All About Ski Preparation

Caitlin Patterson Interview

Caitlin has 72 World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic starts. She has 19 podiums at the US Nationals and has won the US National Championships 7 times. Despite seeming to be a pure distance skier, she has two US National sprint titles showing that she is a true all arounder (and in both classic and skate). Caitlin has 12 individual World Cup top 30 results and was 4^th in Pyeonchang at the preolympic WC as well as 26^th in Pyeonchang at the OWG. Her brother is US XC Ski Olympian Scott Patterson. Caitlin is 30 years old and is clearly in the elite echelon of Nordic skiers in the history of the USA. Caitlin talks about the Green Racing Project and many aspects of her training.

Antje Harvey Interview

This is one of the most amazing and inspirational stories that I have ever heard. Antje Harvey grew up in former East Germany. As a 17 year old she finished 11th in the senior World Championships in Seefeld, Austria and won bronze in the relay after a very strong leg for the East German team. After the season, her coaches and their bosses cornered her and confronted her about her unwillingness to take performance enhancing drugs. She told them that she would not. They kicked her off the team and blackballed her from sport even going to the point of physically stopping her from winning a World Loppet race in the Czech Republic. So she retired from sport and went to school. Around when the wall fell she decided to go for it in Biathlon (different people in charge) and amazingly eventually won 1 individual gold and 3 silvers in the 1992 and 1994 Olympic games. Since then she moved to the United States and became a US citizen in 2000. I am very grateful to be able to call this amazing woman my wife.

Akeo Maifeld-Carucci Interview

Akeo Maifeld-Carucci is the 2019 American Birkebeiner Champion. He has been on the podium in multiple SuperTour races. Akeo studied at and skied for Harvard University and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He currently skis for the Green Racing Project where he can put his degree to work improving the efficiency of the heating systems on the Craftsbury campus. This interview discusses the mission of the Green Racing Project and Craftsbury Outdoor Center, his Birkebeiner exploits, as well as his emphasis in being well rounded as a person.

Bill Koch Interview

Bill Koch is the overall Nordic Ski World Cup Champion from 1982. He won the Olympic silver medal in 1976. He also won the Bronze World Championship medal in 1982. He was 3rd overall in the 1983 World Cup. The Bill Koch Youth Ski League was named after him. He was the flagbearer for the US Olympic team in 1992. Bill is a legendary pioneer and icon for US Nordic ski racing.

Ben Saxton Interview

Ben Saxton has finished on the podium 6 times at the US National Nordic Ski Championships including a win in 2019 in the US National Skate Sprint. He has 8 World Cup starts and 1 World Championship start. Ben skis for the Stratton Mountain T2 team. Ben is thoughtful and has a perspective beyond his years. Not only is he one of our country's fastest Nordic skiers but is also clearly a passionate fan of the sport.

Muffy Ritz Interview

Muffy was on the US Ski Team 1981-1984, has won the American Birkebeiner twice, holds the second fastest Race Across America time in history (the famous bike race which she did 3 times), has particpated in adventure racing at the highest level including the Eco-Challenge, has won 20 individual World Nordic Ski Masters medals over the past 10 years including 2 golds, and has completed adventures that most people only dream about (ski touring in Antarctica for example). Muffy is a uniquely inspiring person that anybody with a love for living actively and competing (on Nordic skis especially) should love to hear from. 

Barry Makarewicz Interview

Barry is a 59 year old 4 time individual World Masters Nordic Ski Champion. He has also won many big marathon events overall such as the Yellowstone Rendezvous and Snow Mountain Stampede. He has been on the Toko Tech Team for the past 20 years. This is a great opportunity to learn from Barry about how to ski fast and be fit and healthy later in life. At this he is pretty much the best in the world.

Erik Flora Interview

Erik has been the director and head coach of the APU team since 2006. He has coached 13 recent Olympians and coaches 8 members of the current US Nordic Ski Team. The discussion ranges from catering to athletes' individual needs, avoiding and managing injuries, and body maintenance and care.

Rosie Frankowski Interview

Learn about Rosie's non traditional route to 21st place in the 2018 Olympic games. There is more than one way to go from start to excellence. Rosie is a great example of that and continues to find her own way.

John Bauer Interview

John Bauer is a 12x US National Nordic Ski Champion and finished as high as 5th individually in World Championships. Amazingly as a 50 year old he finished 12th in the American Birkebeiner. Learn how he trains and approaches life, work, and family with such success.