2005 February

The last chance for World Cup skiers to step it up, feel good about themselves and build confidence before next years Olympic season is coming up with races in Lahti, Drammen, Oslo, Goteborg and Falun. The World Championship is over and the World Cup continues next weekend with individual classic sprint and 10/15-kilometer freestyle races in Lahti, Finland. From there the Cup continues in Drammen and Oslo, Norway and ends in Goteborg and Falun, Sweden....

Source: Official Oberstdorf Worlds web site at Queen of the Cross-Country Skiing tracks The Norwegian Marit Björgen is the phenomenal athlete of the WCS 2005 in Oberstdorf. The leader of the World Cup total had already declared in advance of the WCS that she wanted to win “at least three medals” — in the end she won five. Three of them are gold, one is silver and one bronze. Therefore, the 24-year-old won half of...

Frode Estil Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset Canada's Dan Roycroft put forth an excellent effort, staying within a few seconds of first place right up until around 45km. Roycroft ended up 31st, just ahead of Olympic and World Championship medalist Jaak Mae of Estonia. For the US team, David Chamberlain also had a great race, staying with the lead group for the majority of the race before dropping off and coming in 43rd. http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=7903

Watch the men’s 50-kilometer classic mass-start live here on FasterSkier.com. Here is a short preview and the startlist. Source: Langrenn.com The men’s 50-kilometer classic mass-start race starts 12.30 PM European time on Sunday or 6.30 AM Eastern standard time. Watch the race live here on Fasterskier.com. Look for that option on the right hand side of the home page. You get constant updates on each skier’s position as they pass certain kilometer markers. If you...

Source: Langrenn.com The Norwegian women’s coach Svein Tore Samdal was emotionally touched to tears by Mart Bjorgen’s 30-kilometer victory.

Oberstdorf, GER-Beckie Scott led the Canadian charge finishing 16th in the women’s 30-kilometre classic cross-country skiing event at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany on Saturday. The Olympic gold medallist from Vermilion, Alta. completed the unrelenting five-kilometre loop loaded with long, steep uphill climbs six times in a time of one hour 29 minutes 24.1 seconds. “It was definitely a tough day, but it was a medium performance considering this isn’t my favourite...

In the final women's race at the Oberstdorf World Championships, Norway's Marit Bjoergen proved that she has what it takes to win gold not only in the sprint and middle distance events, but now in a 30km classic mass-start as well. Bjoergen Celebrates An Emotional Victory In Oberstdorf

The two remaining races at the Nordic World Championship in Obertsdorf, Germany are the 30 and 50-kilometer classic mass-start races. The women are racing their 30-k on Saturday and the men their 50-k on Sunday. The following article is from the official World Championship web site

Source: Langrenn.com Hjelmset: Better Than In Lahti Frode Estil delivered an impressive second leg in the relay where only World Champion sprinter Vassilij Rotsjev was able to hang with. The Norwegian men were completely dominant in today’s World Championship relay. This surprised Frode Estil. -There is often one skier who isn’t having the best day, but that’s not how it was for us today. It went almost surprisingly well and it was fun to win...

-Norwegians claim double gold, Canadian World Cup rookies, Kershaw and Grey, shine posting best ever result for men's team- Oberstdorf, GER-The successful week continued for the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany on Friday. Canada made its second trip to the medal ceremony after World Cup rookies, Devon Kershaw and George Grey, teamed up to finish sixth in the star-studded sprint relay competition. It was the best relay...

In the first-ever World Championship two-person sprint relay, Norwegians Tore Ruud Hofstad and Tor Arne Hetland dominated the men's field, leading almost the entire race on their way to a gold medal in front of 20,000 spectators.