Nordic Symposium

by Chad Dold

Summer 2002

The 29 Nords who attended the Nordic Symposium Easter weekend at White Pass were treated to great snow, blue skies and a good time. The trails at the Nordic Center were well groomed and the gently rolling terrain was perfect for building skiing and teaching skills.

Brett Alumbaugh, Don Portman and Stuart Craig presented clinics in classic and skate technique and teaching. The classes were small and the instruction superb. Following the Friday DCL tryouts, current technical and educational concepts formed the core of the track program. Don Portman shared his observations of current Olympic skating technique based on a careful study of the videos. He gently guided us into the “new” skate techniques that have replaced much of the accepted theory and practice.

Stuart, with guest clinician Leighton White providing dynamic examples and valuable insights, handled the teaching and training on the hill. Following a “Less is More” approach, the clinic I attended stressed the use of the Efficient Body Movements for Nordic Downhill Skiing. The focus was on assisting the “intermediate” skier to break through their bad habits and to improve their technique by keeping their center of mass moving down the mountain while allowing turn shape to control speed. Teaching styles appropriate for visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners were employed with simple drills, while keeping the class moving and experiencing.

After a full day of skiing on Saturday we enjoyed an excellent dinner in Packwood. It was a great opportunity to catch up with friends from throughout the region and to build friendships for the future. The annual Nordic membership meeting provided some lively discussion and valuable input.

Fall Nordic College is scheduled for December 7 and 8 at the Snoqualmie Summit East (Hyak). Plan on attending for some great early-season training. We’re looking forward to our Alpine peers enjoying some free-heel cross-training.

Finally, the Summit Nordic Center hosted a retirement party for Mike Marshall on April 6. Many of you know Mike through his years of service to PSIA as board member, ski school instructor, Nordic Manager and promoter of free-heel skiing. After 12 years of working in increasingly stressful positions at the Summit, Mike has decided to go back to his love of skiing, which is why he got into the business in the first place. Best wishes Mike.