The USSA Sport Education department has produced numerous DVD's and CD's in alpine skiing, from World Cup Winning Runs DVD's to Alpine Ski Fundamentals, Tactics, and more. Check out the USSA Education Shop for details.
This presentation by USSA Sport Education Department's Ron Kipp is an informative and entertaining one-hour video targeted for any athlete age 14 and older, and for all coaches. Knowledge of the concept of periodization is a must, and this is an efficient way to get caught up to speed.
educationshop.ussa.org/VIDEO--Periodize-Your-Way-to-the-Podium-by-Ron-Kipp-August-23-2011_p_133.html
Attached is a recommended reading list. If you have other selections, please send the necessary information to mwhitcomb@ussa.org.
This education blast is a product of The USSA's Sport Science department. The articles are short and simple, and can be a great way to evaluate your training and to stimulate further research into a specific topic.
Dear Coach, Athlete, Parent, or Official,
Follow the link for the document entitled "What it Takes," created by the U.S. Ski Team staff, along with key coaches and organizers in each region, as an educational tool for our developing cross-country ski racers. Despite the presence of many very knowledgeable coaches in our country, there is still quite a bit of confusion amongst many of our top young athletes when it comes to the actual demands of winning an Olympic Gold Medal. The intent of the document is to highlight the main demands of such a goal in the most succinct manner possible. We wanted to create something that can be quickly and easily digested by everyone involved. The document is intended to be an educational tool for athletes, their coaches, and their parents. Hopefully it spurs discussion between all of the involved parties to accomplish a goal of this magnitude.
For more specifics about what it takes, please see our Cross-Country Training System by going to: http://trainingsystem.ussa.org/
Thank you for being part of the process of going after a goal of this caliber.
Sincerely,
Chris Grover
U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Head Coach
Dear Cross-Country Ski Racer,
If you dream of winning an Olympic Gold medal, you are not alone. But when you turn that dream into a goal and set about achieving it, you are embarking upon a life-changing voyage few can say they have truly attempted. Chasing the goal of winning an Olympic medal has a value well beyond any riches that might come from realizing the goal itself. The value of this goal and this dream is the process of pursuing it. Only through extraordinary effort and sacrifice can such a goal be achieved.
The accompanying document outlines the most basic framework of what is involved. This goal is not for everyone; the path is not for everyone. It is only for those committed enough to do what it will take, those not afraid of taking the path-less-traveled, those not averse to risk, and those who find hard work fun. Make no mistake; this is not the common voyage, this is not the easy path, and therein lies its value.
If you need help or advice along the way, we are here to help.
Sincerely,
Chris Grover cgrover@ussa.org
If you have access and permission to use materials that you think might be useful additions to this education section, please email them to Matt Whitcomb for review at mwhitcomb@ussa.org. It is our goal to keep these education materials up to date and pertinent to the needs of all of our USA athletes and coaches.
This Excel training planning document provides detailed instruction on building individual annual training plans for your athletes. You may manipulate this document or use it as is. To make changes, you will have to unprotect each worksheet. To do so, click "Tools", "Protection", and then "Unprotect Sheet". Please make the effort to get a professional training plan to every athlete on your team, beginning as early as age 12.
This Excel training log file is an effective way for athletes to record their daily data and to send it back to their coach each week via email. Weekly, monthly, and yearly totals are automatic. Mindful training is good training, and when athletes record their workout data with detailed comments following the session, training lessons are learned naturally.
The following document highlights the practices recommended by the U.S. Ski Team. Always consider the safety of the training session as a priority over the physiological benefits of the session.
This article and attached strength and power training plan were written by Zach Weatherford, former U.S. Ski Team cross country strength coach, and current USOC strength and conditioning coach. The essay and plan provide basic theory on strength training for the various phases throughout the training year.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has launched a cross country coaches Level 100 certification. This is the first level of a multi-level cross country-specific coaches education certification system. The curriculum is based on up-to-date practices used by the U.S. Ski Team in the quest for Olympic medals. The course material comes directly from the Team's coaches and several of their key partners. The rollout of the certification system will occur throughout the next several seasons, and course content will continue to evolve with the sport via updates to the manuals.
Visit the USSA Shop to purchase the Level 100 program manual.
This CD contains a push to disseminate technical information used by the National Team to the wider skiing public in the US. This CD may be purchased at the online shop.
If you have access and permission to use materials that you think might be useful additions to this education section, please email them to the Nordic Department for review at nordic@ussa.org. It is our goal to keep these education materials up to date and pertinent to the needs of all of our USA athletes and coaches.
DISABLED ALPINE FUNDAMENTALS DVD/CD
This DVD/CD is for:
- Anyone working with disabled skiers, including coaches and instructors
- Disabled athletes
- Anyone interested in the sport of disabled alpine ski racing
The DVD contains:
- Footage of USAST athletes preforming drills with detailed descriptions of each drill
- Extensive video of top US and international athletes racing and training
- Original music by US Alpine Ski Team member Bryon Friedman
The CD-ROM contains:
A written manual, drill outlines, and an outlione of the sport of disabled alpine ski racing created by the USDST staff
The tools in this DVD/CD will enhance the skills and understanding of anyone working with disabled athletes regardless of their teaching or coaching background. online store.
A Theory of Revolution: This DVD is a video guide to intermediate halfpipe moves, presented by the best riders in the world for your verbal, visual, and learning pleasure. This DVD may be purchased through the online shop.
Please check out the following website for Coaching Clinics and information.http://www.snowboardcoaching.org/
Please visit the Alpine Education page for information about training techniques and sport education for alpine ski racing.
Additional information for coaches is available in the Coaches section of our web site. Masters competitors may also find material of interest about training and medical topics in the Sport Science and Sports Medicine sections.
U.S. Ski Team's Recommended Reading List
