In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with U.S. Ski Team standout Ben Ogden for an in-depth conversation about his journey from small-town Vermont skier to World Cup podium contender. Ben shares how the ski culture in Southern Vermont, with deep community roots and role models like the Caldwells and his own family, gave him the belief that a professional ski career was possible. He reflects on his time at UVM, why he chose to pursue a degree in engineering while racing at an elite level, and the challenges of balancing NCAA competition with World Cup and Olympic aspirations.

The discussion dives into Ogden’s development as an athlete, including his close relationship with coach Patrick Weaver and the way he now takes ownership of his training plans. He opens up about lessons learned from sickness setbacks, the importance of managing energy throughout the long World Cup season, and how he’s beginning to incorporate more self-directed decisions like altitude camps. Ben also shares how training at the Center of Excellence in Park City has helped him refine his strength work and prevent injuries, highlighting the importance of technique and intent in the weight room.

Finally, the conversation explores the dynamic within the current U.S. men’s team, which Ogden describes as one of the strongest and most supportive groups in program history. From his battles and friendship with Gus Schumacher to the camaraderie that keeps the team motivated through the highs and lows of World Cup life, Ben emphasizes how essential teamwork is in what is often overseen as an individual sport. With insights into training philosophy, career balance, and the unique culture of American skiing, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the sport’s rising stars.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with Tim Burke — four-time Olympian, 2013 World Championship silver medalist, and current Director of Athlete Development for U.S. Biathlon. Tim shares his journey from growing up near Lake Placid to becoming the first American to wear the yellow bib on the Biathlon World Cup, including the pivotal coaching change that transformed him from a middle-of-the-pack skier into a podium contender. The conversation blends personal stories, career-defining moments, and a candid look at the mindset needed to compete on the world stage.

The discussion dives deep into Tim’s transition from athlete to coach, revealing the challenges and surprises of working with the next generation. He explains how his approach has evolved to meet the unique motivations and needs of individual athletes, why avoiding early specialization is critical, and how the U.S. team benefits from blending American and European coaching philosophies. Tim also reflects on mental toughness — from handling the pressure of Olympic expectations to developing the ability to “stay in your lane” amid distractions — and offers practical advice athletes can use to build confidence and resilience.

Rounding out the episode, Tim outlines the major initiatives he’s spearheaded at U.S. Biathlon, including the rebirth of the Junior National Team, elite development camps, and the highly successful “Project X” program that recruits top Nordic skiers into biathlon. He shares how these efforts are expanding the talent pipeline, why collaboration with college and club programs is essential, and what it might take to push U.S. Biathlon to the next level internationally. It’s an inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at how world-class athletes are developed — and the culture shifts needed to grow the sport in America.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with former U.S. Olympic cross-country skier Noah Hoffman for a wide-ranging conversation that bridges elite sport, personal growth, and advocacy. Hoffman shares his journey from growing up in Aspen and racing World Cup straight out of high school, to representing Team USA at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics. He opens up about the pivotal moments in his ski career, including training collaborations with Canadian legends like Alex Harvey and Devon Kershaw, and how his early embrace of daily blogging helped him connect with fans and secure vital sponsorships.

Hoffman dives deep into his training philosophy, from massive volume blocks to the thousand-hour training year that ultimately pushed him to the brink. He reflects candidly on the lessons learned from a career built on structure and discipline—sometimes to the point of rigidity—and how personal challenges, like a major breakup, intersected with his athletic performance. The discussion touches on his relationships with coaches John Callahan and Zach Caldwell, and how the pursuit of peak aerobic capacity shaped his racing strategy, particularly as a distance specialist.

The conversation then shifts to Hoffman's extensive work in anti-doping education and advocacy. He recounts firsthand experiences racing against athletes later caught for doping, including the impact of Russia’s state-sponsored program at Sochi, and how these moments motivated his involvement with USADA and Global Athlete. From educating young athletes to pushing for systemic reform, Hoffman offers a unique perspective on the challenges of ensuring clean sport at the highest levels. This is a compelling listen for anyone interested in the intersection of high-performance sport, personal development, and the fight for fairness in competition.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian dive deep into summer racing strategy, the value of time trials, and how athletes can sharpen both their physical and mental tools during the offseason. They discuss the timing and purpose of summer race series like the Jericho roller ski nationals, emphasizing the importance of high-intensity efforts at low altitude, building speed endurance, and using races as opportunities to experiment with technique and warm-up routines. Both coaches highlight how summer testing helps athletes prepare for winter without the pressure of results, focusing instead on development.

The conversation then shifts to race-day execution. Andy shares stories from sprint time trials in Bozeman, unpacking how to build a professional pre-race routine that starts hours before the gun goes off. The duo explore best practices for warm-ups—including why shorter races need longer warm-ups—and how to avoid the common mistakes athletes make, like rushing intervals or skipping proper cooldowns. Brian relates this to the biathlon scene, describing the unique demands of shooting under pressure and how junior athletes can use process-based goals to improve performance.

They close the episode by diving into the mental side of racing: regulating nerves, using internal and external cues, and building routines that help athletes switch between intensity and levity. From detailed warm-up strategies to mental resilience, this episode is packed with practical insights for athletes at every level looking to level up their summer preparation and show up sharper in the winter.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian sit down with Dr. Sharon Henry, Professor of Physical Therapy Emerita at the University of Vermont, to explore the intersection of neuroscience, balance, and athletic performance in Nordic skiing. With decades of research in neuromotor control and a unique perspective shaped by both clinical work and personal experience in the ski community, Dr. Henry offers an eye-opening discussion on how balance is developed, trained, and often overlooked in ski training programs. Her work emphasizes the importance of sensory integration—particularly the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems—as foundational to developing effective skiing technique.

Dr. Henry shares insights from a groundbreaking cohort study tracking elite skiers through preseason screening and injury surveillance. The findings underscore that injury history is a stronger predictor of future injury than preseason movement screens alone, and point to a need for more nuanced assessments of movement competency. She argues that many training programs undervalue true balance development and calls for a systematic approach to training balance—treating it not as a static trait but as a skill that can be built and refined over time through targeted exercises and neuromuscular challenges.

The conversation dives deep into practical strategies for coaches working with youth and masters athletes alike. From fun, developmentally appropriate drills for U14 skiers to perturbation-based balance challenges under fatigue for elite racers, Dr. Henry offers a clear, science-backed framework for integrating balance into regular strength routines. She also explores the effects of screen time, aging, injury, and travel on balance, leaving listeners with a powerful takeaway: balance is trainable, critical, and often the missing link between good athletes and great performers.

More about Dr. Henry

In this episode, we welcome seasoned coach Rick Kapala, Program Director and Head Nordic Ski Coach at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation since 1987, a three‑time US Ski & Snowboard Coach of the Year, and a long‑standing force in developing junior athletes and national racing programs.

Rick shares his incisive perspective on the current landscape of junior development in the U.S., highlighting both the strengths and gaps in nurturing emerging talent. We dive deep into club development strategies, exploring how local and regional programs can create pathways for young athletes to thrive. His pragmatic insights, drawn from decades of experience building full‑spectrum ecosystems in skiing, offer listeners a compelling roadmap for effective athlete development at every level.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in endurance training: overtraining versus overreaching. Timed perfectly with mid-summer volume weeks, they discuss how athletes at every level—from juniors to pros—can recognize the signs of training stress and avoid the downward spiral of under-recovery. They also reflect on their own personal experiences with fatigue, including suppressed heart rates, poor race performance, and the emotional roller coasters that often accompany intense training blocks.

The hosts share practical tips on managing high-volume weeks, emphasizing hydration, fueling, sleep, and recovery. They dive into how life stress outside of training—work, school, emotional stress—can compound the physical load and lead to burnout.

This episode also answers listener questions about heart rate suppression, explains how to detect early signs of overtraining, and challenges common assumptions around training intensity for juniors and masters. Whether you're aiming for a 30-hour training week or just trying to balance skiing with your job and family, this episode offers grounded, science-backed advice to help you stay healthy, consistent, and race ready.

Overtraining vs. overreaching vs burnout? 

Fast talk podcast 

CTS: Overtraining signs, symptoms, and solutions for athletes 

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian welcome Gus Kaeding, the Director of Performance and Analytics at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Gus shares his unique journey from competitive skiing and coaching to leading data-driven projects that are reshaping how the U.S. Ski Team approaches athlete development, Olympic criteria, and performance tracking. The trio kicks things off discussing the role of summer racing in athlete development, the balance between training and racing, and how athletes from Jessie Diggins to juniors are blending diverse modalities like trail running and gravel biking into their training.

The conversation then dives deep into the world of data and sport science. Gus explains the methodology behind building athlete criteria, evaluating development pipelines, and the pros and cons of metrics like FIS points. He offers insights into how data helps remove bias from selection and funding decisions, and how prioritization at the National Governing Body (NGB) level influences everything from junior athlete support to Olympic medal performance forecasting. The episode explores the cultural and structural challenges the U.S. faces compared to dominant ski nations like Norway and how the U.S. can improve athlete retention and development.

Finally, the discussion takes a turn into ski technology with an in-depth look at the "stone grind arms race" following the ban on fluoros. Gus breaks down how national teams are innovating ski bases for maximum glide, the role of hand structure, and the complexity of testing in changing conditions. Whether you're a data nerd, a wax tech, or just a fan of high-performance sport, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tools, systems, and strategies driving U.S. skiing forward.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive into the world of Nordic sports broadcasting with guest Ryan Sederquist—voice of U.S. Ski and Snowboard Live, host of the Seder Skier Podcast, and longtime storyteller of endurance sport. They start with updates from their respective summer training camps, sharing practical insights into combi workouts, double-pole intervals, and the developmental goals behind junior camps in Park City and Bozeman.

As Ryan joins the conversation, the episode takes a deep dive into how he became a voice of cross-country skiing—from childhood tape recorder broadcasts to commentating Holmenkollen 50Ks. His journey through coaching, sports journalism, and distance running reflects a deep love for sport, storytelling, and the community that surrounds them. His anecdotes bring to life the passion and hustle behind the microphone and the keyboard.

The trio then explores the current state and future of ski racing media. They critique outdated broadcast formats, the lack of data integration, and missed storytelling opportunities—and propose bold solutions to elevate the viewer experience. From the potential of drone footage and real-time heart rate data to athlete press conferences and FIS-owned streaming platforms, this episode is both a behind-the-scenes exposé and a vision for the future of Nordic sport.

In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian dive into some timely listener questions and share their insights from a busy summer of training, testing, and travel. Brian recaps his recent certification at the IBU Academy and offers a behind-the-scenes look at US Biathlon’s June testing camp, including motion capture biomechanics, shooting analysis, and fatigue-based vision research. Andy previews the return of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup to Lake Placid and highlights the value of domestic World Cups for athlete development.

The duo then unpacks the complexities of zone 2 training, addressing a listener question from a master's skier struggling to keep their heart rate low during roller skiing. Andy and Brian explore how perceived effort, recovery capacity, and training volume all influence heart rate zones—offering practical advice for athletes balancing technique work, fatigue, and the realities of life outside training. They also stress the importance of easy days and emphasize that not all gains come from grinding.

The final segment dives deep into interval training strategies: How long should intervals be for marathon racers? What are the trade-offs between 3-minute reps vs. 15-minute threshold sets? The conversation covers emerging trends in high-quality, power-based interval sessions, the science of VO₂ kinetics, and why all endurance sports are trending toward speed and power as competition intensifies. Whether you're a coach, junior athlete, or master skier, this episode offers practical tools to fine-tune your training.

Linked studies:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333007182_Energy_system_contribution_during_competitive_cross-country_skiing

https://www.calibratedcoaching.com/blog/energysystems/vo2kinetics