Description
Intention
Dryland training is designed to prepare skiers for the winter season.
Expectations
Skiers will need to come to practice each day ready to try their best, listen to coaches, and be great teammates. Skiers are expected to act with intention and integrity. For more on expectations at practice, see our Code of Conduct.
Equipment
Each skier will need:
- Running shoes
- Athletic clothing that is appropriate for the weather and lots of movement
- Waterbottle, water that can be worn (drink belt or running vest) for any hikes
- Snacks as they need
- Skate or combi boots (skate boots work a little better for all but the smallest skiers)
- Skate poles with rollerski tips (here)
- Skate rollerskis (here is a great source)
*the team has a limited number of loaner skis that will go first-come, first-served to first-year skiers in the program. Email jen.santoro@utahnordic.org for more info.
**if this is all new, no worries! Email jen.santoro@utahnordic.org and get all of your questions answered!
Training Modes
Practices will be in a variety of training modes including hiking, running, bounding, Spenst (jumping), skate rollerskiing, general, and specific strength.
The Focus is on Fun
Most of all, the focus will be on working together in a group to build a team that helps each other achieve their individual and team goals. It’s fun to be fit and ski fast!
Camps
Thanksgiving in West! Coming soon!
Junior Team Coaches
Julia Pierson – Junior Team Coach
Julia Pierson grew up in Traverse City, Michigan and was a multiple time Junior National podium finisher. She went on to run cross country and cross country ski at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she earned NCAA all-American status in skiing. Julia and her husband, Joel, moved to Utah in 2011 for graduate school at the U. She is in her second year coaching for the Junior Teams after spending two years in Devo. Julia also coaches in the TUNA adult program. She is a mom of two Devo skiers who can’t wait to grow into the Junior Team. When Julia isn’t coaching and keeping up with her kids, she works as a Physical Therapist at Integrative Physical Therapy. A fun fact is that Julia has a brother and sister who are also coaching juniors in their ski clubs!
Kate Wold – Junior Team Coach
Kate skied for Michigan Tech, where she also studied engineering. She has been coaching with TUNA’s Junior Teams for ten years and holds a USSA Level 100 license. In addition to cross country skiing, Kate enjoys making powder turns in the backcountry, and you might catch her on tele skis too.
Grace Swanson – Junior Team Coach
Grace is a third-generation TUNA member who grew up skiing with the program since she could walk. She represented TUNA in three US Junior National Championships before heading to the U for her undergraduate degree. Grace is a USSA Level 100 licensed coach and has coached in the Devo and Summer Mountain Bike programs. She is currently studying for the MCAT and hopes to attend medical school next year.
Jonathan Santoro – Lead Junior Team Coach
Jonathan spent his elite athletic career on one of the top US domestic cycling teams in the 90’s. After retiring from cycling, he took up cross-country ski racing in earnest and has been coaching since 2016. A USSA L100 licensed coach, Jonathan has a special knack for working with junior skiers and has coached many of the current Junior Team for years. He also lends his software development skills to TUNA as the technology advisor. Husband to Jen, father to two Junior Team athletes and two cats, he also still loves to ride bikes in the summer and skis xc, alpine, and tele in the winter when he isn’t jumping in the van to go to ski races.