FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CXC Minnesota Nordic Ski Coaches Association Meeting And Clinic

This past Saturday the Vasaloppet club house and trails in Mora, Minnesota hosted the 2008 Minnesota Nordic Ski Coaches Association fall meeting. CXC Ski Association and the US Ski Team were on hand to offer a coaches clinic following a very productive annual fall meeting. US Ski Team development coach Matt Whitcomb made the trip from Park City, UT specifically to work with the Minnesota State Coaches. The US Ski Team sent Whitcomb to build a stronger relationship between USSA and Minnesota High Schools, recognizing there are well over 3,000 student-athletes involved in Minnesota State High School skiing across over 100 schools. Whitcomb introduced the new USSA Coaches Certification program and endorsed the CXC Academy (cxcacademy.com) as a great method for coaches to educate themselves with up-to-date training plans and ski technique progressions for their teams.

Following his presentation, Whitcomb led a dryland/roller ski coaches clinic, offering the technique presentation towards USSA Level 100 certification. CXC Elite Team athletes Kristina Owen, Brian Gregg, and Garrott Kuzzy along with coaches Yuri Gusev, Bill Pierce and Scott Wilson were on hand to support Matt and demonstrate examples of correct (and not-so-correct!) technique and drills. Learning good ski technique is definitely a journey. Thanks to all the coaches that attended the meetings and to the 45 that stuck around for the coaches clinic! They demonstrated a true desire to learn and update their knowledge to the benefit their skiers and to foster a strong culture of skiing in Minnesota.