Nikolai Anikin Ski Clinic at Maplelag Resort
by Ken Salzberg
December 2000
[ On the weekend of December 16-17, 2000, Maplelag
Resort hosted a Ski Clinic featuring Nikolai Anikin. Nikolai
is the renowned former Russian Olympian gold medalist and
coach, now living in Duluth, MN. His clinics feature classical
and skate technique, with emphasis on specific exercises and
drills, along with video analysis and individual recommendations.
Ken Salzberg, a Sisu Skier member, graciously provided
us with some feedback on the clinic. -- Ed. ]
First, Maplelag is great - great trails and great hospitality
(especially considering that they don't have the lodge ready
yet, so we ate our meals in Jay's house). I'm now trying very
hard to decide whether to go up for the Lovolta Cup weekend,
or the next week for the Clogging and Old Time Music weekend
(thereby getting both skiing and banjo playing in, but no race).
It was cold. Saturday about half of the folks who
had signed up decided not to try to drive up through the snow
and wind. So six of us had Nikolai to ourselves, in -50F windchills,
for the skating day. A very wide range of skiing skills, from
a very beginning, but game, 13 year old, to Mike (last name?)
the young, world-class bike racer getting into skiing, and
me, the old, experienced guy. Nikolai had something to give
each of us - for me, good dryland drills, good things to bring
to my own coaching. After the class, Mike and I went out for
a few Ks - then dinner, and looking at World Cup videos with
commentary by Nikolai.
Sunday was warmer (-10 to 0F, no wind, sunny), and
we worked on classic technique. Lots of fun as well, and about
six more people showed up, so we had a wider range of people
- all of us had some area to improve in. Nikolai is a great
coach, and particularly for classic. Both days we had some
indoor dryland drills, and discussion, then on snow instruction,
and filming, back inside for critique, then, in the afternoon,
the same order, with different strokes being covered. That
way we did all the strokes: V-1, V-2, V-2 alternate, single-sticking
on Sat., and double-pole, kick-double-pole, striding, and
running herringbone on Sunday. Lots of skiing, lots of fun,
lots of cold. I'd recommend it to anyone, at any level.
Thanks to Jay Richards of Maplelag Resort who shot these
photos.
Click on the photographs to see a larger
image.
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| Skating instruction and drills on Saturday.
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| Classical instruction; double poling drills.
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| Classical instruction and demonstration.
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Related links
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