Vermillion CC High School Nordic Racers Camp

by Mary Klein
July 30, 2004

Vermilion Community College High School Nordic Racers Camp was held July 25-29, 2004 at the college in Ely. Bryan Fish, Head Nordic Coach at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, a Division I School for athletics, coached the camp. He was assisted by Chandra Daw and Erich Ziegler, senior skiers for the Gustavus-Adolphus Nordic Teams. This dryland training camp taught the students new ways to train, as well as what is happening chemically in their body while they train. They learned what it takes to be a successful college skier and how it all must begin with a healthy mental attitude and focus. Those skiers hoping to ski beyond high school also had the opportunity to work with another college coach, another coaching style and he had the opportunity to see the talent and ability of the skiers as well.

There were 20 skiers registered, with 5 of them being Ely day campers, with the remainder joining us from all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. Jenna Klein, Kelly Chaudoin, Ali Schultze, Casey Sovil and Adam Shultz were the Ely skiers that participated in the camp.

The evaluations filled out by the students at the end of camp attested to its success. Ely has the perfect venue for a ski camp, with the facilities at the college, Hidden Valley and the Trezona Trail, all with in walking distance of each other. The campers loved Bryan and definitely want him back next year. They also appreciated all of the gifts in the vendor bag: Camp t-shirts, designed and donated by Pengal's Nordic Ski Shop, polar fleece neck warmers donated by Wintergreen, Nalgene water bottles donated by Piragis, Rex Green Wax donated by Finn Sisu in St. Paul, wax, cork and stickers donated by Swix, Wax sampler donated by Blue Sky (Fastwax), Wax donated by Holmenkol, stickers and pens and t-shirt donated by Atomic.

We are already planning the Third Annual High School Nordic Racers Camp for July, 2005!

Photoset:   45 photos from Mary Klein