The Michigan Tech Nordic Skiing team is hoping to start their season with a scrimmage against Northern Michigan University on Dec. 7 at the Swedetown trails in Calumet. The team has been busy training for the upcoming season, beginning a few weeks later than last season. Their training consists of one to two sessions per day with one rest day each week. The training includes both strength training in the gym as well as a lot of running in order to build a strong aerobic foundation. To practice in the offseason, the team uses roller skis to train in a fashion that allows them to simulate cross country skiing during the warmer months.
The team will be able to put their training to use in a scrimmage just before finals week against the Northern Wildcats at the Swedetown trail system, just outside downtown Calumet. The race is a 7.5K freestyle race and will be the first race held at Swedetown for the season. The race is dependent on snow conditions and will be a good opportunity for all the skiers to test themselves before the season starts a week later.
The team’s next competition will be after finals at the Gitchi Gami Games in Cable, WI. This six day event includes the U.S. Ski & Snowboard SuperTour and the Salomon CXC cup with Tech’s skiers competing on Saturday Dec. 14, Sunday Dec. 15, and Tuesday Dec. 17.
The team has good leadership, with many seniors who are looking to finish their college career strong according to Graduate Assistant Coach Cédric Keller. The team is full of accomplished athletes and is hopeful that the incoming freshmen will continue that success.
