Whether it was Sadie Bjornsen leading the race at 5 k, Liz Stephen scoring the best result ever for a U.S. woman in a World Champs 30 k by finishing 11th, or Rosie Brennan outsprinting Justyna Kowalczyk for 16th, the American women ended World Championships on a high note.
Therese Johaug did what she had to do to beat Norwegian teammate Marit Bjørgen on Saturday in the final women's race of 2015 World Championships: the 30 k classic mass start. She did so by inadvertently attacking around 7 k: "I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s early. I have 23 kilometers to the end,'" Johaug recalled.
FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, is brought to you by the generous support of Kikkan Randall training wear. FALUN, Sweden — It was another almost-there day for Emily Nishikawa of Canada, who finished 32nd in the 30 k classic at World Championships on Saturday. After scoring her first World Cup points in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this season, Nishikawa has been hovering around the top 30. The placed 30th...
Canada and the U.S. men's teams battled for a close 10th and 11th positions in Friday's 4 x 10 k relay at the 2015 FIS Nordic World Championships in Falun, Sweden. While both teams acknowledged a desire for improvement, they were pleased with their respective efforts.
After missing out on a podium at the 2014 Olympics, the Norwegian men put themselves back on top in Friday's 4 x 10 k relay at World Championships in Falun, Sweden. With his characteristic finishing kick, Petter Northug outlasted Sweden's Calle Halfvarsson for gold, and France took bronze.
When the French won bronze in the Sochi relay, it was the first championships-level relay medal ever in their history. But Norway had struggled then. Today they did not, and the French were still bronze. "Maybe we have some place in the newspaper tomorrow, but a little one," Jean-Marc Gaillard said. "But that’s not the most important for us. The most important is to have fun with the team."
Every year, millions of Americans travel south on spring break in search of warm weather and sunny beaches.
There are just over two weeks until the cannon fires for the 36th annual Yellowstone Rendezvous Race, on March 7, 2015. Skiing on the Rendezvous Ski Trails is FAST and FUN! There is plenty of snow and the trails are skiing with mid-winter conditions. Don’t be sorry you missed the fun!
That was a great Birkie! We sure got lucky with the weather. Had race day been as cold as it was two plus days earlier or the days after, it would have been a major challenge to simply hold the event. We were also fortunate not to have had a warm up at all in the month leading up to the event as it had been quite a while since we had received substantial new snow. The race went off smoothly and with superb conditions!
BeFAST Sportgear is excited to announce that we are now licensed to teams and clubs at both the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan!
Jakroo Custom Apparel, who entered the Nordic custom apparel market in 2013, continues to invest in the sport of Nordic skiing. For the second year in a row the custom garment manufacturer has come on board as a “Major Partner” in sponsoring the biggest Junior Cross Country event in North America. This year, Junior Nationals is at Auburn Ski Club Training Center and Far West in Truckee, California, only three hours from Jakroo headquarters. The National Championships will draw 400+ top junior skiers, age 14-19, from across the country.
ONE WAY Sport USA came away from the 2015 American Birkebeiner feeling even more excited for the future. American athletes Torin Koos and Thomas Seidel finished 2nd and 3rd in the 54k Classic race on their ONE WAY Sport poles in a near photo finish as all podium positions finished within seconds of each other.
A Russian racer skied over Sadie Bjornsen's tips 2.5 kilometers into the 4 x 5 k relay, but the Americans fought back strong to finish fourth. "We all skied the best we possibly could today," said Liz Stephen. "I’m already dreaming for the next chance at a podium.”
Bryan Fletcher leapt into contention in the large hill/10 k individual at 2015 World Championships with the 13th-best jump to start the race within 44 seconds of first. In the fight for third until the last few hundred meters, he placed fifth for U.S. Nordic Combined's best individual result at World Championships since 2009.
After a fifth-place in the 2014 Olympic relay, Norway came back with vengeance to take the 4 x 5 k relay at the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden. The Swedish team, featuring Charlotte Kalla and Stina Nilsson, overcame Finland to earn a silver medal in front of a home crowd.
FasterSkier sat down with Jessie Diggins and Caitlin Gregg on Wednesday to talk about their surprise double podium in the 10 k freestyle at the 2015 World Championships, and what it means to them and U.S. cross country skiing.
Johan Olsson skied to a convincing victory in Wednesday's 15 k freestyle in Falun, Sweden in front of a home crowd. The 34-year-old who focuses solely on championship race overcame what he called a "mission impossible" after facing a year of illness and time apart from his family. He was followed by Maurice Manificat who won France's first medal in 10 years. Anders Gløersen of Norway finished third.
Ivan Babikov couldn't believe what he was hearing early in the 2015 World Championships 15 k freestyle. Two years after placing fourth in that race, he was in danger of finishing near last if he didn't speed up. Babikov turned it on for his second lap, which ended up being 24 seconds after than his first, to place 20th. Also for Canada, Graeme Killick placed 32nd and Jess Cockney was 57th in his first distance race in almost three months.
While the American men missed their personal marks in Wednesday's 15 k freestyle at World Championships, some, like Kyle Bratrud, were more satisfied with their performances than others.
Just how anomalous was the podium in the women's 10 k freestyle at FIS World Championships on Tuesday? We find that FIS points still provide a great overall correlation to the results - and that while the five unseeded early starters had an advantage, the biggest losers in terms of snowstorm effects appeared to be the Germans, not the Norwegians.