Interview Excerpts
What is your training regime like the week(s) before the World Championship?“ The current philosophy is that you can’t get faster the week before a race. I like to do short, hard efforts (sprints) for about an hour everyday the week before.” What’s the difference between racing in Europe and racing in the U.S.A?
“The main difference is the depth of the field. Ski Mountaineering is a very popular sport in Europe (much like road racing). Racers begin their careers at a very early age. The sport is just beginning to explode here in the USA. I’m used to racing at the front of the field, in Europe I’m a “mid-pack” competitor.”
“European courses are not as steep as the courses we race on here. These gentler skin-tracks make for faster tempo skinning as opposed to muscling your way up a steep track. The tracks are consistent and have 2 tracks running side by side.”
What's the World’s course like?
“The World’s race starts at about 3,000ft elevation and tops out at 8,000ft. I’m looking forward to racing at a lower altitude. The majority of my training/racing takes place at 9,000ft. I feel I can push it a lot harder at a lower altitude. I expect to see the Italian, French and Spanish teams leading the charge with the Americans mid-pack battling the Scandinavians and Canadians.”
What races will you be competing in over the course of the week?\
Teams Race-“I’ll be partnering with two time Olympian (rowing) Greg Ruckman for this race. Greg placed 5th in the Beijing Olympics. Greg and I competed in the Teams Race together in the 2011 World Championships in Italy. We were the top American team until Greg crashed on a downhill and broke his ski in two pieces. He was able to borrow a ski from a spectator and finish the race. The team race is the premier race of the week with national pride on the line. You’re partnering with a racer that’s a rival back in the USA. Teammates pull each other if one racer happens to be skiing stronger then the other. Racers wear harnesses and carry a specialized bungee cord for this scenario. Teammates encourage each other, help each other with transitions, “feed” each other and race together for approximately three hours.”
Vertical Race-“This is a “mass start” race. We’ll be climbing Pelvoux-Vallouise ski area. This race is uphill only. First racer to the top wins. 7km with an average grade of 17% = suffer-fest.”
Team Relay Race-“Four Americans racing against the world in a relay format. This spectator friendly race consists of two 200ft climbs followed by fast descents. Our goal is to beat the Canadian team.”
What’s it like to have a career, a family and compete at an elite level? “Challenging, trying, hectic, crazy, rewarding…. I was discussing the “Energy Pie”; how much energy you have for your day, with a fellow racer earlier this week. Between work, training and family I use the entire pie everyday. Work takes the biggest hit when I’m training. Dealing with 9 and 11 year old boys after a day of training and working can be a real challenge! One of the keys to maximizing energy is recharging the batteries. I try to be in bed by 8:30 every night and stay there till 6:45 a.m. I also eat right (lots of whole foods). I love donuts, pastries and greasy meat but my energy level suffers when I indulge in them.”
How does your family feel about you heading to France for 2 weeks while they stay home?
(Scott’s wife Holly) “We traveled with Scott to the 2011 World Championships in Italy. It was draining following a group of "elite" (I won't say PrimaDonna's here) athletes around for a week (Don't be caught eating un-healthy food, it could be embarrasing!). They tend to drive like they race (Yes, I'm talking about you Nina Silitch). In general, the time was spent feeling chubby and out of shape. We’re planning to sit back and relax right here in Durango. Scott is a very intense, driven athlete who rarely slows down. This drive is apparently what it takes to make it to the top of your chosen sport (as well as genetics…. thanks Grandpa Harry). Suffice it to say, our family has never vacationed together on a beach. We did talk him into a cruise to Belize in April. He’ll use the time to recover from a demanding winter of SkiMo racing! No 4:30 a.m. alarm announcing its time to train (we hope).”
Follow Scott on Twitter as he competes with team USA @ the Ski Mountaineering Championships in Pelvoux, France, February 9-15, 2013.
