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Assorted Statements from Marcus Nash

Marcus Nash has been kicking around on the US team for quite a few years now. On December 13, he recorded his best ever result in a World Cup - 23rd place in the 10km classic race in Val di Fiemme. You can read more about this result in NashCracksTop25, a report from US Sportsline. 5 days later, lounging in his room at the Hotel Kulm in Davos, Marcus had some time to put down his guitar and chew the fat.

On the recent result and World Cup in general:

It's pretty weird. The FIS points I got in Val di Fiemme were the same as in Beitostolen - there I was 57th, here I'm 23rd. I think it's because the Italian course was much harder and the waxing trickier.

I didn't expect to be in the top 30 in classic. I didn't put a lot of pressure on myself, and so I think I skied more relaxed. The coolest thing is that I was only 22 seconds out of the top 10. I didn't sleep so much that night, thinking about those 22 seconds. That gives me a lot of confidence going into the next race.

I've scored World Cup points a couple of times before - in Kiruna last year and in the Trondheim, both skating races. This was definitely my best classic World Cup, hey, probably my best World Cup.

I think classic is more competitive right now. There are so many Finns and Norwegians that are better in classic. Take Norway. They have 10 guys who can ski well and be up there in classic, but only Daehlie and Alsgaard can win a skating race.

On Olympic selection:

There's less pressure now for the US Olympic trials. You only have to miss the wax or break a pole and that's it. There's still the money. (US 10,000 up for grabs, winner take all in the pursuit race). And you only ski faster when have no pressure.

This is how the US selection procedure works.

The first selection stage is in World Cup. If you make it into the top 30 (World Cup points), then you are qualified.

The second stage is in the US Olympic qualifiers in January. There's 3 races, a 30km free, a 10km classic, and a 15km pursuit. (Note distances for men only). They take then the winner of each race.

If the team is still not filled, then they use a World Cup points system to fill the remaining spots.

I think putting the emphasis on winning is important. If you finish 3rd in a couple of the qualifiers, then you're skiing okay but you're not going to make the top 30 at the Olympics. If you can win one of these races, then maybe you're capable of going on to do well in Nagano. The guy who can win can handle the pressure and pull out every last second.

In 1994, in Lillehammer, I only got to start in the 30km. I was 65th place, about 14 minutes out. Basically I got my butt kicked. Now I've made selection, my goal is to get into the top 30 and get as many WC points as possible. I'll try to peak for the Olympics and see if I can get up into the top 20.

The Cultural Marcus Nash
(- a contradiction in terms?)
Last book read:
Does playboy count?
Current CD/tape:
Junior Brown
Last good movie seen:
The Full Monty
On training:

I've trained about 700 hours this last year. That's moving up from 650, 600, the years before.

This year I've done a lot more strength training in the gym, a lot of power training. I used to do 15-20 repetitions, now I don't do anything more than 8-12, and I try be powerful. I'll worry about endurance when I'm out on the rollerskis or mountain bike. I used to go and double pole up the steepest hills I could find, now I'll just go out and double pole for a couple of hours. There's been a huge improvement in my double poling. I feel a huge difference. But you can do power work outside as well, as long as your'e putting in max efforts. Making it explosive, that's the key.

On playing guitar:

Playing guitar is huge. Especially being away all the time during the winter. I just come back after training, pick up the axe and play for hours. You've got to find something you can absorb youself in, take your mind off skiing. Yep, that's what keeps me sane, playing guitar, drinking beer and staring at women.

I've been playing guitar now for two and half years. The band is slowly coming together (team-mate Justin Wadworth plays the bass). We just have to get Scott Loomis skiing faster and get him over here in Europe. And then we need a drummer.

On women:

Being away from my girlfriend, it's a pain in the ass. But it's probably easier for me than it is for her - I'm going to new places, seeing different countries. Then again, if I was with her all the time, she would have dumped me by now, so maybe it's a good thing.

Things aren't as bad now. We're only over in Europe for 6 weeks now, and we'll be back for Christmas. In 94/95, we spent four mounths in Östersund in Sweden, then another month on the road back home. That was just too much.

On dietary supplements:

I'm drinking a lot of protein drinks - I reckon it makes a huge difference with recovery. Plus a heap of vitamins and creatine. Oh, there's also this herbal stuff, Endurox, it's supposed to slow the onset of lactic acid build up.

I think people get too caught up in it (taking supplements) - I know I'm taking a lot of this shit, but I'm just giving it a go for while.

We leave Marcus playing his new song, his first original song, 'World Cup Blues'. Corny lyrics, simple blues riff, but it sounds pretty good. Everyone has to start somewhere.


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