Sotskov takes interesting path to Vancouver

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine -- When the University of Maine at Presque Isle hired a nationally-known cross-country ski coach this past summer, they probably didn't know they might have the additional honor of having their coach go to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Yet, that's just what happened in the case of Alexei Sotskov.

Having been around the U.S for several decades, Sotskov built up programs at places like Vermont Academy, the Gunstock (N.H.) Nordic ski club and Kimball Union Academy, leaving a strong track record of growth and development.

Along the way he's worked with U.S. luminaries like Kris Freeman, Jed Hinkley and Carl Van Loan. His athletes have won an impressive 14 junior national titles.

Stoskov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and has spent a lifetime in the sport.

He was, at one time, the Russian trainer for the national Nordic combined team and served as the lead coach for the Nordic combined program at the School of Superior Athletic Performance in Russia.

Now Sotskov is happily in his first year coaching the NCAA Division I ski program at UMPI.

His relationship with the New Zealand national team, however, didn't start from just anywhere, as he recounted.

"Two summers ago I got invited to coach a junior team in Wanaka, New Zealand at the Snow Farm, and I spent nearly three months there. I spent most of my time coaching with their national team members," he said. "Then after my return to the U.S., I was staying in contact with most of the team and was suggesting what to do and helping them arrange logistics for them in Europe."

At the end of last winter, he returned to assist the New Zealand team for a training camp in Australia -- the relationship continued to grow as he spent more time with the team later this past summer.

These things do happen and used to with some regularity. Legendary Nordic coach Johnny Caldwell led the Aussie squad during the 1980 Games in Lake Placid.

Now, Sotskov has qualified a pair of cross-country skiers to compete in Vancouver. They are former Dartmouth skier Ben Koons and Katie Calder.

"Ben will compete for us for mostly experience and has a goal of a top-40; Calder, on the other hand, has very ambitious goals and hopes to crack the top 20 in the 10km freestyle race," Sotskov said. "She's been racing very well in Europe, and I am excited to help both of them achieve their goals."

Sotskov is thrilled to have his first-ever Olympic coaching assignment and will be doing at daily blog at www.UMPI.edu.

It's often said that good things come to those that wait and work like the dickens underneath it all. That's Alexei all the way.