Galena Camp: Cross Country Skiers Make the Most of a Lingering Winter
While the Wood River Valley is swimming in signs of spring – widespread flooding, of course, as well as the less aggressive cues of green hillsides, vocal, elated birds and bikes zipping around town, Galena Lodge is still a vision of winter. With an unrivaled snow year, Intermountain cross country skiers took advantage of well-groomed trails during the four-day on-snow Galena Camp, held May 4-7.
55 athletes from SVSEF Gold, PG and Comp Teams, Bogus Basin, Park City Nordic Ski Club, Wasatch Ski Team and the Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA) participated in the camp, the focus of which was getting more time on snow. “We really see the benefits later on in training and racing for the kids who ski later into the spring and summer; the longer they stay connected with skiing, the better,” explained SVSEF Comp Team Head Coach Ashley Knox.
The group started with focused technique work on Thursday and Friday, moving on to speeds and a mass start training game on Saturday and an all-club team relay on Sunday. The camp has been held on and off for seven years, dependent on snow conditions; this is the third consecutive year that the group has been on snow. “Over the years, the camp and interest in the camp has grown,” said Knox. “As coaches, we are also noticing that the skiers as a whole are raising the bar every year – we have some very high-quality skiing at the camp.”
SVSEF Comp Team skiers head out of town for another camp in less than a month; the group travels to Bend, Oregon, on June 6 to get more valuable time on snow.