I live in South Florida. I want to do the Swedish 90K Vasaloppet in March 2011. I will have had an endurance base with road cycling, since on January 2011 I will ride 375 miles over 3 days in hilly Puerto Rico. I am already doing 60 mile rides on week ends - sorry, no running due to knee injury.On off bike days, I swim 1200 yards and do some weight training (not to serious). I need to find a good XC center on the East Coast,with good snow most of the time, and relatively close to an airport, where I can travel to 2-3 times for a weekend at a time to train on snow. I know, I know, I need upper body strength, I will get more serious with weights during December, Jan and Feb.
FasterSkier Forums » Travel
East Coast XC Center Recommendation
(9 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT is quite close to the airport in Burlington, VT. They generally have excellent snow.
If you can't fly into Burlington, Manchester, NH is also a good airport, and only about 2 hours from a number of ski areas in the Jackson, NH area. Sugarloaf and Rumford are both just a few hours from Portland, ME, and generally have good snow.
If I were you, I would buy some rollerskis. That is the best way to train for skiing when there is no snow.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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Sounds like a fun project. I think it's worth pointing to the old adage about the changeability of N. England weather. For you, I think this means it won't be possible to regularly go to the same place--you'll have to have a few options worked out in advance and then continually check conditions and adjust accordingly (looking for places with decent classical skiing adds an extra dimension).
As an example, there have been periods in past winters, where the only on-snow skiing has been on man-made snow here in Boston.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Good to know there is a kindred spirit out there. (live in NC, training for 50K C in Feb 2011)
1) I hear it's tough to get into the actual vasaloppet. lotteries, etc. but you can do the same course earlier in the week... and they get you up at like 2am for the bus to the start line. 2am!
2) check out the youtube clips of the vasa. double poling is the most efficient technique for a 90km C race. I agree with Isiebert, get rollerskis now, and start double poling. You may have the legs to finish, but your shoulders will fall off at 45km. It's going to take you ~8hrs to finish(?) will you be ready to pole for 8hrs with only 3mths of weight work?
3) Burlington is a great suggestion. you can cross the lake and get to Mt. Van Hoevenberg in 1.5hr, or hit the Trapp Family Lodge. If money was no object - think about traving West to Silver Star or Yellowstone early (like Nov or early Dec) to get a sense of fitness while there is still time to make changes.
Best of luck! If you see Daniel Tynell, tell him Jorgen Brink is a punk for not taking his turns at the front of the lead pack.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thank you for all your suggestions and reccomendations.I considered getting rollerskis but there is no good place around here to do long sessions - no hills and lots of traffic everywhere. I was worried as well about my shoulders falling off at 45K like OEB2ODB said, but recently discovered a new sport - stand up paddle-boarding. I can easily do this all year round. It will give me the core, upper body strength and endurance to do the Vasa. The arm movement is kind of similar to double poling.Come December I will start doing 3+ hour sessions in addition to my roadcycling. What do you think? Will I make it?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Should start doing 3+ hr sessions NOW.
Rollerskis can be used ANYWHERE. Flat doesn't matter, you'll just be double poling, and if you get some V2's, or other rollerskis with an adjustable speed reducer, you can set a tougher resistance as you get stronger. There's gotta be some kind of bike path or bike lane around that you could use.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I did the Vasaloppet last year. What an incredible race with great people! i swore I would never drink blueberry soup again after 7 ours of it. I met several people from places like South Africa that were racing and had never seen snow before!
Anyway, OEB2ODB is right in that there is A LOT of double poling. I live in VT and do plenty of on snow training, but what really helped me and perhaps saved me during the Vasa was training on a Concept2 Skierg. This would be a very effective way to train for a race like the Vasaloppet and WAY safer than rollerskiing, especially if you've never done it. If you go to http://www.skierg.com you will find information. Good Luck!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I forgot to mention that it is rumored that Daniel Tynell has a skierg for training (no joke). My money is on im winning in commanding style next year!
Posted 1 year ago #
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