Hello Everyone. I recently returned from a training camp in Austria that Outsports helped partialy fund, and Jim suggested I let you know how it went. I am begining my senior year on the University of Utah's nordic ski team, so when Nat Brown informed me that he was planning a ski camp on the Dachstein Glacier in Austria, I jumped at the opportunity to get some on-snow training in August. Nat is a long-time ski technician and coach from Washington State who has been featured on Outsports before. He has prepared skis for numorous Olympics and World Championships including the recent games here in Salt Lake. Three of his junior skiers also came along for this camp.
Our first day of skiing was postponed due to 50mph winds on the glacier (8500ft elevation), but we made the best of it by doing a running workout on the 1999 World Championship trails in Ramsau, the town below. These are famous trails and it was exciting to trace the steps of the famous races that have been held there.
The rest of our scheduled ski days turned out to be amazing. Most were sunny and warm and reminded us all why we love to ski! They groom about 5 kilometers,zig-zagging on the snow of the glacier. We shot a lot of technique video, watched some of the faster/experienced athletes (some Japanese and the Finns), and got a lot of quality traing hours in. In the afternoons, we did dry-land strength workouts followed imediately by relaxing on the hotel's terrace and enjoying the local brew.
We left Ramsau at the end of August and drove to Munich, Germany for a two-night stay there before flying back to the US. Munich is a cool city that really can't be seen in two days, but we made the most. On the final night, Nat and I found a Munich Gay Guide at a kiosk and checked out a few bars and clubs (even dragged the straight guys in our group along to one of them!). A fun end to an incredible trip!
Now it's back to college ski practice and school. Thanks so much to Outsports!
--Ryan