Fischer: Interview with Kris Freeman

What are your current goals?

My most immediate goals for this winter are to stand on the World Cup podium before Christmas, a podium at the World Championships in February, and a World Cup podium after World Championships. My training this year and focus is to race fast consistently through the whole winter. One race I think about the most is the pursuit at World Championships, that should be a good one for me.

What races are you planning on racing, not racing?

I will race most of the World Cup races, maybe just a few sprints to test myself, but not too many. My focus is on races that are 30km and shorter. I will probably only race one 30km and one 50km.

Did your experience in the Marcialonga last year effect your strategy of which races to do this year?

Racing the 70km Marcialonga World Cup last year was both a mistake and a good learning experience for me. I learned that as a diabetic, I could do it. It was a great test of stamina, but was very hard to recover from. For me to race fast all season it is better to focus on the shorter events for now.

What are your plans other than WC this winter? Will we see you at US Nationals?

With a big early season tour in Europe I debated coming back to the state at all, but now I plan to come home over Christmas for 3 weeks or so to rest. I will stay in the east rather than travel to US Nationals. I think this break will be the best preparation for World Championships for me. I may hop into a race or two in the east, but traveling back and forth to Utah is more than I should do this year.

What has been your focus this summer in your training?

I have been training more volume than in the past, more intensity, and more specific strength in the upper body and legs. I logged 320 hours of training in the first four months. I feel I have responded well to the increased load and have a good base moving into the fall. Also with an increased focus on the Pursuit event, I have been incorporating combi training into my interval workouts.

What have you been doing to increase your leg strength?

My goal was to increase strength in my legs specifically for classic striding. Zach Caldwell helped me design a surgical tubing belt that goes around a partner. I had someone hold me back while striding uphill maximum effort. I feel like there was a good clear carry over to skiing in New Zealand and I have increase my classic leg strength quite a bit.

What kind of combi workouts are you doing?

This past weekend I did a rollerski interval session on Mt. Kearsarge in New Hampshire. The road climbs uphill for 3-4 miles and finished pretty steep. The workout was 4 times 8 minutes hard. The first interval was classic, then skate, then classic, then skate. I don't see any sense in practicing the exchange for the pursuit, that doesn't matter. What matters is that you feel good in the beginning of the skate leg. These intervals for me help to get used to skating hard when my classic muscles are tired.

What have you been working on with technique?

In classic technique I have been using my arms more. I have been focusing for a while on lengthening my stride and that is going well. There is always a big focus on having a quick kick.

In skating I have been focusing more on using my gluts. Also focusing on a longer skating push initiated from the hip.

How have the new Fischer boots changed things for you?

The boots have been a pleasant change for me. I used to measure the deepness in my shin angle (skating) by the amount of pressure against the cuff. Now with no cuff I can ski deeper and more comfortably.

With these boots it is important to relearn where your support comes from - the sole.

In the classic glide phase this is the most stable, and supportive boot I have skied in. In New Zealand, I was striding longer, and more comfortably than ever.

How do you incorporate rest into your busy schedule?

I take at least one rest day completely off every two weeks. I just got back from a nice trip to NYC to hang out with my girlfriend. It was nice to take a mental break as well after New Zealand camp.

An easy day for me now is 1.5 to 2hrs level one training. It is important for me as well as any ski race that you realize that training while tired is not as productive. Rest is really important to success! I can always get better at listening to my body.

What are your training plans this fall?

Now that I have recovered from New Zealand the focus is more on rest and speed. Next week I meet back up with the US Ski Team in San Diego and will try out the VO2 Max block training. We will go five days of intervals followed by three easy days and five more days of intervals. All the intervals will be controlled by close supervision of the staff and lactate testing. The intervals will be all done in level three and meant to boost my VO2 Max. Later this fall we will move more into Max Lactate training.

Can you give me an example of a Max Lactate workout?

Bound til you puke.

Regarding the San Diego camp, how do you think you will do surfing?

I've never surfed before and am looking forward to trying. I'm sure I can get up on the board, but I'm no Andy Newell.

Tell us about the technical support and preparation you need to be World Class?

I receive great support from the Fischer International Service Team as well as the US Ski Team staff. Compared to the big ski nations, we have a very small staff, but the USST Wax Team are the hardest working crew on the circuit. A small crew that works well together is more effective than a big crew that doesn't work well together. They get along well, good organization and I trust that they will make my skis fast. I couldn't race fast without the hard work from Hallsie and the guys.

Last year I had great luck with skis, only a bit off in three races but this was my fault since I picked the wrong grind, not bad wax.

Zach Caldwell has worked with me on grinding my skis as well. I remember one race last year near the end of the World Cup season where I raced on Zachs Z40 grind. I was having a tough day that day keeping up on the uphills, but every time I hit a down hill I sped right back up to the group. It was awesome. Zach does World Class work!

With the 2006 Olympics in Torino around the corner, what are you thinking about most?

The one race that I think about more than any other is the individual start 15km classic. I have skied this course and there are some killer hills. The tougher the course, the better I can do. I'm going to really put the hurt on in that race!

Can the US improve on their 5th place Mens Relay finish from 2002? Who will join you on the relay squad?

It is hard to say at this point if we can improve on 5th place, that was an awesome race for us. I feel confident that I can ski a hard classic leg. Carl Swenson is improving every year and could be dangerous in skating. Regarding the other two members of the relay team? With Wadsworth and Bauer retired, it is wide open. I believe we have more raw talent in the US now than ever, a very good base to select from. We will have a good team for sure.

Kris races on Fischer Skis, Fischer Boots, Fischer Bindings, and Swix Poles.

Related links

• Fischer Skis
• US Ski Team