We just wrapped up our on-snow glacier camp on the Haig Glacier outside of Canmore, Alberta, and what a trip it was. We skied a lot, ate a lot, and watched a lot of Lord of the Rings in our downtime (I’m pretty sure we could quote half the movie by now).
The group included a mix of BSF Pro Team athletes, three Sun Valley skiers, and a big crew from the BSF Comp Team. It was an amazing opportunity to spend over a week training at a high-altitude, remote facility without Wi-Fi, no distractions, just mountains, snow, and people who love skiing. We showered (most days) in the glacial lake (yes, it was absolutely freezing) and were lucky enough to eat delicious meals cooked by two incredible Canadians who kept us well-fed and happy.
A Day in the Life on the Haig Glacier
The highlight of my week? Getting to know the Comp Team. They’re energetic, goofy, and totally committed. Hanging out with them reminded me of a few important things:
Having both the Pro Team and the BSF Comp Team training together was very unique. It’s not every day that athletes at different stages in their ski careers get to live, train, and recover side by side for over a week. I was seriously impressed by the Comp Team’s energy and drive. They brought so much fun and enthusiasm to every session. At the same time, it gave us on the Pro Team a chance to share what we’ve learned over the years, whether that was through technique feedback, talking training philosophy, or simply being present. While we didn’t always do the same workouts each day, we still crossed paths on the glacier, saw each other out skiing, and hiked up and down together every morning and afternoon. Those shared transitions made the camp feel cohesive even when our training plans were different. In the evenings, we’d all come together at dinner, which is where we really got to know each other better. Up until now, the only time the Pro and Comp Teams have really trained together has been during our bounding sessions, so it was a new and refreshing dynamic to spend this much time in the same space.
Being on the Haig made me feel nostalgic for my early ski days, when camp meant sleeping in questionable bunkhouses (this time, it was marmots and mice) and meeting new friends from around your home region while chasing shared goals. But I also realized how different this experience was now that I’m a professional skier. These days, I come into camp with clear goals. I’m consistently looking at my technique, and I have more ownership in my training plan. For this camp, my goals were to improve my striding technique, stay within my aerobic zone (we were at 8,500 feet), and come into each session both physically and mentally prepared.
We were lucky to have an awesome coaching crew (Kaelyn, Lilly, and Rick) who filmed us constantly (RIP to their iCloud storage). We’d analyze technique right on the glacier or over dinner, getting feedback not just from coaches but from teammates, too. I love having multiple sets of eyes on my skiing; each person notices something different.
I also got to experiment with modifying my training plan, shifting workouts, adjusting intervals, and choosing between skate or classic depending on conditions and what I wanted to prioritize. For example, I planned a key set of skate intervals, followed by a distance session and a speed day to prime my legs before another interval sesh. It was a cool opportunity to start applying what I’ve been learning about ski physiology to real sessions in, probably, the most beautiful place I have ever been.
All in all, glacier camp was a chance to reconnect with why we love skiing: the people, the process, the places it takes us, and the endless opportunity to learn. I’m back in Bozeman feeling motivated, grateful, and just a little bit happy to not be sleeping with a marmot outside my door.
Thanks for reading!
Emma
