Junior Ava Schieffert’s training work is leading to success

Ava Schieffert, a junior on the BSM Nordic team, has found great success this year, partly because of a unique training trip she took combined with her high school training.

Each day, Schieffert skied roughly about 12 miles or more depending on what the focus of the day is. “It’s nice to be outside after a long day at school skiing alongside your teammates,” Schieffert said.

Earlier this year, Schieffert went on a ten day nordic ski training trip to Canada to help train for a possible shot at qualifying for Junior Nationals this year. Schieffert went to Canmore, Alberta, Canada, about an hour and a half west of Calgary, with her club team, Endurance United. “The entire trip was based on ski training; we skied or waxed every moment of the trip,” Schieffert said.

The trip consisted of rigorous workouts and high altitude training. “With altitudes at 5,000 (feet), it a ects your heart rate and your training zones,” Schieffert said.

Schieffert started each day at 7:00 in the morning with a 30 minute run and some agility work. At 9:00 a.m., her team started the first of two rigourous ski sessions for the day.

Most athletes would focus on strength, power, and endurance; although those are important parts to the sport, Schieffert took a different approach. “I personally focused on my weight transfer during V1 (how you skate up hills) because it [was] something that I needed to work on in order to do well this season,” Schieffert said.

Schieffert’s team ended up having the chance to practice at the Canmore Nordic Centre, where the Canadian biathlon team trains. “It was super cool, but also frustrating to see all of these professional biathletes and skiers effortlessly skiing, because for many of us it is so hard and they make it look effortless,” Schieffert said.

While at the Canmore Nordic Centre, she got advice from top athletes in the sport such as Jennie Bender. “Her advice has kept me going throughout the season and her advice is a great motivator when the workouts are hard,” Schieffert said.

Since the trip, Schieffert feels that her skiing has improved. “I feel much more prepared this season. My skiing and endurance has improved, as well as my technique and the overall ability to race,” Schieffert said.

Schieffert and the Nordic team are looking forward to a successful high school season and hoping that everyone can reach their goals and stride to success this year. “My goal is to ski each race with good technique and overall enjoy the high school season,” Schieffert said.

Recently, sophomore Charlie Brown at Groves Academy (a team co-op) and Schieffert finished first and second in the 5k skate. “I was really happy with the way I skied and I felt strong throughout the race,” Schieffert said.

Schieffert continues to train hard and is hoping she and the rest of the team can have a successful rest of the season.