2023-03-0336 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierGuests galore to recap a showstopping women's World Champs relayWe've got guests. Former FasterSkier Managing Editor Rachel Perkins and U.S. Olympian and World Cup podium finisher Sophie Caldwell join us to recap an epic women's relay from World Championships in Planica.Nine races down, three to go. You can reach us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-03-0254 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Jessie Diggins of Swedish ski journalism helps us break down the 15kTomas Petterson, a veteran sports reporter for the Swedish newspaper Expressen, joins us to recap the men's 15 k at World Championships, and to discuss Sweden's fantastic women's team and the country's hopes for its raw, talented men's squad.Reach us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. Seven days down, four to go.2023-03-0142 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierBonus World Champs episode: Hear straight from Diggins, and her coachWe wanted to let you hear straight from the medalist's mouth. So we're posting these short interviews Nat did yesterday with World Championships gold medalist Jessie Diggins and her coach Jason Cork.We'll be back later today with coverage from the 15-kilometer men's race. Stay tuned, and email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-03-0112 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierKristin Størmer Steira joins to recap a history-making day for Jessie DigginsTwo words: Jessie Diggins. The American superstar smashed her competition Tuesday, winning America's first-ever World Championships gold medal in an individual race. Kristin Størmer Steira and some guy that's married to her, Devon Kershaw, join Nat for a recap. Get at us at nat@fasterskier.com and devon@fasterskier.com.2023-03-0145 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierKern and Diggins team to deliver World Champs hardware in PlanicaIf you're reading this, you already know: Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern teamed up to deliver a bronze medal for the U.S. at the World Championships in Slovenia. We've got a full breakdown and oh yeah, there was a men's race, too.The championships is rolling along; email your notes and questions to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-02-2647 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierPlanica skiathlon: Swedes storm, Slind surprises and Brennan gets a tough breakEbba Andersson wins the World Championships skiathlon followed by a strong Frida Karlsson, with a surprise third by a Norwegian with a cinderella story. We break the race down and cover Rosie Brennan's ski mishap.We'll back back with more after Sunday's team sprint. Send us your questions at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-02-2528 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierPlanica Day 2: Norway pulls out the broom for a clean pursuit sweepLongtime Canadian racer Jesse Cockney joins us to recap a surprisingly exciting men's pursuit race at the World Championships in Planica, Slovenia.We'll be back tomorrow. Send your questions to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-02-2546 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierWorld Champs Ep. 1: Ben Ogden joins us for a salty start in PlanicaBang! We're off and running with a recap of the classic sprint, the first of six medal events at the World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. American sprint sensation Ben Ogden joins us.We'll be podcasting after each race day in Slovenia. Get at us with questions at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-02-231h 08The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierAt long last: You had questions. We have answers.We've promised. And promised and promised. Now, it's finally time for us to deliver: Answers to dozens of questions that came in from our dozens of listeners. Sadie Bjornsen Maubet, the World Championships medalist from Alaska, joins Devon and Nat to lend her insights into international cross-country ski racing.We'll be back as World Championships get started in Slovenia next week; Nat will be on scene. Reach us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-02-141h 11The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierA final tuneup in ToblachWorld Championships is looming; Devon and Nat return to cover three days of racing — and two podiums from Jessie Diggins — in Toblach, Italy. We'll finally get to the mailbag episode next week, so send in your questions if you've got 'em: devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-02-0759 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierDon't sleep on Les RoussesHoly smokes, that was an epic weekend of racing. Devon and Nat are joined by Tony Cyr, the breakout Canadian star, and a mystery guest drops in later on in the episode.We break down the sprint and two distance races held at the festive French venue in Les Rousses. And we promise, we'll get you a mailbag episode before World Championships starts in a few weeks. Get at us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-01-311h 15The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierGetting high in Livigno — the World Cup is backIt's been a couple weeks since you last heard from us. The World Cup and the Devon Kershaw Show are back from a hiatus with a recap of the high altitude sprint weekend in Livigno.Devon and Nat break down the individual and team sprints from the Italian Alps, including some strong American performances. We're still planning a mailbag episode in the not-too-distant future, so keep those questions coming: devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We'll be back soon.2023-01-241h 05The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierWe have reached the summitDevon and Nat return to recap the last three stages of this year's Tour de Ski, including the climb up the Alpe Cermis.The World Cup circuit is taking a break, so we'll try to have a mailbag episode in the next week. Email us questions and comments at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-01-091h 06The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierTour de Ski bulletin — Norway's COVID crisis and a Latvian star is bornThere's too much going on in the Tour de Ski for us to cover in just one episode — so we're back to quickly hype up a breakout performance by Latvia's Patrīcija Eiduka yesterday, and to break down a COVID crisis on the Norwegian team that's erupted in the past 24 hours.We're at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com; we'll be back Sunday.2023-01-0520 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierTour de Gus — Schumacher joins for an Oberstdorf recapGus Schumacher, one of the U.S. men to notch top-15 results at this week's Tour de Ski stages, joins us to recap the two races in Oberstdorf, Germany. We hear from Schumacher about how his tour has gone so far, plus break down the roller coaster performances we've seen from American superstar Jessie Diggins.We'll be back in a few days once the racers summit the Alpe Cermis. Get at us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2023-01-051h 17The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierNew year, new tour — Val Müstair recapNat and Devon go guest-less for this opening episode of 2023, recapping the first two stages of the Tour de Ski in Val Müstair, Switzerland.We've got full breakdowns of flashy performances by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and a Jessie Diggins debacle in the opening sprint race. We'll be back with another episode mid-week as the tour rolls on; hit us with questions or emails at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com2023-01-021h 11The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierDavos delivers: Recapping showstoppers in Switzerland, with a side of SausageØystein Pettersen, the Norwegian Olympic champion also known as "Pølse," or "Sausage," joins the show to break down an epic weekend of racing in Switzerland — and to help Devon and Nat come up with ways to save the World Cup men's distance racing from permanent Norwegian domination.As always, we're at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com if you've got questions or feedback.2022-12-191h 35The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierA Beito breakdown with the one and only Kikkan RandallA second weekend of racing in Norway left us with some breakout performances alongside the big names. Kikkan Randall, the Olympic gold medalist from Alaska, joins us for the recap.We're at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com if you've got questions or feedback. See you next week.2022-12-121h 01The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierLillehammer recap: Diggins delivers and Norway is still NorwayCrashes, breakout performances, a Klaebo fill-in called in mid-workout, an American victory and climate activists disrupting a race — the three-day Lillehammer weekend had it all. Olivia Orr and Hannah DeAngelis, two superfans in Maine, join us for the recap, with Devon bringing us firsthand intel from the Canadian wax cabins.We're at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com if you've got questions or feedback. See you next week.2022-12-051h 27The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierRuka recap: Guess whose apology tourCanadian world champion Alex Harvey joins the podcast to recap the season opening mini-tour in Finland. Devon and Nat help break down three days of fun racing, Scandinavian dominance, and a dubious qualification.As always, get ahold of us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We'll be back next week.2022-11-281h 26The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierBuckle up for 2023, the Devon Kershaw Show is backWe're back, with some incremental improvements to our audio production and full stoke for a new season of the Devon Kershaw Show. On this first episode of the new season, Devon and Nat break down the winter's opening races in Sweden, Finland and Norway, and prime the pump for the World Cup kickoff in Finland next weekend. As always, email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2022-11-2142 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierU.S. Ski Team veteran coach Matt WhitcombMatt Whitcomb has been a staple of the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff for a decade, seeing it through some of its most successful years. We hear from him about the coaching lifestyle, equal distance racing and other topics in another episode that we took a litttttle too long to post.You can email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2022-08-261h 14The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierNew Canadian xc coach Robin McKeeverWe have no excuses for our prolonged absence other than it being the summer time. Devon has school and kids to take care of; Nat has…well, Nat really has no excuse. We taped this show with Robin McKeever, the new Canadian coach, and we’re just getting around to posting it now.You can email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2022-08-191h 05The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Devon Kershaw Show: 2023 starts now. (Okay, three weeks ago.)You’ve been waiting on pins and needles for the first episode of this season’s Devon Kershaw Show; we know. But it’s been a busy spring. This edition was recorded a couple of weeks ago, so apologies we’re not up to speed on all the latest developments, but we break down some retirements and other off-season news and we’ll be back soon with some discussion of equal distance racing and other news.You can email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2022-05-2359 min
Nordic NationJessie Diggins: Eating Disorder Awareness, Media, and Why What to Say MattersHeading into the Olympics in February, Jessie Diggins received more media attention than ever before, landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated and having her profile featured on major news outlets like the New York Times. There was an entire category for her career highlights on the Olympic cross country ski tab on NBC’s Peacock streaming platform. From all of the coverage focused on Diggins surrounding the Games, one comment in particular received attention and push back from the athlete community. The line in a February 8th story in the NY Times suggested that Diggins looked “like...2022-04-151h 04Nordic NationBody Comments: A Discussion on the Media’s Portrayal of Endurance Athletes with Rosie Brennan, Corrine Malcolm, Brian Metzler, and Nat HerzThough the FasterSkier team would select other highlights from the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games, one of the most read articles we produced featured the responses of members of the ski community to a story published on February 8th by the New York Times, which included the following quote:“In a sport that has so many women with massive shoulders and thighs, Diggins looks like a sprite in her racing suit, and it’s not clear exactly where she gets her power. But the power is there, as she flies up hills, and comes off climactic turns with a burs...2022-03-311h 17The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierFinals in Falun, eff yeahIt was full sun and full gas in Falun, Sweden, for one last hurrah of World Cup racing. The three-day weekend brought us new formats, American podium performances (plural!) and any number of other highlights. Thanks for listening over the course of the World Cup tour — we’ll be back periodically during the off-season with interviews and updates.You can email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We’ll catch up with a mailbag episode in the next few weeks.2022-03-151h 15The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Super Bowl of Skiing with Guest Jess CockneyIt doesn’t get much better than a weekend of full sun, epic skiing and meetings with the king of Norway. But that’s what we’ve got for you after another fun weekend of racing, at Oslo’s classic Holmenkollen venue. With help from Canadian retired Olympian Jess Cockney, we break down the 30 k and 50 k from Saturday and Sunday, touch on the COVID outbreak that’s hitting World Cup teams including the U.S. and take the International Ski Federation to task for canceling World Cup finals.You can email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fa...2022-03-071h 05The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierDistract yourself with DrammenThere’s a war on in Ukraine, and we touch on its impacts on the World Cup. But ski racing is also continuing, so we’re forging on, with respect for and acknowledgment of the tragedy that’s unfolding in Europe. For a few hours at least, on Thursday, the classic Drammen city sprint provided one heck of a distraction, and Devon and Nat are back to break down some performances for the ages by Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla, the French men and China’s Wang Qiang.You can email us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@faster...2022-03-0433 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe World Cup is back — so is the showHas it really been a week since the Olympics already? The World Cup’s furious schedule forges on with more racing this weekend in Lahti, Finland. Special guest host, Finnish Olympic gold medalist Sami Jauhojaervi, joins us to break down those results and other Finnish highlights from this season. We also cover results from the World Junior Championships in the early part of the podcast, and finish with a brief discussion of how cross-country skiing is handling Russian participation on the World Cup circuit given the country’s invasion of Ukraine.You can email us at d...2022-02-281h 39The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierMore Olympic hardware for Diggins and a banner day for the U.S.What. A. Day. American cross-country skier Jessie Diggins scores another Olympic medal in Beijing, this time a silver, gutting out a strong race even though she was suffering from food poisoning. We break down the full 30 k freestyle race with Therese Johaug's win and a furious chase for bronze. And we're thrilled to welcome guest hosts Holly Brooks and Sadie Maubet (Bjornsen), the retired U.S. Olympians who joined us from Alaska.We'll be back when the World Cup resumes in Lahti next weekend. (Seriously?! So soon.) Get us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat...2022-02-2059 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThey only raced half a 50k. We've still got a full podcast.This isn't a spoiler, even if it spoiled some of the glory Saturday: Organizers shortened the Olympic men's 50 k skate to a 28 k skate. People were mad; the athletes still raced and delivered a good show. We've got our own show here, featuring guest star Kris Freeman, the retired American Olympian.Alaska's Scott Patterson threw down the best Olympic result for a U.S. man in nearly a half-century, too. We break that down, plus the Russians and Norwegians on the podium, and we'll have one last Olympic podcast after the women's 30 k skate tomorrow. ...2022-02-1954 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierTeam sprint showdown in ZhangjiakouWednesday's Olympic team sprint offered another thrilling set of races at the venue in Zhangjiakou — we're back to break down an epic performance by the German women, a critic-silencing race from Norway in the men's event and a U.S. women's result that left a medal just out of reach.Thanks to everyone for sending in questions and feedback — we're trying to keep our heads above water on the homestretch here, but you can be sure Devon will still have plenty to say post-Games. In the meantime, you can get us at devon@fasterskier.com and nat...2022-02-1755 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierRussia waltzes to men's relay gold as Norway slouches to silverThe men's 4 x 10 k relay itself lacked for drama, but fortunately there's plenty going on in the Norwegian team for us to talk about. Devon and Nat are back to break down Russia's convincing win in the relay, the most disappointing silver ever for Norway and a gold-like bronze for France. Send questions and feedback to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We'll be back Wednesday.Related reading: “Burmania”: Swedish xc skier’s snack-sampling video goes viral in ChinaThe Chinese Ski Team’s Path to Beijing (Part 1)2022-02-1346 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierHoly smokes that women's Olympic relayOMG that was awesome. Devon and Nat are back to break down an epic finish to the women's Olympic relay, with some details on the Russian victory, the surprise German silver and Jonna Sundling helping to deliver a bronze for Sweden. Plus some notes on the Americans in sixth. Send questions and feedback to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We'll be back tomorrow.2022-02-1255 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierTo Question, or Not to Question, Bolshunov's Epic Skiathlon WinWe're back with a recap of Russian Alexander Bolshunov's dominating victory in the Olympic 30-kilometer skiathlon. We break down the dramatic start to the race, the Russians' epic performance, Iivo Niskanen's heroic effort to hang on to a bronze and the huge time gaps we saw to even some of the sport's biggest names. And we talk about doubts about Bolshunov's success.We'll be back periodically during the Olympics — send questions and comments to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. And read a Russian news story about a politician calling for the revocation of Na...2022-02-0741 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierPre-Olympic epic: Podium predictions and COVID protocols with Alex HarveyThis episode of the Devon Kershaw Show breaks down the lead-up to the Olympics with special guest star Alex Harvey, the Canadian World Championships gold medalist. Harv and Kersh make their podium predictions for the six Olympic events; we discuss the nightmare scenario with COVID cases inside Norway's national team; and Nat checks in from his quarantine in Los Angeles in advance of his flight to Asia. We'll be back periodically during the Olympics — send questions and comments to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. And you can follow Nat's journey to Beijing here on FasterSkier, or...2022-01-311h 24The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierInside Olympic Skis and Waxing with Zach CaldwellIn this episode of the Devon Kershaw Show, we bring back Zach Caldwell, one of North America’s leading ski and wax experts. We get into the arcane and arguably misguided rules around the use of fluorocarbon waxes at high-level races, along with potential challenges for wax and ski technicians at the little-studied Beijing Olympic venue.You can find a host of resources from Zach on skis, wax, and grinds that might more-directly apply to your own skiing and racing at CaldwellSport.com.We’ll be back with an episode on Olympic team selection next week...2022-01-161h 10The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierSpecial Delivery - The Mailbag EpisodeYou asked, now Devon is answering. We’re finally here with a long-promised mailbag episode for you this week. Devon takes us through questions from more than a dozen listeners; we cover World Cup competition formats, tactics, training, broadcasting and a bunch of other random fun stuff. We’ll be back soon with coverage of Olympic team selection and hopefully some more intel on the Olympic venue in Beijing.Send us questions and feedback to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com.2022-01-111h 11The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierWrapping Up the 21/22 Tour de Ski with Guest Kikkan RandallWe’ve got extra-special Alaska-based guest Kikkan Randall joining us for this episode to recap the 2021/22 Tour de Ski. We break down a rough finish for a head cold-afflicted Jessie Diggins, some sensational skiing by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, and some lingering questions about Olympic preparation.We’re planning a mailbag episode in the next few days; send your questions to devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. We’ll be back soon!2022-01-041h 18The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierHappy New Year — Unless You’re Jessie DigginsWelcome back to the Devon Kershaw show for our Tour de Ski stage 3 and 4 recap. We get into Frida Karlsson’s withdrawal from the tour after her egregious take-out of Jessie Diggins in Saturday’s classic sprint. We also cover Calle Halfvarsson and Joanna Hagström delivering for Sweden, Johannes Klæbo giving a couple of beat-downs, and Diggins’ come-from-behind win Friday.We’ll be taping a mailbag episode next week — send us your questions at devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com. And happy new year.2022-01-011h 09The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierTour de Ski Stages 1 & 2: Fast Sprint Free and Winter Storm ClassicWelcome back to the Devon Kershaw Show. This week we have an under-the-weather Rachel Perkins, filling in for Nat Herz, to breakdown the first two stages of the Tour de Ski in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. From winter storm conditions for the 10/15k classic that contrasted a clear and fast opening freestyle sprint, there was plenty to note in these first two stages. We also discuss translating top results in qualification to advancing into the semifinals and finals, Diggins and Kern’s power that earned the Americans 1st and 4th in the sprint, and Finnish mastery of rub skis leading to Ni...2021-12-301h 07The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierBonus Episode: A Davos Postscript with Rosie BrennanWe’ve got a special edition of the Devon Kershaw Show for you this week with star American cross-country skier Rosie Brennan. After more than a decade of international racing, Brennan had a breakout season last year with World Cup wins in Davos. She’s had more strong results this year, including a podium in Lillehammer and two near-misses in her return to Davos.Brennan hails from Utah; she’s a graduate of Dartmouth College and currently trains with the Alaska Pacific University elite team. We’re grateful she was willing to join us.Have a questi...2021-12-241h 02The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Devon Kershaw Show: A Weekend of Slick City Sprints in DresdenThis week’s edition of the Devon Kershaw Show comes in hot with a recap of the city sprint in Dresden, Germany.The breakdown includes solid American results and a tragic crash for a Canadian sprinter, plus some Kremlinology about Alexander Bolshunov and the Russian Ski Federation, discussion about the internal dynamics of the Swedish sprinters and a reminder about how you’re lucky to live outside Norway if you want to go to the Olympics for cross-country skiing.Send your questions to Devon at devon@fasterskier.com and to Nat at nat@fasterskier.com.2021-12-1958 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Highs and Lows of a Davos WeekendDavos brought another entertaining weekend of racing for American ski fans, with Rosie Brennan in the mix in both competitions, a podium from Jessie Diggins, and and breakout performances from Hailey Swirbul, Sophia Laukli, and Novie McCabe.Devon Kershaw and FasterSkier’s Nat Herz take us through the results with special guest Eirik Brandsdal, the longtime, now-retired Norwegian World Cup sprint racer.Have questions for Devon or Nat? Send them devon@fasterskier.com and nat@fasterskier.com to have them answered. We’ll be back soon.2021-12-131h 07The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierLit Racing in LillehammerIt was a hot weekend of racing in Lillehammer, with another epic Johaug-Karlsson duel, some legit results from American racers and some breakout performances from some new names.Devon Kershaw and FasterSkier’s Nat Herz break it down, with the added bonus of Kershaw’s firsthand experience of waxing for the Canadian team on-scene. Come for the race breakdowns, stay for the monologues about TV production and the cross-country ski boot supply chain.Send your questions to Devon at devon@fasterskier.com and to Nat at nat@fasterskier.com. Catch you next week.2021-12-051h 19The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierWe're Back! The 21-22 Season Opener feat. Russell KennedyThe Devon Kershaw is back from summer hibernation!This week, Devon takes a break from medical school to break down the first big tune-up races of the season in Muonio, Finland. Joining him are the show’s new co-host, former FasterSkier reporter Nat Herz, along with Canadian athlete Russell Kennedy, who popped a huge result in one of the races in Finland.Russell catches us up on the European circuit; we also discuss Charlotte Kalla’s recently awarded honorary doctorate degree, disgraced former Estonian racer Andrus Veerpalu’s son’s presence in Finland, and impressive results...2021-11-1858 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierListener Questions, Unexpected Outcomes, and Norway ReturnsIn the big global picture, much has transpired since Jessie Diggins won the Tour de Ski. On the macro side of things, that being on the World Cup, a break has transpired. On Saturday, the cross-country World Cup returns with a skiathlon. The more notable news is the Norwegian national team will spice up the skiing as they return from a self-imposed hiatus from the World Cup since early December. We also answer some listener questions and discuss how we deal emotionally with less than desirable outcomes. So yeah, there's an unofficial therapy session of sorts. ...2021-01-211h 06The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Ruka Triple: So Far So Good, a Great World Cup OpenerSo much to break down. Ruka, Finland presented a challenge on several fronts. Athletes contested a classic sprint, a 10 k / 15 k interval start classic, and a 10 k / 15 k skate pursuit over a three day period. A great way to exhaust some of the fastest skiers and a great way to entice us back into the verbal throws on the podcast discussing who is on form, and who maybe missed the kick. The racing in Finland transpired as the globe wrestles with a pandemic. As it should be, we discuss all the racing - the Norwegians, the Swedes, t...2020-11-301h 01The Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierSee the Forest for the Trees - An Eye on FISLike so many organizations, FIS, the governing body for international skiing, is a slow-to-change entity. Doping reforms, for example, have evolved but at a yawn-worthy rate. So in rather atypical fashion, like a finger snap, FIS voted to oust its Secretary General, Sarah Lewis, on October 9th. Lewis had been considered a lifer at FIS. She'd been on staff for two decades. News on the "why" of her removal remains sparse. Yet it was an unexpected departure. Not so unexpected, the postponement of the FIS fluoro ban which was announced in November 2019. Originally, FIS a...2020-10-2232 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe Devon Kershaw Show: A ReturnMarch 31st is the last day we posted a new episode. Depending on where you stand in the COVID time machine, that might as well be a light year. Or a nano-second.From Oslo, Norway Devon chats about the time that was and the time that will be as we lurch into fall and then winter. In other words, it's about time we rebooted this project.On the list of topics discussed, staying put when the air quality is grim, a brief discussion of doping, altitude training, and the prospects for a World Cup season.2020-09-1749 minNordic NationOllie Burruss and Shades of Green at CraftsburyThis past fall, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center (COC) updates its wax use policy. The New England institution was one of the first and among the largest cross-country ski centers to implement a policy curbing the use of per-fluorinated wax on its premises. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center supports values and practices that try to minimize its impact on the environment while still providing recreational opportunities for visitors.The Craftsbury Outdoor Center hopes to help lead the way toward a transition away from fluorocarbons. As it stands today, we see no need for skiers to wax with fluorocarbons for day-to-day...2020-04-0630 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierFalun's Mass Starts and Eating WordsSometimes when the unexpected happens, it's a good thing. That's what went down today in Falun, Sweden. In the men's 15 k mass start skate, it was not a scrum of 20 to 30 skiers in a cluster at the finish. A fast and furious pace set by Hans Christer Holund turned that concept on its head. Although the race was won by Alexander Bolshunov, the wily Norwegian that is Holund, took it out hot and broke the field apart. For the women, well..., it was Johaug as predicted, but it was a tight race dictated by a select three of Johaug...2020-02-1037 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierThe mail is deliveredIn this episode, Devon answers questions ranging from how World Cup athletes maintain in season fitness to why in fact relays don't end with a classic leg. Fell free to send in questions regarding the World Cup to info@fasterskier.com or devon@fasterskier.com. This week's post-racing recap will be posted on Monday following the weekend's racing in Nové Město. 2020-01-1745 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierWeathering the Storm in PlanicaYes, the sprint skiers put on a show this weekend in Planica, Slovenia. With a pure skate sprint weekend - both an individual and team sprint were on tap -- speed and dicey conditions were a highlight. But perhaps, it took a supporting role to the weather. Day one featured a green-brown and rainy template peppered with bountiful bolts of lightning. The racing was postponed for a bit of time. Sunday was a winter wonderland: big puffy snowflakes fell down...a winter gift from the weather gods.In this episode, we talk racing, attendance at cross-country World...2019-12-2344 minThe Devon Kershaw Show by FasterSkierLovely LillehammerLots to breakdown after this weekend. Yup, Johaug crushed, but so did Diggins, Maubet Bjornsen, and Brennan. And cheers for the American women's second place in the relay. For the men, Hans Christer Holund was a master who was foiled only by the sprint closer Bolshunov in the 30 k skiathlon.Have a listen as we discuss Lillehammer's infamous climb, waxing, ski selection, and yes, coffee in the Norwegian wax truck.If you have any questions, send them to devon@fasterskier.com or info@fasterskier.com.2019-12-0838 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Finding Balance with Maddie Phaneuf
On May 26, Maddie Phaneuf wrote a crisp and revealing blog post about her struggle with mental health issues after the 2018 Olympics. The blog post was titled Invisible Battles, and like many who suffer from a mental health crisis, her struggle was real but often difficult to discuss candidly. Phaneuf does a great service to the community by describing the symptoms she experienced and how she sought help from mental health professionals.
Phaneuf was eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD as a result of falling ill with strep throat during the 2018 G...2019-06-2643 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Estonia’s Karel TammjärvIn this episode, we speak with Estonian athlete Karel Tammjärv. If you are unfamiliar with the latest news, Tammjärve was arrested last week in Seefeld, Austria as part of an investigation into doping.
FasterSkier first contacted Tammjärv yesterday and in a quick turn of events, Tammjärv offered us an interview this morning. Although the interview was conducted on short notice, we had no pre-conditions when it came to the types of questions we could ask.
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We have run several stories about the arrests which went dow...2019-03-061h 04Nordic NationNordic Nation: The Birkie Episode with Caitlin Gregg and Akeo Maifeld-Carucci
FasterSkier’s American Birkebeiner coverage is made possible through the generous support of New Moon Ski & Bike in Hayward, Wisconsin. While you are at the Birkie be sure to visit New Moon Ski & Bike for all your local expertise.
In this quick-hit Nordic Nation episode, we speak with five-time American Birkebeiner winner Caitlin Gregg from her home in Minneapolis. Lucky for some, Gregg will not be starting Saturday’s race as she, along with her husband Brian Gregg – who remains a men’s race favorite – are new parents as of Feb. 5. We get the low down on stra...2019-02-2226 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Andy Newell in Transition
FasterSkier caught up with former, yes former U.S. Ski Team member Andy Newell on October, 8 in Park City, Utah. Newell was in Utah assisting with the latest NEG camp and training with his old cohort when time permitted. No longer a staple of the national team, the 34-year-old Newell has partially turned over a new leaf. He’s still training as a professional skier, but he’s also the owner of a cross-country skiing business called Nordic team Solutions.
Andy Newell leads the double pole train at the Lake Placid REG camp as part of hi...2018-10-1928 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Voice of Reason Episode With Chelsea LittleAvid readers of FasterSkier know her as the voice of reason and evidence when it comes to reporting on all things doping in nordic sport. Chelsea Little, a force here at FasterSkier for eight years, is stepping down from her editor-at-large position. Based in Switzerland as she wraps up her Ph.D. in aquatic biology, Little took some time last week to talk about her tenure at FasterSkier and what her plans are for the future.
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Chelsea Little and Jessie Diggins in the Davos media mixed zone in 2016.
Little’s...2018-07-0249 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Author Peggy Shinn on the U.S. Women’s XC Ski TeamIn this episode of Nordic Nation, we talk with author Peggy Shinn. She recently wrote a book titled “World Class: The Making of the U.S. Women’s Cross-Country Ski Team”. The book was released before Shinn jetted off to PyeongChang, South Korea, to cover the Olympics in person. Not one to miss a good show, she was on hand to see the U.S. Ski Team come full circle as Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall won gold in the team sprint.
Peggy Shinn, author of the new book “World Class: The Making of the U.S. Women’s...2018-03-2349 minNordic NationNordic Nation: U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Tom ‘TK’ Kelly in the House (Part 1)
FasterSkier would like to thank Fischer Sport USA, Madshus USA, Concept2, Boulder Nordic Sport, and Swix Sport US for their generous support, which made this coverage possible.
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — At the Olympics in PyeongChang, FasterSkier sat down with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s longtime Vice President of Communications Tom Kelly. After starting with the organization back in 1986, Kelly will be stepping down a few months after the Olympics. Kelly, 65, is the nerve center to U.S. Ski Team’s media and communications outreach. Shepherding athletes through the mixed zone or writing up a press release abou...2018-02-2726 minNordic NationNordic Nation: U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s ‘TK’ in the House (Part 2)
FasterSkier would like to thank Fischer Sport USA, Madshus USA, Concept2, Boulder Nordic Sport, and Swix Sport US for their generous support, which made this coverage possible.
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — In this episode recorded at the Olympics, you’ll hear Part 2 of our conversation with one of the busiest people at the Games … Tom Kelly. Kelly is U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s longtime vice president of communications. After starting with the organization back in 1986, he will be stepping down a few months after the Olympics. Kelly, 65, is the nerve center to U.S. Ski Team’s media and comm...2018-02-2734 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Olympic Champ Kikkan Randall Elected to IOC Athletes’ Commission
FasterSkier would like to thank Fischer Sport USA, Madshus USA, Concept2, Boulder Nordic Sport, and Swix Sport US for their generous support, which made this coverage possible.
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — In this episode of Nordic Nation, FasterSkier sat down with U.S. cross-country skier, Kikkan Randall — known by some as Kikkanimal — to discuss her fifth and final Winter Olympics, as well as what lays ahead for the Anchorage, Alaska native.
On Wednesday evening earlier this week, Randall and teammate Jessie Diggins paired up to take the win in the team sprint, earning the U.S. women th...2018-02-2323 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Wadsworth’s Two Cents on Period 1
In this episode of Nordic Nation, we review November and December racing on the World Cup with Justin Wadsworth.
A former U.S. Olympian and coach as well as Canadian head coach, Wadsworth will be doing on-air commentary during the 2018 Olympics for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
This season, there’s much to discuss with Wadsworth.
Ten races into the World Cup, the racing so far has seen an unsettled women’s side and a lopsided men’s field. Charlotte Kalla has renewed the premise that Sweden can produce a formidable nordic-s...2017-12-2729 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Biathlon Canada President Murray Wylie on Boycotting RussiaOn Wednesday, Nordic Nation reached Biathlon Canada President Murray Wylie to discuss an open letter he signed on behalf of his organization and sent to the leaders of the International Biathlon Union.
We encourage you to read this more in-depth article on the open letter for some detailed context before listening to this podcast episode.
Here’s some of the key info from that piece:
On Dec. 10, the Executive Board of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) announced that the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) had been relegated to “provisional membership” for the 2017/2018 competition season.
...2017-12-1427 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Matt Whitcomb and the Art of Coaching
In more than a decade with the U.S. Ski Team, women’s coach Matt Whitcomb has picked up a few lessons about how to connect with athletes and how to nudge them in the direction of their best possible performance on race day. In this episode of Nordic Nation, we connected with Whitcomb while in western Massachusetts on Nov. 10. Whitcomb has now jumped the pond and is in Europe, prepping his team for the first World Cup on Friday in Kuusamo, Finland.
U.S. Ski Team Women’s Coach Matt Whitcomb (r) reviews video with...2017-11-2331 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Not a Fantasy, Hoffman Teams with FasterSkier for 2017/2018 Fantasy XC
It’s been eight long months, but finally, the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross Country World Cup season is upon us and with it, the Noah Fantasy Hoffman Fantasy Cross Country League. Both the real-world and online competitions kick off this Friday with the Ruka Triple World Cup, three days of racing in Kuusamo, Finland.
If you’re playing, you need to pick your team by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Even if you’re in a post-Thanksgiving tryptophan-haze … it’s time.
Noah Hoffman, a U.S. nordic racer and founder of Noah Ho...2017-11-2224 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Straight Up Erik Bjornsen
No longer the young guy on the U.S. Ski Team, at 26 years old, Erik Bjornsen often carries high expectations on his shoulders. And frankly, they are strong shoulders. After a summer and fall of solid training, the younger of the two Bjornsens on the U.S. Ski Team (his sister Sadie is a teammate) has high expectations for this Olympic year. Rather than a product of stats and results, Bjornsen is a believer in himself. He studies the sports’ stars, analyzing what makes them technically efficient. He makes the hard workouts count. It’s a method Bjor...2017-11-1041 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Joran Elias is the Statistical Skier
In this episode of Nordic Nation, we tread into the world of analytics with data-analysis guru Joran Elias. You might know him as the Statistical Skier. Elias runs two websites: statisticalskier.com (which is more of a blog that has not been updated in awhile) and statisticalskierdata.com … and that site — which offers data analysis apps using FIS data — is currently updated seasonally during the World Cup. And if you need a more regular fix of stats and skiing during the race season, Elias is active on Twitter; his handle is @StatSkier.
Elias is 38 years old and ha...2017-10-2728 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Max Cobb, US Biathlon’s Straight Shooter
In this episode, we speak with the president and CEO of the US Biathlon Association (USBA), Max Cobb. For nearly three decades, Cobb has been part of US Biathlon — first as an organizer of the domestic racing series and eventually as the executive director in March of 2006. Just over a year ago, he was elected Vice President for Sport of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), becoming the first American on the IBU Executive Board.
Lowell Bailey (USA) celebrates with Max Cobb after winning the gold in the 20 k individual at the 2017 IBU Wor...2017-10-1841 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Two-Halves-Make-a-Whole Edition with Team GreggTeam Gregg, consisting of two halves that constitute a podium-threat whole, is featured on the latest episode of Nordic Nation. Caitlin (formerly Compton) Gregg, 36, and husband Brian Gregg, 33, the two members of Team Gregg, are based along the border of Wirth Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Yes, the two skiers are highly accomplished; both are former Winter Olympians and Caitlin earned a bronze medal in the 10-kilometer freestyle at the 2015 World Championships in Falun, Sweden. But their partnership has become a model of independent professional ski team viability.
The sum total of Team Gregg: Brian Gregg (left) and...2017-10-0651 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Pete Vordenberg Experience (Episode 1)
Not exactly a mystery man in nordic-ski circles, former U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Pete Vordenberg has been admittedly reclusive when it comes to staying in the XC ski game. In this two-part episode, Nordic Nation chats with Vordenberg in Bend, Oregon, and connects the dots in terms of what he’s been up to. Vordenberg raced in two Winter Olympics and was a forerunner in a third. (You’ll have to listen to Episode 1 to learn about that forerunning gig.) After skiing with the U.S. Ski Team (USST) for six years, he began...2017-09-2230 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Pete Vordenberg Experience (Episode 2)
Here it is … Episode 2 of Nordic Nation’s “The Pete Vordenberg Experience”.
If you missed Episode 1, you’ll want to start there for some context. Pete Vordenberg, a two-time U.S. Olympic cross-country skier and former U.S. Ski Team coach, talks about his transformation since leaving skiing to dedicate himself to the hardest job he’s ever had: a stay-at-home dad. In Episode 2, he continues to reflect on how skiing impacted his life and how he would like it to be a part of his daughters’ lives, as well as what he thinks needs to...2017-09-2245 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Back on the Podium with Sweden’s Hanna FalkIt’s certainly not all glory on the World Cup. With rare exceptions, the fields are always stacked. Yeah, maybe the Norwegians miss the wax with the frequency of a total solar eclipse over your zip code, or a freak storm of molasses-like snow falls just as the top end of the Red Group tips the wand for the 10-kilometer interval start race. Statistically speaking, it’s a rare day when an outlier stands atop a World Cup podium.
Sweden’s Hanna Falk (r) races with U.S. Ski Team member Jessie Diggins (6) during a World Cup freest...2017-09-0724 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Calling John Caldwell
John Caldwell with his three sons. (From left to right) Sverre Caldwell, Tim Caldwell, John Caldwell, and Peter Caldwell. (Photo: Sophie Caldwell)
Flashback to 1964. That’s six years after the mega-fad of hula hooping, and five years before the psychedelic haze of Woodstock. A time when the country teetered towards war protest and Tricky Dick … (as in, “I am not a crook.” — Richard Nixon).
What could possibly supplant hula hoops and pending cultural disruption? You guessed it, cross-country skiing.
In 1964, John Caldwell wrote the first edition, of eight editions in total, what’s now...2017-08-1152 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Astrid ChroniclesWay back it seems now, in 2012, an op-ed appeared in The New York Times. Titled “The ‘Busy’ Trap,” the op-ed is a serious and somewhat comical riff on how ‘busy’ we all are. If your day’s schedule is defined by overscheduled, then you too are ‘busy’.
In this episode of Nordic Nation, we interview Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen. At 30 years old, Jacobsen is a longtime member of the venerable Norwegian national ski team — and she’s truly busy. Her career on the World Cup has spanned a decade, bookended by her first World Championship medal in 2007 in Sapporo, Japan (a spri...2017-07-2851 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Moxie Episode with Jesse Knori
Let’s face it, nordic ski racing is about the most physically taxing of sports. Pre-race, mid-race, post-race, it’s easy to come up with excuses and to complain. My tech missed the wax, I’m overtrained, I’m undertrained, sore muscles, no muscles … there’s a lot to whine about.
But in this episode, we’re focusing on moxie.
A young Jesse Knori in the skating zone: no pole style = moxie too. (Courtesy photo)
Mostly the sport is rife with teeth-grinding athletes seeking the sufferfest. One of those athletes is 23-year-old Jesse...2017-07-2138 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Freeman, A Sample Size of One (Updated Edition)
This Nordic Nation episode has some old and new content. From the start until just after 33 minutes in, our interview with Kris Freeman, of Team Freebird and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, was conducted last August. The after part, from 33 minutes on — that’s all new. It’s from an interview with Freeman last Wednesday, June 14.
Here’s what we wrote about Freeman when we originally posted his audio interview:
“Few athletes remain at the top end of endurance for five years, let alone a single decade. New Hampshire native Kris Freeman, at 36, has been chasing...2017-06-2050 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Lowell Bailey Session
BEND, Ore. — At 35 years old, U.S. Biathlon’s Lowell Bailey is the consummate veteran: he’s been racing on the World Cup since 2002. And this past winter on one day in mid-February, Bailey was perfect. On Feb. 16, he won the 20-kilometer individual race at the 2017 International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Championships Hochfilzen, Austria.
Lowell Bailey celebrates after crossing the line to win gold in the 20 k individual at IBU World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria. (Photo: Glen Crawford)
Ten days ago, FasterSkier sat down with Bailey in Bend. The US Biathlon team was in town for...2017-05-2641 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Training and Intensity with Dr. Stephen Seiler
May 1 marks the symbolic start of the annual training cycle for many year-round nordic skiers. With that in mind, we recently spoke with Stephen Seiler. A Texas native, Seiler, 51, is a professor of sports science at the University of Adger in Kristiansand, Norway.
Stephen Seiler, a professor at the University of Adger in Kristiansand, Norway, specializes in exercise science. (Photo: uia.no)
Seiler has researched, written and spoken extensively about physiological adaptations as it relates to endurance athletes. Seiler’s mantra — the 80/20 Rule — the easy to hard intensity ratio when it comes to t...2017-05-1534 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Tom Hall’s Take on Own The Podium
We are nearing the end of the Winter Olympic quadrennial as we run up to the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. With that marquee event on the horizon, a few things are certain: athletes will attempt to peak for specific events, nordic sports will garner more mainstream media coverage and funding for national teams will get a bit more scrutiny. With that in mind, in this podcast episode, we have Canada’s Tom Hall as a guest. If you’re into elite canoe and kayak, Hall may be a familiar name: he’s a 2008 bronze medalist from the Be...2017-05-0129 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Medical Side of XC with USST Dr. Larry Gaul
In this episode of Nordic Nation, we feature U.S. Ski Team physician Dr. Larry Gaul. We caught up with Gaul back in late January while he was in Utah for U23/Junior World Championships.
U.S. Ski Team Doctor Larry Gaul with Liz Stephen (l) and then-USSA Communications Director Margo Christiansen (r) at 2013 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Photo: Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team)
Gaul has a long history working with the U.S. Ski Team’s cross-country athletes as the chief medical officer at the U.S...2017-04-1223 minNordic NationNordic Nation: 17 Questions with Fast Big Dog
In this episode we put the elusive Fast Big Dog, known in the business world as Jon Schafer, in front of the mic for his answers to the 17 Questions for 2017. It brings a conclusion to the FasterSkier interview series run last fall before the start of the 2016/2017 cross-country, nordic combined and biathlon race seasons.
Schafer is knee deep in the nordic scene as high performance director for USA Nordic Sport, a supporter of many aspiring skiers, and a huge Evel Knievel devotee — note Schafer’s race suit.
http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/03/Nordic...2017-04-0237 minNordic NationNordic Nation: The Bronze-Medal Junior Worlds Relay EpisodeU.S. Ski Team Development Coach Bryan Fish celebrating with (from left to right) Hailey Swirbul, Julia Kern and Hannah Halvorsen after their bronze-medal performance with Katharine Ogden (not pictured) in the 4 x 3.3 k relay on Feb 5 at 2017 Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad.com)
On Feb. 5, the U.S. women’s team of Hailey Swirbul, Julia Kern, Hannah Halvorsen, and Katherine Ogden placed third in the 4 x 3.3-kilometer relay at Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. The following week, Nordic Nation jumped through some scheduling hoops to reach all...2017-02-1627 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Musgrave Doing More With Less
At 26 years old, Andrew Musgrave, or “Muzzy” as the Eurosport commentators call him, of the British National Ski Team is a top-20 ranked distance skier on the World Cup. The down-to-earth, self-deprecating Scotsman placed sixth in the 15 k freestyle World Cup on Jan. 21 in Ulricehamn, Sweden. And let’s not forget, Musgrave burst onto the scene when he won the Norwegian skate-sprint national championship in 2014 before the Sochi Olympics. Then last year, Musgrave busted out a fourth place at 2016 Norwegian nationals in the 30 k skiathlon. That’s downright cheeky.
Great Britain’s Andrew Musgrave racing in the 10 k fre...2017-02-1321 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Sometimes It Is a Fantasy – Hoffman’s Fantasy XC LeagueYes, it’s that time of year and depending on who you are, it means two things: the World Cup is about to start and Noah Hoffman’s Fantasy Cross Country is live. In this episode, as with most things, Nordic Nation goes deep. We scour our digital rolodex for insider information. With the first weekend of racing soon upon us, we looked for the beta on who to pick for a fantasy team and who to leave on the proverbial sidelines.
We speak with the Hoff and the Oz of his Fantasy League, Adam Mahar. And we t...2016-11-231h 00Nordic NationNordic Nation: Biathlon Primer Part II with Clare Egan (Podcast)It may be hyperbole, but “faster than a speeding bullet,” is a good place to start when thinking about biathlon at the World Cup level. Sure, race pace is slower than a speeding bullet, but watching masterful biathletes clean their shooting rounds on the way to victory deserves statements bordering on the hyperbolic. Most of us can imagine stumbling across a finish line, lungs burning. It’s a whole other realm of precision like suffering to pound out the kilometers while intermittently trying to hit a small target.
Clare Egan (US Biathlon) racing at an IBU World Cup la...2016-11-1820 minNordic NationNordic Nation Podcast: Biathlon Primer with Rosanna Crawford
It’s worth asking this question: could an entire continent having a love affair with a sport that combines skate skiing and shooting be wrong? There’s the raw, heart-thumping power of the skiing mingled with the laser-focus almost the zen-like quality of shooting at a quarter-size target. Throw in a few thousand fans with cowbells, horns,and a long winter night’s worth of libations, and you’ve got a sport that either live in person or broadcast on a screen has captured the wintertime sport scene in Europe.
For the diehard nordic ski fan, Int...2016-11-0820 minNordic NationNordic Nation Podcast: Rebounding with Liz StephenLiz Stephen has earned her stripes. For the last 11 years, the 29-year-old Vermont native has been part of the US Ski Team (USST). After veterans like Kikkan Randall, Stephen has become an anchor on the women’s team, which now carries with it expectations of top-20’s, top-10’s and podiums. At the age of 15, the Burke Mountain Academy alpine skier and runner switched to the skinny skis for good.
With her high energy and drive, she became a force on the U.S. junior cross-country ski scene. What followed were a string of results commensurate with her high tu...2016-10-2835 minNordic NationNordic Nation: Jumping Explained, A Podcast with Bryan Fletcher and Clint JonesBryan Fletcher (U.S. Nordic Combined) jumping to 20th on the normal hill at 2015 World Championships in Falun, Sweden. (Photo: FlyingPointRoad)
Nordic combined is exactly that: a combination of the two discrete nordic-sport disciplines. There’s the cross-country side, which if you read FasterSkier regularly, you’re pretty comfortable with in terms of technique, gear, and the nuts and bolts of race dynamics. If you’re like me, the jumping side is a bit more foreign. I took the opportunity in this podcast episode to explore ski jumping.
For nordic combined competitions, it is the ski ju...2016-09-2634 min