Weekend event in Iola develops junior cross-country ski racers

Forty-five energetic athletes from 13 different Wisconsin and Minnesota Nordic ski programs gathered June 20-21 at the Iola Winter Sports Club for the second annual Igor Legacy Camp.

The camp, for ages 10-14, is designed to promote the growth and development of junior cross-country ski racers. It is primarily aimed at U12 (10- and 11-year-olds) and U14 (ages 12-13) skiers.

The intention is to create a camp to inspire and excite youth in Igor Badamshin’s honor. Badamshin, who passed away Jan. 24, 2014, at age 37, was a Soviet cross-country skier who competed from 1989-97. He won a bronze medal in the 4×10 relay at the 1993 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, and earned his best individual finishes of fifth place twice at the World Championships. In his later years, Badamshin resided in Cable, Wis., and coached several youth and junior athletes.

“This has been an awesome weekend,” said Bruce Manske, youth development coordinator for the Central Cross Country Ski Association. “Skiers and coaches from many different teams and backgrounds came together as one big team to have fun and help each other learn the finer points of training and Nordic skiing.”

The goal of the camp include promoting fun and fitness and an enthusiasm for Nordic skiing as a lifelong sport.

Participants learned the benefits of running, ski-walking and bounding; participated in classic and skate rollerskiing techniques; and worked on dryland technique drills.

The camp also had presentations teaching skiers how to understand training levels and the importance of teamwork.

“The Igor Legacy Camp was a success because young skiers from across the Midwest got together to work and play in an outdoor setting and learn about Nordic skiing from each other,” said Jake Barnes coach of the Iola Winter Sports Club’s team.