North American Ski Training Center – Tahoe, CA

Category: Latest News

  • AMGEN Tour of California

    We were so excited to get front row seats to one of the most spectacular and prestigious cycling races – The AMGEN Tour of California.  It is considered cycling’s most important and successful stage race in the United States, and one of the most anticipated professional cycling races in the world.  This was the first time the tour has come to Lake Tahoe, the course changes every year and Lake Tahoe was added to this year’s event to increase the degree of difficulty and is to date the most challenging course that the tour has had. 

    The first stage of the tour included a start in South Shore followed by 1.5 laps around the lake and ending in Northstar.  Stage 2 was to start at Squaw Valley and end in Sacramento.  The Lake Tahoe community pulled out all the stops to welcome the tour, its athletes and spectators.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate.  After a week of balmy temperatures and lots of sunshine, there was a sudden spike in the temperatures and snowfall prevented the race from starting at either of its two Lake Tahoe locations.  There was much debate amongst officials of the tour as to whether the race should be cancelled, but the unpredictable weather this weekend posed a great risk to the riders’ safety.  AMGEN Tour of California officials said that Lake Tahoe would be considered again as one of the cities of the tour.  Let’s hope next time Mother Nature or Father Winter (whichever one is responsible ) doesn’t decide to rain (snow) on our parade.

  • Nutrition & Skiing

    We talk alot about physical training and how it is necessary for performance and longetivity in our sport and the important role it plays in injury prevention.  Another aspect of training that we tend to overlook is nutrition.  Nutrition has an equally important role in increasing performance, longevity and injury prevention.  With skiing our dietary habits change fwhether we are in Pre-season or Post-season and In-season.  We need to keep in mind how to fuel our body adequately to maximize the benefits.  One of the beliefs that works for me is “Clean Food,” this is my own title that I have given to minimizing processed foods out of my diet.  This has helped with monitoring my sugar and fat intake, if it is not naturally occurring sugar (like fruit or honey) then I don’t eat it.  Likewise with carbohydrates, if the grain is not in its natural state then I try to avoid it.  Thanks to spending the summer in Portillo last year, I now have a new appreciation for quinoa. Quinoa is an indigenous grain to Chile and they eat quite a lot of it.  When I am working out I try to increase my protein intake to help fuel muscle recovery, I try really hard to make sure that there is some source of protein in every meal that I eat.  Off-season nutrition is the easiest to manage – for me.  In-season nutrition I find is the hardest to manage.  As the temperatures drop we tend to crave those high in fat comfort foods.  The resort dining selections do not offer much in terms of healthy options.  I think the biggest mistake we make nutritionally during the season is the quantity and quality of how much we eat and how little we hydrate.  It’s easy to walk in to the resort’s cafeteria at lunch time, and grab a slice of pizza “because it’s quick,” or a burrito or a cheeseburger and fries – because your stomach is growling and these are the options that are put infront of you.  After wolfing down your food and soda, it’s hard to even think about going outside and skiing much less ask your body to perform optimally.  We don’t need to eat that much at lunch and we very likely need to double our intake of fluids (the hydrating kind).  The point is, we have to pay better attention to what we eat in season and off-season to solicit the best performance from our bodies, reduce our risk for injury and increase our longevity in the sport.  Consult a local nutritionist to put together a plan that is best for your body and needs.

    By Kim Mann – NASTC Trainer & Western Regional Team Member

  • Daydreaming about Portillo……..

    Counting down the days till we are in sunny and snowy Portillo.  That place is so much fun, it’s a wonderland for skiers.  If you like to ski and you like to have fun, this is where you need to go this summer.  We can hardly wait to ski under the brilliant blue Andean sky, miles and miles of terrain infront of us with the breathtaking Lago del Inca as a backdrop.  The skiing at Portillo is just downright fun, there is a level of challenge for everyone.  Even the thought of riding up the Rocajack or Cara Cara lifts make you want to chuckle.  Then there is the delicious food and of course dessert.  Portillo has some of the best ice cream around in unique delicious flavors like, Lucuma, Maracuja, Chirimoya, and Manjar.  And there is the ‘mil hojas’ cake that is sooo good.  It’s a good thing we ski everyday otherwise we’d be in trouble.  One of the fun things to do is hit the bar after dinner, when the band starts playing and watch the place go off.  If the band is particularly good, you will get people dancing on the tables, the windows will steam up and it’s a good time whether you jumping in on the action or just watching it.  Then there is the disco, which can be hit or miss, it kinda depends on the crowd.  Don’t miss out on La Posada if you want to an authentic cultural experience.  The bbq’s in the Posada are always a great way to start the night.  Everyone’s favorite spot is Tio Bob’s.  What is there to not love about this place.  When the sun is out, you can sit outside and take in the phenomenal view.  The salads up there are the best!  The best part about Portillo……the people!  Everyone is so friendly and you get to meet some of the nicest and coolest people.  You don’t miss summer one bit while you are there, if you do, just head down to the pool (it’s heated) or hot tub with a beverage and you’ll forget just about everything.  C-H-I….Chi L-E….Le, chi, chi, chi, le, le, le VIVA CHILE!

  • U.S Ski Team @ Portillo

    Great news!!  The U.S Ski Team is going to be in Portillo at the same time that NASTC will be there.  This is big!  How awesome will it be, to watch U.S skiing icons in action.  Talk about great visuals… 

    With the intimate setting of Portillo, there is a good chance that you can meet some of these guys and gals.  You may even find yourself on the exercise bike right next one of them, or sitting next to them in the pool or sauna.  It is inspiring to watch these athletes as their training, you can get right up next to the course and watch how they move into the turn and how they tip the ski and more.  The cool thing about it, is after you have that great visual in your head, you can turn around and ski it and the NASTC coaches will be right there next to you pointing out what to watch for and giving you feedback as you try to incorporate the same moves into your skiing.  It is an exceptional bonus to be able to watch these world class athletes training right infront of you. 

    See you in Chile!

  • Mammoth

    Just got back from a week down at Mammoth.  It is incredible how much snow there is over there.  Rather than walking down stairs to exit from the Gondola at the top of the mountain, you exit the building directly onto snow!  The sign that is normally 11ft plus at the top is buried except for the last two feet of it.  The skiing was incredible after it had softened up.  Thursday was the first day of skiing and a Western Regional Team training day.  The weather did not cooperate.  It was howling out, the snow never softened and it was overcast.  We spent most of the day on Chairs 10 & 2 until they closed the mountain at 3:00pm.  Friday was the first day of the PSIA-Western Division Annual Spring Convention, Although it was sunny, the temperatures never climbed high enough to soften the snow, the same was true for Saturday, though there was some good chalky snow on Dave’s, Dropout and Wipeout.  Sunday through Wednesday became progressively warmer and the overnight freeze with the daytime thaw created some really good corn snow.  Although lift access was limited we covered some terrain as everything was filled in.  Hangman’s is the easiest it had ever been.  The added bonus was being able to watch the “soon to be U.S Development Team” girls practicing and trying to earn a spot on the Dev Team.  Even though these girls were only 15 to 16 years old, they are ripping skiers and produce a good visual to hang onto.   You can stand right along side the training course and watch them go by, lap after lap.  After a great week down at Mammoth, no way are we ready to hang our skis up in the garage – we’re trying to figure out when is next time that we can get down there and do it all over again. 

  • One of the Best Days of the Year!

    The skiing out there is unreal!! Probably one of the best spring skiing days ever! Hands down.  The mountains are buffed out and smooth and the snow is just right.  Get out there and make some turns you will feel like rockstar.  You can go just about anywhere as the coverage is great and the conditions are so forgiving.  If you are backcountry buff, there is a gold mine out there – have fun!

  • The Swiss Machine

    Check out this video of Swiss alpinist, Ueli Steck a.k.a The Swiss Machine.  This guy is a genuine bad a**! It is always inspring to see athletes pushing the limits and breaking boundaries.  You have to admire their passion and determination.  The first video is of his record breaking ascent of the Eiger – 2hr 47min.  Note that he is free climbing, no ropes, just ice axes and crampons!  The second video is an interview with Ueli, how he prepares for his climbs and what drives him – pretty cool!

    Ueli’s latest achievement……On April 17, 2011 Ueli reached the summit of Shisa Pangma in 10.5 hours!!!  Read the article for more details.  http://www.examiner.com/climbing-in-national/ueli-steck-successfully-solo-climbs-shisha-pangma-8000-meter-peak-10-5-hours

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-dPjDYVKUY

  • A Great Article on Portillo

    Here is a great article that sums up the Portillo experience albeit it was written a few years ago.  The essence of what it is like to visit Portillo is difficult to capture as Portillo “hits” everyone differently.  http://www.everettpotter.com/2006/07/summer_skiing_i/

  • Zeb’s Most Recent Eastern Sierra Adventure

    Zeb’s Most Recent Eastern Sierra Adventure

    NASTC guide Zeb Blais at the top of East Peak, with Mt. Gibbs in the background

    Wind ripping across Dana Plateau and deposting snow on the eastern flanks of East Peak

  • What do you do when your ski day is rained out?

    You wanna go skiing but it is raining so miserably out, it is not even worth putting on your thermals.  Plan B?  Hit the gym!!
    How your ski season next year pans out is dependent on what you do in the off-season, which starts in the spring and runs through the fall.  This is the time to start working on the bottom level of the performance pyramid that Chris Fellows describes in his book Total Skiing.  Functional Movement takes place in multi-planes of motion with the use of multiple joints. These movements require the firing of multiple muscle groups in various positions, ranges of motion and varying intensity to achieve a common goal. They are both everyday activities/movements and sport specific movements.  By developing and training these movement patterns we not only gain greater stability and range of motion, we also gain longetivity.  Longevity is key for skiers, we want to survive our weeklong ski trips, make it through the season injury free,  be able to ski season to season as pain free as possible and continue to avidly particpate in the sport that we love even as we age. 

    Here are a couple of exercises to incorporate:
    World’s Greatest Lunge – move into a lunge position, place both hands to the inside of the forward foot and rotate your spine once to each side.
    Backwards Lunge – reverse lunge while raising the arm that is opposite to the leg you are stepping back
    Hand walks – reach down and touch the ground with your hands or fingertips, slowly walk your hands out till you are in a plank position, then begin walking your feet towards your hands
    Lateral lunge
    Iron cross     – begin by standing with both feet side by side, out stretch your arms to either side with thumbs pointing to the ceiling, next extend one leg behind you until your hips are parallel to the floor and maintain a flat back position.
    Knee hugs – take one step forward, and you swing through with your other leg bring it up to your chest, maintaining an erect spine and toes pulled up toward the knee, grasp your knee with both hands and maintain your planted leg straight and fire the glute to aid in stability. 
    Hip/knee rotations – raise one knee up and rotate it outwards, as if you were drawing a letter “C” in the air with your knee, repeat with the other leg and then reverse the rotation so that it is going inwards.
    90/90 stretch – lay on the floor on your side, take the upper leg and bend it at a 90 degree angle, keeping the other leg outstretched, hold your arms out in front of you then sweep your upper arm to the other side of your body so your arms form a “T” (follow the path of your hand with your head, depending on how much thoracic mobility you have you may not be able to touch your hand to the ground, though this is the goal).  Repeat with the opposite leg and arm.

    If you are starting out, it is best to start with lower reps and work into doing more.  5-7 reps is a good starting point.