For program calendar- click  here.

To enroll- click here.

Questions:  Coach Ben- 541.678.3864

The Nordic Fall Ladies (NFL) program is designed for participants who wish to improve their skate and classic skiing this winter, through 10 organized and professionally coached dryland training sessions this fall.

The NFL is open to ladies of all abilities and will focus on skill and fitness building in a fun, social atmosphere.

Participants will enjoy a systematic progression of ski training activities near Bend during one of the most pleasant times of year. Participants can expect to come away with an understanding of basic physiology, fresh and exciting training methods and increased confidence for the ski season.

Sign up today! Registration is limited to only 13 participants.

• Dates: Sept 14, 21, 28, Oct5, 12, 19, 26, Nov 2,9,16 (10 sessions)
• Cost: $125
• Coaches:  Ben Husaby, Dakota Blackhorse von Jess
• Equipment:  Running shoes (for light jogging/walking- no intense running), training clothing, water bottle carrier
• Meeting Place:  Bend Endurance Academy Office
• Meeting Times: 9:30am Tuesday mornings (Return 11:30-11:45)
• Extras: Transportation is included!
• Sign up online here!

Lunch en route to Nor Cal Nordic Camp included dash-warmed Taco Stand burritos.

Kara Doescher and Ben Grasseschi provide overviews of the PNSA/Far West Nor Cal Nordic Camp near Mt. Lassen. Kara is a high school skier from Corvallis and Ben coaches for the Auburn Ski Club.

Nor Cal Nordic Camp by Kara Doescher

As a high school skier the Nor Cal Nordic Camp was my first XC ski training camp. It was a wonderful experience, I really learned a lot, and I met some great new people. High school skiers should not be intimidated by the idea of training with divisional teams . The level of training was definitely manageable, and the skills I learned will surely help me improve my future skiing.

We started off our workouts on Wednesday with a run-hike up a small butte in the Lassen National Forest near the camp. It was nice to get some exercise after the long drive from Bend to the Silver Lake campground. The next morning we had a skate roller ski time trail. The more experienced boys and girls did a 10k while the rest of us finished after 5k. My high school team only practices November through February, so for me this was an “off the couch effort.” After the time trial we had an afternoon with strength and a PNSA vs. Far West soccer game. The next day we went on a long classic roller ski that really helped me work on my double pole technique. That evening we worked on ski walking/bounding methods. The next day we started out early to hike to the peak of Mount Lassen. One group made their own trail and had a long adventure to reach the peak. The rest of the campers started at the trail head and did some rock climbing after the hike. This was my first time rock climbing and I thought it was really fun. The final morning we ended our training with one last hard bounding workout.

Coming from the Willamette Valley my team only gets to practice on snow less than once a week. The rest of the time we do dry land workouts similar to those we did at camp. This means I can use the skills I learned at camp during my regular ski season training.

Each day wasn’t completely filled with training. We had plenty of down time to enjoy swimming, sailing and kayaking, fishing, and relaxing around Silver Lake.

We had delicious meals thanks to our great cook. Breakfast included everything from oatmeal and melon to chocolate muffins, lunch was usually sandwiches and granola bars on the go, and dinners ranged from burritos to grilled pork to pesto chicken pasta.

The wonderful coaches included Ben Husaby and Brenna Warburton from Bend Endurance Academy, TJ Owen from Wenatchee Valley Nordic, Jeff  Schloss from Sugar Bowl Academy and Ben Grasseschi from the Auburn Ski Club. Each of them had some unique perspectives and advice, which gave me a lot to think about. They were great at trying to help me improve my relatively novice skiing abilities. They encouraged the campers to not only work on skiing techniques, but also enjoy other outdoor adventures in a beautiful outdoor setting.

I would really urge other high school skiers participate in a XC ski camp. It’s really fun and a great learning experience I’ll put to use when skiing in the future.

MT LASSEN CAMP by Ben Grasseschi

Ever tried to swim 1/2 mile across a chilly lake after doing 30x30scd uphill bounding intervals? Ever tried to swim that 1/2 mile with a greased watermelon that you passed hand over hand for a 1/2 mile prior. Ever eaten fresh killed chipmunk? Ever built a custom bike frame? Ever played in a World Cup soccer game? Ever Classic roller-skied, double pole only, for 2.5hr, on a hot day? Ever swam in Lake Almanor? Ever hiked to the top of Mt Lassen; the youngest volcano in North America? Ever climbed into the ‘bellybutton’? Ever Skate roller-skied a 10km Uphill Time Trial that was 4/10ths of a mile longer than you thought it should have been? Ever sailed a sunfish sailboat? Ever sailed a catamaran? Ever hiked to the top of North Caribou Peak? Do you even know where it is? Ever chopped wood and carried water?

Yep; all this, and more, well; except maybe the catamaran sailing, happened at the Far West Mt Lassen Camp Aug 11-15, 2010.

11 campers from FW joined 19 campers from PNSA, and 5 coaches, for an adventure packed, volume challenging, and intense 5 days on the east flank of Mt Lassen; just three hours north of Truckee.

We camped at Silver Lake where we shared an old Forest Service cabin, campfires, swimming holes, watermelon salad, cribbage, bananagrams, roasted chipmunk, camaraderie, chicken pesto, old skool pump well water, campsite 4 and 6, chopping wood, pretzels, red vines, bumpy and dusty dirt roads, summit vistas, training ideas, stacking wood, swedish fish, hill bounding poles, Lady Gaga 578 times, flip flops, jokes, fishing, and tall tales (likely one and the same).

Did we do any workouts? Yes. A first day easy run/hike that was supposed to be an hour turned into 2hrs. A 5km and 10km uphill Skate rollerski Time Trial that was longer than everyone thought tho it was less than 10km. A swim in Lake Almanor and lunch cooled everyone off. A World Cup soccer match between Far West/East/Midwest and Pacific Northwest. PNSA scored the tying goal in stoppage time (damn the referee!) and the game ended 2-2. Anyone up for a 1.5hr to 2.5hr Classic rollerski? Double Pole only? OK then, let’s “git er dun”! How about some ski walking technique? Ok, let’s do some bounding too? Oh, to bound one must go hard! Is this supposed to be an interval workout? No, but it was when you can’t back down. Do another one for good measure. How about climbing to the top of Mt Lassen? At 10,457 feet it stands alone between the northern Sierras and Mt Shasta- which we could see from the top. Why not make it as difficult and far of a hike as possible? One group did that while the other summitted quickly and then went climbing. And why not top off the week’s training with another intensity session; this time a bunch of (15-30) 30scd on, 30scd off, hillbound/moosehoofs, with poles, uphill. Ahh.., that’ll git ‘er dun fer shure! But wait, why not grease up a watermelon and run it down to the lake and then swim across it to see who really is tougher. Far West is of course! All that agility training we have been doing paid off!

If all this sounds like fun to you, get motivated now; we will do it again next year.

Junior Nordic skiers from across the US and Canada are invited to join the Far West and Pacific Northwest divisions for a 5 day Nordic camp aimed at systematically improving Nordic technique, fitness, strength and overall athletic preparation.

The Nor Cal Camp is designed for relative beginners and seasoned veterans ages 14-23 with some roller skiing experience. Past campers have included High School racers, youngsters eager to break into the sport, Junior National Champions, collegiate skiers and World Junior Team Members. Camps are built on a progression with specific workouts used to plot development over the course of the summer.

Dates: August 11-15

Training Activities: rollerskiing (classic and skate), strength, plyometric and agility drills, pole bounding, rollerski time trial, epic off trail adventures and a climb up Mt. Lassen

Location: Silver Lake, Northern CA. North of Susanville on HWY 44.

Note: Be prepared for camping!

Coaches:

Jeff Schloss and Ben Grasseschi- Far West

Ben Husaby, Brenna Warburton- Bend Endurance Academy

Torill Owen- Wenatchee Valley Nordic

Cost:

$200- PNSA athletes

Far West athletes- click here for your price/info.

Meet: 8:30am at BEA office Wednesday, August 11th

Depart: 3:00 pm Sunday afternoon from campground

What to Bring: Skate/Classic roller skis, Skate/Classic poles with ferrules, Ski boots, Sleeping Bag/pad and towel, Plate, bowl, fork and spoon, Water bottle carrier/ extra water bottle, Tent, Running shoes, Helmet, Cool weather training clothing, Warm weather training clothing, Very little social clothing, Gloves, mole skin, band aids if you have not been roller skiing, Heart rate monitor if you have one, Bounding poles if you have them, Small bag/pack for training days, Toiletries, Headlamp, Bug spray/sunscreen.

Questions: Email Ben ‘at’ BendEnduranceAcademy.org or call 541-678-3864

Enrollment:

1) Submit Online Nordic Camp Enrollment Form

2) Read the Code of Conduct

3) Read and print the Liability Waiver. Mail the Waiver, and your check for $200 to:

Bend Endurance Academy

PNSA Nordic Camp- Nor Cal

500 SW Bond Street, Suite 142

Bend, OR 97702

Come join the Pacific Northwest crew in Trout Lake, Washington for a 5 day Nordic camp aimed at systematically improving your Nordic technique, fitness, strength and overall athletic preparation.

The Trout Lake camp has been a PNSA tradition for 11 years and is designed for relative beginners and seasoned veterans ages 14-23 with some roller skiing experience.  Past campers have included High School racers from Oregon, youngsters eager to break into the sport, all the way up to Junior National Champions, collegiate skiers and World Junior Team Members.  Camps are built on a progression with specific workouts used to plot development over the course of the summer.

This year we are pleased to welcome special guests, Torin Koos and Erik Bjornsen from the Methow Olympic Development Project.

Dates: July 21-25

Training Activities: rollerskiing (classic and skate), strength, plyometric and agility drills, pole bounding, rollerski time trial, epic off trail adventures and a climb up Mt. Adams (for second year J1s if weather permits)

Location: Trout Lake, Washington at the base of Mt. Adams.  From Hwy 141 turn onto Park road and take a left into the Guler/Mt. Adams Community Park. Head toward the Group Camp. Be prepared for camping!

Coaches:

Scott Johnston- Methow Olympic Development Project

Ben Husaby, Brenna Warburton- Bend Endurance Academy

Janice Sibilia- JLS Sports

Other PNSA Coaches TBD

Cost:

• $200
• $220 for Mt. Adams climbers (send a check for $200 and bring the extra $20 in cash)

Meet: 3:00 pm Wednesday afternoon at campground

Depart: 3:00 pm Sunday afternoon from campground

What to Bring:  Skate/Classic roller skis, Skate/Classic poles with ferrules, Ski boots, Sleeping Bag/pad and towel, Plate, bowl, fork and spoon, Water bottle carrier/ extra water bottle, Tent, Running shoes, Helmet, Cool weather training clothing, Warm weather training clothing, Very little social clothing, Gloves, mole skin, band aids if you have not been roller skiing, Heart rate monitor if you have one, Bounding poles if you have them, Small bag/pack for training days, Toiletries, Headlamp, Bug spray/sunscreen.

Questions: Email    Ben ‘at’ BendEnduranceAcademy.org or call 541-678-3864

Enrollment:

Only 10 more spots are open! Sign up ASAP to save your place!

1) Submit Online Nordic Camp Enrollment Form

2) Read the Code of Conduct

3) Read and print the Liability Waiver. Mail the Waiver, and your check for $200 to:

Bend Endurance Academy

PNSA Nordic Camp- Trout Lake

500 SW Bond Street, Suite 142

Bend, OR 97702

They’re so low to the ground the sound is intense and you can feel the air pressure beating downwards.

Fire? Smoke Jumper training? Military invasion?

Nope- just an effort to eradicate the Tussock Moth from the beautiful Methow Valley.

This is how PNSA junior Nordic skiers started off nearly every morning of their 5 day training camp in the North Cascade Mountains.

After the helicopters made their morning raid, campers slept for a little longer and then headed off to explore the valley. Camp activities included rollerskiing, hiking, bounding, strength training, rock climbing and soccer games played with passion in honor of the World Cup.

Athletes from the Bend Endurance Academy, Methow Valley Nordic Team, Wenatchee Valley Nordic Team and Teacup Nordic were coached by Ben Husaby and Brenna Warburton from the Bend Endurance Academy and Sam Naney from the Methow Olympic Development Project.

A great big thank you to Krysten Fitzsimmons for cooking every meal, Steve Devin for helping coordinate logistics and Scott Johnston for lending us his innovative collection of strength training methods.

The Bend Endurance Academy received funding from the Pacific Northwest Ski Association to facilitate 3 junior development camps in the summer of 2010.  The next camps are in Trout Lake, Washington in July and Silver Lake, California with the Far West Division in August. Campers from across the US and Canada are welcome to attend. Contact Ben Husaby for more information about upcoming camps: ben@bendenduranceacademy.org or 541-678-3865

To enter, submit your guess in the ‘comment’ section below.

The change in the jar will go toward the purchase of the Academy’s Cycling team van!

As you can see there is a little space in the jar left to fill- you can help us top it off by bringing in your spare change. Simply fill a plastic bag with any change you can find around your house and bring it by the office!

Thank you to the Fitzsimmons family for their generous and creative contribution to the Academy!