By: Kris Cheney Seymour
Olympic Biathlete Tim Burke marked the first two weeks of the 2006-07 Biathlon World Cup season with thrilling performances and outstanding results. The Paul Smiths, New York native had a 10th place finish in the Sprint Format and a strong relay performance that tagged the US Biathlon Team off in fifth position, just 21.7 seconds off the lead. I caught up with Tim in Fort Kent, Maine after he returned to the US and was training at the the 10th Mountain Lodge.
World Cup Biathlon action can be watched live on the internet! Check out www.usbiathlon.com
Congratulations on the beginning of your season Tim. How do you feel about the opening Biathlon World Cups and are you online with your season goals?
I am really happy with my performances in the opening World Cups. I feel that I am right where I want to be at this time of the year.
I have already reached many of my result goals for the season so now my main focus is on performance. I still feel that I have yet to put a great ski race together with a great shooting performance. Now I will focus more on that than any particular result goal.
The US Biathlon National Team coaching staff has changed quite a bit since the Olympics. Who are your new coaches? What is the atmosphere on the team? How is it affecting the overall feel of the program and what are the most dramatic changes?
Our two new National Team coaches are Per Nilsson and Mikael Lofgren. These guys have played a huge role in my success so far. Both Per and Mikael have brought a level of professionalism to the team that I had not seen before. These guys expect a lot of us at every practice and in return they are prepared, motivated and helpful at every training session.
Our team atmosphere has been very professional and upbeat this year. From the top of our organization to the bottom, everyone has done a great job, which has allowed the athletes to focus 100% on racing. I never have to worry about how my skis are going to be on race day or travel logistics and this has really helped me focus all of my energy on getting the best results possible.
What has changed in your training/preparation since the Olympics? Is there anything in your training that has always been consistent?
This year Per and Mikael definitely challenged me more than I have ever been challenged before in training. I increased my overall hours, increased the percentage of my intensity work and added a new strength program. Although I made some significant changes, the work that I completed in years past is what prepared me for this program; I never would have survived my new program without many solid years of training.
Although my training plan varies from year to year there are a few main principles that have remained constant. One aspect that I have always focused on is being as ski specific as possible in training. I want to be a fast skater so it only makes sense that the majority of my hours should come from skate skiing or skate roller skiing. Nearly all of my intensity sessions are also done skating. Another principle that I believe very strongly in is year-round intensity. The types of intensity workouts I do throughout the year vary but some type of intensity is always present whether it is May or December. Technique is another point that I always emphasize in my training. I feel good technique is like free speed and I am really surprised at how little others work on this.
What did the biggest week and month of training look like in the last year?
My training is divided into four-week blocks where the first three weeks are very challenging and are followed by a recovery week. My biggest week was 25 hours and biggest four-week block was 80 hours (72 hours in the first three weeks). During this time I also maintained 15% of my hours as intensity.
I feel like too many skiers get caught up with training as many hours as possible while forgetting about quality. Anyone can train 20 hour weeks but there is a big difference in a 20 hour week completed with three intensity workouts and 15 hours of skiing as compared to a 20-hour week done hiking in level one. The focus needs to be on quality and as ski specific as possible.
When you go on the road is there anything you must bring?
Hot sauce! I actually forgot my collection of hot sauce during our last trip to Europe and I paid dearly for my mistake. I was forced to endure a whole month of boiled potatoes and fish in Sweden with no spice. Never again will I make that mistake.
What was your development as a junior skier/biathlete like growing up in Northern New York? What coaches or organizations have you worked with as a young senior?
I was really fortunate to grow up in an area with a great junior ski program. I was involved with NYSEF Nordic from a young age and the coaches there did an incredible job at developing juniors. At NYSEF I learned what it was like to train hard all while having a great time.
As a young senior I worked with James Upham at the Maine Winter Sports Center. The MWSC was a great place for me as a young senior. They provided a world-class venue, a supportive community and a team atmosphere that was unavailable anywhere else. James was also very influential in taking my training from a junior level to that of what you need to be competitive at the senior level.
What keeps you motivated?
I love to compete and I truly enjoy all of the training throughout the year. My job is to be outside skiing, biking and running everyday. In my mind, it doesn’t get any better than that.
You’ve seen plenty of coaching, training and been to most corners of the skiing world. What advice would you give to US Juniors, their coaches and perhaps parents?
Have fun. It takes so many years of hard training to be competitive at the international level in any Nordic discipline. To make it through so much training, you have to enjoy the work. With that said, have fun but don’t be afraid to hop on the pain train!
Kris Cheney Seymour is the Head Ski Coach at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Visit: www.presqueisleskiing.wordpress.com
Posted by presqueisleskiing 
By: Gary Colliander
Posted by presqueisleskiing 
Posted by presqueisleskiing 
Coleraine, Minnesota- Meagan Toussaint (Madawaska, ME) and Brandan Ostroot (Minneapolis, MN) begin their efforts to earn a spot on the 2007 Biathlon Junior World Championship Team this Friday in Coleraine, Minnesota. Each traveled to the Mt. Itaska Biathlon venue on Christmas day to finish final preparations for the trials. They have been testing skis, spending time on the range and reviewing their race courses as the first start approaches. There will be daily updates as Toussaint and Ostroot compete for their first Junior National Team position.
The community at the University of Maine at Presque Isle is going to have an early Holiday gift this year. Motivational Life Speaker Pauliina Miettinen will present“Every Moment Counts” on Friday December 15th.
On Friday afternoon we had specific strength on roller skis and while we slept last night winter came to Presque Isle, Maine. Saturday morning we had training on snow and enjoyed the first local snow on the trails of Mantle Lake Park. Keep thinking snow! 
