A nice problem?
Because of his increasing success on the World Cup circuit, Kris Freeman has decided to continue to compete internationally and will miss the Chevrolet U.S. Cross Country Championships, Jan. 3-11 in Rumford, ME. Freeman, currently 17th in overall World Cup standings, said he wants to take advantage of this prime opportunity to be part of the “red group” – the top 30 skiers on the World Cup circuit – and is still striving toward his goal of a podium finish this season. Freeman posted the best U.S. results since 1984 for two consecutive weekends in December, and is also the first American to be in the top 20 since 1983. The World Cup circuit resumes Jan. 6 in Falun, Sweden.
The dilemma of not having the best National skier at the National Championship races has so far been mostly a European issue. We should be happy that the US finally has a skier in this position internationally, and support the decision by the US Ski Team. If this nice “problem” grows in the future, US Ski Team may consider moving the US Championship races to the World Cup break in late January.
