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Meet the Coaches |
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Stay tuned for Coach Bio’s
Coach Chris Backstrum Chris is a science teacher at South. He has coached XC Skiing since South opened. His daughter skis for Montana State University.
Coach Margaret Hillhouse Margaret coaches part-time for South and spends the rest of her working time at Paramount Bicycles. She has a daughter and a son skiing for the University of Vermont.
Coach Liz Brewster
Background: I was born and raised in Alaska and attended East High School. I graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Nutrition Science and a minor in Exercise Physiology. I returned to Alaska after college and worked for 18 years as the Director of the Captain Cook Athletic Club and became an avid XC skier. I have competed in numerous races including the World and National Masters XC Ski Championships. I have also raced numerous times in a “Great America Ski Chase” race such as the Boulder Mountain Tour in Sun Valley and the Tour of Anchorage. In 2004, 2005, & 2006 I placed 2nd in the Tour of Anchorage-25K classical race. I have a freshman and senior on the South Ski Team.
Other things I do besides Ski: In the summer I like to mountain and road bike as well as hiking and camping. I also love to travel and spend time with my family.
Thank you coaches for your time and interest in South and XC Skiing. |
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Welcome to the South High Ski Team We are excited to be here and look forward to a great season. We are glad that you are considering being part of the team. Practice starts on Monday, Nov. 8th and continues through February 21 for most skiers. The Varsity team selected for State will continue skiing through Feb. 27, 2011. There are 9 races scheduled for this season, and everyone is expected to participate in the races. Attendance Practice starts at 2:30 Monday – Friday. If we are at South, practice will be over by 4:15. If we bus to Hilltop or Kincaid, we usually are back at school around 5 pm. Any absences must be prearranged with one of the coaches. If you miss a practice because of a weekly music lesson or other activity, please let your coach know ahead of time. Daily attendance will be taken. A schedule will be posted on the website, (http://www.alaska.net/ski4ever/), but as skiing conditions are subject to change due to the weather, skiers must also be adaptable to changes. Check the Hotline at 336-SKIS (336-7547). The schedule and any last minute changes will be posted on the white board in the ski room lobby by 2 pm. Always be prepared to run outdoors or practice either ski technique. Dress for outdoors unless you are notified otherwise. You will be assigned a locker in the team locker area and can keep your stuff there. Buses. When we have scheduled buses, you are expected to ride. It’s part of the team camaraderie and should be fun. The bus will depart at 2:30 and all skiers must be on the bus on time, fully waxed. In past years the district has had a shortage of buses, and this year may be no different. The situation can be frustrating and calls for a bit of flexibility and understanding. Please be patient with us.
Strength practices will be on Mon-Wed mornings at 6:15 in the Little Gym. These will start as soon as we can confirm space in the little gym. This is mandatory for everyone aspiring to race as A team. There will be optional Saturday practices early in the season. Equipment All skiers need both classic and skating gear. Combi boots are acceptable but a pair each of classic and skating skis are mandatory. We really prefer waxable skis. Two pairs of poles are also necessary as the techniques require poles of different lengths. There is a limited amount of equipment available on a first come basis. Use of this equipment will be assigned for the season: Skis - $30, Poles - $10, Boots - $20. Talk to the one of the coaches if you need equipment, and the staffs at AMH and Barney’s are very willing to help. Classic skis need to have the wax zones clearly marked on both sides of the skis. This can be done when you purchase your skis or the coaches will help early in the season. Clothing Hats and gloves are mandatory. Dress in layers using wool and/or 1-2 layers of breathable poly-pro synthetics under a wind layer such as your ski team jacket and Swix pants. Save your cotton for indoor workouts and strength. Ski racing uniforms, tops and bottoms, will be issued to all skiers and are expected to be used. Ski team jackets can be purchased. Skiers should have base layers that will fit underneath the race suits on cold days (most conditions). Wind fronted longjohns and windbriefs are strongly recommended. If racing uniforms are not returned at the end of the season, your name is submitted to the office and there will be consequences. Waxing Learning to wax skis is an important part of the Cross Country Ski Team. We will provide instruction on waxing and skiers will be responsible for waxing their own skis on a regular basis. Team wax will only be used for races or for extreme conditions. We request that each skier has their own cork and a selection of kick waxes for use on classic days. If you have purchased new skis, they will benefit from frequent glide zone waxing. If you do not have a bench and waxing iron at home, you are welcome to use team equipment, but please bring your own waxes. The basic hydrocarbon glide waxes in yellow, red and blue (temperature ranges: warm to about 14 F) should cover you for most of the season. A selection of kick wax in the same temperature range is great. Pick one brand and stick with it. Much of the team budget is spent on waxes. If you use your own, you will probably keep track of it. Participation/PE Credit In order to receive participation credit/PE credit, skiers must attend 75% of the practices or 4 days a week. Varsity skiers are expected to attend all practices. Races are not optional… We are a ski RACING team. Don’t be scared, this doesn’t mean you have to be super fast. In fact, you can come in last in a race and as long as it’s apparent that you tried, that’s okay. The team will eventually be broken up into squads and racing in the “open” category shouldn’t be nerve-racking. If you’re anxious about this, please talk to us. If for some reason you are going to miss a race, tell us one week in advance. Lettering To letter you must have at least 75% attendance. Ways to earn a letter include: Racing on the State Meet team; Placing in the top 35 overall in five or more races; Participation as a captain; Participation awards for seniors who have been on the team for four years; Discretionary award based on major contributions to the Team. State Team Selection Team selection for State will be based on results from 7 ASD races. Results will be based on Super Tour Scoring: 1 - 30pts, 2 – 25 pts, 3 – 21 pts, 4 – 18 pts etc. within the team. Other criteria include; consistency in practice and races; positive attitude, increasingly faster times. These criteria will be used as evidence only in completing the state team; the final selection ultimately rests with the South High coaching staff. A tentative schedule for races can be found on the NSAA website at http://www.anchoragenordicski.com/calendar.htm The South ski website
The South Ski Team Booster website http://www.alaska.net/~ski4ever/ |