Weekly Roundup: The End of the North American Season

With SuperTour Finals and U.S. Distance Nationals wrapping up in Craftsbury, Vermont, the North American ski community can call it a wrap on another season.

Despite a general lack of snow, the finale in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom was a success – particularly for the U.S. Ski Team’s Kris Freeman, who after a disappointing World Cup season returned to the States to claim the overall win at SuperTour Finals and then the national title in the 50 k several days later. In his first races on home soil all season, Freeman raced in the suit of Team Homegrown and looked nothing but convincing as the series drew to a close.

Since our last roundup, several other men saw success in Craftsbury. Dartmouth College racer Eric Packer won the classic sprint, while U.S. Ski Team and Team Homegrown skier Noah Hoffman had the fastest split in the mini-tour’s last event, a hill climb up Jay Peak.

For the women, Canadian national team member Chandra Crawford made the trip down from Quebec to steal the win in the classic sprint, while the U.S. Ski Team’s Jessie Diggins (also racing for CXC) won the overall mini-tour and teammate Liz Stephen, representing Burke Mountain Academy, had the fastest split in the hill climb.

Since she began racing the Tour de Ski, Kikkan Randall hasn’t been able to add to her tally of regular-season national championship titles, but she once again won the long distance championship in this year’s 30 k.

A bit further from home, we reported on convincing double victories by U.S. junior Sean Doherty at Sweden’s biathlon national championships, and promising results from teammates Casey Smith and Tara Geraghty-Moats. We also noted fun and entertaining performances by Randall and teammate Andy Newell at Red Bull Nordix in Oslo.

SuperTour Finals and 30/50 k National Championships, Craftsbury, Vermont | results

Tuesday March 27 classic sprints: men’s report | women’s report | video | photos

Wednesday March 28 hill climbs: men’s report | women’s report | video | photos

Friday March 30 women’s 30 k national championship: race report | video

Saturday March 31 men’s 50 k national championship: race report | video | photo gallery of 30/50 k

Swedish Biathlon National Championships, Solefteå, Sweden

Friday March 30 sprints: race report | results

Saturday March 31 relays: results

Sunday April 1 pursuits: race report | results