You may have heard about a new NYSSRA Nordic club called the Hudson United Racing Team (“HURT”). HURT is the brainchild of Dave Kvam, a former Peru Nordic first-round draft pick who went rogue after learning that Jim Kobak was actually from New Jersey. Kvam recently stated, “I should have known because all of the signs were there! The guy’s house is littered with Jets and Overkill stuff! Weird!” 



Kvam looking rattled after learning about Kobak's origins.

Kvam formed HURT not only to thwart the Peru Nordic menace, but also to challenge the annoying over-achievers at NYSEF. Kvam started off by collecting an impressive roster of nordic vagabonds from the Southern Adirondack region. Then, in an effort to make HURT a true contender, Kvam approached TeamNJS with an offer to form an alliance.

After protracted and sometimes contentious negotiations, TeamNJS has officially decided to join the HURT effort.  TeamNJS will no longer be an independently sanctioned NYSSRA club, but will continue to exist as a division of the Hudson United Racing Team. Look for Farry, Diehl and South to be racing under the HURT banner this winter.      

To learn more about HURT, click here or follow the link on the left side of this blog.  

If you’re crazy enough to have read the “Nordic Training Primer” that I posted to this blog years ago, you probably think that I have a decent grasp on basic training philosophy. However, implementing this knowledge has proven to be quite a challenge. I thought I was doing the right mix of distance, strength and intensity work, but I really wasn’t seeing any improvement in overall performance.      

On Father’s Day, my wife and son surprised me with a Garmin Forerunner 305. I admit that I was skeptical at first. The thought of recording my workouts with detailed GPS and heart-rate data seemed cool enough, but I’m generally “reluctant” when it comes to new technology. I also didn’t want to become a slave to a heart-rate monitor (few things irk me more than techno-geeks with eyes glued to their heart-rate monitors). It was a gift (a very thoughtful gift), so I couldn’t let intimidation get the best of me. To avoid techno-geek temptation, I strapped the unit to my water belt and employed the “set it and forget it” method. 


The Garmin...          

During my first two weeks with the Garmin, I learned that the old-school “perceived exertion” method I had been relying on wasn’t working. I discovered that most of my workouts were in L3 territory, and my “easy distance” rollerski sessions were actually on the L2/L3 line. True L1 sessions accounted for less than 20% of my training, and my cardio efficiency had suffered accordingly. Unwittingly, the bulk of my workouts were too hard to gain efficiency at low intensities, yet at the same time too easy to gain efficiency at high intensities. This explained my general lack of improvement.   

My solution was to incorporate long, easy, and generally boring bike rides on the local rail-trails. This has corrected my L1 percentage and overall training balance. Another nice thing about the Garmin is that the data provides objective proof of improvement. I’ve learned that sometimes when a workout “feels” crappy, the Garmin data tells a totally different story. 

The purpose of this post was not to provide a lengthy review of the Garmin Forerunner 305 (there’s already a zillion of those on the web), but rather to offer my personal experience with the device. If you’re an old-school guy with enough technical competence to turn on a computer, then don’t let this technology intimidate you.         

For nearly two years, the Kia Spectra has been the unofficial official automobile of TeamNJS. While the Spectra isn’t as flashy as the Subaru AWD models sported by the USST, the little Korean has proven to be economical, reliable, fun to drive, and downright tenacious in the snow. 

A shot of the TeamNJS Spectras taken at the 2008 NENSA
Mountain Top rollerski race. 
 

For some time, rumors have persisted that a totally redesigned Spectra would be produced for the 2010 model year.  However, in a move that has taken TeamNJS officials completely off guard, Kia has decided to ditch the Spectra designation for a new and trendier name: Forté.

Kia Forte'???

TeamNJS was not consulted on the new name, and frankly, we couldn’t think of a more unfortunate moniker. As most nordic enthusiasts know, pole producer Exel applied the Forté name to its state-of-the-art carbon fiber models in the 1980’s. The poles were incredibly light and stiff for the era, but also proved to be rather fragile. 

TeamNJS founding father Jim South broke multiple Forté shafts, many of which simply snapped clean under the forces of his unholy poling technique. Replacing these broken poles caused a significant diminution of funds earned during South’s part-time career as a McDonald’s crew chief (money which could’ve been spent on a new Rubik’s Cube). Even worse, South experienced a devastating Forté shaft failure at the 1989 Empire State Games. 

Since the Spectra is still being sold by Kia, TeamNJS will continue its affiliation through the end of the 2009/2010 season.  However, TeamNJS is already working on securing a new unofficial official car sponsor for 2010/2011. 

By Jim South

Rumors abound that certain members of TeamNJS prefer rollerskiing to the “real thing.” Regardless of whether this statement is true, it’s clear that we love rollerskiing. Recently, Topher Sabot launched an interesting series of rollerski reviews on his FasterSkier.com website. Today’s installment featured models from Ski Skett (click HERE for the full review).

If TeamNJS had an official rollerski provider, it would probably be Ski Skett. Andy fell in love with their super-fast Cobra racing model, and then he talked me into buying a pair of Sharks. More recently, Andy bought a pair of Pursuit T6002 rollerskis from RollerskiShop.com that follow the same basic formula as our Ski Skett models (one-piece aluminum frame, 100mm wheels, standard “608” bearings).

Andy's super-fast Cobras.  The K2 poly wheels in this photo
replaced the Ski Skett originals (which all contained ratchets).        

A lot can be said about the virtues of rollerskis with 100mm wheels. Almost every rollerski manufacturer produces a model following this basic theme, and they tend to be quite inexpensive. This is because the basic hardware is shared with other, more common products. For instance, in-line skates and the popular “Razor Scooter” use virtually the same 100mm wheels and “608” bearings. Additionally, “608” bearings are found on skateboards and a wide variety of industrial applications. This commonality keeps costs down, and the huge selection of different wheels and bearings allows rollerskiers to perfectly dial in speed preferences.   

I have three sets of wheels and bearings for my Sharks. For training, I use “medium” speed rubber wheels and resistance bearings. For fun, I use harder compound “fast” rubber wheels with maintenance-free bearings from RollerskiShop.com. For racing, I use K2 polyurethane in-line skating wheels (85 durometer rating) with super-slick “Red Bones” skateboard bearings (seen in the photo below). Best of all, my total investment in all of this hardware is about the same as what it will cost me to purchase a new set of wheels for my Swenor Carbonfiber classical rollerskis (which, like most other rollerskis, use unique and expensive components).

My Sharks prepped for racing with K2 wheels.

The bottom line is that after considering factors such as utility, versatility, and cost of ownership, it’s hard to beat 100mm rollerskis. There are some drawbacks, though.    

A common criticism is that the aluminum frames used with most 100mm rollerskis tend to transmit harsh vibrations when used on rough surfaces. This is true to some extent, but in my experience, the wheels are more to blame than the frame. Since 100mm wheels are quite narrow (between 20mm and 24mm wide), they simply do not contain a lot of “tire compound” to absorb vibrations. However, I’ve found that the softer rubber compounds found in most “training” speed wheels do an admirable job of soaking up vibrations. On the other hand, harder polyurethane compounds can be punishing on rough surfaces. 

A new generation of 100mm rollerskis with carbon-composite frames is now available.   The carbon-composite frames promise a buttery and compliant ride while maintaining the overall versatility of the basic 100mm formula. These cost more than aluminum 100mm models, but are competitively priced when compared to other rollerski brands (such as V2 or Marwe). However, the use of inexpensive 100mm wheels and bearings should result in a much lower cost of ownership.

I think that Topher’s impression of the Ski Skett Shark was spot-on. He even noticed the weird non-linear feel of the Shark’s OEM resistance bearings (annoying at times, but this oddity actually forces you to ski efficiently to stay within the bearing’s “sweet spot”).  I'm looking forwad to Topher's next review...  
         
Toper Sabot's video review of the Ski Skett Shark.

Generally, TeamNJS pays little attention to athletic endeavors beyond those directly related to nordic skiing. Considering our grueling ski-focused regimen, we tend to have little time for “other” winter sports such as hockey. Because of this, some may be asking why the editorial board of TeamNJS has decided to endorse the Pittsburgh Penguins in this Friday’s winner-take-all Stanley Cup finale?

The answer is pure and blinding hatred for the Detroit Red Wings franchise. 


              TeamNJS says, "GO PENS"

Between 1979 and 1999, Detroit’s farm team, the AHL “Adirondack Red Wings,”  was located in TeamNJS’s home town of Glens Falls, New York. As the AHL expanded into big-city markets, it became obvious that little Glens Falls’ days as the home of the Adirondack Red Wings were numbered. As such, the citizens of Glens Falls accepted the fact that their beloved AHL team would someday move. However, they figured that when the time came, the move would be done with respect and dignity. 

During the course of the 1998/1999 AHL season, the Detroit organization made assurances that the Adirondack Red Wings would remain in Glens Falls for at least one more season. However, soon after that season’s final game, the Red Wings shamefully snuck out of Glens Falls in a middle-of-the-night move that made Art Modell’s diss on Cleveland look tame. There would be no fanfare of a farewell season for the Glens Falls faithful.

With that history in mind, TeamNJS throws its full support behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. May the Detroit Red Wings die a slow and painful death.         

Training for the 2009/2010 ski season has begun. Our own Professor Farry recently found himself with a somewhat lightened work load, giving him enough time to dust off the rollerskis and resume training in earnest.

As part of his grueling workout schedule, the good doctor has been a regular participant in UUSRS outings (“Unaffiliated, Unsanctioned Summer Rollerski Series”). The UUSRS is the brain child of Peru Nordic phenom Dave Kvam. Basically, Kvam has been organizing weekly rollerski training sessions for the nordically inclined. If you have rollerskis and detest Gunde Svan jokes, you’re invited.

Thus far, the UUSRS has attracted athletes from widely diverse backgrounds. For instance, the last UUSRS outing included members from Schenendehowa Nordic, Peru Nordic, and of course, TeamNJS. Despite the burning rivalries between these clubs, thus far UUSRS outings have been quite civil.


Scene from a recent UUSRS training session.

The UUSRS generally meets on Wednesday evenings. As the season progresses, expect some friendly rollerski races to enter the mix. If you’re interested, check out Kvam’s blog HERE.             

Overall, the 2008/2009 ski season was a huge success for TeamNJS. Pre-season training was highlighted by participation in the annual NENSA Summer Rollerski Series. TeamNJS entered all three races, and Andy Farry proved his mettle by posting respectable results amongst a stacked masters field.  Farry’s success irked a certain member of arch rival Peru Nordic, resulting in an abusive frenzy that reportedly caused the destruction of some high-end rollerski equipment.

Farry
 

Vicious rumors erupted asserting that Farry was racing on a set of top-secret wheels developed by NASA for the Razor Scooter company. However, after an impressive 4th place finish at Peru Nordic's “Sufferfest” race up Prospect Mountain, Farry’s prowess went from myth to legend. In a relatively short period of time, scrappy TeamNJS had earned the respect of the nordic world. 

Though details are sketchy, TeamNJS’s rollerski season results reportedly made an impression on the 2008 “Sufferfest” champion, nordic superstar Doug Diehl. High level talks ensued with Diehl’s agent that resulted in the talented athlete joining the TeamNJS phenomenon. Diehl’s acquisition resulted in a startling 50% increase in TeamNJS membership, instantly making the team a viable relay threat. Even better, it allowed TeamNJS to stick a thumb in the eye of Diehl’s former club, the menacing Peru Nordic squad.

Diehl
 

And then tragedy struck. TeamNJS founding member Jim South suffered a devastating shoulder injury that literally ended his ski season before it even began. Also, Diehl found himself hobbled with a serious injury just weeks after TeamNJS finalized his acquisition (TeamNJS has hired an attorney to investigate whether Peru Nordic knew about this injury prior to releasing Diehl to free market agency).   

Despite these setbacks, TeamNJS soldiered on to post some impressive finishes in NYSSRA competition. Particularly astonishing was the tenacity of Diehl who consistantly lead the team in spite of skiing injured.  At the close of the 2008/2009 ski season, TeamNJS members laid claim to a higher NYSSRA finishing average than arch rival Peru Nordic (though admittedly, Peru Nordic used mafia-style tactics to tromp TeamNJS in the overall point standings).

Professional draft of new TeamNJS logo 

It is anticipated that TeamNJS will post even greater gains during the 2009/2010 season. Reports from knowledgeable sources indicate that Diehl and South have battled through their injuries, and Farry is already working towards building on his prior success.