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skimo training camp

2015 Skimo Summer Training Camp

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skimo-camp-teaser-2015
If you are reading this then you are invited 🙂
We have decided to change things a little with basing one or two days around Whistler and beyond. This will provide us with new trails and mountain objectives.
The camp will partly serve as the fall training camp for Canadian National Skimo Team but most importantly it will also be open to public.
Not a skier? No problem! This will be a trail running focused camp so trail, mountain, and ultra runners are encouraged to join us!

» Sign up for updates further down «

Quick overview

  • Training for 3-4 days around Squamish and Whistler, BC  with fellow skimo racers and members of the USA and Canadian national teams.
  • Dates are September 4-7, 2015.
  • Activities will mainly involve trail running, light mountaineering, with cycling, swimming and roller-skiing as options as well.
  • Costs will be kept to minimum as we as organizers (Eric and Stano) are fully volunteering our time.
  • Optional Vertical Mountain Running race at Whistler Blackcomb!
  • We are really excited for our Escape Route evening presentation by the one and only Trevor Hunt!
  • Couple of generous sponsors will keep us fueled, geared up and tired.

Sign up for updates

As we are finalizing the exact schedule, please sign up below to keep you updated.
* Also, include information such as:

  • for which days you would like to join,
  • which activities (running, roller skiing) you cannot participate in (cause of injury or don’t have gear),
  • where are you coming from,
  • and how fast can you run a beer mile 🙂
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Logistics and Gear

The camp will officially begin Friday afternoon but we understand work schedules may prevent some from joining us then. Feel free to come Friday night or catch up with us Saturday morning.
Athletes are responsible for finding their own housing during the camp but we will do everything we can to help you find a place. If you have friends to stay with in town, great, if not, let us know and we will try to figure something out!
Here is a basic gear list for the camp:

  • Running Shoes
  • Training clothing
  • Sandals, post workout clothing, and beach gear
  • Ski/running poles
  • Food for fuel during workouts
  • Preferred snacks for meals
  • Helmet
  • Roller-skis (optional)
  • Mountain or road bike (optional)
  • Rock climbing gear (optional)

Can I handle it? You should be able to complete 3 days of endurance exercise, with up to 2-3h of running per day in order to attend. Most of our long runs have extended periods of hiking involved so are not as intense as they may sound. If you are unsure if you should attend send us an email!
» Here is how the the first Canadian Team summer training camp in Squamish went two year’s ago.
» Here is how a Canadian Team summer training camp looked like in Revelstoke in 2012.
» To improve your training in the meantime checkout these:

2014 Canadian Skimo Team Camp at Rogers Pass

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This is a guest post from a recent Canadian Skimo Team training camp in Rogers Pass. I was unable to attend so I want to thank Peter Knight for the text and Travis Brown for the photos.
The Alpine Club of Canada had taken a page out of Alison Redford’s playbook and generously block-booked the hut for us so we would have lots of elbow room to eat and sleep as just Michelle Roberts, Martha Burley, Steve Sellers, and Travis and I were attending.

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After a 3-hour ski up to the hut, through tracked out snow and watching numerous groups ski down, the sleeping bags and hut booties seemed more inviting than a couple of short laps above the hut in wind affected snow.
Monday brought a lazy start but with some ambitious goals. None of the weekend groups had skied above the hut and the weather and avalanche conditions were looking good, so we set our sights up to the top of Youngs Peak. Travis punched the track up the steep headwall and we quickly topped out.
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I was expecting to pound out a couple of laps on the Steps of Paradise, but soon we were skiing down the other side towards the Forever Young couloir, which was untouched since the last snowfall. Meanwhile, some German ski mountaineering racers had topped out the couloir from the road so I had some company at the top while I waited my turn. We all made it down safely with varying levels of slough management techniques.

Michelle and Martha with Forever Young behind them.
Michelle and Martha with Forever Young behind them.
Typically these camps are a chance to ski lots of vertical, but with tired legs from racing two days before this adventure was an interesting diversion. After a couple of afternoon laps of the triangle moraine it was time for a classic staple of these SMCC Asulkan ski camps: the bonk-slog up the tree triangle back to the Asulkan hut at the end of the day.
Shortly after the last stragglers arrived back at the hut, the wind got much stronger and battered the hut all night. The wind sustained through the morning and brought warm temperatures along with it. Freezing levels rose above the hut, motivation levels did the opposite. Trees were uncovered by the wind and their snow was blown into the outhouse thanks to some broken locks. And it was raining. It was time to bail.
The ski down from the hut was interesting as the snow got slower and less supportive as we worked our way down. The snow could be described as elephant snot or fluffy powder depending on whether the person you were talking to was from Fernie or not. On the way down we encountered what is likely another full house at the Asulkan. Nobody was pumped to hear that it was raining at the hut.
Well at least I got back to Edmonton at a decent hour 😉

Arnold Schwarzenegger visits the 2nd SkinTrack fall skimo training camp

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Come run with us next time. Photo by Eric Carter.
Come run with us next time. (Photo by Eric Carter.)
One year ago, to the weekend, we ran the first ever SkinTrack training camp with hopes of repeating it in the future.. Now, few days after the 2nd successful edition, Eric and I are super happy we got the chance to once again host a bunch of enthusiastic people during 3 full days of hard training and socializing.

Thank you All

First and foremost we want to thank all participants for coming and creating a super friendly atmosphere – Thank you!
Secondly, we want to thank the hosts of our Friday’s BBQ party in their back yard in Squamish – Thank you Will and Cristina!
And thirdly, we want to thank all the companies that chose to support our camp once again – Thank you!
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2 winners of 2 pairs of Dynafit shoes

To make the camp even more fun we had two contests going on for two pairs of Dynafit shoes! One person would win a pair for the best photo – no other specific criteria. And one would win for something (anything) that we would notice during the camp.
And so the first pair goes to Kate for this shot that nicely captures the variety of colours in the Garibaldi Provincial Park as well as the long trails we enjoyed.
kate-photo
The second pair goes to Cristina for toughing out her serious stomach problems during the 4h Sunday run!

3 days of training and sun

Thanks to amazing fall weather here on the Canadian West Coast (as always) we were able to complete the camp almost exactly as we outlined in the teaser.
Friday’s recap – steep time-trial & fun BBQ:
In the morning, we met at the beautiful Alice Lake Provincial Park (just 5 km out of Squamish) for an easy 1.5h run on local bike trails.
For 2 pm, Eric and I scheduled an uber steep and technical vertical time-trial on the trail winding below the new Sea to Sky Gondola. This included running, scrambling and lots of power hiking over about 800 vertical meters. While suffering, I came up with a new term to complement my hiko-run invention – the new term I am trademarking is “scrambled-run” 🙂
Evening BBQ went smooth thanks to Will and Cristina and after downing couple of beers we all seemed to have jokes up our sleeves. The main prize of the evening  – ultimate burger flipper – went to Eric for his passion for… well, flipping burgers 😉

Most of the crew that chose to train with us over the weekend.
Most of the crew that chose to train with us over the weekend.
Saturday’s recap – climber dies on Sky Pilot:
Saturday was a day of mixed emotions for all of us. We had good times playing in the mountains but were faced with harsh reality that it’s not a game to be taken lightly.
After taking the Sea to Sky Gondola up we were on our way to the most anticipated adventure of the camp – to run, hike and scramble a local beauty mountain, Sky Pilot. But shortly after hiking up a small glacier a look down revealed there was something tragic happening below us. A climber has slid from the steep parts of the glacier and was in very bad conditions after being rescued out of a small crevasse. And so we gave all of our clothes and first aid supplies to Eric and Joel who rushed down to help. Unfortunately, after about 1.5h of CPR the climber passed away (most likely due to loosing lots of blood as a result of his head injuries).
With sadness in the air our group decided not to continue up the mountain. It simply didn’t feel right so we opted for a loop lower down in the valley and checking out the upcoming Sky Pilot SkyRunning race course. Our condolences go to the family and friends of the Sky Pilot climber.
Girls running up the small glacier.
Girls running up the small glacier.
Arnold Schwarzenegger vs Silvester Stalone
In the evening, we gathered at the very supportive local outdoor store Escape Route to preview some specialized skimo gear and to watch a movie called “Mount St. Elias” (Eric’s pick).
And let me tell you, despite the movie being as bad as it was I must recommend you watch it because no one should miss on Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to ski St. Elias! If you laughed watching Cliffhanger with Silverster Stalone 20 years ago then you will have tears running down your cheeks during this one, I promise 😉
Will descending one hell of a running route.
Will pumping his St. Elias biceps 😉
Sunday – gym training and a long run:
In the morning, local gym Challenge by Choice hosted us again (first time last year) for a muscle breaking strength session. Push-ups, lunges, squats and kettle bell exercises shaped our expressions during the hour long suffer fest.
Hanging off one arm at 85 degree angle was my favourite excercise during the gym session.
Hanging off one arm at 85 degree angle was my favourite exercise during the gym session. (Photo by Eric Carter.)
Then, by 11.30 am, we were all running in the spectacular surroundings in the Garibaldi Provincial Park. We split our group of 14 into two and ran the 24 km point-to-point route in opposite directions to avoid car shuttling.
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Coastal alpine running. (Photo by Eric Carter.)

Next year

Based on last year’s winter results I believe that all that attended will do consistently better than those that did not. So if you want to up your game for the 2016 winter you should visit us next September 😉
See you all, and even more of you, next year!

group-habrich
This is how an album cover would look like if we ever record one 😉
Black Tusk, the iconic mountain of Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Black Tusk, the iconic mountain of Garibaldi Provincial Park. (Photo by Eric Carter.)
Carnage time!
Carnage time! (Photo by Eric Carter.)

SkinTrack.com & SMCC Skimo Training Camp in September 2014

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camptopEric Carter and I are organizing a summer skimo and trail running training camp in Squamish, BC and we want to invite you to join us! The camp will take place September 12-14th, 2014. This will serve as the fall training camp for SMCC Canadian National Team but we have also opened it up to the public. Last years camp was an absolute success and we want to make it even better this year so please save the date and join us in September!
9D6B20FB-01F3-4119-93FC-9B5F96A3F3C2[4]Not a skier? No problem! This will be a trail running focused camp so trail, mountain, and ultra runners are encouraged to join us! Rollerski workouts are optional and there will be an alternative workout planned for the non-skiers!
» Stay tuned to this page over the next few weeks as we announce more details!

CampsponsorsQuick overview

  • Training for three days around Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler, BC  with fellow skimo racers and members of the Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Team.
  • Dates are September 12-14, 2014.
  • The agenda includes trail running, strength training at Challenge By Choice in Squamish, and roller skiing with video technique analysis.
  • Cost will be approximately $20 per person for all three days!
  • SMCC stands for Ski Mountaineering Competition Canada and is a section of the Alpine Club of Canada

Presentations

Dynafit and Escape Route are bringing us an excellent evening presentatios that we think will be interesting to skimo racers, ski tourers and trail runners. For those already attending the camp, there is no additional cost. For those who just wish to attend the presentations, the cost is $5 at the door. The presentations will take place at 7pm on Saturday at the Escape Route in Squamish. Escape Route is also preparing special pricing for those in attendance to pre-order the latest and greatest skimo gear that is difficult to get our hands on here in North America.
If a skimo training camp like this interests you, please, email us to sign-up or to ask for more information via the form below.

colltexTentative Schedule

(click the links for meeting place)

Friday

Saturday

  • 9:30 AM: Yoga for skiers who don’t do yoga…aka: light stretching (30min at S2SG Base)
  • 10:00 AM: Sea to Sky Gondola – Sky Pilot Long Run/Scramble (5+ hrs)
  • 7:00 PM: Slideshow Presentation at Escape Route, Squamish.

Sunday

*Just announced: Sea to Sky Gondola has partnered with us to provide access to the Sky Pilot area!

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Logistics and Gear

The camp will officially begin Friday morning but we understand work schedules may prevent some from joining us then. Feel free to come Friday night or catch up with us Saturday morning. Athletes are responsible for finding their own housing during the camp but we will do everything we can to help you find a place to crash. If you have friends to stay with in town, great, if not, let us know and we will try to figure something out! Below is a basic gear list for the camp:

  • Running Shoes
  • Training clothing
  • Sandals, post workout clothing, and beach gear
  • Ski/running poles
  • Food for fuel during workouts
  • Preferred snacks for meals
  • Helmet
  • Rollerskis (optional)
  • Mountain bike (optional)
  • Rock climbing gear (optional)

Can I handle it? For non-members of the national team, you may be wondering if you can handle workouts. You should be able to complete 3 days of intense exercise, with up to 3hrs of running per day in order to attend. Most of our long runs have extended periods of hiking involved so are not as intense as they may sound but they still require fitness. If you are unsure if you should attend, take a look at the write up from last year’s camp or send us an email!
Cost: Approximately $20 per person to participate in all the workouts. We are trying to keep the cost as low as possible. Once we confirm attendance, we will have an exact number.
» Here is how the the first Canadian Team summer training camp in Squamish went last year.
» Here is how our Canadian Team summer training camp looked like in Revelstoke in 2012.
» To improve your training in the meantime checkout these:

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL BE JOINING US. IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY EMAIL UPDATES FROM ERIC, YOU ARE NOT ON THE LIST!

Contact us:

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When suffering is fun: Recap from first ever Skintrack skimo training camp

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And just like that, after a 3-day blurry of workouts, adventure, presentations and loads of fun the first ever Skintrack training camp is over! Everyone is tired but with a huge smile on our faces.
First of all, Eric and I want to say Thank You to everyone that attended, in some cases travelling hundreds of kilometres. You guys put faith in us and believed that when you show up the two skimo junkies will have no choice but to deliver all everything they promised 😉
Next, we (and on behalf of all participants) want to thank to Dynafit North America, Escape Route, Clif Bar Canada and The Alpine Club of Canada for their great support of this summer skimo training gathering.

Supporters of this first ever North American skimo training camp. On behalf of everyone - Thank You!

As it all happened

To recount our three days for those that couldn’t come, here are some facts:

  • 17 athletes attended, either the whole camp or couple of sessions
  • Another 20 or so attended the 2 speaker presentations
  • 5 training venues
  • Over 13 hours of training
  • Around 3700m of vertical
  • About 80km covered
  • And 1 birthday celebration

Day 1 – Friday, Sep 13

We started the camp off by meeting for a trail-running session up Squamish’s iconic Chief and over its three summits, amazing views all around.
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Afternoon brought us to Callaghan Valley for a roller-ski session. The valley is located between Squamish and Whistler, and was the venue for cross-country skiing during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Eric Carter with Melanie Bernier roller skiing.
Eric Carter with Melanie Bernier roller skiing.
Summer skimo skinning - over the hills and far away.
Summer skimo skinning – over the hills and far away.
One the way to Callaghan and then back we made sure to take advantage of the lakes along the scenic Hwy 99. Cold water in two Alice and Brohm lakes relieved pain in our muscles while we soaked in September sun.
Friday’s night presentation belonged to a slideshow from my recent trip to Kyrgyzstan and China (here you can read part 1 and part 2) inside Escape Route outdoor shop. I am proud to say that everyone seemed to really enjoy it.
Escape Route proved to be a very cozy venue for the evening presentations.
Escape Route proved to be a very cozy venue for the evening presentations.

Day 2 – Sep 14, 2013

Saturday’s itinerary was looking big and thankfully the weather held on.
In the AM hours our group swelled to 13 as we were joined by a group of athletes from the UBC Nordic ski team. Some people roller-skiing, some biking, (me driving) one by one we made it up Cypress Bowl road that brought us to 930m above sea level and to another 2010 Olympic venue, Cypress Mountain.

Melanie Bernier pushing the pace with great passion.
Melanie Bernier pushing the pace with great passion.
A very thick fog was sitting above Vancouver and the ocean at around 600m so we were treated to heaven-like experience.
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After some rest and a light lunch in the sun we started our long trail run from Cypress Mountain to Lions Bay. During this session we ended up splitting into three groups – one returning back the same way after about an hour (led by Eric), the second running to Lions Bay (3.5h), and the third, led by me, did a detour to scramble to the summit of West Lion thus extending the session to over 4h.
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Posing for Sports Illustrated on top of Unnecessary Mountain on the Howe Sound Crest Trail.
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Nick, Mel, Dean and I pushed for the West Lion summit in the name of my birthday wish.
Later in the afternoon, we all met in Lions Bay and went for a plunge in the Pacific Ocean before heading back to Squamish.
The second night started with a sushi dinner before a presentation on performance nutrition from a professional coach Bjorn Ossenbrink. The take home message seemed to be that proper fueling and recovery are very critical to athletic success.
Right after the presentation I got a big surprise in a form of birthday cake (complete with candles) and a bottle of 7-year old red wine. Then to make sure we remember all that was said during the nutrition talk we headed to a pub for a round of birthday beers. 😉

Day 3 – Sun 15, 2013

Eric and I thought a strength session specifically targeting skimo muscles should be included in camp’s itinerary and so Eric arranged a coach and a gym from Challenge by Choice for 2h of suffer-fest given the training load on previous days. Muscles hurt but fun was had all around. This workout topped the most-sweat-lost charts.

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Pretty much as a whole, we were accused by the gym coach of not having strong gluts 🙂

The final workout went almost as planned, only cut short by an approaching lightning storm. Yet still, we did about 3h of running over superb trails inside the beautiful Garibaldi Provincial Park.
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At Garibaldi Lake: from left, front row – Eric Carter and Will, back row – Kate, Eric, Dean and Max.
Once done and 50 hugs later, everyone took off in different direction in search of a couch at their homes.
See you all next time, we will try to make it as soon as we can 😉
Nutrition, eh?
Nutrition, eh?