Warning: this post is never edited or checked for typos….it also may contain sarcasm.
The first three World Cup weekends are in the books. You know what that means: we’ve now entered the Nordic Ski abyss.
As athletes head to pristine European villages for altitude camps, long saunas and Christmas celebrations, the rest of us sit at home, stressing over family get-togethers, winter travel, driveway shoveling, gifts, our children’s involvement in the church play and obviously, the inevitable melting of the earth from man-made climate change.
Never fear! Nordic skiing is here!
You’ve come to the right place. A place as magical as Santa’s workshop, where the content is catered specifically for you (especially if you’re a member of GripWax Nation….join today. It’s the best deal of the season!).
Alright.
…I just need to post this, write my Christmas card, shop for those last-minute gifts on Russian Ebay, wax everyone’s skis, read my Advent devotional, feed Ajee her kibbles, throw Ella in the air a few times, and figure out my race schedule — I’ve been thrown a curveball (see below).
Ski News
- Glad to see the SuperTour was covered with some boots on the ground over at NordicInsights. There is hope, people. I told Ajee to connect with her cousin, Izzy Bean to cover the Midwest races but apparently she’s too busy being an Insta-famous dog.
- Vermeulen’s take on the Norwegian’s success. I tend to agree. We talked about it on the last podcast – check it out!
- Eating disorder kills Norwegian skier….wow, this is crazy….
- A GREAT post from BSF skier Willson Moore on his conversion to high-carb fueling, even during easy training. He’s almost convinced me. I like this post because it’s got a little bit of science, a little bit of ‘lived experience’ value and a nice review section that lays out some of the gel options out there. Definitely worth a look.
- LOPPET NEWS: There is a new race coming to Minnesota! The Ski North Ultra will offer enthusiastic loppet racers the chance to do 22K, 46K or even 100K along the North Shore. The classic race (*there is no freestyle/skating division) utilizes the Norpine, Cascade River and Bally Creek trail systems. Prices are as follows: $40 for the 22k, $80 for the 46k and $160 for the 100k. By the way, that cost structure feels initially kind of weird: the 22k is a steal in this age and the 46k is not bad either (Alley Loop is similar if you register early…) but $160 feels steep for any race, even 100k. (*Then again, the Birkie will cost you $240 if you sign up today….)….But, after reading more info on the website, I 1) like the grassroots effort and am ok paying that to support it and 2) understand that the grooming cost alone is probably a reason for the price. Overall, the birth of this race is fantastic news…not quite on the same level as the Christmas Day news of the virgin birth for the shepherds, but let’s just say I might be sprinting to Duluth ala wise men on the way to Bethlehem. I love that someone is venturing out to try a new race. I think they will easily get way more than 100 people to show up. I want to go, but am I willing to give up the SMR 50ks? ugghh…..choices….
Letters, we get your letters, we get your letters EVERYDAY!
If you want to send us a compliment, comment, concern or cqwuestion, hit us up at sederskier@gmail.com
Ryan, you should totally put ogdens Davos pre sprint team final interview into a sound bit for the intro. All time classic! Go Ben!
-Andrew
Andrew – Dang! I totally forgot to do this….yes, it was ALL-TIME and classic Ben.
Seder,
Since you always update us on ski conditions Leadville, I thought I’d take a minute to share the dismal conditions at Spirit Mountain in Duluth with you. After 3 weeks of snowmaking, we have a grand total of 1.3k of trail open. The loops above have about 11 feet (not kidding) of snow piled up by the snow guns. The open trails received rain on Sunday, so they are only groomed for skate most of the time. Today, they tilled up about an inch or two of weak sauce snow to make a pathetic track that is complete ice. I could kick just fine with blue klister, but seriously, Spirit is now ice, AGAIN. It is always ice. Spirit sucks.
The man-made loops in the twin cities are maxed out at full 5k distance, and we only get a stupid 1.3 k hamster wheel. The twin cities loops never have an icy based track, yet Spirit does, EVERY YEAR. I think they could till it deep enough with a few extra passes, but they never do that for us. They do one stupid pass, and the track is 1 inch deep with a hard ice base, and we’re supposed to be happy with it. PATHETIC!
TBGUY
TBGUY – Sad, really.
Actually, I’ve always had spectacular conditions at Spirit. Plus, it’s right next to Kwik Trip, so you can load up on the afternoon mocha and the cheapest bananas around. I think you need to be more grateful ;)….don’t worry, we’re saving this for another grooming-related podcast rant!
Tune in to the Seder-Skier Podcast
Our interview with The Diggins Collapse Index has been rising in the charts…can it pass the ‘Klaebo Konfusion’ episode and/or our Rosie Brennan interview from two years ago as the most listened to podcasts in Seder-Skier history? Right now, it needs 58 more streams to do so…
For the inept journalists out there, the Nordic ski abyss can be a tough and lonely sea to navigate. Because we treat Nordic skiing like a professional sport, however, we’ve got content, news and interviews coming at you daily all the way to the TDS.
- Monday: HOT TAKES from Davos
- Tuesday: Sydney Palmer-Leger checks in
- Wednesday: Colby College coach Tracey Cote hops on the show
- Thursday: Annika Landis talks about the next chapter of her ski story
- Friday: EnjoyWinter’s Andy Gerlach on the resurrection of the Factory Team and the state of loppet racing
- Saturday: Katherina Hennig
- Sunday: Friedrich Moch
- Monday: Victoria Carl
- Dec. 24-25: CHRISTMAS— Col. Pitchfork says: “Take a kid skiing!”
- Dec. 26-31: TBD!!!!
Some other stories I’ve written that I think you might like
Get to know some of the FIS Alpine World Cup storylines…..
Seder-Skier.com 
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