The Arctic Circle Race is an annual race held on Greenland, and is normally a three-day race. This year, 50 meter/second winds blew down the participants’ camp, and caused the organized to shorten the race to a two-day event over 106 km. Olympic Champion Dæhlie still thought the race was his hardest ever. www.acr.gl
According to the official prize money lists for this season’s FIS Cross-County World Cup races, the women are making more than the men. The top three women, Marit Björgen, Gabriella Paruzzi och Valentina Schevchenko made more money than the best of the men, Rene Sommerfeldt.
Team Atomic member, Patrick Weaver, clinched the 2004 American Ski Marathon Series overall title with his third place finish at the recent California Gold Rush. Weaver described it as, “A long tough season.” Weaver wins ASM title by outsprinting Scott Loomis – photo by Mark Nadell When asked about the ASMS, Patrick show his enthusiasm. “I love racing the domestic marathons. US Master skiers are so positive and fun to race with. The volunteers over...
Cascade Crest Tour 25k/15k freestyle race put on my Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation at Mt Bachelor Nordic Center is the classic season finale for Pacific Northwest skiers. The challenging course consists of 1000 feet of elevation loss and gain over two laps of twisty and rolling course that runs through impressive old growth on the slope of Mt Bachelor. http://www.mbsef.org/XC%20race%20results/XC%20Results%2003-04/2004%20CASCADE%20CREST%20Results.pdf John Craig Memorial Classic:
Laura Spector of the Green Mountain Valley School(GMVS) in Waitsfield, VT won the Younger Junior Division (our J1) of the 5K Skate at the Italian National Championships in Livigno, Italy on Saturday, Mar 27. On difficult, hilly course at 1800 meters elevation, Laura had to start at the back of more than 70 participants and pass all to win. A six person team from GMVS is attending these Italian National Championships and the Italian Biathlon...
JoAnn Hanowski has been one of the top female skiers on Team Rossignol for the past 15 years. She resides in Duluth, MN and is an avian ecologist at the University of MN Duluth. It seemed like a simple plan, after 5 marathons in 8 weeks, I would end my ski season by skiing across Finland. No race entries and travel logistics, no flourocarbon waxes, no worries about mass starts and snow conditions. The idea...
The snow may be melting, but FasterSkier has lots of exciting features lined up for spring. A few of the articles to look for on FasterSkier over the next few weeks: Last year, Pete Vordenberg's
Claudia Kuenzel and Andrew Johnson made it two-for-two in the pursuit race at Snow Mountain Ranch. Kuenzel (Germany) had the fastest time in both the classic and skate legs to win by 36 seconds ahead of Subaru Factory Team skiers Katrin Smigun and Rebecca Dussault. In the men's race, John built a 22 second lead in the classic leg and held off Ivan Babikov, the day's fastest skater, to win by just under 10 seconds....
36-year old Kristen Skjeldal and “retired” skier Anders Eide skied clearly faster than the rest of the field at the 50km free technique race in the beautiful mountain village of Savalen, 100km north of Lillehammer. Lars Flora, residing in Lillehammer this year, had a great race in 14th place, beating several Norwegian National Team members. Of interest is also 17th place Øystein Rœnbeck, who skied in most of the US SuperTour races this early winter....
The CISS kicked off successfully today with the Devil's Thumb Classic Opener, won by US Ski Team member Andrew Johnson and Olympic gold medalist German National Team skier Claudia Kuenzel. Johnson finished 23 seconds ahead of Dave Chamberlain, while Kuenzel held off Rebecca Dussault by only 9 seconds. The blistering pace up the first hill was set by Eric Meyer and Wendy Wagner who both strided to the lead in the Climbing competition with 10...
Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura and Alatornion Pirkat Fin. champions in sprint relays The Finnish Champions in Sprint Relay in Rovaniemi on Saturday were the same teams as in Lieksa last year. Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura won the women's sprint relay, Alatornion Pirkat the men's relay. There were a bit changes in athletes, though. This year Pirjo Manninen and Mona-Liisa Malvalehto raced for Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura, last year Malvalehto was accompanied by Nita Tennilä. Jari Isometsä and Sami Jauhojärvi raced for...
Virpi Kuitunen took one more title at the Finnish Championships on Friday in Rovaniemi. Kuitunen won women’s 5 K race 8 seconds ahead of Pirjo Manninen. Elina Hietamäki took bronze. – It was tough for me. After Pragelato (last World Cup) I have been pretty relaxed for two weeks, and I noticed today in my breathing that I haven’t really had any tough races, Kuitunen told at the press conference.http://www.ounasvaara.net/smkisat/tulokset/naiset5km.htm Sami Repo took his season’s...
Norwegian Cross-Country World Cup Sprint stars Jens Arne Svartedal and HÃ¥vard Bjerkeli are among the favorites in the upcoming Norwegian 50 km National Championship. However, a 50 km race is not enough for them, they now have decided to ski the 90 km back home to Lillehammer after the long-distance race. But why? – asks langrenn.com. – As long as we ski far, let’s ski very far, jokes Jens Arne. But seriously, this is about...
The International Ski Federation (FIS) is considering making changes in the sprint event Olympic Champion Tor Arne Hetland expressed earlier this week to Langrenn.com that something needs to be done in order to avoid a development toward more and more specializing toward sprint or longer distance racing.
Sticky Wax One of Norway’s two top stone-grinders, Olav Stuveseth says that he will resign as “grinder†for the Norwegian National teams unless he sees some radical changes. The wax team can fall apart if Stuveseth quits. “I called Bjornar Hakensmoen on Monday and told him that I have lost the desire to be a part of this since they are not able to organize themselves. It’s impossible to do your best with the current...
This Friday marks the start of the Arctic Ski Race in Greenland. The race takes place through the magnificent countryside around Sisimiut on Greenland's west coast approx. 65 km north of the Arctic Circle. The total race distance is 160 km. The three-day race takes competitors through the magnificent, varied and sometimes harsh Greenlandic terrain. 3 Olympic participants The ski legend Bjœrn Dæhlie from Norway who is the most winning participant at the winter Olympic...
Some great photos from the Gold Rush at Royal Gorge. All photos by Olof Carmel, Carmel Studios. Start of the Gold Rush Justin Wadsworth checks on Andrew Johnson's position as they head for the finish Weaver outsprints Loomis to win ASM overall title
“It’s a small sport; don’t make it smaller by forcing specializing. Make it longer and change the prolog,” suggests Hetland.
March 19, 2004: The Heat is on, but so is the Spring Series! ****************************************** March 27 – April 4: Colorado International Spring Series The tour de France of cross-country skiing coming to Colorado The Colorado International Spring Series is a little more than one week away, and despite a heat wave of epic proportions, things are shaping up for an incredible week of racing and socializing with some of the world's best cross country skiers....