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Nina Silitch

Report & Results for Jay Peak VT and Owl’s Head QC + Preview for Magic VT

March 13, 2014 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

The following report was submitted by our East Coast SkinTrack correspondent Jonathan Shefftz.
After the March 2 100-percent backcountry race Mount Greylock in the northwestern corner of Massachusetts, the Eastern circuit shifted much further north for the March 8-9 weekend races at Jay Peak in Vermont and then Owl’s Head just across the Canadian border in Quebec.
Overall, Equipe Quebec dominated both the start lists and the podiums, although the East Coast Team Hagan and recently returned Chamonix expatriate Nina Silitch provided some strong American representation.
owl-head-1
Both races were rescheduled from their original January dates on account of various “wintry mix” nastiness at the time.  Jay has held a rando race annually since 2005, although recent years have been in somewhat of a decline, with participants sometimes in the low single digits, and the course featuring loops at the nordic center.  However, the Quebec Dynafit rep Jeff Rivest has reinvigorated the race with an entirely new layout for this year.  By contrast, the Owl’s Head is entirely new, and ascends via a new backcountry sector, so this was an entirely new venue for everyone.  Racers recorded the vertical at 4027’ for Jay and 4307’ for Owl’s Head (or in meters of course for the Quebec Strava reports!).

Click to see results from both days.
Click to see results from both days.
For Jay, the top five men finished within four minutes of each other, and traded places through the race.  George Visser was assessed a time penalty for missing a critical turn (and ending up on a bump run instead of a glade), and was demoted to second place behind Leigh Quilliams.  Josh Flanagan blew past his fellow Team Hagan member Jerimy Arnold at the final transition to take the final spot on the podium, although Jerimy compensated somewhat with the dramatic move of tripping a bamboo pole at the finish to blow up the finish tent.  (Your faithful correspondent was  unable to attempt to repeat his 2008 win due to teaching an avalanche course on Mount Washington NH.)  Philippe DeGuire rounded out the top five only another six seconds later.
For the women, Nina Silitch took the win, and was ninth overall, with Danielle DeGuire several minutes behind her, and tenth overall.
The top five the next day at Owl’s Head were all the same men, although somewhat reordered, with the top three spots going to George Visser, Jerimy Arnold, and Josh Flanagan (despite a 30-second time penalty on the two J’s for missing a turn), then Leigh Quilliams and Philippe DeGuire to round out the top five.  Top women were once again Nina Silitch and Danielle DeGuire.
owl-head-2
The combined results for the weekend were not just a conceptual exercise, as a $500 cash prize went to George Visser and Nina Silitch.

owl-head-3

Coming up on the East Coast:

Looking ahead, the next stop will be the NE Rando Race Series venue of Magic Mountain in southern Vermont, on Sunday March 16.  The good news is the course has been flagged since Monday.  The bad news is that as of press time the flags are being buried in up to 27” of new snow.  The good news is … well, that should be obvious!
The Full Course will start off with three laps on the very nicely graded skintrack of 1520’ vertical for each lap.  The then final lap will 960’ vertical, starting off with a nicely graded skin, but culminating in a 270’ vertical extremely steep boot pack that will seem much longer!  All descents will be on the ungroomed bumped-on Witch to the extremely steep Red Line (in full view of the chair lift overhead!), making the race feel much longer than its 5520’ vertical.
More detailed course information will be posted here:
http://nerandorace.blogspot.com/2013/09/course-layout-magic.html
Team Hagan will be out in full force, and probably Nina Silitch too.  Plus rumor has it that U.S. Department of Homeland Security might be hearing some interesting declarations about large quantities of carbon fiber at the Quebec border crossing!

Filed Under: Reports & Results Tagged With: Jerimy Arnold, Nina Silitch

Report: 2014 Berkshire East Rando Race welcomes Nina Silitch

January 26, 2014 By Stano Faban 3 Comments

The following write-up was sent in by our East Coast SkinTrack connection Jonathan Shefftz, who has been organizing the North East Rando Race Series since 2009 and is a skimo racer himself.
berkshire-east-race-logoWith the postponement to March 8-9 of the Jay Peak VT & Owl’s Head QC races, the Eastern North American rando race season kicked off on January 26 at Berkshire East MA: despite a backcountry skintrack 100% dependent upon natural snow, this venue has come through for six years in a row with no postponements or cancellations.
After a short road run to spread out the racers, each of the three identical circuits comprised a ~1,050′ vertical backcountry skintrack (with “strategic shoveling” and “snow available for transport” taking on new meaning from the avalanche world for the pre-race preparation), a partial descent of the ski area, a ~400′ bootpack (on a steep slippery combination of snow, leaves, and rocks), then a full descent of the ski area.

Jonathan's superb work on the course could be titled as "The Ultimate Skin-track Makeover". Before and after.
Jonathan’s superb work on the course could be titled as “The Ultimate Skin-track Makeover”. Before and after.
Team Hagan dominated the podium, led by Jerimy Arnold (for his third Berkshire East win in a row, and four total), then Josh Flangan, and finally Jonathan Shefftz (the 2010 and 2011 winner). Nina Silitch was close behind to dominate the women’s field and along the way demonstrate some stunningly fast transitions from her former World Cup sprint specialization.
Nina's lightning transitions kept her with the top guys despite being bundled up against the cold... or because of that ;)
Nina’s lightning transitions kept her with the top guys despite being bundled up against the cold… or because of that 😉
Scheduled next is the February 2 race from Mad River Glen to the two separate Sugarbush areas, with a final decision as to sufficient snowpack pending on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. This could be Jerimy Arnold’s year to win the only skimo title that has eluded him so far, especially if 2009 and 2013 winner Jan Wellford keeps up his new focus on nordic ski racing. Or Dave Lamb could be lured out of retirement to add another win to his 2006, 2008, and 2010 collection. And if Sugarbush follows through on its promises to restore more skiing challenge to the course layout, this could favor Josh Flanagan, or even Jonathan Shefftz, the 2011 and 2012 winner. Stay tuned here for updates on the race status…
Results:
Berkshire-East-2014-results

Filed Under: Reports & Results Tagged With: Nina Silitch

Back in the USA: Interview with Nina Silitch, the most successful North American skimo racer

January 21, 2014 By Stano Faban 4 Comments

I interviewed Nina Silitch back in April, 2012 after she won a World Cup skimo race as the first North American ever. It was a sprint event in Tromso, Norway and her win was only a signal of things to come in the following season.
We all know what happened last winter (2012/13) but in case you didn’t catch it – she went on to win a silver medal at the 2013 SkiMo World Championships and another World Cup gold in Tromso later last season (link to Nina’s blog post about that) – and all this while raising two boys!
But let’s catch up with her now as lots of things changed since she won that gold in Norway.

Nina leading finals in Tromso (April, 2013).
Nina leading skimo sprint finals in Tromso (April, 2013).

And here we go

Q: I understand that you have moved back to US permanently. Where do you live now?
My family moved to Dublin, New Hampshire in New England, back to my roots. It was in New England that I discovered my love of skiing. Michael (my husband) and I are teaching at a small independent boarding school. We are heading up their cross country ski team, helping it grow to a new level. I used to compete in cross country and I am really excited to be coaching and helping this program grow!
Q: For how many years did you live in Europe?
We lived in the Alps for twelve years. I taught in Switzerland where my two children were born, before living in Chamonix.

Summer endurance training and winter strength session with her sons.
Nina’s summer endurance training and winter strength sessions with her sons.
Q: Was your return to the US a long planned decision or a sudden one? What do your boys say about it?
Michael and I were ready for a change. Not specifically to the USA, but one that could develop our careers further. My boys are very excited to be living here. They have opportunities to ski both alpine and cross country.
Q: Does it mean that you are out of Europe now that you are retiring from skimo racing? Will we see you racing in the US?
I am sure that I will be back in Europe someday to compete in a Grande Course race but I can say that I am retired from the World Cup. Chamonix has been a home for many years and I have many close friends there still. We plan to stay connected as a family to the Alps and could one day return.
I am very excited to help grow the sport of skimo in North America, particularly New England, where I am living.  The youth are really the future of the sport; I hope to help bring on some younger skiers in the sport.
Putting the hammer down!
Putting the hammer down!
Q: So what lays ahead? Have you figured out what will be your daily motivation?
Right now it’s a big transition for me from the Alps and what I was doing as a world cup athlete. I am trying to embrace all the newness of being here and breath through the transition. This winter, as I am on my x-country skis a lot, I am excited to try my hand at the sprint races in Nordic. I will explore the skimo scene here in New England and keep discovering new and meeting people who love to get out there in the mountains pushing their bodies.
Q: Do you plan on coaching whether that be skimo or other sports?
As I mentioned before, I am a head coach for the Dublin School Nordic team with my husband. I am also excited to work with younger skiers in the sport of skimo and help the sport grow. If skimo does get into the Olympics in 2022, it is with the youth that we need to focus on today.
Q: You had some great performances last season, with cherry on the cake being the silver medal from Worlds. If any, what were the most important changes in your training for that season? Have you trained more, better… recovery, food…?
For me,  actually winning the final World Cup sprint of the season was the cherry on the cake and ending my season with another World Cup gold medal in Tromso was really serendipitous.
I had a few errors in the sprint World Cups and at World Champs, starting with a disqualification in the first sprint in Switzerland when I was in the semi finals. I came 2nd at the World Championships, missing the gold by mere seconds  due to an error and 4th at the Italian Sprint World Cup not feeling my best. To end my season and World Cup career with the gold was my goal.
What did I do differently? I did focus more on strength training, specifically for the sprint,  working my fast twitch muscles.  Because of this, I did suffer more and sacrifice my distance races but it was a choice I made to get to where I wanted to go. It’s tough to be the best sprinter in the world and the best distance racer so that was a sacrifice I had to make.
I worked a lot on mental preparation and breathing techniques as well as knowing when I needed to recover and when to push myself. The sprint to me is one of the most stressful races as so much happens in 3 minutes one has to be ready for anything. I have to thank my coaches, Adam St. Pierre of Boulder Sports Medicine and Fabien Meyer who helped me a lot with sprinting as well as Romain Flandin,  my amazing friends at Chamonix Ski Alpinisme Club. Last but not least is my husband, Michael, also an ISMF technical delegate but more importantly, the one who supported me in this World Cup pursuit. It has been an amazing journey!
Q: Have you also experimented with equipment?
I have been playing around with pole length. The trick with poles is not to go too long for quickness. I use Swix Carbon Fiber poles: CT2s or Triaxs as I am sponsored by Swix.  I have had opportunities to be sponsored by different ski manufacturers and have chosen SkiTrab because of the great combination of ski performance up and down, and light weight. Plum bindings have been the best for me. The company is really supportive and growing world wide. I have worked with Pomoca in developing a fast skin that also has good hold. I also work really hard to dial in my race pack so it is top notch for my sprint transitions.
With gold in Tromso last April.
With gold in Tromso last April.
Q: What did you race on during last season? (Skis, boots, bindings, skins)
Ski Trab World Cup Race skis, Plum bindings, Pierre Gignoux 444 boots, Pomoca skins, Swix Ct2 poles, Oakley glasses. Hammer Nutrition Heed in my CamelBak bottle between rounds. These sponsors have been amazing supporters of me and I thank them very much!
Q: How tall are you and how long were the ski poles you used for your sprint races?
My poles for the sprint are identical for the individual. I like shorter poles as they allow me to be quicker. I am 5’ 5.5” (166 cm) and my poles are 127.5 cm.
I think that people generally use poles that are too long. There is a trend on the World Cup over the last few years for men to race with shorter poles. A shorter pole length allows a quicker cadence. By comparison my Nordic classic poles are 140cm so 12.5 cm shorter.
Q: Let’s talk about others now. What did you think of the US team performance as a whole at the 2013 skimo Worlds?
I think it’s great to see the North Americans growing stronger in the sport! It is a sport so rooted in the Alps but we are certainly bringing a stronger presence in Europe, especially with the Canadians living there last year. This year I know there are a few more Americans in Europe.
It’s funny, when I first did the Pierra Menta in 2008, the French thought we would never survive and finish it. We did and I went on to compete in five Pierra Mentas back-to-back.
Q: What would you advise US and Canadian skimo athletes to do (or keep doing) to improve towards the 2015 World Champs?
It is essential to work on transitions. To keep creating courses that are technical, that are not just straight up a piste, but one that provides a variety of terrain. My husband is a technical delegate for the ISMF and is excited to help with course setting in the US.
Q: Why do you think French skimo team was so dominant in the past season? Have you trained with them a bit?
In Europe, these athletes are starting skimo early as teenagers and have been doing it for many years. Many of them come from a strong background in alpine and cross country and this can carry over into the sport of skimo.
I trained  a lot with some of the French athletes in Chamonix, especially for the sprint. Our club had four medals in World Cup, two at the World Championships (a gold in the relay and a silver in the sprint) and two in the final World Cup sprint. A gold for USA (for me, the President of the club) and a bronze for our coach, Yann Gachet for France. It’s clear that we were doing something right in the sprint.
Nina got very close to capturing gold at the 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Championships. Only her mistake bumped her to 2nd.
Nina got very close to capturing gold at the 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Championships. Only a small mistake bumped her to 2nd.
Q: Which racer do you think has the best technique or technical skills on the World Cup level? 
That is a tough question to pinpoint one person. The World Cup courses tend not to be as technical as persay a Grand Course. William Bon Mardion from France is the best descender and also an amazing climber. Lateicia Roux still is very strong in France but many younger athletes are coming up the ranks. I think a claim to fame for me is that I was able to beat her three times in my career.
Nina Silitch at Pierra Menta
Nina with her partner, Valentine Fabre, climbing the Grand Mont at Pierra Menta 2012. (Photo by Xtof Aubonnet, from Nina’s blog.)
Q: Can you list some Euro races you recommend North Americans should do?
Any of the Grand Course races are a must: The Pierra Menta, The Mezzalama, The PDG. All of these races can give one a real sense of racing in the Alps.
Q: Which one was your favourite?
Non-World Cup race: The hardest and most memorable is the Pierra Menta. The Tromso sprint (where I won a gold in 2012 & 2013) is my favourite World Cup hands down.
Q: I have to ask this one as I am very curious – do any people in France read Skintrack at least a bit? 🙂

I don’t know but I am happy to help get it out there. Do you have a French translation?
Stano: I don’t, but I will look into incorporating Google translate tool on the site.
Q: What would be your advice to further improve this site?
I love how you interview athletes and also have gear reviews and race reports. Maybe you can start a series on training for ski mountaineering. I just wrote an article on transitioning from trail running to skimo season.

Nina’s skimo career results

And that is all for this interview with Nina, and I am looking forward to talking to her in the future again. Thank you Nina!
To finish this article, here are some highlights from Nina career:

  • World Championships Podiums: 1 (Silver medal in Sprint, Pelvoux 2013)
  • World Cup Podiums: 2 (2 Gold medals)
  • World Cup starts: 41
  • World Cup top ten: 14
  • World Championships race starts: 10
  • World Championships selections: 4 last World Champs (Pelvoux, France 2013, Claut, Italy 2011, Andorra 2010, Champery, Switzerland 2008)
  • World Championships top ten: 3 (Pelvoux 2013, Claut 2011, Andorra 2010)
  • US Ski Mountaineering Team: 2008-2013

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Nina Silitch

Nina Silitch interview: Skimo racing mom gets the first ever ski mountaineering World Cup win for North America

April 30, 2012 By Stano Faban 2 Comments

On April 5th I congratulated Nina (via her blog) on a great racing season and asked whether she would consider an interview for Skintrack. A day later she replied: “I’d be happy to…”.

Nina Silitch sprinting.
Nina in the zone. (Photo by Stephan Mantler, with permission from Nina's blog.)
However, at that point I didn’t realize there was one more World Cup weekend left on the calendar and that it featured a sprint race – Nina’s specialty racing format.
Fast forward nine days and on April 14th Nina Silitch became the first North American to win a ski mountaineering World Cup race! I mean, a North American won a skimo World Cup race! Wow, in all my “calculations” I couldn’t see this coming for at least another two-three years.
It is a great accomplishment and we obviously gonna talk about it. But we are also going to talk about more as Nina is a mom of two and lives now in Chamonix, France.
Q: You just won your first World Cup race. Was it a beautiful surprise or you felt throughout the season it was reachable? 
For me the sprint is something I really love. Yes it was a beautiful surprise, but I did believe that I was capable of a podium in the World Cup Sprint.
Q: Can you describe the skimo sprint racing format.
The Sprint format encompasses all aspects of ski mountaineering into a very short race. It was started to help bring more spectators to the sport as when it is in the mountains it is harder for people to watch.
There is a goal for skimo to be an Olympic sport one day, and the sprint is an event that can draw a crowd. It is the same format as the World Cup cross country sprints that have now become a newer discipline.
Skimo sprint Tromso, Norway.
Leading her semi-final round in Tromso, Norway. (Photo from Nina's blog.)
It progresses through a qualification round, followed by 6 person heats of quarter-finals, semis and finals. The course is anywhere from 3.5 min to 4.5 min long and can range from 50-90 m in elevation gain.
The start is on skis with skins going straight to a series of kick turns, followed by a transition to a boot-pack (skis on the pack) then another skinning section, followed by a descent that encompasses both alpine gates, on and off piste and also skating.
Athletes must not only be quick on their feet but also very efficient in their transitions. It allows them to specialize in something, as a sprinter will train differently than a distance athlete.
Q: Is it your favorite skimo racing discipline? Are you naturally a good sprinter or you started to focus on this event only recently?
It’s funny because I love the sprint and all the concentration and focus it involves, but I also love longer races of 4-8 hrs.
I realized I had talent in the Sprint race when they first started and I definitely tried to hone my skills a bit. I always have started a little too fast in races but this is actually good for sprints.
Q: How many World Cup skimo racing seasons do you now have under your belt?
I did my first world cup in 2009 at the Valerette in Switzerland. I remember loosing a ski on a boot-pack and miraculously launching for it and catching it before it went 300 meters down a big slope.
I have consistently raced the World Cup circuit the last 3 seasons, with the last 2 seasons 2011, 2012 not missing one race. This year I placed 8th overall in the World Cup in a pool of very strong women, where the level grows and grows each year.
Q: Do you ski during summer (no snow months) as well or you rely on honing fitness through other activities?
I like the change of seasons and take a break from skiing in the summer. The earliest I would find snow would be end of October, though, one time I did ski in July just for fun when it snowed in Chamonix.
I enjoy trail running, road and mt biking, yoga and pilates. I do some roller skiing but not until the autumn.
Q: What are your three favorite skimo races? And why?
The Pierra Menta 4 day stage race – it is truly the heart of ski mountaineering. It is the hardest race I think as each day you have to get up and do it again. But the challenge, the camaraderie and the energy from the crowds keep me going.
Crowds on the 3rd stage at Pierra Menta 2012. (Photo from Nina's blog.)
The sprint race in Norway – because I felt really good there, in the zone.  Not many times in my life has that happened. I also love Norway. Tromso is a spectacular place.
French national Sprint race – it was held in my home town of Chamonix. It was an amazing feeling to be racing in my own town, with friends and locals cheering, my husband and boys on the side lines too under the lights at night. I took 2nd here behind world champion L. Roux.
Q: Your background is in downhill and cross-country skiing. Why ski mountaineering now?
I grew up in New England, learning to ski in Vermont and Maine. I was an alpine skier when I was younger and really did not like it when my parents dragged me out cross-country skiing. I found it boring.
I did a couple years of alpine racing at age 13-14 at Carrabasset Valley Ski Academy in Maine, however, after ACL knee injury when I was 14 I decided to try my hand at Nordic racing. I was inspired by a teacher and coach, also a former US cross country team member.
It turned out I loved it and continued skiing in college for a few years, though, not on the high level team.  I was not so into the high competitiveness in skiing and also got quite involved in rock and ice climbing as well as telemark skiing.
Nina Silitch at Pierra Menta
Nina with her partner, Valentine Fabre, climbing the Grand Mont at Pierra Menta 2012. (Photo by Xtof Aubonnet, from Nina's blog.)
I did not even know what ski mountaineering skis were until 2001 when we moved to Chamonix and in 2002 I tried my first pair when I joined my husband (High-Alpine Mountain Guides) on haute route trip.
I did my first ski mountaineering uphill race in 2005 after my first son was born in 2004. I loved the challenge of getting up the mountain and the fun ambience after the race with a nice pasta meal.
Eventually I learned that there were more than just uphill races. It really was not until we moved back to Chamonix after living in Switzerland that I really discovered the sport.
The first race I did my youngest was about 10 months old, I was still breast feeding. But I managed to go do the race and get back for the evening feed.
I grew to love all that skimo encompasses: the challenge of the climbs, the thrill of the descents, the technical aspects of the climbing. It combined endurance, skill, power and the beauty of mountains.
Q: There is quite a difference between the number of men and women athletes taking part in ski mountaineering racing. Is this only at the faster level or is it similar at the local races throughout Europe?
I think like most endurance sports – trail running or mt. biking – there are less women in theses sports. There are less women in general but I am pleased to see the pool of women growing in the sport.
I encourage women to get out and try it, not by shy. Start with an uphill, like I did.
Q: Why do you think more women don’t race? Because I don’t think it is a “manly sport” as all the girls that are racing are great looking. 😉
In Europe it is not a new sport, but rooted in the Alps. Yet, still the pool of women is much smaller than men.
In North America it is a newer sport but it’s great to see it growing like mt biking grew in the 90’s.
I think that sometimes the technical aspects of the sport can be intimidating but also the price of the equipment is an issue.
Q: Do you have any advice for the skimo community (organizers, novices, ski partners…) that could help to raise this number?
I am all for empowering women in sport, especially this sport.
Holding Women specific ski-mo clinics, camps or workshops is a great way to start. Races can give ½ price entries to women or even have uphill climbs that have free entries for women.
Offer community slide shows or presentations by athletes who race at a higher level, and include women to speak at these events.
Q: You obviously spend lots of time training but you have two young sons. How do you balance it?
Nina Silitch with sons at Pierra Menta 2012.
Nina Silitch with her sons at Pierra Menta 2012. (From Nina's blog.)
It is definitely a balancing act to train and race at a high level and be a mother.
In the winter I actually train less than I would in the fall when I am really doing more volume training.
During competition season this year the volume is lower as more time is spent racing and recovering. As an “older” athlete I have learned that I need more recovery time and the importance of listening to what I need.
With that said there are certain times in the competition season where the volume can be up as high as 20hrs, but mostly 12-15hrs not including racing.
This year, I raced 20 races – 7 world cups, 3 grande courses, 3 national championships as well as some smaller local races.
My boys do join me on hikes, bike rides and skis. I try to include them as much as possible in my training, and sometimes I have no choice so I make it work.  My older son is passionate about skiing. This year he tried skinning with Nordic skis and a narrow pair of skins.
Q: You live in Chamonix, a town with rich history of steepest skiing. Is that the reason?
We moved to Chamonix about 10 years ago when my husband completed his international mountain guides certification UIAGM. He was one of the first Americans to hold this certification. For a mountain guide, Chamonix is really the ideal place to work, as you can come home at night.
Q: Dreams for the future?
I have a dream of continuing to live a balanced lifestyle that integrates sports in the mountains, good health and wellness combined with family and friends.
I hope the sport of ski mountaineering continues to grow. I am proud to be a part of that growth and would like to see more women in the sport, more athletes in general as well as one day it become an Olympic sport.
I helped start the ski mountaineering club in Chamonix 3 years ago with only 5 members. This year I have taken over the role of the President and our membership has grown to almost 70 members. This is a great step in the right direction.
Q: Any advice for the racing folks back on the NA continent?
Keep helping the sport grow, especially with the younger athletes. It is with the youth that we can really start to develop the skimo programs. Offer camps and mentorship programs in schools and ski clubs/partnerships with ski shops.
Keep bringing on more racers that can excel against the Europeans who have been doing it for so long.

Thank you

Thank you Nina for sharing your experiences, dreams and inspiration with us.
» Nina Silitch blog

Filed Under: People (Interviews), Skimo Racing Tagged With: Chamonix, Nina Silitch, Pierra Menta, skimo World Cup

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