Elite Team Preview: Maine Winter Sports Center

Kris Freeman, Welly Ramsey, Bend camp — New Maine Winter Sports Center teammates Kris Freeman (l) and Welly Ramsey (r) stand together at Mt. Bachelor on May 23 during a training camp in Bend, Ore. The two teamed up to win a friendly relay, which was 2 x 3 k per member. (MWSC photo)

Note: This is the third preview in a quick-and-dirty series on U.S. elite teams. We asked coaches to send their 2012/2013 rosters and tell us what’s new for the coming season. We will be publishing additional reports over the next few weeks. Teams are presented in no particular order.

Team: Maine Winter Sports Center Olympic Development Teams

Coaches: Will Sweetser (cross-country), Seth Hubbard (biathlon), Amber Dodge (development), TBD (wax tech, intern)

Kris Freeman, Maine Winter Sports — Kris Freeman leads Maine Winter Sports Center teammate Russell Currier over the preem line during Saturday’s 25km L3 workout. (MWSC photo)

Roster:

Cross-country: Kris Freeman (U.S. Ski Team), Welly Ramsey, Hilary McNamee, Nick Michaud (collegiate summer)

Biathlon: Russell Currier (US Biathlon), Annelies Cook (US Biathlon), Katrina Howe

Who’s new: Freeman and Cook (see related story) and, more back than new, Michaud

Who’s missing: According to Sweetser, Mike Lessard and BethAnn Chamberlain are focusing on careers outside of nordic racing. Fred Bailey moved back to western Maine and will continue to race with MWSC, while transitioning to coaching.

Top results last season:

Currier notched sixth at the IBU World Cup 10 k sprint in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, placed sixth at the Kontiolathi IBU World Cup Sprint, and was seventh in the 50 k at cross-country U.S. Distance Nationals.

Ramsey placed 14th in both the 30 k and classic sprint at U.S. nationals, and was 12th and 14th at the West Yellowstone SuperTours.

McNamee finished fourth in the classic sprint at the Madison SuperTour and 18th in the classic sprint at U.S. nationals.

Another classic sprinter, Michaud made the Junior Nationals podium a month before he turned 20, placing third in the OJ sprint. At U.S. nationals, he was 26th in the classic sprint.

Coach’s comment: “Three national team athletes and three more national level athletes working across the state of Maine with hundreds of kids,” Sweetser wrote in an email. “You can literally feel the synergy.”

Kris Freeman, Welly Ramsey — Freeman and Ramsey enjoying some county sunshine in northern Maine last week. (MWSC photo)

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Alex Kochon

Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) is a former FasterSkier editor and roving reporter who never really lost touch with the nordic scene. A freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom of two, she lives in northeastern New York and enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks. She shares her passion for sports and recreation as the co-founder of "Ride On! Mountain Bike Trail Guide" and a sales and content contributor at Curated.com. When she's not skiing or chasing her kids around, Alex assists authors as a production and marketing coordinator for iPub Global Connection.