![Liz Stephen catches her breath after earning her first World Cup Points](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/01/_mg_5943.jpg" "Liz Stephen catches her breath after earning her first World Cup Points")
This winter has been a tough one for young elite cross-country racers across the U.S. Two of three USSA Super Tour events held in November and December in the Lower 48 were canceled due to a lack of snow. Those races, combined with results from the abbreviated U.S. Nationals, were used in selecting the athletes for several international U.S. teams. A less than ideal qualifying season has nevertheless produced a team for this week’s Under-23 championships that is extremely capable and experienced on the international stage.
Official training has already begun at the race venue—that of Praz de Lys in Sommand, France—and races will be soon under way. The U23 women’s 10k freestyle opens racing action on Thursday, January 29th with the men’s 15k shortly thereafter. Friday is a day of recovery before the 15/30k pursuits on Saturday morning. The individual sprint on Sunday wraps up U23 action while also serving as the first race for those in the World Junior category.
The women’s U23 team brings high expectations to the week, hoping to challenge for the podium in each event. The team is comprised of six women, five of whom were on the U23/Junior World team last year and the sixth (Morgan Smyth) who had been on the team three times in the past. Liz Stephen of the U.S. Ski Team may be the skier with the highest expectations this year. Stephen snagged a podium spot when she took 3rd in last year’s 15k skate at the U23 championships in Malles, Italy, and has proven herself a threat in each discipline.
Teaming up with Kikkan Randall at the World Cup in Whistler, Vancouver two weeks ago, Stephen helped the duo to a fourth-place finish. She added a 24th at Whistler in the 15k pursuit and was recently named to the 13-member US World Championship team.
USST member Rosie Brennan was on last year’s World Junior team and returns as a U23 skier this year. Brennan excels as a sprinter but has shown improvement as a classic skier as well. The Dartmouth product took a 5th and a 6th at this year’s NCAA championships and 6th in the U.S. Nationals sprint. Brennan has potential for solid results in both the sprint and distance races.
Alexa Turzien of Ketchum, Idaho, has found her greatest successes in distance races and returns as a U23 team member. Another USST member, Turzien picked up a 4th and a 6th at the NCAA’s this past year. She has found success internationally as well, posting two top-20’s at the 2007 Junior Worlds in Tarvisio, Italy. Her 7th in Anchorage last month solidified her spot on the team, and look for success from Turzien as the races move into the climbs.
Morgan Arritola, joining Sun Valley teammate Turzien in France, has been a perennial member of the U23/Junior World teams, dating as far back as Rovaniemi, Finland in 2005. She posted two top-20’s last year and has been skiing well of late. This November she bested a strong field at the West Yellowstone Super Tour, winning the skate race and taking 3rd in the classic. Her 25th in the 15k Whistler pursuit placed her right behind Liz Stephen. Along with Stephen, and U23 athlete Morgan Smyth, Arritola was named to the World Championship team last week.
Morgan Smyth, of Northern Michigan University, is the lone member of the women’s’ team who did not race last year in Malles, Italy, but is a three-time Junior Worlds racer. Her top results have come in sprinting of late – Smyth took 7th in the US Nationals sprint, and 25th at the World Cup sprint in Whistler. She also pulled a 5th at NCAA’s and will compete at the World Championships next month in Liberec, Czech Republic.
Alaska native Tazlina Mannix rounds out the womens’ side of the U23 team. Also on the US Ski team, Mannix posted an 8th place finish in last year’s 15k skate. A 5th in the 15k skate at this winter’s Nor-Am Cup further proved her mettle in longer races, and both distance races set up well for her this week.
The men’s’ team is less proven but has shown potential for some top results. The five-man team does have experience, with several returning team members.
Karl Nygren, of the University of Colorado, was on last year’s U23 team. Typically a classic specialist, he earned his way onto this year’s team partly through his efforts at West Yellowstone, where he took 3rd in the 15k classic at the SuperTour event.
Tad Elliot, of the Factory Team, was a member of the 2007 Junior Worlds team in Tarvisio, Italy. Thursday’s skate race is an excellent opportunity for a top result, if this winter is any indication. At Nationals he was 9th in the skate race, and he finished 5th at the West Yellowstone SuperTour.
Simi Hamilton of Middlebury was successful on last year’s U23 team. He posted a top-20 in the sprint and has high hopes for this year’s sprint race as well. Hamilton also showed strength in the skate race at NCAA’s this year, taking 13th.
Max Treinen of Anchorage traveled as a Junior World team member last year. The UAA skier also went to NCAA’s, where he posted a top-20 in the 20k classic race. He was also 17th at Nationals in the skate race.