FasterSkier · October 31, 2004
Norwegian top skiers Kristian Horntvedt and Jens Arne Svartedal have developed asthma problems and are still struggling with the after-effect from racing in extreme cold conditions at last years Norwegian championship at Bardufoss.
– I had no problems with the cold temperatures in Bardufoss, but I got sick a few days after I got home says Horntvedt to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten
Jens Arne is not as concerned for national team skiers with a big support system to help them but more for the other skiers that competed at Bardufoss.
– There were several hundred competitors, many can have been hurt as I was without knowing what’s wrong, says Svartedal and adds:
– I would never have raced three races in those conditions if I had known what I know now.
Translator's note:
I raced four races at last years US Master Nationals in Marquette, Michigan in January. Three of these were held in extreme cold conditions. I struggled in February, but am not sure if I developed any other problems than simply being tired from racing in very cold conditions. I will probably be a little more careful in the future and reduce the number of consecutive races in those conditions or not race at all. I would have been fine with cancellations of a couple of these races but decided to race since the races were going to be held and were not called off. Medals were going to be awarded!
Here are the links to some Fasterskier.com articles for races held in extreme conditions last year. Send us comments if you did any of these or similar races and developed problems.Â
US Nationals Sprint race:
RUMFORD, Maine (Jan. 8) – Leif Zimmerman (Bozeman, MT) shot past defending champ Carl Swenson (Park City, UT) in the final 100 meters despite Arctic wind gusts Thursday to win the men's sprint title at the Chevrolet U.S. Cross Country Championships while Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) led all the way for the women's title. It was Randall's second U.S. title, Zimmerman's first.
http://www.fasterskier.com/racing.php?id=793
Super Tour: COLERAINE, Minn. (Jan. 18) – Bitter, biting cold and wind (-15 F., -35 wind chill) forced a four-hour delay in SuperTour races Sunday at Mount Itasca before U.S. Development Team skier Chris Cook (Rhinelander, WI) and Norwegian college student Sigrid Aas skied off with the freestyle-technique races. http://www.fasterskier.com/racing.php?id=825
Masters Nationals:
The Men’s and Women’s Pursuit race were held at Master Nationals in Marquette, Michigan on Tuesday. A few inches of new snow and a chilling 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit met the men’s category for the 10 AM start. It had warmed up (slightly) for the women’s 11.30 start. http://www.fasterskier.com/news.php?id=829
, but made it into a mass-start event where all age categories, men and women started together. <a href=http://www.fasterskier.com/racing.php?id=842)
http://www.fasterskier.com/racing.php?id=842Noquemanon http://www.fasterskier.com/racing.php?id=846
Over 1100 skiers participated in the 2004 Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon. A spectacular event in cold temperatures, however the competition was hot.
