As part of the on-snow training camp, which ends today, the US Ski Team held several simulated competitions, including an individual sprint, complete with qualification and heats, and a sprint relay.
Photos from the individual sprint and more info on the camp can be found here:
The skate sprint relay was held in wet, soft conditions, with light rain falling at times. The conditions made for slow, challenging skiing and with most of the athletes coming off a big day of training, the skiers were not in top form.
This was a simulated event, with each skier racing individually. Each leg was a mass start with approximately equal rest between legs. All skiers raced in two heats of three legs each, half an hour apart – to simulate the qualification heats in an actual competition.
Kris Freeman won all six laps in the men's race, and Liz Stephen won the first two laps of heat 1 in the women's race, losing out to German World Cup veteran Manuela Henkel in a sprint in the final lap. Liz was reportedly quite tired for the final and Manuela won all three legs.
Thanks to Zach Caldwell for the following photos and the report from the venue.
