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Coeur d'Alene Part 1

August 18, 2020
by
Simon Zink

Hello,

It’s been a while since I, Simon, have posted on the blog, but the BSF PRO Team just returned from its first training camp, taking place in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and we have a lot of wonderful things to report. From a training perspective, the goal of this camp was to take advantage of its low elevation, of approximately 2,000 feet, and prioritize fast anaerobic intensity sessions to build speed and our Vo2 max. It was the first time our team would be traveling and living together. So, it was also a chance for us to bond as a team, and establish the framework necessary that will allow this team to function, effectuate our values and mission, and ultimately realize our goals both in racing and community involvement. Our first test as a team came quickly when our van broke down in Missoula, MT, two hours into our trip. After sitting on the highway for about 90 minutes, we finally got a tow to a Mercedes dealership, where we had to abandon the van and rent some cars. I’d be lying if I said I was in good spirits during the entirety of this ordeal, but together we eventually did make it to Coeur d'Alene, 6 hours later with all of our stuff, with another good story to tell, and that’s what matters. This set back was quickly forgotten thanks to the remarkable training paradise that is Coeur d'Alene. I love exploring and training in new places, and here we had it all: trails, paved roads, mountains, lakes, you name it. Our first roller ski took place on the smoothest rolling bike path I have seen in the US, along the banks of Coeur d'Alene lake. As a Nordic skier, I have roller skied on a lot of roads in many different conditions, and there is really nothing quite like the feeling when you hit true buttery smooth pavement; The adrenaline spikes as you feel like you are flying, hitting speeds on the skis that you can’t even get close to on a regular road, especially with a slight tail wind like we had that day.

Leah, Sophia, and Hannah cruising on the butter

Good view of the bike path to left. Newell apparently got the mini can stuck in 3 inches of gravel, but it turns out the e-brake was on. Safe to say he was not a fan of the mini-van.

It’s fun, exhilarating, and gets me even more psyched to go out a let it rip, which we got to do on our second day when we had our first interval set consisting of flat to gradual uphill L4 double pole intervals. Our team is special in that each person has a technique or training aspect that they are very strong in, and so in every session there is always an opportunity to learn a grow from someone who excels in the type of training we are doing. Double poling, and poling in general has always been a weakness for me. It’s been a real benefit to have teammates (and a coach) to try and hold onto and analyze to perhaps see something in their technique that I may not be doing, and would otherwise be  difficult to discover solely from self awareness, that I can try to implement to make myself a faster more efficient skier.

The guys train during the DP intervals

Leah and Hannah showcasing some great striding on a sweet piece of mountain road

Lauren getting some strong legs and core from all the no pole skating she has been doing

My technique is definitely a work in progress, but by having strong and technically sound teammates around me during trainings to mimic and to give me advice, I feel that I am making changes. Personally, I am drawn to this constant opportunity to grow technically and in all aspects of training, which exists simply by the perpetual nature of progression, from which I can advance the capabilities of myself and ultimately be faster. This continual cycle of effort and work that is rewarded with self-grow is gratifying and addicting, and having these strong teammates around me to train with every day has only accelerated this joyful process and made this whole journey even more fun. Stay tuned for some more insight on the camp fromLeah next week.

God speed,

-Simon

Our afternoon sessions were strength, short recovery skis, or recovery runs in which we often ran to and explored one of the many cliff jumping spots that surround the lakes in Coeur d'Alene