Update #4 from Joelle(Gold medal edition)

This season, we’re following the progress of a young ski racer from Canmore, Joelle Sevigny, in our Adopt-a-Skier program sponsored by Lifesport.

(If you would like to be brought up to speed, go back and read Update #1, Update #2. and Update #3)

My training and racing, right where I want to be!

In the last few weeks, I have been racing on the Alberta Cup circuit as well as in individual races such as the Lake Louise to Banff Loppet. From Drayton to the Bow Valley, I’ve worked hard, given my best and had lots of fun!

Recently, a friend has been given me tips about technique and it has been very helpful. We are currently working on my efficiency as well as strength. One of the new tools I am learning to use is the Ergometer, which stimulates what arms do in the classic technique. You can play with the resistance and improve your strength as well as tempo.

Throughout my training, I am constantly thinking about what I need to work on. No “trash skiing” is allowed. This is hard to do during races, as we tend to return to our old habits. However, when I skied the first leg of the Lake Louise to Banff Loppet, I had plenty of time to think about technique because it was 21 km and I had no pressure. I am slowly starting to feel the difference, as it is a gradual process, but I can especially feel it in my overall efficiency. By this I mean that with one movement I can go further without necessarily adding more strength or going faster.

In late January, the final exams at school took a lot of my energy therefore I wasn’t sure how well I would perform on my next set of races. Luckily, now that I am back from a great weekend of skiing in Edmonton on the Goldstick Park trail system, I am proud I could pull a second and a first place. On the biggest climb of the course towards the finish, I felt good and compared to usual, I was able to push over the top of the hill and gain a few more seconds. Right now I feel pretty confident for the rest of the season, “fingers crossed!”

Next Sunday, my family and I will travel to Golden for our first ever Huckleberry Loppet. Wish us luck!