Racer’s were greeted at bib pickup this morning with a jumbo screen wire to wire video of the A final at the Estonian World Cup. Seeing Koos, Newell and Cook doing so well had everyone fired up and excited to get after it. Temperatures were in the low single digits but the sun was shining for the 10/15km Classical interval start CXC Super Tour at Telemark Resort.
The course today was shortened due to thin snow to a 2.4 km loop with a man made base of bomb proof full depth tracks and one inch of miraculously appearing natural fluff overnight. The organizers laid out a format similar to the previous week at Itasca. 40-15 second interval starts with a 20-30 minute break, repeated through the seeded Men and Women. Action was tight with room to pass on the double tracked best line course. Competition was exciting for the athletes and great for the large turn out of spectators. With over 400 starts, many of whom were High School and JO racers in the afternoon, there were gangs of younger athletes and their parents to cheer on their SuperTour and Collegiate heroes in the morning events.
Lars Flora (Subaru Factory) again showed why he is the Super Tour Overall Leader, winning by over 31.8 seconds in 37:45.5. Zach Violett (FSx) who raced yesterday’s 45km Noquemanon, skied a strong race finishing second in 38:18.3. Vahur Teppan (UAF) took third place in 38:33.7 ahead of Bryan Cook (CXC), 38:38.7 and Marius Korthauer (UAF), 38:47.5. Teppan was the top U23 and top collegiate skier. Top Juniors included Henri Soom (UAF) OJ, Jesse Smith (Traverse City) J1, Tony Mattioli (Superiorland) J2, Nate Brown (Minnehaha Nordic) J3, and Luke Brown (Moose Nordic) J4. Luke Gesior (Waukesha, WI HS) won the boys HS class.
Lindsey Weier (NMU) stormed the women’s race by 26.6 seconds to win in 27:44.6. Laura Valaas (CXC) who has dominated the Super Tour sprints proved that she skis distance races real well too, finishing second in 28:11.2. Lindsay Williams (NMU) finished a close third, 28:13.4. All three women are members of the 2007 US U23 World Championships team originally scheduled to begin on Monday, but now postponed until March. Martina Stursova (Rossignol) finished fourth 28:30.9 ahead of Kristina Strandberg (Subaru) 28:38.7 and Caitlin Compton (CXC) 28.47.5. Kristina won the Noquamenon 45k Classic the day before. Compton hung tough throughout the race despite a crash in the first lap which left her face bloodied and the look of a prize fighter rather than an XC racer. Top Juniors were Elizabeth Quinley (MTU) OJ, Christina Michica (Copper Country) J1, Katie Holway (Superiorland) J2, Chelsea Tremblay (Hayward) J3, Keely Jackson (Hayward) J4, and Sarah Daniels (Burnsville, MN) High School.
The CXC Central Grand Prix continues next weekend in Minneapolis at the City Of Lakes Loppet with a Freestyle Sprint and a 30km Freestyle Mass Start. For more race information check out www.cxcskiing.org
