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Lake Placid’s opening event of the SWIX Supertour Finals—the 10 k Freestyle Individual Start—was dominated by skiers with racing experience from this season’s FIS World Cup. The very biggest stars were yet to toe the starting line, but contenders like Lucinda Anderson (Birkie/US Biathlon) and John Steel Hagenbuch (Dartmouth) skied brilliantly to take the wins on Day 1.
Hagenbuch and Erica Laven (UU) maintain their holds on overall SuperTour leads at the conclusion of the first day’s racing in Lake Placid.
Super Tour POINTS/STANDINGS
Women’s 10 k Freestyle
Anderson, Lilliane Gagnon (CAN), Mariel Merlii Pulles (Birkie), Nina Schamberger (UU), and Kate Oldham (MSU) opened quickly, though it was Anderson who stormed to a 22 second advantage over Gagnon at the five kilometer mark, followed by Oldham at 29 seconds. Later starter, Laven, inserted herself into the contest, posting a midway time between Anderson and Gagnon. In the end, Anderson would hang on to her advantage ahead of Laven in second, and Gagnon third.
SWIX Supertour Women’s 10 k Freestyle RESULTS
Men’s 10 k Freestyle
Joe Davies (CAN) and Sasha Masson (CAN) came through the first check point in a virtual tie with SuperTour leader, John Steel Hagenbuch (Dartmouth). Then Hagenbuch began to pour it on, significantly gapping his rivals by the 2.5 kilometer checkpoint, and establishing a 12 second lead over Masson by the halfway point. Hagenbuch was on a tear, and his lead would extend to nearly 30 seconds at 6.25 kilometers as Masson began to fade. Hagenbuch would flash to the finish line 37 seconds ahead of Davies and a late-charging Graham Houtsma (BSF).
SWIX Supertour Men’s 10 k Freestyle RESULTS
SWIX SuperTour events continue on Friday with a Freestyle Sprint. For a complete schedule of SuperTour events, go to FasterSkier. Follow all SuperTour events via live timing on Bullitt Timing.
John Teaford
John Teaford—the Managing Editor of FasterSkier — has been the coach of Olympians, World Champions, and World Record Holders in six sports: Nordic skiing, speedskating, road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking, triathlon. In his long career as a writer/filmmaker, he spent many seasons as Director of Warren Miller’s annual feature film, and Producer of adventure documentary films for Discovery, ESPN, Disney, National Geographic, and NBC Sports.
