This coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award, or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage, please contact info@fasterskier.com.
Today’s nighttime mid-week Freestyle city Sprint in Tallinn, Estonia is an unique event. It’s one day of individual Sprint racing coming at the tail end of the season leading into the final weekend of racing in Lahti, Finland. The race also requires all skiers to use the same ski wax.
In the women’s event— with the chase for the Overall crystal globe already mathematically secured by Jessie Diggins and a 50 kilometer World Cup finale looming this coming weekend— there wasn’t much incentive for the American star to race today. Her teammate Rosie Brennan would also be taking the day off. But it wasn’t just Diggins and Brennan who would be missing from the lineup. World Sprint Champion Jonna Sundling (SWE) is ill and not racing. Her teammate Linn Svahn, who has had an almost unbearable string of bad luck, is also still on the sidelines suffering from concussion symptoms. That meant that Kristine Stavaas Skistad (NOR), along with Sprint crystal globe leader Jasmi Joensuu (FIN) and Nadine Faehndrich (SUI) would be catapulted into the pre-race favorites position. With Joensuu entering the day leading the Sprint cup by 148 points over Sundling, and 157 points over Faehndrich—with only one individual Sprint race remaining after today— she was in prime position to cement her chances for the Sprint crystal globe.
It has been an odd journey for the Finnish skier who could receive the Sprint crystal globe and yet hasn’t won a World Cup Individual Sprint race this season and has only been on the Sprint podium once. A victory today would help to erase that asterisk from her championship.
With Diggins not racing, Julia Kern (USA) immediately moved into the favorite position for team USA.
The script was set perfectly by the qualifying results when Faehndrich finished first besting Joensuu, who qualified second, by almost two seconds. Kern also had a strong qualifier finishing sixth. But at the end of the day it was Faehndrich who triumphed taking the victory with Maja Dahlqvist (SWE) finishing second, and Kern taking a dramatic third for her first individual podium since 2019.
It was a satisfying day for Kern. “It feels really good, especially after over 5 years since my first individual podium,” said Kern. “I never stopped believing, and I felt like coaches and teammates close to me as well, and it feels good that how I imagined I can ski finally all came together today. I feel like I’ve had a lot of injuries and obstacles along the way that have often disrupted my training, so even in a year where I still experienced major training disruptions, it means that it’s still possible with enough patience and persistence!”
Kern also acknowledged the efforts of the wax technicians. “The staff did an amazing job in ski testing and strategy today, especially with the limited course access and neutral waxing rules. They were cheering so loud around the course that I no option but boost into another gear and I feel so grateful for their unwavering belief over the years, and especially this season where I was reminded to be patient, and that likely my form will catch up and come around at the end of the season!”
It was definitely a race of redemption for Kern who struggled early in the season after a summer of nagging injuries. “A podium possibility is something I have been chasing the past 5 years ever since my first podium. I never stopped believing that I had it in me, but there were definitely times when it felt far out of reach, like in Period 1 this season. Things with sprinting were really not clicking early season, which wasn’t so surprising given my injury ridden fall. But I knew my fitness was there with strong distance races, so I worked really hard with the coaches and strength coach in the lead up to World Champs to get my sprinting gears back. The belief has always been there deep down, but I feel like my body has not been able to get there. I’m pleasantly surprised how quickly I was able to build back my sprint gears in the last month, making it feel that much sweeter!”
Joensuu finished sixth and was still in the awkward position of being on the cusp of winning the Sprint crystal globe, having never won a Sprint and only having found the podium once. But that’s the lesson of a long World Cup season; persistence and durability often win out over intermittent victories and podiums.
Women’s Freestyle Sprint-Quarterfinals
In heat number one, Kern had the difficult task of facing off against Skistad, and Moa Ilar (SWE), the winner of the most recent world cup Sprint. But very quickly, the entire heat was turned upside down when three athletes fell in an early turn, including Ilar. That paved the way for Kern to advance with little difficulty. Kern quickly jumped to the front to take the lead, which she held until the finish line, with Skistad content to sit far back in second place conserving energy.
Emma Ribom (SWE) and Mathilde Myhrvold (NOR) took the second heat with the narrow course proving to be the most dominating factor.
Heat four included the two fastest qualifiers with Faehndrich and Joensuu facing each other. Joensuu blasted out from the start immediately, but Faehndrich was able to take the lead up the steep final hill with Joensuu drifting back to third having been displaced from automatic advancement by Katerina Janatova (CZE). Joensuu would have to wait until the next heat was completed to see if she could advance as a lucky loser. If she didn’t, her lead for the Sprint cup would dwindle substantially.
In the final heat the only other American to make the heats, Sammy Smith, would try to advance to the semi-finals, but she couldn’t keep up with the pace set by Johanna Hagstroem (SWE) who won the heat. But more importantly to the Sprint cup standings, Joensuu’s time from the prior heat held up for her to advance as a lucky loser which let her avoid what would have been a disastrous outcome had she not advanced out of the quarterfinals.
Women’s Freestyle Sprints-Semifinals
Kern was in the first semifinal and would again face Skistad as well as Ribom, Maja Dahlqvist (SWE), and Myhrvold. Skistad didn’t waste any time going to the front with Dahlqvist right behind her. Kern was pinched to the outside early but was able to pick her way toward the front as Dahlqvist shot into the lead. Kern and Skistad came to the line together with Dahlqvist ahead of them taking the victory. In an incredibly tense photo-finish Kern nipped Skistad at the line to finish second. It was now Skistad who was in the unusual position of having to wait on a lucky loser position with Kern automatically advancing to the finals.
Kern had to adjust her strategy during the race. “My strategy was to be as far front as possible and push the pace. Unfortunately I did not have a great start and my backup strategy was to move up and find a window as I lapped through and that is what I did. I knew I was feeling really strong in the second lap all day, so if I could be in the right position, I had confidence I could go.”
The second semifinal was packed with top contenders with Joensuu, Faehndrich, Janatova, Hagstroem, and Coletta Rydzek (GER) facing each other. Joensuu and Faehndrich again went to the front early with Faehndrich setting the pace. Faehndrich was able to put a small gap on the field early, but the group quickly closed in on her with Joensuu doggedly in pursuit. Faehndrich pushed hard up the final hill and was able to re-establish her lead over Joensuu who began to fade. Gina Del Rio (AND) took advantage of Joensuu’s slowdown and finished second. But miraculously once again Joensuu was able to advance as a lucky loser. Joensuu’s good fortune was Skistad’s bad luck as she would not be able to advance as a lucky loser and for the first time in a long time, she wouldn’t reach the finals.
Women’s Freestyle Sprint-Finals
In the finals Kern would match up with Faehndrich, Dahlqvist, Del Rio, Joensuu, and Rydzek. Joensuu had been living a charmed existence all day having advanced twice through the heats using the lucky loser position. Having reached the finals ensured that she would maintain a healthy lead going into the final Sprint this weekend. But there was still a podium to contend for today. Following the previous heat’s form, Faehndrich shot to the front at the start with Del Rio gamely following closely. Faehndrich continued to charge as the field went up the final steep hill with Dahlqvist behind her and Kern in third. Faehndrich put in a big gap on the field to take the win with Dahlqvist finishing second, Kern finished third to take her second ever individual world cup podium, her first since she finished third in Planica in 2019. Joensuu finished sixth but it was mission accomplished for the Finnish skier who miraculously managed to maintain an insurmountable Sprint cup lead by advancing twice as a lucky loser.
For Kern it was a landmark day finding an individual podium after a very long absence, and for Joensuu it was a combination of luck, persistence, and speed which locked up her grasp of the Sprint crystal globe. Joensuu will go into the final weekend of racing with an insurmountable 129 point lead in the Sprint competition with only one race left to be contested.
Women’s Freestyle Sprint, Tallinn, Estonia: Results
