Hard at Work

By Dana

The nordic team just finished out it's fourth week of official practices this fall.  I'd say it's going pretty well for most of us, despite a few illnesses. We are continuing to work hard and mindfully.

This week had a lot of variety; we did some skate roller-ski intervals at Brown's Bridge, a run with speeds, and a classic roller-ski. We've also been continuing morning circuit training.

This weekend 10/21-23 was quite the mix of weather. Friday and Saturday were the first few rainy and cold days we've had in awhile; Sunday was also brisk and windy, but the skies cleared up and the sun came out. There was even some snow sighting!

Friday, we concluded the school week with speedball and strength in the field house. Saturday, the team got up early in the cold and dreary, rainy weather for an arduous running interval session at Suny Canton.  In the afternoon, we headed inside for some strength and weightlifting. Even with the sun shining on Sunday, it was starting to feel a lot like winter! The air was crisp with the smell of wood fires burning from people's wood-stoves, all along the wind shoved in our faces as we classic skied from Colton into Parishville to South Colton and concluded at Higley Flow State Park.  We ended the ski with Jenny Townsend's homemade delicious muffins!

Some no pole classic skiing mixed into our OD on Sunday- OH THE SNOW!

Luckily, to get us through the weekend, Coach Townsend invited us to his home to decorate some halloween cookies and snack on some chips and dip, and warm apple cider. Oh, and needn't I forget to mention the Townsend's family's new puppy, Sophie! She was loving the attention the girls team was giving her!

Cookie Decorating and Sophie Loving

We're looking forward to more cold weather, because we are all dancing at the news Mt. Van Hovenberg was open this weekend with 6" of snow!!

Peace,
SLUSKI

Quadathlon

Quadathlon!!!

The following Monday after LP weekend, also Columbus Day, we gave up our day off to participate in the SLU Quadathlon; it's tradition!

We had 2 teams, one girls team and one mixed gender team. The girls team included:

Team name: SKI Squad

1. Jordan- Swim (500yds in the pool)

2. Dana- Bike (5mi on Minor Street)

3. Kate and Emily- Canoe (1mi on the Little River)

4. Lucy- Run (2mi on Campus trails and track)

The mixed team included:

Team name: The Free Range Fatbags...ahem, excuse me, I mean.. pizza rolls

1. Ryan- Swim

2. Brendan- Bike

3. Sam and Jackie- Canoe

4. Calvin- Run

It was an overall beautiful and fun day, as the excitement culminated with the mixed team winning! Way to represent SLUSKI!!

Front L-R: Calvin, Brendan and Jackie
Middle L-R: Dana, Emily, Lucy, Jordan and Kate
Back L-R: Ryan and Sam (honorary ski team member for the day)

Lake Placid Training Weekend

Weekend fun in Lake Placid!

Hey all!

SLU Skiing has been working hard to get ready for the upcoming season. Last weekend the team was able to head up to Lake Placid for a solid weekend of training. Because of the generosity of Lucy and her family we were able to stay at their house for the weekend, we cannot thank the Hochschartner family enough!

On the way down we were able to get in a solid skate ski. The next morning, we headed to our home course at Mt. Van Hoevenberg to do some bounding intervals. That afternoon (after heading to town for burritos and sandwiches and the flaming leaves jumping festival) we completed a tough agility workout complete with time trials and head to head competitions.

The last day, before heading back to St. Lawrence, we went on an OD hike/run! The OD had some sweet views and allowed us to get in a good amount of vertical.

Check out a short edit I put together about the trip here!

-RPY

Ryan P. Young '20

FRI-
1. 2pm Left school with vans loaded to the brim
2. 3:30pm Skate roller-skied on way to Lake Placid for 1.5-2 hrs and found some dope fresh pavement
3. 5pm Drove the rest of the way to Lucy's beautiful home
4. 6:30 Unloaded and girls team made pasta, garlic bread and salad
5. 8:15 Boys washed dishes
6. 8:30 Team meeting around dinner table
7. 10pm Guys slept in boathouse, girls took the more cozy option of the third floor of Lucy's house

SAT-
1. 7am woke up and ate breakfast
2. 8:30am left for Mt. Van Ho
3. 8:35am Given plan for workout
4. 9am started bounding workout on Ladies 5k and East Mtn
5. 11am drove back to Lucy's house
6. 11:30am Left Lucy's house
7. 12pm ate lunch in downtown Lake Placid
8. 1:30pm drove and arrived at Ski Jumps- watched some epic ski jumpers!
9. 2:30 drove back to Lucy's house
10. 3pm left Lucy's house for 2nd workout
11. 4-6pm Sk ski agility workout
12. 6:30pm Guys team made chili
13. 8pm Girls team washed dishes
14. 8:30pm Team meeting around dinner table again
15. 10pm Bedtime= pass out

SUN-
1.  7am woke up and ate breakfast
2. 8:30am left, and right on time!
3. Drove to hike in Keene!
5. Hiking, Hiking and more hiking
6. Changed and ate, and ate and slept while Etown and Liz drove
7. 3:30pm Liz needed coffee and sugar
8. 4:45pm arrived back at school


Quotes of the week:
"Turn Right at the Second Left"
"Lucy, want to get married?!"
"Woahh...Luuucyyy's a billllionaireee"
"You're going to go up this hill and then you're going to go down this hill, and then up this hill and down"

Pictures of the week:

View from Lucy's House

Brendan going hard on the hike

LP Ski Jump

Girls Team L-R: Lucy, Madi, Emily, Erin, Dana, Jordan, Jackie, Kate

Hiking View

Girls Team

Planning Sunday's Hiking Route: L-R- Etown, Lucy, Ruben, Dustin

View from top of Rooster Comb Mtn: L-R: Erin, Kate, Jordan, Dana

Whadda ya know, it's the girls team again!

First Official Week of Practice!

Read all about our first official week of practice from first year Madi Schriefer, who hails from Rochester, NY and some deep reflection from fellow sophomore, Erin Waters. 

Hi all,

It has been quite the week here for SLU Nordic—starting off with the 3k test on the track last Tuesday Morning.  We rallied that afternoon for the Canadian Strength Test and ran afterwards.  On Wednesday, we went to Brown’s Bridge for a course preview for the double pole test.  Thursday morning held an early run, drills, and core.  Later that day, we headed back to Brown’s Bridge for the grueling double pole test.

Friday's practice was yet another course preview.  We drove to River Road, where we skied the skate time trial.  It was so pretty, as the leaves are quickly changing.  At this point, we’ve spent quite a bit of time in the vans, so the girls put together a music playlist.  I assume the guy’s van listens to NCPR, if not narrated by Dustin and Ryan themselves.

After a few big days of training, we headed into Saturday’s TT—some more tired than others.  It felt relieving to cross the finish line and be done with testing (for now).  On Sunday, we finished off the week with a beautiful OD classic ski and run in Colton.

Overall, it was a fun week of hard work and team bonding.  I hope all of us are finding effective ways to still stay healthy and continue to wake up for those early morning practices.  If you’re looking for a new alarm, I recommend the SONIC BOMB. Thanks for reading!

-Madi

Now that our first week of practice has come to a close, I think it is safe to say we could all use a nap. But despite how intense this first week was, it was also very exciting; I think we are going to have an awesome year both performance wise, but also in our cohesion as a team.  Everyone showed both grit and enthusiasm, even when the time trial results were not exactly what they wanted. Each person was supportive of their teammates and willing to look at the results as a stepping stone to success. I am so excited to see our young team transform over the coming year!

-Erin

Pictures from the week:

Ruben, Ryan and Brendan sprinting to the finish of the 3k test

Calvin and Dustin heading into the finish

We had personal records in the 3k test this year. 

3k PR's: Erin W. PR'd by 2 seconds from last year. Dana H. PR'd by 10 seconds from last year. Calvin S. got the same exact time as last year. Henry J. PR'd by 63 seconds. Way to go, guys!

Strength Test featuring: Kate on dips and Jordan on Box Jumps

Canadian Strength test in the ski room this year!

It was a great first week and we are headed in the right direction as a team! This weekend we will be doing some quality training in Lake Placid and will have a blog post up when we return! 

Thanks for following our adventures. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep track of us!
-Dana