tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88214841757008659062011-11-09T18:36:53.576-09:00XC Ski Racing, Health, & Outdoor Adventures...skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.comBlogger1201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-29469159156126516002011-06-06T12:25:00.008-08:002011-06-07T05:25:11.391-08:00

For quite some time I have wanted to travel to ski with the youth in rural villages of Alaska. This spring, the dream came into fruition!With the support from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, the Tanana Chiefs Conference, inspiration from the former "Ski Go" program (organized by Jennifer/Merrick Johnston & Marcy Baker), and gear donations from AMH, Rossignol, and private donors;

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-34049532030787800822011-05-22T20:27:00.015-08:002011-07-02T20:18:23.052-08:00

Jumping between hay bales, catching fireflies with cousins, and going on hay-rack-rides fill my childhood memories in the great state of Kansas. My mom, dad, brother and I used to road trip in a VW van from Alaska to Kansas in the summer to spend time with my extended family. Visits back have become less frequent in recent years but FINALLY this spring I got the chance to spend time to

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-43078642934347618392011-05-05T17:44:00.008-08:002011-05-05T18:04:49.168-08:00

Since crust skiing in the mountains is my absolute favorite activity, I wanted to share a few shots from skinny ski outings in AK this past spring.Portage glacier area was primo this year. Blue skies, blue glacier, and sparkling crusty snow.The Patrick StinsonatorHe tries not to tell anyone, but he still does tele too... Hbrooks and I on our ski over to Blackstone Bay. On skinny skis and perfect

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-68674153841897576762011-04-28T14:09:00.006-08:002011-09-07T14:24:16.709-08:00

Join us at our spring fundraiser! This will be a fun event and the proceeds will be used to help offset the travel, baggage fees, and room/board for high level racing. Here is a preview of some of the items you can come to bid on: * Ski trip to Ultima Thule Lodge, Wrangell-St. Elias * Hawaiian Vacations * 4-course meal for six cooked by 6 members of the APU girls teams & boys teams *

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-77607577772367512512011-04-28T13:39:00.002-08:002011-04-28T13:48:48.556-08:00

One of the most beautiful, quickest, and underutilized get-aways in Anchorage is ocean mudflats and marshlands. And there's rarely a soul down there....maybe because it can be a perilous place if you aren't aware of which areas are safe, the status of the tides, mud, ice, open hours of the Rabbit Creek rifle range, or access points. But if you check the stats and keep astute, there's nothing

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-14529118883991288732011-04-20T13:37:00.013-08:002011-05-01T21:30:25.370-08:00

One of my new favorite xc ski ventures this spring was up Mt. Susitna, or "Sleeping Lady". Susitna is one of the most recognizable mountains from Anchorage, although with a relatively remote starting point and long approach not many attempt this ski. We took the long gradual route up the "North Ridge" along sleeping ladies back.Tamra Kornfield (above with GPS in hand) put together this trip

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-72715635407775976342011-04-06T09:08:00.003-08:002011-04-06T09:18:29.626-08:00

Most mountain bikers in AK know that Johnson Pass is a great ride in the summer/fall. But it can be just as incredible in the winter months too.Apparently snowmachines are allowed to ride every other year on Johnson Pass and alternating years on Resurection. Since this year is a snowmachine year on Johnson Pass, the track was packed down solid enough for a fat-wheeled winter bike. Thanks to Holly

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-50784610406787518182011-03-20T10:25:00.010-08:002011-03-22T09:43:35.539-08:00

Well, these times they are a changin'...My life is in a period of transition as I am prepare to begin graduate school this spring. To give you an idea, I recently sold my car and had my last day of coaching for APU....unless I can manage to do some fill-in sessions in the future.Here's Angela and Joanna cutting up their gourmet cake they brought to share after practice on my last day of the APU

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-7990462799345803242011-03-16T01:35:00.006-08:002011-03-16T09:46:57.182-08:00

Part of the reason I was able to stay injury free throughout my skiing career was due to the support and advice of two of my mentors and supporters, Joy Backstrum and Katie Piraino of The Physical Therapy Place, LLC. They were able to pick up on my muscle imbalances and show me how I could work to fix them, which coincidentally helped me correct corresponding struggles in my skiing technique

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-25362850323442274402011-03-09T23:21:00.025-09:002011-03-10T23:08:38.940-09:00

I don't think I will ever be able to get enough of spring skiing in Alaska. Powder, groomed trail, crust, snowmachine trails, or sastrugi... it seems like there's a fun and freeing way to experience it all. With increasing daylight, the exploration routes through the mountains, trees, and river systems seem endless. And I feel like I have barely begun to tap into what is possible.Here are some

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-90361257074825864892011-03-09T15:21:00.016-09:002011-04-28T13:39:11.844-08:00

One of the most beautiful, quickest, and underutilized get-aways in Anchorage is ocean mudflats and marshlands. And there's rarely a soul down there because it can be a perilous place if you aren't aware of which areas are safe, the status of the tides, mud, ice, or open hours of the Rabbit Creek rifle range. But if you check the stats and keep astute, there's nothing that beats instantly

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-63898966783086217492011-02-14T14:43:00.016-09:002011-02-15T23:34:55.935-09:00

Wow, it seems as though quite a lot has happened since my last update at US National Championships!The biggest news is that I will get to become a student at University of Utah's doctorate of Physical Therapy program, which is my top choice for grad school! I will begin the 3 year program in May and I am psyched!I realize an update is long-overdue, but Im going to touch on some of the highlights

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-85300434815544751342011-01-06T17:30:00.013-09:002011-02-14T14:41:06.930-09:00

Hello APU Devo, Junior skiers, and Parents,The racing season is in full swing and we have APU skiers racing well all over the map! We may be in many different places racing at various levels, however we are ALL part of the same team-- doing incredible things in the pursuit of the fabulous sport of skiing.I thought that a great way to stay connected and support each other would be to implement a

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-29526820659310000272011-01-06T04:47:00.017-09:002011-02-17T23:43:44.522-09:00

The classic distance races kicked off here in Rumford, Maine. I can't help but brag about my teammates, since they took 1st and 2nd in both the mens and women's races and had many outstanding performances off the podium too.Women's podium: Morgan Smyth (APU), Sadie Bjornson (APU), Morgan Arritola (US Ski Team/SVSEF).It was Sadie's first National Championship (Kris Dobie photo). A little known

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-71633800842058734452011-01-04T16:01:00.019-09:002011-02-11T13:05:48.748-09:00

Our team chemistry this year has exceptionally fun and positive which has made training, traveling, and racing very enjoyable. As a whole, the team's results have also been outstanding. One of my teammates wrote about this very thing and explained it quite elegantly. I wanted to share it with you."The APU girls team definitely has something special right now. I've been trying to boil it down,

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-76653151610631789572011-01-04T15:16:00.003-09:002011-01-05T16:48:46.004-09:00

It was a phenomenal day for our women's team on the first day of US National Championships in Rumford, Maine. Teammate Holly Brooks came home with her first National Championship title and Morgan Smyth, Sadie Bjornsen, and myself were the next three Americans! As training buddies and very close friends, we were all ecstatic to get to excel together at a high level.Morgan Smyth, Holly Brooks,

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-22532551079815447832010-12-31T20:03:00.008-09:002011-01-05T16:52:05.746-09:00

I suppose its time to put up a blog post when I hear through my teammate that a junior skier approached her saying, "Katie hasn't updated her blog since November 25th! Tell her she needs to post again soon!"A Silver Star in Silver Star, BC. An HBrooks photo.Sometimes I feel as though there's so much higher-quality ski-racing media out there, so I push posting to the back-burner. But when I get

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-6088120134868972392010-11-25T13:26:00.037-09:002010-12-07T07:10:42.577-09:00

The past couple weeks "on the road" have included racing, pig noses, deck jumping, and landing in nordic ski heaven. On the racing front, I want to start off by bragging about my talented teammates. On each of the race days I had something to be excited about, regardless of my own results, because it was inspiring to see the friends I've trained with all year kill it!Here's Kate Fitz, coach

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-45562154597566148672010-11-22T12:28:00.028-09:002010-11-23T09:14:21.489-09:00

We have made our annual pilgrimage out to West Yellowstone and are excited to be here and get the racing season underway! Skiing and racing in West, or "Jellystone", is a tradition for a large portion of the American Nordic skiing community this time of year. Similar to everyone else out here, we are psyched to try out the gear of the new season, get in some k's in good tracks, and test our

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-78758849325214577582010-11-10T22:55:00.017-09:002010-11-22T21:14:49.586-09:00

If you want to be inspired, check out this video of Joan Benoit Samuelson and her brave move to become the first Olympic gold medalist in the women's marathon.When I first saw this video years ago I had to watch it a couple times because it made me eager to give my best to training and racing. And somehow, through my racing travels and pursuits I found myself receiving generous hospitality at

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-48675725889946526482010-11-01T10:38:00.002-08:002010-11-01T10:58:28.249-08:00

I am proud to announce that Northern Fruit Company will continue as my financial sponsor for the 2010-2011 racing season! I feel honored to represent a company that promotes health and encourages community development as much as Northern. The Northern Fruit Co. is located in Wenatchee, Washington, and is committed to providing customers with the highest quality of fresh fruit. At Northern they

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-48797301970753351952010-10-31T19:47:00.011-08:002010-11-01T08:44:45.267-08:00

It was a very happy halloween up at Hatcher Pass this morning! HBrooks, Bjornsenator, Kikkanimal, Smythski and Ronski. Goofy girls psyched to have just done a 2.5hr SKI!Thanks to Mark for the great grooming (An H.Brooks pic from yesterday).The "Thing with Wings" Randall flying on her 1 pole drill. We all can't wait to fly, really. The racing season is less than a month away. Bring it on!

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-78812738471277213782010-10-27T22:56:00.009-08:002010-10-28T08:07:25.360-08:00

The snow in the mountains has been teasing us....there's a nice dusting although there hasn't been enough to nordic ski just yet. As the dusting has crept its way down, so has our rollerskiing. Not the intensity or duration-- just the altitude, so we can use the least icy roads! Here is a 4x(45", 60", 90" L5 double poling) workout we did yesterday in the former gravel pit.For my relatives who

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-45554494162890704782010-10-20T23:11:00.008-08:002010-10-21T15:19:12.351-08:00

This fall I had the perfect opportunity to mix up my typical routine. I did some altitude training with the US and Canadian National ski team members, spent some much anticipated time with my bf, and explored some extraordinary places. This training camp and change in scenery was perfect in every way and is exactly what I needed to feel prepared, motivated, and excited to start the new ski racing

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-22026260287757793112010-10-07T10:46:00.020-08:002010-10-07T17:48:01.494-08:00

The ski season is approaching quickly, so it's about time to revive the blog! Before I launch into my recent travel and training adventures, I want to quickly recap the second half of summer.In short, I got to train and play outside to my hearts content. We had a record breaking 31 consecutive days of rain, but as an athlete, coach, and fisherwoman, I feel like I got to make the most of every

Katie Ronssehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900213697305506573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-54384647703081950472010-07-01T22:31:00.030-08:002010-07-18T17:13:56.033-08:00

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and shouting 'WOO HOO what a ride!'"This moto comes to mind as I think about this past week.I decided to take the opportunity to go out to western Alaska this July work as a

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-77412790178099246822010-06-28T00:20:00.017-08:002010-06-29T12:44:05.490-08:00

It's hard to believe that June has come and is nearly gone already. Highlights from the past 30 days include skiing on Eagle glacier, coaching the Junior athletes at the Girdwood "Death" Camp, racing up Bird Ridge, and ski-touring above Prince William Sound. The name of the game up at the Thomas training facility on Eagle was: eat, ski, eat, sleep, eat, ski, eat, sleep, repeat. For those of you

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-56208013769361650222010-05-25T14:25:00.008-08:002010-06-04T11:35:22.674-08:00

"Wilderness rowing is far more than sport to me; it has been a conduit to knowing and trusting myself. It is my way of being, of thinking, of seeing. My rowing has taken me north and pushed me to explore my own horizons. In the process, rowing has evolved from something I do to some way that I am." -- Jill Fredston in her book, "Rowing to Latitude".For me, cross-country skiing has been the

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-37169376176066726452010-05-25T12:26:00.006-08:002010-05-25T12:59:36.914-08:00

Our APU Elite Team fundraiser was an absolute success-- THANK YOU to everyone who donated their time, money, and/or goods which helped us surpass our fundraising goals! We raised over $65,000 including the generous match from the University. We will use this money wisely when traveling to competitions and for costs associated with making sure the Thomas Training Center on Eagle Glacier will be

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-70522175436431116612010-05-02T20:37:00.009-08:002010-05-03T14:34:06.942-08:00

You're invited to the APU Nordic Ski Center Celebration & Fundraiser benefitting the Competition Fund May 4th, 2010 7-9p.m. APU Atwood Center Hors d’oeuvres, desserts, drinks will be provided. If possible, please RSVP to Phyllis Gross at pgross@alaskapacific.edu or at (907) 564.8250.This is a free event. Your donations are tax exempt and we hope you'll consider joining us and contributing to

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-66415143217372760582010-04-23T08:41:00.012-08:002010-04-23T16:13:33.720-08:00

April is here! In Alaska, this means blissful, scenic skiing of all types if you're a skiing fanatic and just can't get enough... Kikkan gets after it on Alpine skis too. This woman was destined to win World Cup medals on skis, no matter the variety she would've chosen. Matt Johnson, my childhood ski buddy and lifelong friend, about to make a descent of the "Headwall" look smooth and easy.It's

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-87555373788177803092010-04-22T10:09:00.003-08:002010-04-23T15:47:32.276-08:00

The 2009/2010 racing season concluded with 3 back-to-back races in the Supertour Finals in one of the most northern areas of Maine. Since I had been living and racing on the road for the past 4+ months I knew I would be best prepared to race well if I went into the final races mentally and physically fresh. So, in my time between the European circuit and heading to the racing venue, I got a

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-89025185194259455422010-03-21T10:58:00.021-08:002010-03-25T13:47:23.571-08:00

The final weekend of the European "OPA" Cup tour brought us to Rogla, Slovenia. We were greeted by a massive blizzard and strong winds in the first several days so we spent got to spend spend some time trudging through the snow. Here's the Spanish team coaches shoveling a path to get to the door of their wax trailer. We stayed in cabins near a mall-like hotel that had everything from polka

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-5869210559734471372010-03-11T03:18:00.020-09:002010-03-17T08:24:44.468-08:00

I joined up with additional American skiers and coaches after the Swiss Cup races and made our way over to the Savoie Grand Revard region in southeastern part of France. Here is part of our racing squad after training. Many of us hail from different club teams from around the country but we are combining forces to represent the USA as one team while abroad. Caitlin Compton and Becca

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-61169252388561707392010-03-04T05:19:00.006-09:002010-03-04T08:30:54.177-09:00

I am a fan of using skiing to provide opportunities, especially when it involves checking out new places, networking, and expanding my understanding of how the world operates. Last week was memorable in all of these ways so I am going to share more photos and experiences.Erik Bjornsen in Feutersoey with a block of Rene's homemade cheese (see my last post for more). Feutersoey is near an

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-8472618654299107632010-03-01T06:47:00.020-09:002010-03-03T11:03:38.485-09:00

Hallo from Swizerland! I met up with the Methow Olympic Development Team and a few other American skiers and I have been having the time of my life seeing new sights, learning about Swiss culture, and using skiing as my mission in mind. Marshall Greene, Erik Bjornsen, Sam Naney, Sadie Bjornsen, Katie Ronsse, and Noah Hoffman outside our home base in Urnerboden. Scott Johnson has been our coach

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-22735593227255263952010-02-24T07:22:00.016-09:002010-02-26T07:47:26.782-09:00

After the World Cup races in Canmore, I made my way over to Silver Star to get in a mid-winter training camp, and cheered on my teammates and friends at the Olympic venue before heading over to Europe. I will see how many photos I can upload right now since my time on the internet is limited. Women's sprint heat in Canmore. Silver Star always seems to impress me-- I can always depend on plenty

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-47477733182711771292010-02-04T07:38:00.024-09:002010-02-20T17:44:27.685-09:00

I've spent the past week in the nordic skiing paradise of Canmore, Alberta preparing for the pre-Olympic World Cup races. This is just my second World Cup experience, both as an athlete and a spectator, and I'm fired up to be here. The sunshine, warmth, and perfect tracks make it easy to enjoy the preparation process. In times like these I forget about all the days I spent rollerskiing on busy

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-48848494698328769052010-01-21T07:50:00.005-09:002010-01-31T12:57:50.639-09:00

I have set up my upcoming travel schedule which is aimed at soaking up opportunities and getting in as much high level racing as possible. I hope gain experience traveling and racing abroad and improve my points in a season before World Championships. Here is my proposed schedule: ***********************************************************************Anchorage, AK (USA): training block (Jan 20-

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-35757784667099332532010-01-19T20:24:00.046-09:002010-01-21T08:17:44.120-09:00

The Supertour circuit continued last weekend in the beautiful Methow Valley of Washington. The weekend featured a 1.3k sprint and distance classic race. The final sprint result couldn't have been better as far as Wenatchee's Northern Fruit Co. is concerned. Laura Valaas (right) and Katie Ronsse (left) are the Northern Fruit Co.'s sponsored athletes who finished 1-2 respectively in the sprint

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-756137217368243052010-01-16T14:53:00.005-09:002010-01-18T13:22:35.189-09:00

I made it home in time for the holidays and US National Championships after concluding our 5 week early season race circuit in Canmore, AB. After my first sprint heat of the championships Peter Valaas asked me, "Katie, were you smiling during your race?" I told him I certainly wasn't trying to smile, but I probably did have a huge grin plastered to my face because I was having so much fun. Here

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-23849653273033390422009-12-17T11:49:00.027-09:002009-12-21T10:49:54.112-09:00

Last weekend we were in SilverStar, BC for the Canadian Olympic Trials/NorAm Cup and I raced to my first podium finish of the season! It was a very exciting day of racing where Holly Brooks and I had a photo finish for 2nd place in the final heat before we collapsed in exhaustion. Placing is determined by who's toe crosses the line, regardless of who's head or body crosses first. I am the skier

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-26269401783585178212009-11-24T14:31:00.036-09:002009-12-01T16:31:33.870-09:00

Our season kicked off this past weekend with a classic prologue, a 10k/15k skate, and a 5k/10k classic. Almost all of the top Canadians and Americans were present and the competition was fierce since there are a lot of athletes vying for a coveted Olympic berth. Mike Hinkley (APU Nordic Ski Center, #166) and Sylvan Ellefson (Vail Ski Team, #165) flying up a hill towards the finish of the

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-29501364462149571342009-11-24T14:31:00.015-09:002009-11-25T15:31:41.789-09:00

The North American ski racing circuit season gets underway tomorrow in West Yellowstone, MT. My teammates and I have each put in hundreds of hours of training so far this past summer and fall and we're looking forward to putting our skills to the test. We're making the final preparations for competition, which includes getting the race boards ready to go. This year I am traveling with a fleet

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-50768331764901782972009-10-29T23:33:00.003-08:002009-10-29T23:45:02.093-08:00

There is skiing at Glenn Alps! The above photo is courtesy of Wrecka. These early season days on snow remind me of why I love being a skier.

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-11693250893587656332009-10-27T17:25:00.015-08:002009-10-27T19:36:14.105-08:00

I realize CXC's Brian Gregg recently reported a black bear sighting in his local grocery store, but I also had a bear sighting in my local store-- a Nordic bear! I was psyched. Stopping at the Carrs on Huffman for a photo opp midway through an evening run is cool, right? Wenatchee, Washington's Northern Fruit Company, is my Gold Level Sponsor that helps me pay the bills. They also provide the

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-2220158253148034882009-10-22T21:19:00.013-08:002009-10-27T19:41:12.353-08:00

One of the key components of training and recovering well is nutrition. Of course, everyone knows a balanced diet rich in whole grains, vitamins, and minerals is undeniable. But athletes have specific nutritional needs to get the most out of training and recover quickly.I've been keeping my engine running smoothly and have been absorbing my highest training load ever in the past year with the

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-89325898525777928702009-10-01T13:38:00.016-08:002009-10-01T14:09:52.815-08:00

I am proud to announce my newest sponsor, The Physical Therapy Place, LLC. This is an exceptional clinic that specializes in orthopedics and woman's health. Their support will help cover my travel expenses this winter-- begining with getting me to the Olympic qualifying races. Joy Backstrum (L) and Katie Pirano (R) are the outstanding PT's at The Physical Therapy Place. They work with their

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-89490798173878468902009-09-29T19:35:00.008-08:002009-09-30T12:42:57.827-08:00

The crisp fall days bring more rollerskiing time trials to the table as we transition from dryland training into the ski season. We capped off a 7-week training block by r-ski racing out at Kincaid park. I always think its more exciting and enjoyable to do a hard effort with a bib on my back and family and friends out there cheering! Here's the lead pack of guys circling through a pace-line.

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-73319350996882886862009-09-20T17:53:00.025-08:002009-09-20T23:06:11.407-08:00

Here are 10 steps from a novice bee keeper on how to harvest honey in Alaska:Step #1: Ship a coveted Queen Bee and thousands of her attendants up from a farm in the Pacific Northwest. Step #2: Supply a 'bee'fitting home for the Queen and sit back and enjoy the beautiful summer while her crew goes to work. The Queen will lay her eggs, the lady worker bees will pollinate flowers, collect nectar,

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-57961933031617063892009-09-15T22:27:00.026-08:002009-09-16T12:54:46.971-08:00

As I was rollerskiing, a car packed full of kids came speedily swerving through the neighborhood. One of the boys in the back seat climbed out of the window and yelled an unkind obscenity in my direction.I gave the passengers in the car a glare and thought, "I did nothing to deserve that comment." I was annoyed with these strangers. And for some reason I felt empowered to do something that

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-68107991736973783522009-09-09T22:19:00.029-08:002009-09-30T11:34:15.500-08:00

My entire summer was incredible, although the extended weekend I spent in Bristol Bay stands out as the absolute highlight. I realize this post is out-dated and not skiing related, but the experience was too incredible not to share with family and friends. The Libby's greeted me in the rustic western city of Dillingham, AK and we made our way down to Ekuk beach. I was soaking up being back in

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-29369849617694292542009-09-01T21:51:00.007-08:002009-09-02T11:08:18.417-08:00

Here is some info on The Pre-“Skison” Primer I am putting on for the ladies of South High who can't wait for the ski season to start! These are free events. Please contact me at katie_ronski(at)hotmail.com if you still need a waiver to sign up!Tentative Schedule (subject to change):Thursday, September 3rd – Meet in front of Kincaid ChaletBring: running shoes, water, and snack (especially if you

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-12841243226746339322009-08-30T21:46:00.013-08:002009-08-31T01:06:41.410-08:00

I realize that an increased level of dedication to a sport doesn't always correspond to getting better results. Results can oscillate, plateau, improve and even temporarily decline at times-- trust me, I know! It's most rewarding when results ascend after persistent hard work, which is something I truly appreciate after experiencing the contrary. We have another "testing" week coming up where

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-71975066459788708562009-08-24T14:53:00.009-08:002009-08-27T22:33:23.442-08:00

If you need an extra incentive to get active on your lunch break, come join me Wed, Aug 26th for a walk from The Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center at 12:15. We will walk a 1.5 mile loop from ANHC and I will be there to offer advice and support for anyone interested in getting started on a more rigorous exercise routine. Everyone is welcome to join us!ANHC is a clinic that offers primary care

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-25596422738891180552009-08-24T10:05:00.013-08:002009-08-24T22:46:23.782-08:00

I have accrued several photos in my Nordic bear t-shirt through the summer, so I thought I would share a few with you and concurrently show my appreciation for the Northern Fruit Co.'s support. Taking an apple break in between training sessions on Eagle glacier. Our groomed ski trails are in the background. Learning to unicycle. Gardening. Our back yard black bear and me pretending to be

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-42182715512681584972009-08-09T15:42:00.005-08:002009-08-09T18:04:22.965-08:00

All the pre-glacier preparations have been made and we are looking forward to another week of on snow training on Eagle. The coaches do an immense amount of work on the machinery and facility, but each of us athletes also help out to make the camp a success. Prior to each camp we make a gigantic Costco run, pick up donated bread and bagels from Europa and AK Bagel Factory, box everything up,

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-32828883644705522402009-08-05T09:13:00.026-08:002009-08-05T20:38:07.136-08:00

Symphony Lakes valley-- a beautiful photo thanks to the artistic talent of my life-long buddy, Miss Anna Barnwell.Jesse Carlstrom on his way toward the Flute Glacier. Jesse's is a great adventure buddy because he's up for glacier chasing-river crossing-talus scrambling running adventures, he brings chocolate, and rolls with the moto that "every good adventure involves bush whacking". Skier or

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-51166722496818404472009-07-27T21:34:00.028-08:002009-07-28T15:50:21.297-08:00

Flora and Strabel- our innovative, hard-working coaches ready to saddle up and chase around the skiers on the snow machine. Laura Valaas skiing strong and getting video taped by the Erik-Eric snow machine duo. The footage we get from this type of taping is invaluable for technique video analysis sessions. Plus, it's fun to pretending you're leading a world cup race when video cameras are

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-21376885661239398652009-07-10T23:33:00.015-08:002009-07-12T14:59:42.752-08:00

I realize I've been been negligent about updating my blog in the past weeks. This bespeaks of the difficulty I've had in spending my spare time in front of the computer screen when it's nice outside rather than the number of stories and experiences I would like to share.So, what have I been up to in the past 6 weeks? Here are a some stats and pics from several of my summer excursions thus far.

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-67501788929128784012009-06-11T13:36:00.013-08:002009-06-12T09:08:29.534-08:00

Last week I got a chance to help out at the APUNSC Junior team's "Death Camp". This rigorous training camp was inspired by the "Death Camp" that many of the former East High athletes still speak of fondly. Props to our energetic junior coaches, Holly Brooks and Charlie Renfro, for making it happen. The lovely ladies.The camp kicked off with a 21k rollerski from Indian to Girdwood, AK. For many

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-75367826052339112082009-05-31T13:41:00.006-08:002009-05-31T20:35:01.220-08:00

Callie, Mom, and Coda watering down the garden and yard so that we can enjoy the reap the fruits of their labor later this summer and fall. The Fitz getting in a lot of quality base training this spring --and lookin' good in the process-- so that she can expect to see the fruition of her hard work later this year.Just it takes initial work to get the garden growing, the spring is also a time to

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-27774400222069854082009-05-06T16:44:00.011-08:002009-05-07T16:12:32.226-08:00

I am proud to announce that Northern Fruit Company will be my new sponsor! Northern Fruit Co. is located in Wenatchee, Washington, the apple capital of the world, and is committed to providing customers with the highest quality of fresh fruit. At Northern they grow and ship over 1 million boxes of the best apples, cherries, and pears to over 40 countries each year. As a Nordic skier with

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-46702279349204184272009-05-04T14:24:00.013-08:002009-05-05T19:48:30.188-08:00

WHAT: My fabulous friend, Heather Zimmerman, will be running and biking for 48 consecutive hrs.WHY: To raise money for the development of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, supporting the Central Asia Institute.WHEN: This weekend, Friday May 8th- Sunday May 10th.WHERE: The American Birkibeiner trail in northern Wisconsin.GO HEATHER! WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!See http://hzimm.wordpress.com/

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-50931746397483493422009-04-29T07:30:00.018-08:002009-04-30T12:00:11.929-08:00

I've grown up skiing in AK, but last week was my first time skiing out to the Spencer Glacier. One of my favorite things about this state is the endless possibilities for exploring new places. Bart checking out an ice berg on Spencer Lake. Apparently the glacier has been receding at an accelerated rate. Glacier blue and APU blue. Bart getting a little extra balance practice inside the slick

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-8296622641063615812009-04-26T17:46:00.017-08:002009-05-01T20:31:54.663-08:00

Tomorrow marks the first day of the new year--for xc ski racers. The coming week includes May 1st, which is traditionally the time when skiers start doing a little more intensity after having the opportunity to take a mental and physical break from training and racing. By this time of year, we've also had the chance to analyze the previous season, write down new goals, and map out what needs to

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-88554586614480690572009-04-25T15:52:00.021-08:002009-04-25T22:50:54.970-08:00

With nights below freezing and clear days the crust has been immaculate in the early mornings at Placer Valley. Crust skiing in the mountains is one of my favorite activities of all time. Just about every time I go, I am constantly reminded why I LOVE to ski. For those of you who have never been crust skiing and can't grasp my enthusiasm toward this blissful sport, imagine this: it's like

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-51196767486842549582009-04-22T14:00:00.013-08:002009-04-26T09:41:04.152-08:00

Bentley and I soaking up the sun in Loma Linda, California. Ronsse vs. Bently vs. Libby Medusa? Janelle on our Easter Sunday ride. Justin Libby waxing up one of the boards pre-surf-sesh. I spend most of my time in the the nordic racing microcosm, so it was fascinating for me to get to spend time learning about the world of water sports. Even though surfing and nordic skiing are entirely

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-29012661351816931092009-04-07T10:10:00.016-08:002009-04-10T11:22:54.493-08:00

The racing season culminated in Fairbanks recently. I'm soaking up every opportunity I have to do non-nordic specific things that I love to do, during our 3 week stint from structured training. Here are a few photos from recent tele skiing adventures.About to descend Corn Biscuit (Turnagain Pass) Clint the climber skinning up Magnum (Turnagain Pass) CXC's Andre and Brian beginning the climb up

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-51552591294045830392009-03-27T10:36:00.013-08:002009-04-15T09:10:08.826-08:00

Brent Knight, James Southam, and Becca Rorabaugh each metaled in the 5k classic race. Results can be found here. Kikkan Randall (APU) tags Katie Ronsse (APU), while Maria Stuber (CXC) tags off to Caitlin Compton (CXC) in the 6x1.5k Sprint Relay event at the 2009 US National Championships. (Photo credit: Sam Harrel of the Fairbanks Daily News Miner). The team sprint was one of the hardest

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-68567966674582459712009-03-19T08:15:00.010-08:002009-03-22T08:45:34.254-08:00

In attempt to get back on Alaska-time and off east-coast-time I laid down for a nap at 5:30pm thinking when I got up I would be able to keep my eyes open a little later. That "little nap" turned into a 14hrs snooze-fest, where I didn't wake up until 7:30 the next morning. I guess that's an even better way of adjusting to a time zone and recovering from a week of 5 races.I feel like my fitness

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-5124306149169475722009-03-14T14:46:00.005-08:002009-03-17T15:04:38.894-08:00

University of Denver's Ski Team claimed their 20th NCAA title today and are once again back-to-back NCAA National Champions. DU continues to be the most winning NCAA skiing history. Way to go Alma mater!

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-20996582810082984692009-03-14T14:03:00.010-08:002009-03-17T15:05:36.788-08:00

I made the podium yesterday in the individual classic sprint race at Canadian Nationals. In the A-final, Valaas dominated the race while Shayla Swanson and I lunged to the line for second. They let us review the photo finish in the timing hut after the race, and sure enough-- Shayla was 2nd overall and was crowned as the Canadian National Champion. I was still thrilled to be third! Women's

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-43313792506757136962009-03-12T14:23:00.011-08:002009-03-12T15:31:42.357-08:00

We had *four* APU women in the top 10 in yesterday's 10k classic race here at Canadian Nationals. Ky and Fitz rockin the pink hats AND the ski trails.Valaas put the stomp down and came home with the WIN! Kate Fitz was jaw dropping 6th, Taz was an encouraging 9th, and I finished in a "whoop" worthy 7th! Ky gave an outstanding effort on a challenging day and is fired up for the upcoming sprint

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-70917769685217726012009-03-09T09:13:00.014-08:002009-03-10T15:49:07.899-08:00

According to the flight attendant it was 19 degrees when I arrived in Toronto on Friday...and that was in Celsius! Translation: 67 degrees F, t-shirts, and green grass. But by the time Don Ellis drove Laura and I through the rolling hills toward his childhood turf in Collingwood, ON, we began to see some snow. The heat blast has made it challenging for the volunteers and race organizers, but so

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-2874727033710519222009-02-28T22:23:00.008-09:002009-03-05T12:49:52.646-09:00

As part of the new fasterskier website, they have included interviews with many of the nation's top racers. If you ever wondered what drives that dedicated athlete or what your ski idol eats for breakfast, it's just a click away. Below are my responses to the interview that I had prior to the racing season.When did you start ski racing, and what were some highlights of your young skiing career?

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-10675819000007386022009-02-26T16:06:00.036-09:002009-03-02T21:34:59.999-09:00

My favorite place on Earth is "flat, desolate, and muddy as sin" -JCL. The mudflats used to be my summer infatuation, but I have discovered they can be a playground in the winter months as well. Mom running out to the ocean to try a few yoga moves. Mt. Redoubt-- the volcano that's been in the news lately for its seismic activity-- is to the right of my right leg. I guess it runs in the family. I

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-22430831229983549052009-02-25T13:00:00.026-09:002009-02-27T12:31:16.729-09:00

The Sven Johansson, the final race in the AMH Anchorage Cup, is nicknamed as "The Tour of Kincaid", because the course tackles just about every big climb in the park-- Stairway to Heaven, Hairpin, Ice Box, Elliots Climb, Burky's climb, Lekisch, you name it.Several of the elite women got the honor of starting in the elite men's wave, which made for a more interesting and exciting race. Once the

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-2542561911991946422009-02-24T07:46:00.008-09:002009-02-25T11:50:34.143-09:00

APUNSC's Kikkan Randall won a SILVER medal at WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS this morning! Congratulations Kikkan-- we are so proud of you! You are a source of inspiration for your teammates, the state of Alaska, and for America! Kikkan will go down in history as being the first American women to win a World Cup GOLD and now also the first American woman to win a Medal at World Championships in Nordic

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-36167343464870594762009-02-23T10:35:00.006-09:002009-02-26T11:12:26.535-09:00

I got the chance to be in Hayward, WI leading up to the American Birkebeiner and witness the anticipation and excitement around the race-- also termed the "Birkie Fever". Even though this is the largest ski race in the country, there are still many young children who haven't been exposed to cross country skiing. Brian Gregg of CXC organized an school visit to Hayward Primary school that was

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-5215927903117600772009-02-20T12:06:00.007-09:002009-02-25T11:41:41.080-09:00

While in northern Wisconsin, Donovan, Heather and I got a chance to venture up toward the Apostle Islands to check out the ice caves on the coast of Lake Superior. It's a phenomenal place. H. Zimmerfest Dun Dun Don DumsRonskizzle and orange icicle Dums in his element. This guy used to chill in Antarctica-- no joke! Ronse, Ronsee, Ronsse, Ronnse, or Ronski?Feather-less flying kiwi HeatherIf

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-69452357027220006222009-02-18T12:10:00.029-09:002009-02-19T18:55:53.514-09:00

The city sprints in downtown Madison were all that I had hoped they would be. Some people had their doubts that the races would happen, because the temperature was in the mid-50's prior to the races, and when we showed up on Friday afternoon there wasn't any snow in sight. But, due to the hard work of Yuriy Gusev and all the volunteers, the "impossible" became POSSIBLE. Maria Stuber cruising

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-83158542766090686152009-02-09T11:10:00.012-09:002009-02-11T09:55:24.470-09:00

This past weekend I got to race in the Minnesota's largest ski race, the USA Mora Vasaloppet. The event was incredibly well organized and exciting to be apart of. They also awarded the best prizes that I've ever seen-- including intricately painted Dala horses to age group winners and gigantic fresh wreaths for the overall race winners. Skatie Ronski post 35k skate race. Linda (Spring Brook,

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-43546846719583140962009-02-05T05:31:00.028-09:002009-02-24T12:31:08.817-09:00

Last week's Supertour races featured a 1.2k sprint, a short distance classic, and a distance skate race. Katie Ronsse(USA), Nicole Deyong(USA), Martina Stursova (CZE), Christina Groulx (CAN) in the semi-final. The sprint was on one of the most excruciating courses I have done so far. We made a sustained climb up part of Telemark mountain, swept down for a hairpin turn, went up a toilsome climb

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-35465343834155623512009-02-01T20:06:00.017-09:002009-02-05T10:25:25.379-09:00

Perfect skiing in Rossland, BC-- a town built in the crater of an extinct volcano of the Monashee Range. I'm told that Rossland has the highest per capita of doctors in Canada because the skiing, mt biking trails, and active community is so hard to beat. Jeff Ellis, Laura Valaas, and I made our way over to Rossland for some NorAm races for Canada's final World Championship qualifier-- where

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-20133295993016611352009-01-23T14:42:00.024-09:002009-02-01T20:05:43.868-09:00

When the Whistler World Cups concluded, my teammates and I picked our own paths that would suit our individual training and racing needs. Each one of our paths will overlap but no one's will be exactly the same. In the past 2 weeks I have had the opportunity to stay in Whistler, Seattle, Wenatchee (WA), Rossland (BC), Silver Star (BC), Minneapolis, and Seeley (WI), so I'm starting to feel like a

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-25243712662049103072009-01-21T20:01:00.014-09:002009-01-23T13:15:54.614-09:00

My weekend at the Whistler World Cups ski races has left me in awe of the fitness of the world's top skiers. If I compare myself to the podium finishers, I am lead to the conclusion that I got my butt kicked. I've made improvements to my racing, but I still have a long way to go up...It was inspiring to see how it is possible to ski much faster through enough hard work, patience...and more hard

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-46617616585039013522009-01-15T07:58:00.013-09:002009-01-21T06:38:25.350-09:00

The nordic and nordic combined World Cups are this weekend in Whister-- and I'm going to be there! Skatie Ronski soaking up the Whistler scene.This is my first time at a World Cup and I am ecstatic. I am still constantly amazed that I am skiing beside skiers who I have idolized for years and who I've only seen in pictures, on Universal sports, or TV before. I keep thinking, "Oh, so that's what

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-38586718939897386472009-01-14T14:23:00.014-09:002009-01-15T15:23:26.360-09:00

I realize that I have been slacking on my racing reports. It did finally warm up enough to have a 5k skate and classic sprint at US Nationals. I also had the chance to race in the Besh Cup sprint just before Christmas. The were many commendable performances in the races at US Nationals. One of the many highlighs was getting to see my former SHS/AWS and DU teammate, Mike Hinkley, lunge to a

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-70571538880976539912009-01-07T23:14:00.013-09:002009-09-03T22:13:45.279-08:00

I wish this post would be titled “Nationals Racing Re-cap”, but since it has been brutally and uncharacteristically cold in Anchorage, our races have been canceled every day but one so far. So, rather than classic sprinting this morning, I (unfortunately) had the opportunity to write down a few tips to share for staying warm in the frigid north. 1. TOE WARMERS are life-savers. I usually ignore

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-82495376762598207742009-01-03T19:10:00.005-09:002009-01-03T20:37:44.676-09:00

Miss Zimm's smiling face was on the front page of the sports section yesterday and she was interviewed in one of ADN's online videos. At the end of her interview you can hear me ask for her autograph and she wittily responded with, "Yeah! I'm autographing for being the coldest person alive!" The US Nationals classic sprint was delayed and eventually canceled today. The temperature was -

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-91094244099589794902008-12-30T20:02:00.010-09:002009-01-01T11:06:00.189-09:00

My Dad recently had a painful tooth infection and became pretty run down. I overheard him mention to my Mom that he had a rash on his leg. I questioned if he was on an antibiotic for the tooth infection. Dad said he was on Amoxicillin... "Uh-Oh". After a family ski when I was thirsty and out of water, my Dad offered me his but I turned it down and said "thanks, but no thanks-- there's a good

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-51708854583535529532008-12-26T23:56:00.010-09:002008-12-27T17:18:30.995-09:00

Little Callie was just asking for chocolate from Santa, but Mr. Claus must've known that she was an exceptionally good girl this year because she also got skis!Two year olds just don't get any cuter than Callie. We got to cheer her on as she raced around on skis for the first time-- she's a natural. Apparently, when I first stepped on skis I was a complete klutz...so the truth came out about

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-81354709532850453222008-12-15T21:39:00.013-09:002008-12-16T09:30:44.647-09:00

Our early season racing trip concluded with a classic sprint and a 10k classic in Silver Star, BC. My main racing goal for the past weekend was to put the hammer down from the start and make sure I had nothing left in the tank by the finish line. I was happy with the way I raced my sprint prelim, and was encouraged to be the 1st American qualifier and finish 6th overall. Most of the top female

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-10576514622602521632008-12-06T14:54:00.033-09:002008-12-16T08:05:06.362-09:00

Silverstar, B.C. has become one of my favorite places to hang-out as a nordic skier. There's freshly groomed skiing from our back door, the people are jovial, and Sovereign is a quintessential world class racing venue. There are superlative views as depicted by Miss Valaas's photo.This last minute trip to race Silverstar and cancellation of our plans to stay in Utah and Whistler has destroyed

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-4179057112388014882008-11-29T16:36:00.016-09:002008-12-03T11:40:11.283-09:00

Becca the Wrecka Rorabaugh showing off our new uniforms.We have spent the past week training, testing skis, and racing in West Yellowstone, Montana. There was not enough snow for skiing on the trails in town, but the skiing on the logging roads (at around 8,000ft) was really nice…not to mention the sunshine! Our coaches have done an amazing job and an unbelievable amount of work getting things

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-50910312998767290132008-11-18T21:04:00.014-09:002008-11-20T22:47:05.946-09:00

If you train so hard it makes you want to scream or cry, then you know you've trained enough. This is how I felt today:(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Magazine)Mid-way through our afternoon practice I felt like I begging for mercy--for no good reason, other than a high training load is taking it's toll. The near break-down was sparked by a med-ball landing on my leg, which torqued my swollen ankle

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-53795731364442030792008-11-16T14:49:00.013-09:002008-11-19T09:08:39.748-09:00

This fall had the chance to revisit my creative side and rekindle my love for rocks. (I know, I may not be normal --but yes, rocks!) As a little girl my parents would enforce a “5 rock rule” on our hikes, so that I wouldn't attempt to bring home an entire mountain. I had an extensive collection and would paint, tumble, or leave them in their natural state. To the amusement of my neighbors, I

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-91016669135975064132008-11-11T19:52:00.022-09:002008-11-20T22:47:37.662-09:00

I was cleaning out my room and came across this sonnet I wrote in high school. I'm not claiming it's quality poetry, but it may be fitting for this time of year for many Anchorage skiers. Early we meet, while the city's asleep.We pile our ski gear into the car,get comfortable, and then pump up the beat.It's another long drive, under the stars,that takes us to snow in our search to ski.When we

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8821484175700865906.post-50690480322835245372008-11-07T15:58:00.031-09:002008-11-09T22:11:50.397-09:00

I wish I could say that I never make the same mistake twice. Apparently, this is not the case. Two years ago I ended up with a sprained toe from playing soccer barefoot on the beach with Fijian locals. One would think that I would learn to never play in another soccer match again, unless I had adequate footwear and shin guards. But if you would've been at the APU juniors practice Monday night

skatie ronskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16271479282224082694noreply@blogger.com2