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Jason Albert

Jason lives in Bend, Ore., and can often be seen chasing his two boys around town. He’s a self-proclaimed audio geek. That all started back in the early 1990s when he convinced a naive public radio editor he should report a story from Alaska’s, Ruth Gorge. Now, Jason’s common companion is his field-recording gear.
A Norway Sweep with Emil Iversen on the Top Step; Schumacher 18th, Patterson 21st

Working off the premise that history repeats itself, there were only so many ways this grueling 30 k skiathlon in Lathi, Finland could end. The plot, this weekend, thickened with the return of Norway to the field and all eyes on Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov post-two week break from a historic and runaway win at the Tour de Ski. Would Bolshunov hold the snap and power for 30 k with a horde of Norwegian men hungry...

Full CAS Ruling for WADA v. RUSADA Released

This week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport released its full ruling for the case: World Anti-Doping Agency v. Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). Last month, CAS made a binding decision on the case that received widespread condemnation from clean sport advocates and applause from within much of the Russian sports community. The cliff notes version of the Dec. 17 ruling halved the penalty from four to two years for Russia. WADA had sought a four-year ban from...

David Norris: Post-Covid and Easing into a Hopeful Winter (Part-Two)

This is part two of a two-part story about U.S. skier David Norris who was recently diagnosed with Covid-19. Part one explores how Norris experienced the illness, whereas part two will look into some of the medical literature around athletes and COVID and how Norris plans to build fitness post-illness. You can find part one here.    We’re going to start where it counts when considering endurance sports: the heart. This elegant and complex organ,...

Steady as She Goes this Season: Clare Egan on the IBU World Cup

Clare Egan of the U.S. Biathlon team has wowed this season. Through December and most of January, Egan popped steady and consistent reults on the IBU World Cup. Currently, she is ranked 19th on the IBU World Cup, ceding two spots to the top-ranked North American, Canada’s Emma Lunder in 17th.  Highlights of her season thus far are a 10th in a Hochfilzen, Austria sprint, 13th in a Hochfilzen pursuit followed by a ninth place...

Bolshunov Nails the Door Shut for Tour Win: Schumacher 18th Overall (Updated)

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. The inevitable conclusion at the sharp end of the 2021 Tour de Ski came to fruition. The ticks of the clock to second skier overall, France’s Maurice Manificat (34),...

Sweden’s Oskar Svensson Seizes the Stage 7 Day; The Alpe Cermis Awaits

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. In the men’s 1.5 kilometer classic sprint in Val di Fiemme, Italy – Stage 7 of the Tour de Ski – it was an overcast day for skiers with...

Bolshunov and Russia Sweep, Schumacher in 14th: Stage 4 of the Tour de Ski

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Stage 4 of the Tour de Ski introduced a change of scenery on Tuesday with the flanks of the Dolomites sinking from sky to valley floor in Tobalch, Italy....

Diggins and Brennan Go 1-2 in Stage 3 of the Tour de Ski (Updated)

  This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Sunday, Val Müstair, Switzerland hosted the last of three stages of the Tour de Ski in the picturesque alpen valley. With no fans present, and only traditional cowbells gonging...

Bolshunov Skis Big and Bold, Dario Cologna Sneaks in for a Podium

  This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.   Val Müstair, Switzerland and its snowfall were again the idyllic backdrops for the Tour de Ski (TdS) where the men raced a 15-kilometer classic mass start to kick...

U.S Paralympic Nordic: Making it Work Virtually

With Para Nordic athletes scattered around the country, making the best of sub-optimal proximity to athletes has been a challenge. Coaches of the U.S. Paralympic Nordic Ski Team turned an eye towards utilizing virtual meetings for check-ins and a substitute for in-person coaching.  According to Eileen Carey, Director of the Paralympic Nordic Ski Team, the team’s development athletes made use of the virtual sessions several times each week. Virtual meetings included “training sessions, camps, education...

Davos Skate Away: Pellegrino Wins with Logan Hanneman Leading the U.S. in 9th

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Italy’s Federico Pellegrino (30) loves the skate sprint. Before his win in the Davos, Switzerland, freestyle sprint on Saturday, Pellegrino had won 13 World Cup sprints. All of those...

David Norris: Post-Covid and Easing into a Hopeful Winter

This is part one of a two-part story about U.S. skier David Norris who was recently diagnosed with Covid-19. Part-one explores how Norris experienced the illness, whereas part-two will look into some of the medical literature around athletes and COVID and how Norris plans to build fitness post-illness.     There’s been drama this season on the World Cup. The opening act was the superb racing in Ruka – it was exactly the fist-bump we needed....

Trying to Catch-Up on the Whirlwind of World Cup News

The Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet published a story Monday claiming the Norwegian Ski Federation would not send cross-country skiers to any remaining World Cups before the World Championships starting on February 23, in Oberstdorf, Germany. No official statement has been published by the Norwegian Ski Federation regarding a long-term Norwegian World Cup hiatus. Although, Dagbladet claims that is imminent. It appears the rationale for a total withdrawal from World Cup races through February appears premised on...

During the long pandemic slog, there have been times to celebrate small victories. One of those moments was the Lost Nation Roll – a skate rollerski race on October 25 at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. Over a month ago now, during which Covid-19 restrictions have become more restrictive in Vermont, athletes were able to compete and grasp, even for a few hours, some normalcy. Justin Beckwith, the competition director for NENSA and Ollie Burruss, a...

With a Razzle Dazzle Hop-Skate Klæbo Wins Ruka 15 k Pursuit: Gus Schumacher 32nd for U.S.

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. The human condition, let’s face it, is rife with fragility. Some days it’s up, others it’s down. Last Friday, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo of Norway had a surprised look of...

Johaug in Command for Ruka Triple Win: Rosie Brennan Spots Up for a Career Best Fifth Overall

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. For those new to the pursuit format, racers begin a set “time back” from the first starter, who in this case is the overall leader after two races. A...

Setting Up Tension for Sunday’s Final – Johannes Høsflot Klæbo Wins Ruka’s 15 k Classic

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. A spicy rivalry in sports just heightens the tension. Although Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has achieved wunderkind status, last season his prowess was usurped by a stronger Alexander Bolshunov...

10 K Classic in Ruka Serves Up a Win for Therese Johaug: Rosie Brennan 8th

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. Just a few more rotations of the earth and we’ll be in December – trending towards solid wintertime. The World Cup, as it has for 19 years, swung up...

Norway’s Erik Valnes Outduels Klæbo to Win Ruka’s Classic Sprint

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.   At roughly two minutes into the men’s final of the 1.4-kilometer classic sprint in Ruka, Finland, the race broke apart. On a notoriously steep and taxing hill, Norway’s...

Sweden Locks Up the Ruka Sprint Podium: Brennan Leads the U.S. in 17th

This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award.  To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com. It’s a win to open the World Cup season in Ruka, Finland for twenty-year-old Linn Svahn of Sweden. Svahn’s victory in the 1.4-kilometer classic sprint on Friday capped a...